Bobcat Bulletin
April 27, 2020
This Week's Events
Friday 5/1
- KaHoot! Happy Hour Zoom - 4:00pm
Next Week's Events
Thursday 5/7
- Future Kindergarten Virtual Parent Meeting, 6:30 pm
Looking Ahead
- Anytime in the next 4 weeks
May 13
- Virtual PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm
June 4
- ALPS Virtual Orientation, 6:30pm
Paraprofessional Support Ideas
I love some of the creative ways you are utilizing the support of our paraprofessionals. Here is just a list of ideas as we go forward.
- Run a breakout room
- Sit in on Zoom for a while
- Take attendance and monitor chat
- Run a separate Zoom meeting in lieu of a breakout
- Meet with students who aren’t in your Zoom if you’re meeting with the other half or in small groups
- Convert worksheets into something fillable
- Read your class a story
- Practice sight words
STEAM FAIR PROJECTS
Amerman had a number of students enter into the virtual STEAM fair. Their projects are outstanding! Please take a few minutes and check out their amazing work!
Parent/Guardian Input - Student Profile Form
Due to our current circumstances, the traditional parent input form is not a practical way to get information. I have developed a digital version of that form. From what I understand, past practice is parents only get one if they request it during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Since PTCs are not 2-3 days this year, but spread out over multiple weeks, I have put the deadline for parents May 22.
If a parent K-4 requests this form, please feel free to email them the following link:
LC Corner - Curriculum, Literacy & Learning...oh my!
Michigan Essential Educator - Distance Learning Science Resources
Educators all over are working hard to make things work in remote ways. This includes Michigan’s Naturalists and Interpreters. For those of you looking for ideas on how to make Michigan’s Natural Resources, hidden treasure and wildlife come alive for your students, these outdoor educators have created resources that could make your lessons come alive and help to bring the outdoors indoors. I know that we have many science resources through Mystery Science and Foss, what makes these resources special is that they are specific to Michigan. (In reality, these resources would be great any time of year.)
Read on and explore for yourself.
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!
DNR Educators have created 5 days of videos to celebrate each decade of Earth Day.
Day 3 - Earth Day - Save the Planet
Day 4 - Michigan Wildlife Factoids
Day 5 - Nature's Sense of Humor
Snakes are Cool
This link has 13 one minute videos that explain the characteristics and interesting facts for each of Michigan snakes, including the Eastern Massasagau.
Nature Lessons at your Fingertips
Search to find a few more videos. This site has everything from video lessons about being tree detectives, mammals, macroinvertebrates and even a tour of the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery that has been instrumental in saving Michigan’s Lake Sturgeon.
PTA Stipend Reimbursement - Extended to May 15
As a reminder all teachers are able to get a $225 classroom stipend reimbursement ($175 for part time). Currently about 2/3 of the teachers haven't yet submitted their request for reimbursement. The PTA has extended their deadline for turning in receipts to May 15th. Being a PTA member is a requirement in order to receive the stipend.However, that cost is small (I think it's $15) in comparison to the reimbursement. You can email receipts to amermantreasurer@gmail.com.
Random Useless Facts
Money isn’t made out of paper, it’s made out of cotton.
- A rat can last longer without water than a camel.
- Research indicates that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas.
- There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches in the world.
- Men get hiccups more often than women.
- The first leap year was 46 BC
- The first income tax was created in 1861 during the Civil War to finance the war effort.
- Sixty cows can produce a ton of milk a day.