Student's Scoop-Gierman's Class
April 25 4/5 GT class at Woodland Elementary
Guest writers: Alyssa Marx and Claire Raymond
Thanks so much for writing with us!
NWEA SPRING IS NEXT WEEK FOR MISS G's CLASS ONLY!!
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SON/DAUGHTER ATTEND SCHOOL TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NEXT WEEK UNLESS THERE IS A SERIOUS REASON NOT TO. :)
We are excited to see exactly where we are with our goals now so that we can use that data to make the most of our last 6 weeks of school and ensure that we start next year with our individual maximum preparedness! :)
We honestly all feel we have grown so much since the fall, so we are not worried at all, more excited to show what we know and learn MORE NEW THINGS!!!
Fourth graders invited Miss Gierman to see what we are working on in music!
What We Are Doing in Music
By: Alyssa Marx and Claire Raymond
Violins and Violas
On B days, we always go to music. Now, we have started a new unit! We have been learning how to play the violin. Some of us play violas. So far, we have learned the strings, 1st finger, second finger, third finger, and d scale. We also learned that on the violin, the strings are G, A, D, and E. On the viola, the strings are C, G, A and D. . It has been so fun to learn new songs, how to hold the bow and instrument. We can play Hot Cross Buns, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Mary had a Little Lamb. We can’t wait to learn more!
What we did this week
By Olivia
P2: Appreciation of Beauty and nature:) See below
Math: Super Teams Challenge-see below!
Writing: We played a learning collaboration game dedicated to applying complex vocabulary to textual analysis.
Reading: We analyzed texts of poetry, literature etc, made Kahoots, and reviewed ELA vocabulary and root words!
Social Studies: - economics! presentations begin! SEE PICTURE BELOW
Enrichment: Passion projects and supplemental learning.
Math Super Teams!
Sarah and Leah presented about their plans for the future and the economics of it all!
P2-Appreciation of Beauty and excellence
Appreciating beauty and excellence means that you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. This is the ability to identify and enjoy that which is admirable in the world. There are three types of goodness in which positive psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, song, or building); an exceptional skill or talent; and moral goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of beauty can generate awe; appreciation of a skill can generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness can generate moral elevation. All of these feelings (awe, admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves and find increased joy and meaning in the world.
This week's examples is Tracy K. Smith. She is the current poet laureate of the United States. She sees this role "as an invitation to celebrate poetry and its uses in our day-to-day lives" and is working to help Americans understand that poetry is "a way of talking about our lives, and it’s a way of listening to other people—listening to a voice together and going somewhere as a result of that process."
Smith's Life on Mars won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. In this poetry collection, she brings language to her feelings and memories. As Smith explains, "The last section of the poem is directly about my father. It begins when my father worked on the Hubble space telescope. And it really was my attempt — or the opportunity that I took to go backwards and think about that moment in our family, when my father was still this all-powerful figure who would live forever and the questions that were being asked, not only by the scientists and engineers, but also the children...So much of my poetry begins with something that I can describe in visual terms, so thinking about distance, thinking about how life begins and what might be watching us."
So, why does this matter?
Appreciating excellence and beauty helps an individual experience positive emotions and connect to the worldaround hi m/her. It’s an outward facing strength, meaning the individual is focused on the world outside his/her head. And, not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing him/her to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is associated with other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and connection/purpose.
On a group level, those who appreciate excellence and beauty make our lives more enjoyable. First, it means that they’re not looking to criticize the world or its people, but instead take pleasure from their excellence. Second, it is the writers, painters, musicians, and filmmakers who help us better appreciate the world around us. It’s due to their admiration for the way the sun hits off a wave or the quiet perseverance of a cross-country runner, that we are able to see the world with fresh eyes.
MSTEP SCHEDULE
4th Graders
ELA: 5/6
Math: 5/8
Important News and Dates
Normal School Hours: 8:32 - 3:39 (GT dismissal 3:34)
Half Day Hours: 8:32 - 11:45 (GT dismissal around 11:40)
Early Release: 8:32-1:39 (GT dismissal around 1:34)
- April 26: Woodland Talent Show @ 6:30pm
- April 30: Davis-Comfort & Emanuele Music Concert @ 7pm
- May 8: Volunteer/Staff Luncheon @ 10:45am
- May 9: Woodland Art Show/Ice Cream Social @ 6-7:30pm
- May 10: HALF DAY-Teacher PD; Mother/Son Game Night @ 6-8pm
- May 14: PTO Meeting @ 7pm
- May 21: 5th Grade Music Concert @ 7pm
- May 27: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
- June 6: Kindergarten Music Concert @ 2:45pm
- June 7: Field Day
- June 13: HALF DAY - PM Records
- June 14: HALF DAY - Last Day of School
Our Class Schedule
8:35-8:50: Morning Work/Welcome
8:50-9:40: Writing Workshop
5th Graders:
9:40-10:26: 5th Grade Specials
10:26-10:35: Snack (Healthy, Nut-Free)
10:35-11:30: Science/Social Studies with Ms. Martin
4th Graders:
9:40-10:35: Science/Social Studies with Ms. Gierman
10:35-11:21: 4th Grade Specials
11:21-11:30: Snack (Healthy, Nut-Free)
4th/5th Graders Return to their Teacher:
11:30-12:30: Math Workshop
12:31-12:53: Lunch
12:53-1:15: Recess
1:15-2:30: Reading Workshop
2:30-2:45: 2nd Recess
2:45-3:30: Enrichment
Woodland follows an “ABC” specials schedule. Tuesday, September 4th will start with “A” day and continue from there.
4th Grade students travel as a class together to specials. Their specials schedule is:
A-PE B-Music C-Art
5th Grade students are split among the three regular 5th grade classes. Their specials schedule depends on the teacher they attend specials with. It may change during the year.
Phou: A-PE B-Music C-Art
(Margaret,Trevor, Katie)
Davison: A-Art B-PE C-Music
(Gabe and Brent)
McNaughton: A-Music B-Art C-PE
(Olivia and Danje)NUT FREE REMINDER
A no peanut or tree nut product policy means that there may not be any snacks or lunches that include contains any nut in the ingredients as well as anything that was made on shared machinery. It is OK to send snacks that say that they were made in the same facility as items containing nuts.
Birthday policy
Wish List
- 5$ gift cards to subway, target, etc-I will raffle off 4 gift cards every month starting October-I just buy them if none are sent in
For the classroom/teacher:
- Fiction and non-fiction Books for grade level 6-11 or lexile 800-1200 content appropriate
- bean bag chairs
- seat cushions
QUICK REMINDERS
- Don't forget to also check out the Woodland Website! It has important forms, Principal newsletters, PTO information, and P.B.I.S information.
Contact me
Email: michelle.gierman@avondaleschools.org
Location: Woodland Elementary School, Avondale Schools, Livernois Road, Troy, MI, United States
Phone: 810-841-1146
Facebook: facebook.com/AvondaleGTClassFamily
P2 for the week!
This week we will focus on the following strength: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence.
Appreciating beauty and excellence means that you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. This is the ability to identify and enjoy that which is admirable in the world. There are three types of goodness in which positive psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, song, or building); an exceptional skill or talent; and moral goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of beauty can generate awe; appreciation of a skill can generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness can generate moral elevation. All of these feelings (awe, admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves and find increased joy and meaning in the world.
This week's examples is Tracy K. Smith. She is the current poet laureate of the United States. She sees this role "as an invitation to celebrate poetry and its uses in our day-to-day lives" and is working to help Americans understand that poetry is "a way of talking about our lives, and it’s a way of listening to other people—listening to a voice together and going somewhere as a result of that process."
Smith's Life on Mars won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. In this poetry collection, she brings language to her feelings and memories. As Smith explains, "The last section of the poem is directly about my father. It begins when my father worked on the Hubble space telescope. And it really was my attempt — or the opportunity that I took to go backwards and think about that moment in our family, when my father was still this all-powerful figure who would live forever and the questions that were being asked, not only by the scientists and engineers, but also the children...So much of my poetry begins with something that I can describe in visual terms, so thinking about distance, thinking about how life begins and what might be watching us."
So, why does this matter?
Appreciating excellence and beauty helps an individual experience positive emotions and connect to the worldaround hi m/her. It’s an outward facing strength, meaning the individual is focused on the world outside his/her head. And, not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing him/her to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is associated with other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and connection/purpose.
On a group level, those who appreciate excellence and beauty make our lives more enjoyable. First, it means that they’re not looking to criticize the world or its people, but instead take pleasure from their excellence. Second, it is the writers, painters, musicians, and filmmakers who help us better appreciate the world around us. It’s due to their admiration for the way the sun hits off a wave or the quiet perseverance of a cross-country runner, that we are able to see the world with fresh eyes.