step into my classroom: pre-algebra at ECA, quarter four

Seventh graders have been doing quite a bit of work with ratios, proportions, and other applications of fractions. To wrap up the unit, they used a scale drawing process to create a "king size" candy wrapper. After drawing a 1-centimeter grid over the original wrapper, they set up and solved proportions to determine the dimensions of their drawing. Then they drew a larger grid according to their calculations. From there it was a simple matter of filling in the boxes and adding color. The students LOVED this project, and now we have some pretty cool posters hanging in our classroom!

I don't know about you but all these candy wrappers are making me crave sweets!!

Spirit Week at ECA

If you have been following my blog for any length of time you already know I LOVE dressing up for spirit days and costume parties. Here at ECA I have been itching to get dressed up for something special so you can imagine my excitement when my favorite week of the year, Spirit Week, finally arrived in April.

Monday's theme was Pajamas. Even though it's pretty warm here I donned my fleece cupcake PJ pants and put on a brave face, knowing I would be sweating soon. It paid off, though, because I won the award for best staff costume that day!

My prize-winning PJs

I need a pair of these slippers

Tuesday was Decade Day, so I brought back the sock hop costume with a DIY poodle skirt and a cardigan. Since the staff didn't really coordinate any group costumes I was happy to match with my friend Marie today.

On Wednesday the theme was Mismatched, which was super easy. All I had to do was open my closet and grab a few random items to create the look.

Thursday's theme was sports, and I was lucky enough to borrow a friend's German soccer jersey to represent the Fatherland. One of my students is from Argentina so naturally we had a friendly rivalry going on that day!

Representing all the sports!

We can't all be World Cup winners ...

On Friday we wrapped up the week with a day at the polideportivo, our local sports complex. Students competed in various track and field events and we teachers ran the events while cheering them on. Naturally I helped run the shotput and discus, and in between flights I made it over to the track to cheer obnoxiously for my students who were racing.

A flight of middle school sprinters prepares for takeoff

I love races!

Demonstrating the proper form for shot putting. Not.

Refereeing for girls' discus in our makeshift throwing ring.

High jumpers go over the rules before taking the plunge

Middle schoolers did great at high jump!

More middle school sprinters

These eighth grade girls tied last year and nearly tied again this year!

As you can see I am very passionate about track and field. I love these kids!!

step into my classroom: earth science at ECA, quarter three

The eighth graders spent third quarter getting their hands dirty with the first half of our geology unit. It starts with minerals, rocks, and fossils, then goes a little deeper into an investigation on plate tectonics, landforms, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

We began with a simulation of the rock cycle using chocolate bars. For whatever reason this activity turned into a HUGE mess this year - I have never seen such a slimy chocolately mess and I've been doing this lab for years now! Maybe it's the Spanish chocolate? The students got a kick out of it anyway, but unfortunately I didn't get many good pictures of the lab since I was busy helping them get cleaned up.

White chocolate "sediment"

For each rock and mineral group we studied, the students then did an observation lab in which they used their textbook and field guides to identify and classify various "mystery" samples. For some this was a very simple task while others really struggled. Who doesn't love playing with rocks??

Relying on the fact that I have a very creative group of kids in eighth grade this year, I added a new project to my roster. After an in-depth study of mineral properties, each student chose a mineral on which to base a new comic book character. They had the option to create either a hero or villain, and designed his or her "super powers" to reflect the properties of the given mineral. They presented their Mineral Heroes in the form of a comic book cover and got to share a brief character bio with the class. I was amazed and entertained by the creativity and originality of so many of their designs!

Many of their comics were on display for our school's science showcase

To wrap up the rocks chapter, students were tasked with creating a model of the rock cycle. The sky was the limit for how they chose to demonstrate what they'd learned, and the whole gamut of projects appeared on my desk on the last day before spring break.

"The Adventures of Rocky Bill"

"Rock Culture"

Another view of all the projects in the science showcase

It's hard to believe my time with these eighth graders is almost over, and with it my sixth year of teaching middle school earth science. Where has the time gone?!

Celebrating a birthday in Spain

I had no idea what to expect this year for my birthday. It was really, really hard to think about spending it away from my closest friends and family, and I had even considered flying to Germany for a few days because my best friend Katrina was passing through Kandern that very weekend. Unfortunately that didn't work out for a number of reasons, so I ended up celebrating my very first Spanish birthday!

The day began like any other, but once I arrived at school I quickly realized something was up. Usually the third floor filled up with middle schoolers right around 9:00 but as the warning bell rang and no students appeared, the halls were still and my classroom was empty.

Where are all the students?

At 9:10 on the dot, the bell rang to begin first period and the familiar chimes sounded to signal the start of the morning announcements. They were nothing special, but I listened carefully for any sign of shenanigans. Just before signing off for the day, the announcer revealed that there were some people in the office wanting to wish me a happy birthday. Through the loudspeaker I heard a crowd of students singing, cheering, and shouting happy birthday to me while the rest of the school was forced to listen in. Turns out both the seventh and eighth grade classes had crowded into the office to partake in the festivities! 

Meanwhile in the office ...

(photos courtesy of my roommate Robbyn, who was at the scene of the crime)

Moments later a stampede of students tramped up the stairs and burst through the door bearing huge grins and all kinds of wonderfulness.

Surprise!

My first period class, life science, had already made plans for a class party that day because it was the end of the quarter and they'd earned it as part of our class reward system. Those sneaky seventh graders hijacked their class party and turned it into a surprise party for me, and they were pretty proud of themselves for pulling it off! They lavished gifts and sweet treats on me and I had to spend the rest of the day comvincing the other teachers that I did not, in fact, plan a birthday party for myself! Thanks, kids!!

Some of the snacks and goodies from the seventh graders

Lots of affirming words on these cupcakes - how did they know my love language?

Not to be outdone, the eighth graders crafted a jumbo birthday card for me full of funny quotes, sketches, and some of our class catchphrases. Some of them also gave me individual gifts like a tin of cookies and chocolate milk, while others gave me the gift of the written word via a letter and even a personalized poem. To say I felt loved would be an understatement!

After school let out, a few friends and I went to one of the larger malls nearby for a visit to Starbucks and dinner at Foster's, a restaurant that is known for serving American style cuisine. I enjoyed a delicious burger and Coke, my splurge meal for the week! Due to the typical Spanish schedule the restaurant didn't open until 8:00 pm, so it made for a long day on a school night, but the meal and time with good company was definitely worth it.

Obligatory escalator selfie

And thus began the final year of my twenties. What will it hold? Only time will tell!