Light Circuits: Connecting More than the Current

This week I gave the kids a challenge: Use a light circuit to enhance your map project.  The idea was born from a CAMPUs (Creating A More Powerful Us) Monday meeting we had at Skokie during the first month of school.  During that event, our Maker's Space teacher, Kathy McDonough, allowed us to experiment with the light circuits in the Maker's Space that the kids can use before school and during lunch period.  After a half hour of tinkering, failing and trying again, I successfully created this:

My little guy, Noah, holding the light circuit!

When it finally worked, I was so proud!  The final activity Kathy asked us to complete was a reflection, and on that reflection was this question: How could you use this in your classroom?  From that, the map project idea was born.  When I originally planned it, I thought the light circuits would make for a really sharp looking map, but this week showed me how much more this challenge could really be for the kids.

The majority of the team had no experience with light circuits or circuits at all.  Though there were some who were hesitant because of this, most of the kids' faces lit up (pun totally intended!) at the idea of trying something new.  And as more and more kids struggled, failed and finally found success, those who were hesitant at first grew wings and soared with the challenge!  The most amazing piece of the challenge, however, came in the relationships that were formed.  Students worked together in ways I'd never before witnessed.  They came together over successes and assisted each other through hurdles with empathy and compassion!  I'm proud to report that over 90% of the team successfully used a light circuit to enhance their map projects.  Each student has a picture of the project on his/her iPad that I'm sure they'd be happy to share with you!  The batteries may die in these circuits, but the bonds that were made between the students will be long lasting.

Please Join Us Friday, January 27th

On Friday, January 27th we'd love to have you join us for our Current Events seminar.  Students will be leading the discussion based on the most recent issue of our Junior Scholastic magazine.  The issue includes an atlas of demographic information about each region and country of the world. Students will be studying the information and preparing their ideas over the next three weeks.  We'd be really honored if you'd join us for this seminar.

If you can join us from 10:40-11:40 for the Warner Advisory or from 1:05-2:05 for the Barbaro Advisory, please add your name to this Google Doc.  If you'd like a copy of the magazine the kids will be using for this seminar, please email me at meghanwarner@winnetka36.org.  I will send a copy home with your son/daughter.

Coat Drive

Students on the Williams/Skydell 5th grade team are running a coat drive to collect coats for the homeless in Chicago.  They are accepting used coats of all shapes and sizes.  There are students on the team that are even willing to sew up any patches that may be needed, so please don't hesitate to send in a coat or two that needs a little TLC.  Skokie students were really supportive of our efforts to collect food for the New Trier Food Pantry, and this is a great way for us to show our support in return.

Welcome Dave Zalesky: Student Teacher Extraordinaire!

We are very fortunate to welcome Dave Zalesky as our student teacher this year.  Dave has been with us since the beginning of the school year, and he will be taking over teaching responsibilities for the Warner advisory now that we're back from winter break.  A letter from Dave and from Northwestern University was sent home with Warner advisory students last week.  In these letters you can learn about Dave and some of the requirements he must meet in his student teaching experience.  Please sign the permission form on the last page of this packet and send it back to school with your student as soon as possible.  Dave will primarily be working with the Warner advisory, and he will join us for the upcoming conferences in February.  He has already been a great addition to our team, and we warmly welcome him in this more prominent role!

Book Recommendation: The Animal Healer Series by Lauren St. John

Martine isn't just your average tween; she's got the power to communicate with animals.  Her parents tried to shield her from this reality because they were warned that it could bring danger to her.  Now that her parents are gone (all the good YA books kill off the parents!), Martine has moved onto an African animal sanctuary with her grandmother.  Each book in the series highlights a different species of animal that Martine must interact with.  I've read the first three (The White Giraffe, Dolphin Song and The Last Leopard), and I have not been disappointed yet.  The best part for me is that the author lived in Africa, so her detailed descriptions of the setting are amazing.  She also thoroughly researches the animals, so there are many facts you learn along the way.  It's a great realistic fiction series with a fun fantasy twist that many readers will enjoy.