TWIS 5/20-5/24

Parents,

  As we wrap up the school year, I just want to say, "Thanks!" for all your wonderful support.  I've had a blast with your student this year and I hope they've grown as much as I have- both as a student and as a person.  Thanks for all your support at home.  Some reminders-

Interviews wrap up this week- what a fantastic experience!  Every interviewer I brought in this week noted what well-adjusted, well-rounded students you have.  They were especially impressed with your student's demeanor, manners, and the fact that your student could shake hands, look them in the eye, and hold an intelligent, meaningful conversation.  What success! and what a valuable experience for the future.  Just a reminder that you can view photos and read comments from our interviews via Twitter by following our account: @lincoln6dotcom.  Here are some of the interviewers I had this year:

Ben Jacobson, head Men's Basketball Coach, UNI

Bobbi Petersen, Head Women's Volleyball Coach, UNI

Mayor Jon Crews

Blackhawk Sheriff Tony Thompson

Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement Special Agent Jake Austin

Dr. Stacy Von Gorp, McElroy Trust

Brad Leeper, Architect, Invision

Melissa Reade, Cedar Valley Alliance

Frank Darrah, Cedar Falls City Councilman

Bill Boevers and Dave Welter, Holmes Junior High School Administrators

Deon Senchina and Jenny Leeper, CF School Board

Dr. Richard Nemmers, Dentist

Pam Zeigler and Christine Mangrich, CF Elementary Directors

Engineers Doug Schindel (AECOM) and Nick Heine (John Deere)

Sara Fitzgerald, Graphic Artist and Design, Prairie Lakes Church

John Fuller, Gabe Berger, Shelly Wood, Chris Rygh, Joan Trebon and Ben Patterson from local churches

Dr. Kendra Williams-Perez, Allen College of Nursing

Zach Danielsen, Shirley Greer, Rae Dixon, and Katie Mracek from Kaplan University

Taylor Morris from Washington, D.C. via Skype

Dr. Kelly Sampson, Veterinarian

and others!  Wow, that's quite a list- special thanks to those volunteers and parents that helped to make this happen.

Here's this week in Switzer:

Literature: We are doing Literature circles everyday- your student WILL HAVE HOMEWORK every night concerning their duties in the literature circle.  Please ask them  about this homework and their book they are reading.

Writing: Finishing interviews; portfolios are to go home (parent note: Keep these for those Open Houses in about 6 years!!!), The Great Blogging Challenge is underway!

Math: We're working through geometry to wrap up the year!

Social Studies: World War II is the topic of chapter 10

Science: Landforms and experiments

Family Living: We're talking genetics and inherited traits (dominant/ recessive)- expect some questions at home about hair color, eye color, etc.

FRIDAY is our trip to Hartman Reserve. We leave at 9:15 am and will be there all day (weather permitting).  If you are interested in going with us, let me know ASAP!!!! Also, I am looking for a few parents to bring some treats.  Look for a letter detailing the trip soon.

Incredible Kid Letters need to be turned into me by Wednesday- your kid is worth it!

Pizza Party on Tuesday! Because our class was able to meet the DEAR Challenge.

Yearbook Money is due Tuesday!

Wednesday is a noon dismissal day for Report Writing.

Our Virtual Wax Museum can be found on the Classroom Blog (CLICK HERE)

Reminder that my weekly emails are also posted to the Classroom Blog (CLICK HERE).  Have a great week!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary

TWIS 5/13-5/17

Parents-

  Happy Exit Interview Week!  Your student will be interviewed this week by a member of the community over the contents of their portfolios- which means all portfolios need to be completed by the time of your student's interview- check Lincoln6.com under the yellow "Portfolios" tab to find out what needs to be done.  Interviewers include:

-Dr. Nielsen, professor of Education at UNI

-Bobbi Petersen- Head Volleyball Coach at UNI

-Ben Jacobson- Head Men's Basketball Coach at UNI

-Blackhawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson

-Pam Zeigler, Director of Elementary Education at CF schools

-Deon Senchina, President of the CF School Board

-Tara Thomas, KWWL News Anchor

-and others!

Your student will be interviewed by a single member of the community in the 5/6 group room, then given a rubric score which lets the student know how they would do in a job interview type setting.  Yes, there is a "Professional Appearance" score, BUT do not feel obligated to go out and buy your student new clothes!  Your student will do fine in anything that is a little more dressy than t-shirt and shorts.  And yes, your student may bring the clothes to school and change into them later.  I know they want to do their best!  Follow our Twitter page @lincoln6dotcom to get photos and updates over the course of the week.

ALSO- still interested in helping out for the Hartman Reserve Field Trip May 24th?  Let me know!

Here's This Week in Switzer:

Literature:  We're trying to squeeze in another novel before the end of the year- lots of reading and your student WILL have reading homework every night.

Math: We're finishing up the essential skills for trimester 3 and will be taking the end of the Trimester test soon.

DEAR: Well, the students met my challenge over the past 50 days and were able to log nearly 26,000 pages read as a class- I am especially proud of students like Nate V., Tyler F., Dalilah G-R., Lexie Z., Justin C., Ellie S., Jared M., Naudi H., and Westin H. for putting in the time and effort to read way over 1,000 pages each.  Special congrats to Nate who read, get ready now, over 3,800 pages!  Wow!  So now I owe them a pizza party.  We'll get it figured out on a day that makes sense and let you know the details.  Great job everyone!
Social Studies- Students have begun a new chapter- Chapter 10!

Science- Students are looking at Landforms and how nature forms the landscape.

Writing- Portfolios!  Need I say more?

Have a great week!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary
321 W. 8th St.

TWIS 5/6-5/10

Parents,

  Well, only a few more weekly classroom updates to go!  Here are the big things we're working on this week:

Twitter Challenge- @lincoln6dotcom is the twitter handle for live, real-time updates and photos for what is happening in our class.  I sent home a blue, Twitter challenge sheet on Friday with your student- make sure to ask them about it!

6th Grade Exit Interviews- Thanks to you, I've been able to wrangle about 30 guest interviewers from the community- everyone from law enforcement, legal professionals, medical professionals, authors, musicians, educators, government leaders, etc. are ready to interview your student beginning May 13th.  Remind your student to dress up for their interview!

Hartman Reserve May 24th- We are taking the 6th grade to an outdoor learning experience at the reserve on May 24th.  We need parents and family to volunteer to help Park Rangers show students how to Orienteer, fish, kayak, hike, and other outdoor activities.  We also are looking for people to donate snacks, juice boxes, cookies, hotdogs, time, etc. so we can have a grill-out lunch at the reserve for everyone!  Let me know ASAP if you can help!

Here's This Week in Switzer:

Literature- Students are wrapping up their literature circle books and are creating a Google Presentation called, "Fakebook."  It is pretty much exactly how it sounds- a simulate "Facebook" page altered to look like it was created by a character in their books.  Really cool stuff!  Let me be clear- this has nothing to do with Facebook whatsoever.  I am NOT having students go on Facebook for this assignment.

Math- Switzer math is working through Geometry with lines, parallels, transversals, angle measures, and will be moving to polygons soon.

Social Studies- Test on Monday!

Science- Students began looking at Landforms.

Writing- Portfolios, portfolios, portfolios!  Your student should have 6 artifacts with reflection tags completed this week.  They will practice interviewing each other for the big day.  Feel free to have Grandma, Grandpa, Uncles, Aunts, neighbors, whoever, interview your student this week to get them prepared for next week!  I am truly excited to show off your wonderful student to our community!

Again, don't forget to "follow" us on Twitter to get photos and updates on what is happening at school.  Thanks!