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       <title>Seidl, Tony: Blog</title>
       <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031</link>
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       <copyright>2013 - Seidl, Tony</copyright>
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           <title>MCA Reading, day 1</title>
           <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031&amp;threadid=738</link>
           <description>
               <![CDATA[Today is MCA reading, and I just have to say, if you run into me on the street, I will share my views with you. I really shouldn't bring this up. Just want to say these kids are very wonderful, I hope they do well, and tests should not determine their fate.
Other than that (!) I am instigating a new homework policy. I will try this along with no homework for a unit and start to document the results. First off, I will be paying very close attention to the work sent home. I will be correcting it along with Mrs. Cole and find ways to help student who need it - if someone misses a question, I will ask them to correct their mistake and give them a mini-lesson or suggestions for corrections. I will have students do this at home and will be asking for a parent signature when corrections are complete. Students work is due by the end of the unit. Thought I would try this out, who knows. I am sure it works one way or the other: either the homework needs to be done for a reason and quantified, or it needs to not be used. I will try both! What do you think?]]>
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           <pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:39:21 -0500</pubDate>
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           <title>March 21</title>
           <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031&amp;threadid=733</link>
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               <![CDATA[Today we worked on our 20% and had two presentations: 
One was from Ashley, who created a plane out of balsa wood blinds, styrofoam, and push pins. It flew OK, but the detailed notes and explanation she gave were wonderful, full of insight into the design process.
The other presentation was given by Isabela and Jennifer. These girls worked on a pop-up book. Basically, they have been working on this for three weeks, a long time, I thought, for a kids pop-up book. I was impressed by the complexity of the whole thing and the wonderul details they worked in. It was great because they are now going to be the set designers (3D) of a puppet show being produced here.
We had time to work on our MCA reading prep, it was helpful. The kids have a checklist (they will not be able to use this on the actual test) that they use to work on their reading step by step. They are doing wonderful work. They worked on this last year with Mrs. Swenson so I am just building on their knowledge. Great stuff.]]>
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           <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:43:37 -0500</pubDate>
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           <title>March 20, a review</title>
           <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031&amp;threadid=732</link>
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               <![CDATA[So, missed a day there, but, as I thought, I got busy. I don't know if you know this, but a teacher's life is rediculously busy. It's like I have 17 children, all twins...and they all need my attention...it's nuts.
Yesterday we began our engineering project for the week. We are designing a vehicle that rolls on wheels, powered by jet propulsion...balloon power. The kids work for 25 minutes stretches. They will compete in a product demonstration, the winner's "car" goes the farthest. The kids are great at the engineering part, they need some guidence during the "brainstorming" and "redesign" stage. It is sort of like their writing, they create something and can't imagine changing anything from that original design! 
Just a note here on science. This is my opinion, but, we need to expose kids to science. In science kids need to use prior knowledge, inferencing, creativity, and team work to participate. We work so hard to get scores up and pass tests, for what reason? Kids spending time in front of a computer taking test after test...this is what happens when we keep pushing tests, less time learning, more time alone, bored, and pressured to perform. I think that science is the savior; getting our hands dirty outside digging around, asking questions, learning through doing. I will always have science in my room, outlawed or not!
We are working on MCA prep (see! I told you!) for 20 minutes a day, 10 for math, 10 for reading. We review and practice review tests that the state puts out. Students actually get a kick out of it, they see it as a puzzle. Most of them, some kids completely shut down. I have started using "Learning Point Navigator" for our math work and the students go to auditory lessons followed by practice and a quiz. I like it, and the kids can do most of this at home.
That's about it...Soccer went well, boys won, but we put up a good fight...I forgot what was for lunch, chicken sandwiches I think.]]>
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           <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:15:46 -0500</pubDate>
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           <title>Monday, March 18</title>
           <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031&amp;threadid=731</link>
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               <![CDATA[Snow day! 
We had a busy day, shortened busy day. Music today, P.E. and some writing.
We are working on a writing piece to complement our Evening of the Arts totem. Each child chose an animal for their part in the totem, then they took their animal and are planning to write a story to accompany the art work. Both the art and writing will be displayed on April 9th EOA.
We had book buy day here, kids were able to buy books from the Scholastic book fair. It is open until Thursday PM, after conferences.
Speaking of conferences, we have rescheduled conferences for TUESDAY, MARCH 19TH!!! Same times of your Monday conference times.
Tomorrow is CRAZY HAIR DAY.
Kids were a little stir crazy today. I am thinking it is the Spring thaw that they are yearning for - and acting out - about.]]>
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           <pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:43:41 -0500</pubDate>
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           <title>Friday first try! March 15</title>
           <link>http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=33031&amp;threadid=728</link>
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               <![CDATA[Today I am going to try something that I have not done and think will be very helpful if you are the parent who asks your child, "How was your day?" and get the "Uh uh" answer! I will try to write, each and every day, a short blog about our day: what we did, who we saw, what we ate, who is naughty and nice...no, I won't go that far!
So, here we go:
Today we have our 4 H buddies coming in and talking to the kids (for the fourth time in the series) about the facts and dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. They are high school kids who follow a scripted program put on by 4H. Really informative and the kids really connect to the hands on demonstration. Kids are fascinated by this subject, I recommend you bring it up at the dinner table.
We had our "book look" this morning where we looked at the Scholastic book fair book display here at school. Our class has time on Monday to buy...look today, write down what they want (with prices) then on Monday at 1:30, they can purchase. I think this is a great time to buy presents, whatever, lots of money for the school in this fund raiser!
We have 20% at 2:00 and only have an hour this week for that time, I promised the kids two days of it next week. If you haven't ask your child about what we do and what they are doing during this time, it is great!
We have cheese bread for lunch, and I am on a cleanse and I could really go for some bread but have two more weeks until that is possible. I will vicariously live through the lunch menu, so if you wonder why I am salivating at the idea of our school lunch possibilities, you now know why.
We are reading "The Name of this Book is Secret" in our read aloud, it is a great book! Reminds me of a light hearted Lemony Snickets book. "Wonder" is our next read aloud (just got it in the mail from Scholastic!) and I can't wait, it is an amazing book!
We have reading, literacy (spelling, word work, vocabulary) today.
It looks light, but we took two unit tests yesterday and the kids have lots of extracurricular stuff happening today - oh, that reminds me, we are doing "Bernies Typing" for the next five weeks...the kids learn to type on the computer (I almost said typewriter). Ask them about it.
We play soccer at recess, there is like 20 of us, usually it is girls against boys and I am on the girls team. Very competitive and fun.
I am submitting our contest entry for the Student Publisher book contest in Scholastic today (the deadline)...it is such a cool thing.]]>
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           <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:06:58 -0500</pubDate>
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