Brainetics

Indian Prairie Project Arrow PTA presents a night of Brainetics
and an Enrichment Activities Fair
When: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Where: Kendall Elementary School in the MPR, 2408 Meadow Lake Drive, Naperville, IL 60564
Cost: Free to IPPA PTA members; $5/Family for non-members
Mike Byster and his amazing and unique Brainetics learning program can only accommodate 100 participants, so please RSVP soon. The program is designed for both parents and students.
After the program, you can visit the IPPA PTA Enrichment Activities Fair in the Kendall gym to learn about programs available in our area for your student(s). Exhibitors providing academic, music, language, leadership, and summer camps will be on hand.
Please email ippa.pta@gmail.com to RSVP for Brainetics. Please include the number of people attending.
Mike Byster has created a system for solving complex math problems by using a series of patterns and short-cuts that demystify how numbers work. He also teaches how parents and children can work together to greatly improve the child's memory. You can learn more about Mike and the Brainetics program at www.Brainetics.com.

5th Grade Fundraiser

The 5th Grade Farewell Committee will be selling Bakers Square Sweet Returns Cards throughout the months of November and December to help raise funds for the 5th Grade Farewell class gift.

The cards are $13 each and have “No Expiration” date!
You may order your Bakers Square Sweet Returns Cards by printing out the order form below

Questions? Jeanne Kern 630-778-1811 or JPKFamily@wowway.com

Cowlishaw Holiday Shop This Saturday!

Cowlishaw Holiday Shop this Saturday!
December 11th
In the Gym
10am—2pm

Children will have the opportunity to pick out their own gifts for family and friends in price range from $0.25—$11.50. Cash or Check. Sponsored by the Cowlishaw PTA.

Ghost Cat

Fifth Graders have begun reading a story called "Ghost Cat" by Donna Hill. They will discuss the story in depth in their small groups today and I look forward to their discussions. The story is about a family who goes on vacation to a small beach house in a remote town. The family has recently lost their Father (we do not know how or to what extent; death, divorce, etc.) and the story discusses the dealing of the loss. A cat, although never seen by anyone, plays a prominent part in the youngest childs healing process, as well as the rest of the family members.

Third Grade

Third Grade students have been reading and discussing a very short story called, "The Wolf and the Lion". Although the story is very short (1/2 a page long) the students are finding that there is much to be discussed. They also are learning about some of the tools we use to help them with comprehension of vocabulary and literary elements. They have been working with 3 such tools called a vocabulary web, a literature web and a Journeys and Destination Matrix. Each of these has a different use for learning more about the meaning of the story. Ask your child to discuss them.

Number The Stars

Fourth Grade students will be reading and discussing the book, "Number The Stars" by Lois Lowry, a John Newberry Medal Winner. They were given the book on Monday of this week and need to have read the first 9 chapters by next Monday. Number The Stars, is the story of a 10 year old Jewish girl during World War II. Students read and discussed a similar story called "The Power of Light" and this story ties in very well with it. We will complete the book by Winter Break.

Culver's Night

Cowlishaw is having a dinner night out at Culver's TODAY Dec. 9th from 10:30 am - 10 pm. 20% of all sales will go towards the PTA. We are holding a classroom competition to encourage participation in the event. The classroom that has the most percentage of its students participate will receive free custard. Culvers will donate cards for free custard to the winning classroom! Please come out for dinner and support the Cowlishaw Family and tell your child to sign their name on their classroom sheet to get credit.

FOURTH GRADE GEOMETRY UNIT ENDS TODAY

Fourth Grade students have completed their geometry unit by taking a final assessment today. They will begin their Literature unit on Monday of next week.

Third Grade Wraps Up Algebra Unit

Third Grade PA students will be taking their Final Test on Friday, November 19th. The test will consist of 10 problems, some that look like this one.

2(-X + 2X) + 4(-X) + 2 = X = (-4)

They have worked hard during this unit and learned a great deal.

Good Luck to all of you!

CHESS TOURNAMENT

Chess Tournament

Saturday, December 11, 2010

On-line Registration


See this link: http://www.dgfrog.org/Chess_Register.html

SPOTLIGHT ON SCIENCE

Parents,

There is an upcoming opportunity for 4th graders at Cowlishaw...Spotlight on Science.

Spotlight on Science takes the young scientist on a journey where he/she explore the process of scientific enquiry in greater detail. It is a comprehensive unit that both teaches and reviews concepts, and prepares the young elementary students for middle school.

Subjects taught: Life Science, Environmental Science, Force and Motion, Magnets, Electricity, Chemistry, Earth Science, Astronomy

Dates: January 12, 19, 26 and February 3, 10, 17 (Wednesdays in 2011)

Location: Cowlishaw Elementary School (Students may stay after school and proceed straight to the program.)

Early registration is recommended, as spaces are limited.

Fee: $120 on or before December 2; $140 after December

For additional information, please email pathwayenrichment@gmail.com, or call 630.995-6494.

More information will be sent home via a flyer.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

I hope that I met with you over the past two weeks during Parent-Teacher conferences. My goal was to meet with parents of PA students who were new to the program this year. I know I missed a few conferences and I apologize to those parents that I did not have an opportunity to meet with. At times I was scheduled to meet with 4-5 parents at a time. If I did not meet with you and would like to meet, please contact me and we can schedule a conference time.
Thank you for the hard work that you do as parents! It truly shows in your child.

IPPA PTA MEETING

Dear IPPA PTA members:

IPPA PTA will hold a General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, 11/16/10,
at 9:30 am at the 95th Street Library, Naperville.

On the agenda:
PTA business items: approval of minutes, review of monthly financial
report, etc.
Representatives from the District 204 administration will be there to
discuss PA curriculum and answer questions.
Chess tournament results will be announced.

Children, who are reasonably quiet, are welcome.

When you have a chance, please check out our Google Documents. When
you go to the IPPA PTA Google Group, you will find Documents at the
top of the page. Select Documents to see postings.

Regards,
IPPA PTA Board

IPPA MEETING

IPPA PTA General Meeting

Tuesday, November 16th at 9:30 am

95th Street Library, Naperville, IL

Meeting Room A/B

Questions can be emailed to ippa.pta@gmail.com

Three-Dimensional Geometry

Fourth Grade PA students have been having fun and learning about Three-Dimensional objects through the investigation of the numbers of vertices, faces, and edges that various closed three-dimensional figures have. In one lesson they discovered that for any closed three-dimensional figure, the sum of the number of faces and vertices is two more than the number of edges (Euler's Formula). Building nets they are able to determine whether the net is a net for a closed three-dimensional figure or not. We will be completing our unit on geometry and beginning our literature unit after Thanksgiving Break.

Final Phase of "X"

"Don't listen to your parents"! These have been the words spoken often to your third grade PA student in my classroom this first quarter. That is, "Don't listen to your parents when it comes to them trying to help you in completing any algebra homework from my class". This "Hands-On Equation" system using blue and white pawns, ("x" and "*") and red and green face-value cubes, (positive and negative numbers) is a way to introduce the algebra concept to students. It often happens that if they are having homework problems, and a parent or an older sibling steps in to help, it only confuses the child more. Students are doing very well, and we should be wrapping up our unit at Thanksgiving Break.

Insects Living and Working Together

Second Grade PA students are researching the social interaction of certain insects. Using Bloom's Taxonomy, which is a cognitive taxonomy developed in the 1950's by a committee of educators and scholars headed by Benjamin Bloom. Students think creatively, analyzing, synthesizing, applying, and evaluating information (higher-order thinking skills) needed to achieve success. As the students complete their research, taking notes, they will in the end create a story based on their insects social behavior, as well as, produce a brochure explaining their findings. Students will be working on this project in the classroom up until Thanksgiving Break. Be sure to discuss this project with your child and see which insect they have chosen to complete their research on.

Fifth Grade Economists

Fifth Grade PA students have been learning about the economy and have begun playing a short (week long) version of a Stock Market Game. They have also begun playing a Stock Market Game sponsored in part with the Chicago Tribune that will last through December. By giving students an understanding of the stock market, we are preparing them to deal knowledgeably with an area of our society that has a vast effect on their lives. whether or not they choose in later life to trade stocks on an individual basis, they will at least have the knowledge that will enable them to understand this aspect of the economy and how their personal economic pictures are affected by the larger economic landscape.

Fourth Grade Geo-Wizards

Fourth Grade PA students have been working in cooperative groups with polydron pieces. These pieces help students to create two-, and three-dimensional geometry shapes so that students can describe, model, draw, and classify shapes; investigate and predict results of combining, subdividing, and changing shapes; develop spatial sense; relate geometric ideas to number and measurement ideas and recognize and appreciate geometry in their world.

Third Grade Mathematicians

Third Grade PA students are having fun and learning some valuable lessons in solving pre-algebra equations.
Thursdays lesson will have the students solving this equation:
2X + * + 3 = 2* = 15

Students use a hands-on approach, using blue/white pawns and red/green value cubes to assist in solving the equations.

Second Grade Goes Buggy!!

Second grade PA students have been learning about Entomology, the study of insects.
Some of the Essential Questions that we are answering are:
What is an Entomologist?
Why do we need Entomologists?
Are insects valuable to our world?
How does the scientific classification of living things apply to science?
How do the life cycles of insects differ?
We are currently looking into the different classification of insects. Students are learning that insects can be distinguished by certain characteristics, habitats, food supplies, methods of camouflage, and defense mechanisms.

OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 14th 6:30-8:00pm

Parents,

Stop in and say hello!

IPPA MEETING

IPPA meeting on Sept 28th @ 7:30pm. The meeting will be held at the Crouse Education Center located at 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora (up on the second floor).

Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Project Arrow Begins!

Today was the first day of Project Arrow for the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students! Second Grade will begin next week! In third grade, students will be learning hands-on "Algebra" Today they seem very confused and concerned, but I advised them th=at it would begin to make sense and come very easy to them after a while. Fourth grade students took a pretest today in "Geometry" and will soon begin a hands-on unit called "Geometric Explorations" and our Fifth grade students will dive into the world of Stocks, as they learn about our economy and play a Fantasy Stock Market game. I hope the students are as excited as I am to get PA up and running this year. Stay tuned for updates on each of these units.

WELCOME BACK!

Project Arrow students we should be meeting sometime next month. I'm very excited to get back to work and see everyone. Fifth Grade we will begin our math unit and be learning about the Stock Market. Fourth Grade we will also begin with our math unit and dive into the world of Geometry! Third grade students will enjoy their first year with a math unit called "Hands-On Equations" or Algebra. Which if you talk to any 4th grade PA student from last year, they will say they loved it! Second grade students we will work on our science unit and learn Entomology, the study of insects! So Welcome Back and let's have a great year!

New Parent Orientation

Welcome new parents and students to Project Arrow at Cowlishaw Elementary! I will use this blog to inform parents and students of what has been taking place in the Project Arrow classroom. I will not use this blog as a place for students or parents to locate homework assignments. Check out the blog site, there are web links to great sites and I hope next year to be able to have a link for students to obtain some worksheets as well. Parents and students cannot blog back with me as I do not use it as a means of two-way communication, I can be reached through my e-mail or office number. Again welcome and I look forward to working with both parents and students next year!

How I Came To Be a Writer

Fifth Grade students are currently reading a book written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and will be writing several original stories. This book is very interesting if you like biographies, and is perfect for all ages. She talks about her childhood of writing and making up stories. She says that at first she didn't understand how to read and she thought all of the kids were just making up a story that went with a picture. She also talks about eating her sister's chocolate bunny and having to wear awful boy's clothes! She later on discussed the steps she took to become the marvelous writer she is.Hopefully this book will inspire some students to not only become better writers, but enjoy writing!

The Green book

Third grade students have begun reading a novel by Jill Paton Walsh.
The Green book.
"Three kids (Joe, Sarah and Pattie) leave Earth in a space ship with their Dad, just before the planet is destroyed by a natural disaster. Each person on the ship is allowed to bring just one book. It is a four-year voyage, which the passengers mostly spend sleeping and reading. After a few weeks, people start trading books. Everyone makes fun of Pattie, the youngest child aboard, when they discover she brought an empty book as her choice.

Finally the refugees arrive at their new home. The air and water are good, but the vegetation is all very strange and crystalline. Pattie is given the honor of naming their new village. She calls it Shine.

By various experiments, the humans figure out ways to build houses and make lamps to light them. However, all their animals die after eating the local grass. Their earth plants won't grow, either, except for wheat, but even that has a weird look to it. Nobody is sure if they will have enough to eat, and their ship has no fuel to take them anywhere else.

Luckily, Pattie and the other kids, discover that there are "candy trees" with a sweet, edible sap. They also discover that the humans are not alone. A strange moth-people hatch out and hover around, curious but totally unable to communicate.

The wheat harvest comes in. All the grains look like glass beads. Sarah, Pattie's sister, steals a bunch of the grain and makes pancakes with it. The kids all eat them. Everyone is afraid they will die, but they suffer no ill effects. At last, they know they will be able to survive!

The grown-ups need a way to keep track of who gets how much wheat. They want Pattie to give them her blank book, but she protests. In the end, her father takes it and finds it is not blank. Pattie used the book as a diary and wrote down all their experiences in settling Shine."

Crispin The Cross of Lead

Fourth grade students are beginning a novel based in the 14th century. The novel is written by Avi.
Asta's son, a poor peasant in 14th Century England, was only 13 when his mother died and his whole world crumbled. His mourning was soon replaced by inexplicable terror when, it seemed, the whole world was suddenly determined to see him dead! On the advice of his priest, Crispin escaped from the only home he had ever known and ran into a world he had never known. With him, he carried his only possession, a cross of lead. Having no skills, no friends, no family, and no experience in finding food, Crispin's problems began to multiply.

Why was Crispin being pursued?

Who was the mysterious stranger he met in a deserted village?

What was the secret held in the cross of lead?

these are just some of the questions to be answered as we read,

Crispin The Cross of Lead.

The Wolf and the Lion

Third grade students have been discussing much after reading a very short story called, The Wolf and the Lion. I don't believe they thought that we could discuss so much for as many days as we have about this story. Have your child share the story with you and ask them some of the different perspectives we discussed such as, the Key words in the story and there meanings. The Feelings they had while reading the story, as well as, the feelings of the characters. some of the Images that went through their mind as they read, and of course the meaning or message of the story.

The Old Man and His Affectionate Son

Fourth grade students have been reading and discussing a short story called The Old Man and His Affectionate Son. Ask your child about the story and their thoughts and ideas on how the older people in the story were treated. What do you think?

Toothpaste Millionaire

Fifth grade students have completed reading a short novel that ties in well with the SMG. The novel is called, The Toothpaste Millionaire. Students are currently discussing the novel in class and will be working on an activity either creating a TV commercial, writing a different ending to the story or some other creative piece to be shared in class.

3rd-4th and 5th Grade News

All grades have currently begun their Literature Units and will be reading novels, short stories, and poetry until the end of the school year!

Stock Market Game

All four teams have been investing well, putting together very diverse portfolios. Currently all four teams are in the top 100, out of 228 teams competing. Cowlishaw teams not only compete against other elementary schools, but compete against students from high schools and middle schools in the Illinois region. Our teams rank this week in 2oth, 35th, 50th, and 92nd place. All it takes is one good investment to either move you to the top or down to the cellar. Students need to research companies and watch the news to learn if they can make the next best move to catapult their team to the top. Continue to watch for updates and talk with your child about news you hear, we don't consider parent assistance, insider trading.

Fifth Grade Teams Enter First Trades

Teams in the Fifth Grade have started competing in the Stock Market Game. Last Friday they made their first stock purchases. Teams have $100,000.00 to spend and compete against high school, middle school and elementary schools in the region of Illinois. I will keep you updated on the competition.

Progress Reports for 3rd & 5th Grade

Parents,

I will be sending home this Friday progress reports for all 3rd and 5th grade PA students.

We will be shortly wrapping up our Algebra Unit in 3rd grade, and although we will continue with our Stock Market Game in 5th grade, I feel a progress report at this time would be best to inform parents of their students work in these areas.

ISAT Testing will take place the first week of March and there will be no PA during this week, so we will wrap up our Algebra Unit before ISAT testing and then move on into our Literature Unit.

For 5th grade students we have learned and played a short version of the stock market game. By giving students an understanding of the stock market, then, we are preparing them to deal knowledgeably with an area of our society that has a vast effect on their lives. After ISAT week we will also begin our Literature Unit.

Parents of fourth grade students please do not feel left out. Your child is currently working in their Literature Unit and will continue until the end of the year. I will be sending progress reports home with all grade levels at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Third Grade Algebra

Students have been having fun as they work hard to solve problems in their algebra unit. They are currently wrapping up their Level II unit and will continue to work through February on Level III.

Can you solve this problem?

3x - (-x) + 4 = 2(-x) + 10

Your child can!

Fifth Grade Stock Market Game (SMG)

Students have been individually playing a short version game with made up companies. They will participate in their group SMG starting on Friday, Feb. 19th. We will continue with our SMG and begin our Literature Unit, the week of Feb. 22nd.

Fifth Grade Projects

The due date for the projects was changed to Feb. 16th.

Fourth Grade Literature Unit

Fourth Graders have begun their literature unit called "Reflections" by reading a story called "The Power of Light" and answering some questions about it. During this unit students will read short stories, poems and a couple of novels where they will discuss in both small and large group settings. Ask your child about "the Power of Light" and what they thought of the story.

Stock Market Research Project

On Friday, fifth grade students will choose a company to complete a research project on. The project is due on February 8th! The company must be listed on a stock exchange used in the Stock Market game. NYSE, American Stock Exchange and NASDQ. Rubric have been provided for the students, and they have an option of creating a power point, movie, poster board presentation. Their final product should include, but is not limited to; the company name, brands, products, company history, interesting or extraordinary facts that the general public may not know. Overall, the product and student show an in-depth knowledge of the company. A majority of this project will be completed at home.

Welcome Back!

Hope everyone had a great Winter Break and you're ready to get back to work! Third grade students will continue with their Algebra unit as will Fourth grade with their Geometry unit. Fifth grade is starting their unit on the Stock Market and Economy.