IPPA PTA MEETING

Indian Prairie Project Arrow PTA General meeting will be Tuesday, March 6th at 7:00pm at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora, IL

Agenda will include, Allison Sherman, Director of Core Curriculum and Jeanine Buishas, Instructional Specialist - Gifted/Differentiation, who will discuss the new Common Core Curriculum changes and the impact on PA Curriculum.

We hope to see you at our next meeting. Any questions, please email ippa.pta@gmail.com

Fifth Grade, The Economy and Stock Market Game

Students will learn about our economy and play a game buying and selling stocks.

Fourth Grade, Neurology

Students will soon begin the study of the brain. We will explore some of the different parts of the brain and how the brain functions.

Third Grade, Oceanography

Third Grade Project Arrow students will begin an "Oceanography" unit after Spring Break. They will study some of the various sea creatures and explore the depths of the ocean floor. We also watch a movie called "The Mimi" that we tie in with the unit.

Math Problem Solving, 2nd Grade

Second Grade students in Project Arrow will begin a Problem Solving Unit called "Athenian Secret" A Greek Treasure Hunt. In Athenian Secret student teams solve various arithmetic puzzles earning Greek Drachmas, according to level of difficulty.

Project Arrow, 2nd through 5th Grade

Project Arrow for 2nd through 5th Grade will be wrapping up their Literature Units before Spring Break. After the break each grade level will begin a new unit up to the end of the school year!

ISAT TESTING

All Project Arrow Classes and Guided Reading Groups in First and Kindergarten will be Cancelled Next Week, starting March 5th for ISAT TESTING!

Spring Conferences

I will not have Conferences with parents unless you request one or I request one.

Open House

Open House will be this coming Thursday, February 9th from 6:30 to 8:00pm. I hope to see you then.

Literature Units

All Grade Levels will continue with their Literature Units up until Spring Break!

Project Arrow Testing is Over!

Whew! That was a long two weeks, but Project Arrow Testing is Over and I will start to have Project Arrow class again! For those that took the test yu will find out the results sometime in May.

Center for Talent Development

Check out the link on the right hand side for the "Center of Talent Development" through Northwestern University. Winter 2012 which is January 14 through March 3rd they have a Saturday Enrichment Program. Most classes are held in Naperville at North Central College.

2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades

After Thanksgiving Break all PA grade levels will begin their Literature Units. Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade focus on a theme of "Change". Students will read short stories, novels and poetry. We will break down the stories and analize the literature elements. Fourth and Fifth Grades have already begun with a Pretest after reading a short story/poem. Second and Third Grades will begin when they return from break.

Mayan Pottery

Fifth Grade students recently completed their interpretation of ancient Mayan pottery which is currently on display in the LMC. In February it will be on display in the Project Arrow room during Open House. Hope to see you there.

Conferences

Parents,

I will no longer hold Parent-Teacher Conferences in the Homeroom Teachers classroom. If you would like a conference, please contact me to set up a time during the scheduled conference days in November. Some parents have already signed up for conferences when they came to Curriculum Night. E-mail or phone.

Paul_Gaca@ipsd.org or 630 428-6147

Thank you!

2nd Graders Become Entomologists

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.

Third Grade

Third Grade PA students are having fun and learning some valuable lessons in solving pre-algebra equations.
Thursday's 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.

PA PTA is presenting Dr. James Delisle

PA PTA is presenting Dr. James Delisle on Wednesday 10/5. Please come and be inspired by his presentation.

Parenting Precocious Children and Teens: Understanding the Ups and Downs of Growing Up Gifted and How to Advocate for Gifted in a School Setting by noted expert Dr. James Delisle

Indian Prairie Project Arrow PTA (District 204) would like to invite parents to a presentation by Dr. James Delisle: teacher, author and speaker on gifted children.

When: Wednesday, October 5th 2011

Time: 7pm start (90 minutes - 2 hours)

Where: Metea Valley High School, 1801 N. Eola Road, Aurora, IL

Cost: $10 early bird via http://ippapta.eventbrite.com ; $15 at the door [cash or checks only]

Parents of gifted children and teens have many questions about how best to meet their intellectual and emotional needs. They want to know what giftedness is and the label’s impact on other family members. They want to know how to advocate for their gifted child in a school setting mired in ‘bringing up the bottom’ rather than ‘raising the bar’ at the top. They want to know how to set expectations that are appropriate and balanced. And they want to know how to juggle the wide range of emotional intensities that often accompanies growing up gifted. This session addresses these and other issues that come with the territory’ in parenting gifted kids. More information can be seen at: http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/IPPC/Default.aspx/ProjectArrowPTA

Here is an interesting article on Jim Delisle: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-synthesis/201108/teen-survival-smarts

Geometry

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.

Fifth Grade Archeologists

Fifth Grade students are learning about Archeology and the study of the Ancient Mayan.
We are currently reading a novel by Dorothy Rhoads, called "The Corn Grows Ripe" The story of Tigre, a 12 year old boy who must take on the work of planting the corn for his family to survive after his father is badly injured in an accident. Through journaling, small and large group discussions we explore the Mayan people of today and yesterday in their social and religious beliefs.
Students will later learn more about the Mayan people and Archeology through several movies, shorts texts, discussions and more.
They will have the opportunity to become archaeologists by excavating a site, an activity called, "Garbo logy".
Finally they will also create ancient Mayan pottery and explore the ancient Mayan glyphs and math.