Book Fair by Mrs. Henderson with Riley R.

This year's Scholastic Book Fair has been a success. The students have loved browsing, making shopping lists and buying new books. The variety was amazing. Did you know that James Patterson writes children's books - I just learned that this week! Many parents did some holiday shopping on the sly! Thanks for your support of the library program. Money raised will be used to bring in guest authors, increase our library inventory and continue the mural project in the library. Happy reading!!!!

 

From 5th grader Riley R.-
My book fair experience was that the books at the fair were all fresh and new. There were so many books. I chose the best and they are great. Books are fun to read!

 

Golden Sneaker Award by Coaches McDonald, Park and Hoette

PE celebrated our first Paw Party for Mrs. Jhawer's class who won the most golden sneakers during the first nine weeks.  These first graders got to enjoy thirty extra minutes of PE time.  We played basketball, raced on the scooters, jumped ropes, and hula hooped...Great job Mrs. Jhawer' s class!!

 

 

National Food Day by Coach Nicki McDonald

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier this month, TWE participated in National Food Day. Students played a game called Food Card scramble where students  chose food cards from the protein, dairy, fruit, vegetable, and grain food groups to make their plate of food. They also had a guest speaker who talked to  them about healthy eating. Students also tried out fruits and veggies donated by Sprouts. We are excited to encourage healthy eating at TWE. 

 

 

 

Word Watchers by Jamie Brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word Watchers is an activity students participate in from Kindergarten to 5^th grade. Each week a new word is introduced on the announcements, for example the word "photograph" was introduced this week. We discuss the meaning of each word part (photo means light, graph means to write or draw). Students are then asked to be Word Watchers and look for the word as they are reading, conversing and watching television throughout the week.

 

When students find the word they put a sentence, meaning or picture on an index card and it is displayed on the grade level Word Watcher bulletin board. A student from each grade is chosen each week to come on the announcements to share what they have found.

 

Each week we will build upon the word meanings to allow students to have time to gain a greater understanding of word parts and word meanings. Breaking down larger vocabulary words into word parts to understanding the meaning of the word is a skill that many students struggle with in elementary school. Our hope is that Word Watchers will give students background knowledge to pull from as they learn. You can support Word Watchers at home by having conversations or helping your student find the word for the week. The word for the week can be found in the E-news that is sent out every Monday.

 

Happy Word Watching!!!  

Packathon by Rhonda Henderson

 

 

 

 

SMILES, SMILES and more SMILES!!!!!

 

Tons of Fun!!!!!

 

$57,400 and counting!!!!!!

 

Community Spirit!!!!!!!

 

THANK YOU!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Veteran's Day by Susan Boiarsky and Renee Spath

 

 

 

 

 

All students at TWE wrote letters to our Katy Veterans on Veteran’s Day. Students wrote notes of appreciation on red, white and blue hearts. We delivered the notes to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 and Ladies Auxiliary in Katy, Texas. Thanks to all of our VETERANS for your service!

Check here for more info on the auxiliary.

http://www.vfw9182.org/

Friday Night Lights

 

Nachos, popcorn, hot dogs, relays, games, moms and their sons - all a combination for lots of laughter and good times! Friday Night Lights was our first mother-son community builder event and it was a success. Thanks to Rochelle Jessel and the PTA Community Building committee for organizing a great night that allowed a lot of lasting memories to be created. See the pictures below for a glimpse of the fun!

 

 

 

 

Can't wait for the Father-Daughter Dance in February! Dads - get your dancing shoes ready!

Book Character Parade by Rhonda Henderson

October 31 was a fun day at TWE! We spent the day celebrating book characters and their importance to our reading! Our day kicked off with a character parade and was followed with a day full of learning....if you missed the parade, here are a few pics to catch you up of the excitement of this tradition.

 

 

Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Outdoor Learning Center (OLC) by Tatiana R.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Tatiana for sharing her learning at a recent field trip to the OLC!

We were at the schoolhouse at Katy ISD’s Outdoor Learning Center for a field trip. At the school house the girls were expected to wear a bonnet and a skirt, and the boys had to wear a tie. The school only had one room and one teacher.

Students entered the schoolhouse each day by saying, “Good Morning, Mrs. Hunzeker.” Or whatever their teacher’s name was. Then, if you were a boy you would give a bow, and if you were a girl you would give a curtsy.

One of the schoolhouse rules was if you were late to class you had to stay in for the whole recess.

Students were disciplined by missing recess, cleaning the classroom, getting locked in the closet for an hour, and getting a sign hung around their neck. The sign said things like “Fidgety Boy” or Fidgety Girl.” Students also got hit with a switch if they had bad behavior, and they were also made to get firewood for the stove as a punishment.

If students needed water they had to get the bucket and drink with a ladle. All of the students drank from the same bucket and the same ladle. Students pumped the water pump at the well.

There were only a few subjects back then such as arithmetic, reading, writing, and science. Also an outside subject was recess.

Teachers had rules too. They were not allowed to ride in any carriage or automobile with men unless it was their father or brother. They were also not allowed to hang around downtown in the ice cream store!

The school house didn’t have any air conditioning or heat back then so the students who sat near the fireplace were too hot, and the students that sat in the back of the room were too cold. Lucky for the people that sat in the middle – they were just perfect!

The students used slates, writing sticks, and McGuffy readers. They sat on long skinny benches, with boys on one side of the classroom and girls on the other. The students couldn’t be fidgety because it was a disruption.

I had a good time at the Outdoor Learning Center and learned a lot.

Interview with TWE Art teacher Mrs. Laura Reeves Tyagi by: Clare Uberecken, Riley Rogde, Tofunmi Jewesimi

Meet Mrs. Laura Reeves Tyagi

 

When and where were you born?

I was born in Little Rock, Ark. In 1981.

 

What is your favorite project that you are working on with kids?

I don’t really have a favorite project, but I do enjoy watching my students draw pictures and objects from real life.

 

What is your favorite art piece?

I love Monet, and Water Lilies is my favorite. I saw it at the museum of Modern Art in New York City.

 

Why did you become an art teacher?

Excellent question!  I became an art teacher because when I was a senior in high school my new art teacher was very inspirational, and I decided I wanted to also be an art teacher.  When I went to college one of her mentors became my professor. We became friends and stay in touch now. 

 

Who inspired you?

My art teacher, Mrs. Brisco.  She always pushed me to do my best. 

Who were your favorite teachers?

Mrs. Brisco, and my drama teacher, Mrs. Sutton.  They both made learning fun!

 

 

Interview with TWE Art teacher -Mrs. Amie Shorter by Clare Uberecken, Riley Rogde, Tofunmi Jewesimi

 

Meet Mrs. Amie Shorter

 

Where are you from?

 I grew up in Indiana near the Michigan border.

 

What is your favorite color?

I love blue because my kids’ eyes are blue.

 

Who are your favorite teachers?

My favorite teacher is my third grade teacher, Mrs. Riley.  She was very nice and taught us lots of important information.

 

Why did you become an art teacher?

My aunt was an artist and she influenced me, and I love drawing and coloring because it is so comforting and relaxing.  I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but when I went to college I was discouraged to be an art teacher because many schools don’t have them.  I taught 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th grades but always knew my love was teaching art.

 

Who inspired you?

My aunt Cindy, the artist.

 

What is your favorite teaching story?

There are so many great stories, but I love the stories of where kids think they are really not good artists but then when they see the finished product, they get excited about what they have created.

 

Who is your favorite artist?

My aunt is my favorite, but I love Marie Cassatt, and the painting The Bath.

 

Reader’s Workshop in Second Grade By: Mrs. Ross

 

 

 This past summer the second grade teachers attended a Reading Summit Conference, a 4 day training that taught us many reading strategies to implement in our classrooms.  The training validated our belief that children become better readers the more they read! We also know that good readers are always asking questions, predicting, visualizing, and inferring.  The Reading Summit gave us a practical framework to guide our reading instruction in our classrooms.  We know the benefits of implementing Reader’s Workshop will empower the students of TWE to be better readers who love to read!

In order to encourage thinking and questioning while they read, second graders have been enjoying “Book Talks”.  These circle talks involve them meeting with a small group, reading, and discussing a common book. They are learning “talk moves” which are hand signals to keep their talk time organized and productive.  We have a sign that means “I agree with you”, a sign for “I’d like to add on to your thought”, and a sign for “I have a new thought”.

Answering questions such as, “How can you relate to the character? How did the character change? and What can you infer about the character based on his  actions?” helps the second graders think critically about what they are reading.  Knowing they will be sharing ideas, asking and answering questions during their book talk time keeps them accountable for understanding what they are reading. Plus, it’s just fun to talk about books with friends!

As you read with your children at home, here are some questions you can discuss with them:

How can you describe the character?

How did the character change?

How is the character like you?

How is the character like a character in another book?

How is the character like someone you know?

What do you predict will happen next?

Did you agree with the ending?

What was your favorite part?

What type of text are you reading? (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)

 

The real experts of Reader’s Workshop have this to say about reading:

“Your heart beats as one with the character.” –Lauren, second grade

“I wish I could just read all day!” –Angela, second grade

 

STEAM - Halloween Edition by Cassie Keel

In the spirit of Halloween and our recent study on changing states of matter, the third grade students participated in a fun “Mystery Brew” lab. Together we discussed different hypotheses and predicted what would happen when dry ice was placed in the mystery brew. Students were able to observe that not only can a solid change to a liquid, but a solid can change to a gas as well. The kids loved it! Check out the pictures below!

 

FUN!!!!!!!

Non-Fiction Reading in 3rd grade by Lindsey Morgan

 

 

 

We are diving into non-fiction texts galore in third grade! We launched our unit with looking at the 5 text features authors use when writing non-fiction. We had a lot of discussions about why authors would use each of the different text structures. Students participated in an exciting “Mystery Envelope” activity where they had to put on their detective hats, and work collaboratively with their peers to determine which text structure the author used in each envelope! Students also used devices with a QR reader and sorted task cards under each text structure. They scanned the bar code to check their work at the end of the activity J We are learning tons of new information as we read non-fiction every day!

 

Using Technology to Make Science Products by Cassie Keel

Pic Collage has been a very fun and effective tool for our 3^rd grade students in science this year. Students are able to take ownership of their learning by creating their own pic collage to represent their knowledge of a certain topic. This week, students created pic collages about matter. Check some of them making a few!

 

 

 

3rd grade Math and Science Teachers by Rhonda Henderson

Yesterday you met the 3rd grade language arts teachers, and today you will get to learn more about the math and science teachers on that team.

                                            Ms. Cabness, Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Reid, and Mrs. Keel

Mrs. Kathi Lawson has been a 3^rd grade teacher at Wilson since the doors opened two years ago. Prior to teaching at Wilson, Mrs. Lawson taught in the Garland ISD, outside of Dallas and in the Loudoun County School District, outside of Washington, DC. Mrs. Lawson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University and a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from Shenandoah University. When not teaching, Mrs. Lawson loves to spend time with her husband, 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Additionally, Mrs. Lawson loves to travel and is an avid power walker.

 

Mrs.Heather Reid also teaches 3^rd grade math, science, and social studies.  This is her 23^rd year of teaching and her 19^th year of teaching third grade.  Mrs. Reid is a member of the TWE inaugural staff and has been a teacher in Katy ISD for seven years. She is  a graduate of Stephen F. Austin University.  Mrs. Reid  lives  in Katy, Texas with her husband James, their three children, and their dog Maggie.  Her daughter Kaitlyn is in 11^th grade, her son Gavin is in 9^th grade, and her son Corbin is in 7^th grade. Mrs. Reid enjoys watching her daughter cheer and her sons play football and lacrosse. This year she is participating in a math and science opportunity with Rice University called REMSL.

 

Mrs Cassie Keel has also been a member of the 3^rd grade team since our opening -teaching math, science, and social studies. Her smile and warm personality bring cheer to our school community. This is her 5^th of year of teaching, and 4^th year teaching 3^rd grade. She is  a graduate of Texas A&M and an avid football fan. Mrs. Keel  lives in Katy with her husband, Ryan and their pup, Canyon.

 

Ms. Ryan Cabness is joining the 3rd grade team at TWE this year, but she has been teaching at TWE since our opening.  This is her 9^th year of teaching in Katy ISD.  Ms. Cabness grew up in Katy and is a graduate of James E. Taylor High School. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA in Accounting. Ms. Cabness loves spending time with her friends, family, and her two dogs, Tina and Daisy.

Check out this blog for the remainder of the week to find out about some great learning going on in 3rd grade!

 

The TWE Third Grade Language Arts Team by Rhonda Henderson

We are fortunate to have an energetic and hard working group of teachers on the 3rd grade team. All of the teachers on the team bring a variety of educational and life experiences. They have a great year planned for our students. Today we feature our Language Arts teachers.

 

                                          Mrs. Stratton, Mrs. Frias, Ms. Morgan and Mrs. Keys

Mrs. Lisa Stratton is the team leader of the 3^rd grade team. She says that she is delighted to be part of the third grade team at Tom Wilson Elementary.  Mrs. Stratton graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in elementary education and a minor in English.  This is her sixth year teaching in the "great state of Texas" and her second year on the 3^rd grade team here at TWE.  Before moving to Katy, she taught 5^th grade reading, writing, and science.  In her free time, she loves to relax with a good book, kick back and watch good movie, or play team trivia with her friends. 

Ms. Lindsey Morgan also teaches 3^rd grade reading, writing and social studies. She has been teaching in 3^rd grade since the opening year of TWE. Ms. Morgan grew up in Richmond, TX. She graduated from Texas State University in the beautiful town of San Marcos, TX. She is  now living in Katy with her “precious pup”, Sadie, who just turned 8!

Mrs. Sarah Frias (formerly Ms. Martinez) is teaching for her 3^rd year at TWE. She is excited about moving from first grade to  third grade this year.  Mrs. Frias has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Texas A&M and a Master’s degree in Education from Southern Methodist University. She grew up in sunny Edinburg, TX and loves to go home and visit often. She also enjoys watching Texas A&M football. “Whoop!”  Mrs. Frias married this summer and has a “wonderful” dog named Rita.

 Joining the TWE staff this year is Mrs. Lindsey Keys. Mrs. Keys grew up outside Philadelphia, in a little town called Valley Forge. After graduating from Penn State, she returned to her hometown and began her career in education while obtaining her master's degree. Mrs. Keys and her husband have two beautiful children, Ella and Brody. Working with children, and educating young learners has always been her dream, and she is glad to be here at TWE!

Check out Packprints tomorrow to learn more about the Math and Science teachers on the 3rd grade team.