August 27, 2011

We did it! We survived the first full week of school. It seemed to be a bit of a long week trying to get back into the swing of things, but here we are, moving forward and ready to go! I have a couple of pictures that I promised this week. First off, on Monday, we finished up our watercolor flowers:

We ended up using these flowers as a lesson on perspective. Each student started with the exact same picture, the exact same view finder, the same paper, and the same paints, but there wasn't a single picture that turned out looking the same. There is not one picture up there that is the "correct" picture. This is because we all see things differently and need to learn to respect that, though other people may see things a little differently, it does not make their way wrong.

The other picture I promised was what we used the cans for. Here it is:

The words "I can't" are not allowed in my classroom. Especially not now that we've made a physical representation of an "I can". I'm going to be putting a shelf up in the room and these are going to remain up for the whole year. If I ever hear somebody use the words "I can't", I will simply refer back up to the cans and say, "I know you can. There's proof right there."

I want to make sure you're aware that the state is slowly transitioning into what is called the "Common Core". This is a fantastic thing for several reasons. First off, the Common Core raises the standards. I am a firm believer that children will reach whatever bar you set for them, so this raises the bar a bit and pushes them to excel. Also, the word common in it refers to the fact that it is the same thing across the nation, or at least it will be, right now I believe it's 46 states that have adopted the Common Core. This is great! Especially for the military in the area. They're children will be able to move from school to school and not be completely lost. This year, the state has decided to have sixth grade adopt the new math core, so if you've had other students come through the sixth grade and things seem a little different, this is why. I believe 2015 is the deadline for the entire state to have adopted the Common Core through all content areas and within all grades, k-12.

Here's our week at a glance:

* In math this week, we've started into our unit on ratios and proportions.

* Our first reading story is "The Best School Year Ever".

* In science, they began diving into the Scientific Method: Question, Research, Hypothesize, Experiment, Analyze, Conclude, and Report.

* Arts and Technology has started right into the beginnings of I-Movie, which they will use to edit the newscasts and other videos they produce throughout the year.

* Social studies has started the year by teaching them about different personality types and having them figure out which personality type they were.

* In Writing and Grammar we have been learning about how to construct a complete sentence, the four sentence types, and the 6(+1) Traits of Good Writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, Conventions, and the (+1) Presentation.

All in all, I'd say it's been a pretty productive week. These kids have taken on each project with class. I truly am blessed to be teaching your students this year!

"Always shoot for the moon because then, even if you miss, you still land amonst the stars."

August 19, 2011

Well, we survived our first week! I don't know if the students felt it, but let me tell you something, we have an incredible class this year! Lots of amazing, sweet, wonderful kids waiting to have a wonderful 6th grade year. I'm right there with them. I hope this ends up being my best year yet!

Our picture from this week comes from the 6th grade team building activity we did. The classes were each given a scooter and a line of rope and told they had to cross the "crocidile infested waters", the width of a basketball court, without touching the "water". We did the activity two different days and it was truly amazing to see how much more team talking was going on the second day. They're well on their way to making our class a family.
We also started an art lesson on perspective. It won't be completed until Monday though, so more details on it will come. The rest of the week was spent learning policies and procedures, getting to know the students, and taking beginning of the year pre-assessments. You know, all of the boring, formality stuff that has to take place at the start of every year. But it's all done and I think we're ready to move forward and really see what this year has to offer!

All in all, I think if you were to ask the Magic 8 Ball, "Are we going to have a good year?" I'm positive this is what you'd see:

WELCOME TO SIXTH GRADE!

Hello Parents!

It's that time of year again! Time to fly our dragons into the 2011-2012 school year! I would like to start by welcoming us all together for what I hope will be one of your student's greatest years yet! Yes, welcome to the sixth grade. My name is Aaron Pratt and I will be your child's teacher, mentor, and confidante throughout this next year.

I am excited to be teaching here at Syracuse Arts Academy! I am more than proud to deliver what SAA has written as their charter. In my opinion, to teach the core through the arts is not doing anything special, it is just good teaching. It helps to get all corners of the child's mind into what is being learned.

I plan on being available to you and your student as much as possible. I am usually available at least an hour before and after school if either of you have questions. I am also available by e-mail or phone. My e-mail address is apratt@syracuseartsacademy.org and of course the school number is (801)779-2066. If I am unavailable to answer, please leave me a message as to what your call was regarding. I will return your calls and e-mails within 24 hours.

If you have any questions throughout the school year, please feel free to contact me. Also, keep an eye on this blog. I will be updating it at least a couple times a month.

I am looking forward to having a wonderful year together!

With warm regards,

Aaron Pratt

June 5, 2011

Well, we've finally made it through the school year. The end was very bittersweet. I am glad that we finally have summer break, but I tell you what, I will miss these kids. I know they'll miss each other as well. We had an emotional last day. Unfortunately, our class is splitting up more than any other. We only have a little more than half our class returning to SAA. It's sad, yes, but it also gives us room for growth. We can expand, meet new friends. Don't forget your old ones though.

There's an old saying goes something like this:

Some people come into our lives and quickly leave. Others stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts so we will never be the same.

Though you may not see your friends on a daily basis anymore, you never have to forget them. Keep that in mind as you move on.

I'm going to post a few videos from the talent shows, to leave us all on a good note. One, the students got to see performed, the other was performed at the junior high talent show, so they did not. Parents, you may have not seen either of them. Here they are, for the enjoyment of all.

I became a teacher to make a difference in the lives of children. Though this is only my second year, I feel as if I am doing that, and I want to end by thanking you parents for helping me know this. They always say teachers don't get paid enough, and though I'd never turn down more money, I get paid plenty in the notes I received from you and the students letting me know that I've done what I set out to do. These kids are the reasons I teach!

Thank you for a fantastic year, and students, you'd better keep in touch!

I Am Part of a Lost Generation

We had a guest speaker named Kyle Johnson come to our school and give a motivational talk about summer safety and making your own life. He shared this poem with the students that I thought was too good not to pass on. I realize it starts out negative, but trust me:

I Am Part of a Lost Generation
by Johnathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation
And I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
Happiness comes from within
Is a lie
Money will make me happy
So in 30 years I will tell my children
They are not the most important things in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
Work
Is more important than
Family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
But this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this Earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope

And this will all be true unless we reverse it

There is hope
It is foolish to presume that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It will be evident that
My peers and I care about this Earth
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction is the norm
In the future
I will live in a c ountry of my own making
I do not concede that
30 years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
Experts tell me
This is a quick fix society
But this will not be in true in my era
Families stayed together
Once upon a time
I tell you this
Family
Is more important than
Work
I have my priorities straight because
My employer will know that
They are not the most important thing in my life
So in 30 years I will tell my children
Money will make me happy,
Is a lie
Happiness comes from within,
I realize this may be a shock but
I can change the world
And I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation

May 22, 2010

This week's blog is just going to be a short, quick blurb of upcoming dates. Put them on your calendars for your records:

May 23 - Missing Assignment/Grade Sheet sent home
May 25 - Last day for graded assignments/missing work
May 26 - Field Day 1:00
May 30 - Memorial Day, No School
May 31 - End of Year Field Trip to Syracuse 6
June 1 - Awards Assembly 9:00
June 1 - Graduation 2:00
June 2 - Talent Show 9:00
June 2 - 6th Grade T-Shirt Creation
(A note with more info will be coming home)
June 3 - Yearbooks! Last day of school!

If you have any questions on any of this, feel free to e-mail me or call me here at the school. Only 9 school days left until year end! Unbelieveable!

May 13, 2011

Hello!

So that countdown that nobody is doing, there's only 14 school days left! It's unbelieveable how quickly it's gone by! It feels like just yesterday that I was really getting to know these kids and now they're going to be leaving me! I'll just have to make sure we have some fun these last few weeks so I know they won't forget me! Haha! Our picture this week comes from the work we did in my rotation. It's called a "Tree of Life". There are five kingdoms that all living things are classified into. Each branch of the tree is dedicated to one of the five kingdoms and each leaf is dedicated to something within the kingdom it's connected to. 625 or so leaves later, and our tree filled in pretty well.
As we move into next week I want to remind you that we do take our final end of level tests this week. The first section of the math test is on Monday and the second section is on Wednesday. Please do your best to be sure that your students don't miss those days so we don't need to make any tests up.

Grades are updated online as well. I am pretty close to being done giving out assignments that will be graded. There will be a few other small things, but for the most part, the lists are close to complete. There is still time to get in any missing assignments. My last day to accept any late work will be May 25. Please keep a close eye on your students and make sure they are caught up. It's a tough time of year for them to focus, so a little extra support could do them good.

A short note on things that are coming up. DARE Lagoon day is next Friday. We are pleaing with you that your students at least come to school so we can mark them here. Lagoon doesn't even open until 10:30, so if they can come until 10:00 to keep our attendance up, that would be greatly appreciated. Field Day is going to be Thursday, May 26. 6th grade will be doing their portion of field day in the afternoon. May 31 is the 6th grade end of year field trip. We will be walking up to the Syracuse Six and watching Kung Fu Panda 2. We will then head to the park right behind there and have some pizza and play some games. There is a permission slip required for this. I have about half of them in. There is also a $10 fee associated with it. The sixth grade talent show will be on June 2 at 9:00. The graduation will be held that same day at 2:00. June 3 is yearbook day. It's the final day for this school year. A day for bittersweet tears to be cried.

These last few weeks are going to go by super quick. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure your students enjoy the time we have left. I hope they do the same for me!

"But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day." ~Benjamin Disraeli