Ms Culliver, our new Kindergarten teacher  is really fun to work with. On her first day, we Skyped with Mrs Morgan,  a friend of mine from the DEN (Discovery Educators Network). Our students practiced speaking in complete sentences and learning the difference between a question and a statement. They practiced asking and answering questions with the 6th graders in Illinois! Ms Morgans class was super-terrific in terms of their attitude, knowledge, and behavior! I hope we can see them again soon!

We were invited to collaborate with Ms Robertson's class from the Elkmont k-12 School in Elkmont, Alabama. This school is about 45 miles away from Huntsville, AL! We learned a lot about their school and they shared with us how they are going to "make their mark." We had some sound problems but it was still a lot of fun and a good time was had by all! Happy Dot Day to you!

It was a great day at Hawthorne today! It was International Dot Day and we connected with Mrs. Temske's class in Roswell GA! Her class introduced themselves, asked and answered questions, and showed us the dot art they made. We LOVED LOVED LOVED all of the designs!! Thank you Mrs Temske's class!

You can make awesome noodle head puppets just for fun or as a response to literature!

This 52 page workbooks goes along with the ECON Explorers lesson plans provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Financial literacy is not talked about enough! It's not until we are older that we realize how little we really know about how the worlds works with regard to money!

Watch this video to see some new cool Capstone titles and let me know if you think I should order them!

Ms Hahn's class did a couple of  different things. Some students finished the higher levels of Botlogic http://botlogic.us/play, while others started on the Google Blockly programming games  https://blockly-games.appspot.com/. This class is very self directed in their learning and they help each other out a lot. There is a great sense of team spirit and cooperation! The work they do is not easy and it's been such a pleasure having so many students willing to jump in and support one another when there are questions! Nice work guys!!!

Today Ms Chandonia's class learned that an algorithm is a set of instructions. They embarked on the Level 2 Beta version of the K-5 curriculum with code.org. It got a bit complicated at times but the students all helped each other and some great learning took place. Students learn how to solve problems, work cooperatively and think in a logical manner through these activities. Many students do not know it yet, but this exposure will help them when they seek out careers that use the skills that they are learning by practicing these visual coding activities.

Ms Pope and Ms Latour's class started their planet research today. Short research projects are part of the common core standards. Each pair of students studying a planet is the perfect way to learn and produce a great product. This class will be producing Pope's Peeps Planet Podcast! Each student pair will investigate the most interesting facts about their planets and turn it into a short engaging script of a one to three sentences. Students will be recorded and this will be our first podcast for all the world to hear. Remember,  "The World is My Audience"

Ms Cooper's class was trying out the level 1 beta version of the K-5 code.org curriculum today. The students got the hang of the most basic algorithm. While the activity may seem simple on the surface, it was new to most students and it took a minute for the kiddos to catch on. They will be able to work on the whole course once the lessons are finalized. Great job guys!

It was so much fun meeting a 7 year old author at the Decatur Book Festival. Myles Shulman wants to make the world a better place and in his poster book "Make the World Happy" he tells the story of a mean cat who loses his friend but then later reconnects with him after he apologizes. There are tips on how to act with friends and a workspace for how kids should manager their anger in order to have a happy family life. The kindergartners responded very well to the character education messages woven through this touching tale.

Thursday, October 9

7 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm), Glenn Memorial Auditorium

1660 N Decatur Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307

• The Carlos Museum and Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories present Rick Riordan, author of the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians, theKane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. Mr. Riordan will talk about the newly published fifth book in the Heroes of Olympus series, The Blood of Olympus.In order to attend this event, a copy of The Blood of Olympus must be purchased either at theCarlos Museum Book Shop or at Little Shop of Stories.
• Along with the book, purchasers will receive a ticket that will allow two people to attend the event.
• Though the book will not available until the event on October 9, pre-sales of the book will be offered beginning on Monday, September 8.  Call or come in to the Carlos Museum Book Shop at 404.727.0509 between the hours of 11 am – 3 pm  on Monday, September 8 to purchase your book, or call Little Shop of Stories at 404.373.6300.  After September 8, pre-sales will be available by phone or in person during regular Museum Book Shop hours, Tuesday-Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, noon – 5 pm.
• Please note that both the Carlos Museum and the Little Shop of Stories each have only one phone line, so phone lines may be busy on September 8 and voicemail messages may not be returned until the next day.    If you do come in to pre-purchase a book  in person at the Carlos Museum Bookshop, please note that there is no free weekday parking at Emory University, but weekend parking is free.
• Pre-sold books, all of which will be signed in advance by Mr. Riordan, and the ticket required for entry, will be available for pick up at will call at Glenn Auditorium starting at 5:30 pm on Thursday, October 9.  Since all books are pre-signed, Mr. Riordan will not sign books at the event.
• Books will not be discounted.
• Carlos Museum members at the Doric Level and above are eligible for reserved seating with the advanced purchase of The Blood of Olympus from Decatur's Little Shop of Stories or the Carlos Museum Bookshop. Please call 404-727-2623 to join in order to take advantage of this members-only benefit.
• For more information about the event, contact the Office of Educational Programs at 404.727.4667