What to the American Slave is the Fourth?

I hope you are all enjoying your summer vacation. I couldn't help but think of all of you today as I thought about the importance of the Fourth of July. I was so impressed this year at how deeply you analyzed the words that Fredrick Douglass delivered on this day in 1841. I came across this video of Danny Glover reading Douglass' speech. I think I like this reading better than any other I've heard. Hope you enjoy it as well. Leave a comment if you watch it and let me know what you think!

Thanks for a great year, Team Black Wizards!

Who's Learning More- Them or Me?

I am so excited about the weekly learning logs my students have begun posting to their blogs! Each week, my sixth graders take some time to reflect on the week's assignments and learning experiences. After some discussion and brainstorming, they choose one piece of learning that they feel has impacted them most during the week. I am always amazed to learn about my students in this way. I also find it interesting to read about the different perspectives that various students have on the same lesson. For instance,  Jaden and Julian both wrote about a technique they have been learning in art class, and their posts are  very different. Sometimes I learn that a student's learning was impacted because because of how a lesson connected a hobby or special interest. Often, this teaches me something about a student I might not otherwise learn during the school day. My students have many amazing talents! Another reason I enjoy reading these posts is because I gain a deeper understanding of what my students are learning in their other classes. Last week I read about everything from Roman numerals to rocks! I can't wait to see what I'll read about this week.

Learning Logs

Recently, you have begun creating and publishing blog posts that express your passion about a topic you are researching or that capture the learning you have done throughout a week. I love reading these posts! Please take a few moments to read some of the work of your classmates. I think you will get some inspiration from these posts, and learn something new about a classmate.
Interesting personal connection to topic
Clever Title
Clear Research Question
Lesson Learned Goes Deeper than Academics
Very Thorough
Clever Title
Passion about Topic

Snow Day in Sochi?

Well... it looks like we will not see each other again until Friday! I was really looking forward to sharing the resources I compiled on the Winter Olympics in Sochi with you tomorrow. Since the resources are on a Learnist board, I know many of you will have access to them at home. I will begin a few threads in Edmodo for you to discuss some of your learning. I hope you will contribute to the conversation. We all learn so much more when everyone participates!

Kicking off Genius Hour

This past Friday we kicked off Genius Hour! It was exciting to watch as all of you talk so excitedly in your table groups about your topics and guiding questions. I am looking forward to reading your Passion Paragraphs!

Ancient Greece

We enjoyed reading myths during this unit. We read two myths, acted out five others that were written as readers' theater scripts and then wrote some myths of our own.