Upcoming Events
Monday, 4/15
Tuesday, 4/16 4th gr Parent Tour at Pershing
Wednesday, 4/17
Thursday, 4/18 Teacher Appreciation Lunch hosted by Kinder); SDMC Meeting
Friday, 4/19
Monday, 4/22
Tuesday, 4/23 STAAR Testing (3rd & 4th gr)
Wednesday, 4/24 STAAR Testing (3rd, 4th & 5th gr); +Talk IV: The Tween/Teen Brain
Thursday, 4/25 IBPYP Art Show at River Oaks Elementary, 6-8 pm
Friday, 4/26 Camp Read A-Lot; Father Daughter Dance (ticketed event)
Thursday, 5/2 Barnes & Noble Book Fair, 4:30-8:00 pm
Saturday, 5/4 Carnival
Library Updates
Each year we inventory the library collection and review the statistics that tell us about the collection. After last year's inventory we had to begin planning for an update to our collection. While we exceeded the criteria for Exemplary Program Development found in the Standards and Guidelines for Texas on number of books per student, our collection contained too many books that are out-of-date or never checked out.
For many years our goal was to increase our collection size, so weeding was done in a very limited way. Now, as our collection has grown it has also aged (average age 1995), and we are outgrowing our space. We needed to weed to make space for new, more up-to-date books. Weeding is a systematic process for removing books from the collection, specifically removing books with poor or out-of-date content (books about the internet published in 1990 don't contain current information), poor appearance (worn, dirty or yellowed) or materials that are unused.
This past weekend, HISD Library Services organized a group of librarians to come and assist us in weeding our collection. The books that have been weeded fall into two categories:
We will begin ordering new books over the summer. I have designated funds to support this upgrade, but will also be inviting our families to make a donation for just one book. Watch for your chance to be part of this really important work for our school community.
**The work this weekend would not have been possible without the many hours parents volunteered to help. Much thanks to Maureen Glancey, Kelly Wehrer, Kirsty McCormack, Niall McCormack, Ali Pilcher, Anjum Khan, Layla Unger, McNair Johnson, Qiao Xue, Natalie Smith, and Rachel Carleton. (It was a long day...I hope I didn't forget anyone!!!) Thank you!
excerpt from Toward a Continuum of International Education
The IB learner profile states that IB students strive to become "thinkers" by applying thinking skills critically and creatively to approach complex problems and make decisions. To think critically is to be curious, to question, to connect, to search for alternative reasons or explanations, to challenge, to be able to stand back and take an objective view. Students, therefore, must be taught the tools of critical thinking in appropriate contexts, as well as how to apply them rigorously.
To think critcally means students reflecting on, thinking about and analysing a text, argument or opinion so that they do not just accept what is stated but form their own judgment. To think critically is to explore and understand the reasons for beliefs and their implications. In our 21st century knowledge society we have never had so much information, in such a variety of forms and from such a range of sources. It is therefore essential that students learn how to think critically so as to be able to:
Reminder...Make Plans to Attend!
+Talk IV: The Tween/Teen Brain
Wednesday, 4/24, St. Paul's School
Have a great week!
Monday, 4/15
Tuesday, 4/16 4th gr Parent Tour at Pershing
Wednesday, 4/17
Thursday, 4/18 Teacher Appreciation Lunch hosted by Kinder); SDMC Meeting
Friday, 4/19
Monday, 4/22
Tuesday, 4/23 STAAR Testing (3rd & 4th gr)
Wednesday, 4/24 STAAR Testing (3rd, 4th & 5th gr); +Talk IV: The Tween/Teen Brain
Thursday, 4/25 IBPYP Art Show at River Oaks Elementary, 6-8 pm
Friday, 4/26 Camp Read A-Lot; Father Daughter Dance (ticketed event)
Thursday, 5/2 Barnes & Noble Book Fair, 4:30-8:00 pm
Saturday, 5/4 Carnival
Library Updates
Each year we inventory the library collection and review the statistics that tell us about the collection. After last year's inventory we had to begin planning for an update to our collection. While we exceeded the criteria for Exemplary Program Development found in the Standards and Guidelines for Texas on number of books per student, our collection contained too many books that are out-of-date or never checked out.
For many years our goal was to increase our collection size, so weeding was done in a very limited way. Now, as our collection has grown it has also aged (average age 1995), and we are outgrowing our space. We needed to weed to make space for new, more up-to-date books. Weeding is a systematic process for removing books from the collection, specifically removing books with poor or out-of-date content (books about the internet published in 1990 don't contain current information), poor appearance (worn, dirty or yellowed) or materials that are unused.
This past weekend, HISD Library Services organized a group of librarians to come and assist us in weeding our collection. The books that have been weeded fall into two categories:
- Most books weeded from the shelves may be adequate for a child's home library, particularly in the event the child has limited access to books at home. Later this week, we will invite Roberts students to take a book home that can become part of their own collection. Books that are not taken by Roberts students will be delivered to Crespo Elementary, our partner school, for their students to take home for their collection.
- Some books show signs of molding, they have either not been used in many years, or have fallen victim to leaking lunches in the backpack. Those have been discarded and are not being sent home with children.
We will begin ordering new books over the summer. I have designated funds to support this upgrade, but will also be inviting our families to make a donation for just one book. Watch for your chance to be part of this really important work for our school community.
**The work this weekend would not have been possible without the many hours parents volunteered to help. Much thanks to Maureen Glancey, Kelly Wehrer, Kirsty McCormack, Niall McCormack, Ali Pilcher, Anjum Khan, Layla Unger, McNair Johnson, Qiao Xue, Natalie Smith, and Rachel Carleton. (It was a long day...I hope I didn't forget anyone!!!) Thank you!
Spotlight on IB:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
For the sake of clarity the approaches to teaching and learning are described under three headings:
- learning how to learn (last blog post)
- structured inquiry (last blog post)
- critical thinking (this blog post)
In reality these categories overlap and describe complementary approaches.
The IB learner profile states that IB students strive to become "thinkers" by applying thinking skills critically and creatively to approach complex problems and make decisions. To think critically is to be curious, to question, to connect, to search for alternative reasons or explanations, to challenge, to be able to stand back and take an objective view. Students, therefore, must be taught the tools of critical thinking in appropriate contexts, as well as how to apply them rigorously.
To think critcally means students reflecting on, thinking about and analysing a text, argument or opinion so that they do not just accept what is stated but form their own judgment. To think critically is to explore and understand the reasons for beliefs and their implications. In our 21st century knowledge society we have never had so much information, in such a variety of forms and from such a range of sources. It is therefore essential that students learn how to think critically so as to be able to:
- determine the validity and authenticity of what they read or hear
- questions attitudes and history behind what they read or hear
- develop the confidence and experience with which to form an opinion.
Reminder...Make Plans to Attend!
+Talk IV: The Tween/Teen Brain
Wednesday, 4/24, St. Paul's School
Have a great week!
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