Coding with the Dallas Sidekicks

Thank you PTA for bringing this amazing program to our school.

Christie Elementary wellness program

Dear Parents-

This year Christie Elementary has the opportunity to win some amazing prizes for our wellness program.  Anyone in our community can click on the link below and enter for a chance to win a $30,000 grant for our school's healthy transformation AND a new playground.  While there are other prizes available, this would clearly be an amazing opportunity of our kids!  The sweepstakes runs until March 24, 2017 which is a very long time.  Please set your alarm on your phone or post a sticky note on the fridge to log on each day and vote.  Also, feel free to share with family and friends to help increase our voting numbers.  Thank you!

http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/sweepstakes

Seesaw App

SeeSaw App

This year I am trying out an App called Seasaw.  I can use this app to post pictures, videos and audio of what your child is doing in PACE.  Please use the QR code from your child's grade level to access the correct account.
I hope that you find this a useful tool.
Download - https://app.seesaw.me

Scan QR code from your child's grade level

 1st grade is first and 5th is last

What is going on in PACE?

PACE is a pull-out program where your child leaves their classroom for 2-3 hours a week.  Many activities do not have a product that is completed in one session, so what are we doing?  Below I am going to outline what each grade level will be learning about as well as some of the learning targets that go with that unit. 
I hope that you will find this information useful and it might just be what you talk about at the dinner table:).
 

First Grade

Think About it More

 
This unit is designed to introduce first grade PACE students to creative thinking techniques and logical thinking. Logical thinking skills such as deduction, comparing, ordering, and drawing conclusions will be introduced through different types of logic problems. 
 
Students will uses advanced higher order thinking and problem solving skills to complete challenges. 



Second Grade

Coding

The second grade introductory unit on coding asks students to explore the logic of coding and the importance of this skill in a world that increasingly relies on technology. Students will move through basic coding patterns and apply this knowledge to problem solving. Students will use their learning to  understand and explain the importance of computer coding,  diagnose and solve problems using logical reasoning,  create products using computer coding skills.  We will be using code studio in class and students can access at home (with parent permission).

 
Students will be able to independently use their learning to understand and explain the importance of computer coding, diagnose and solve problems using logical reasoning, and create innovative products from newly acquired coding skills.

  

Third Grade

Genius Hour

Students will be able to independently use their learning to develop guiding questions that lead to meaningful research and synthesize information into an effective presentation.  Throughout this unit, we will be exploring what good research looks like.  How do you use someone else's ideas and give them credit.  This unit is critical for their success in Middle School PACE and their lives after high school.

Students will understand that curiosity is a lifelong driving force for learning and discovery, research is a process that impacts the future, reading strategies are important to comprehending texts and most importantly that academic integrity is vital to valid research.

 

Fourth Grade

Leadership

Students will research what traits make a good leader.  Are you born with these traits or can you be taught how to be a good leader.  Students will identify leaders in the world and rank qualities of good leadership. 
 

 



Fifth Grade 

Law

Students will become familiar with the First and Fourth Amendments to the

U. S. Constitution. The students will review cases, both fictional and factual, that relate to these amendments. The students will justify opposing points of view, identify facts, interpret documents, and support arguments for both sides of an issue.

 
We kicked off this unit with a discussion of what are Human Rights?  I had the students think about what does human rights really mean.  This was a challenge for most of the groups.  They included items like unlimited amounts of money or a pet panda as one of the top human rights. After a discussion about what human right really means, I was impressed with how they fought(respectfully) with one another to get their point across.  I think that they are really going to get into this Law unit.


Students will uses advanced higher order thinking and problem solving skills to debate their point-of-view.


I look forward to working with you throughout the school year. 
Mrs. Jones
 
 
 
 

 

What a Week!

It was so nice to welcome students back to school this week.  I love this new role that I am in.
This week, I met with all Math Rocks students as well as all the GT students.  Each child was given a note to take home, that had their PACE time on it.  I look forward to getting to meet each family that has a child in PACE and partnering with you in your child's education. 


Mrs. Jones

Career Day

The students had a very informative morning.

They heard from a judge, police officer and made ice cream.

Thank you to Mr. Ramos for planning this day.

What a week

Your child has worked hard this week. I hope that each one has a relaxing weekend. Going and enjoy the outdoors!