Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Hour of Code

"TAG Time" math students learned about a new language this week-the language of coding!   Enthusiastic students opened up their Chromebooks and "coded" as many as 70 lines  during our TAG Time math classes.  Students also proudly wore stickers that stated:  Hour of Code...I "coded" today....Do YOU?      Students used the website www.code.org/learn to accomplish their Hour of Code.   This Hour of Code is known world wide and is an initiative that started to increase the need for future computer programmers.  It has been said that by the time our students are out in the work force, 68% of jobs will require some type of computer programming knowledge.  Now is the time to start educating our children for their future.  Log on to www.code.org/learn and experience "coding" with a child.  It is an exciting experience!





Thursday, October 29, 2015

"TAG Time" Equals Busy Time!

Many students spanning from kindergarten all the way to 6th grade are spending valuable minutes enhancing their learning with a variety of activities from creating restaurant menus to publishing a school newpaper.   A group of second graders have each chosen a "place" in our world to research and create a book while a group of 3/4 students are finding every fact availble about Mt. Everest and creating an iMovie or a trailer!   Students are also learning high level vocabulary words and testing their knowledge with analogy quizes using Wordmasters.   If you would walk into our TAG Time Classroom while 5th graders are there you would see them all intently reading their chosen chapter book with the plan to create a promotional video to show on "theater day".   Lots of student driven activities are happening in our TAG Time classroom every day.   Stop in and join the fun!  


Friday, September 11, 2015

Beyond Words.....

A group of 6th grade students will be involved in a Reader's Workshop type atmosphere every other day during 8th hour.  High level literature, advanced vocabulary, and literature discussions will be explored.  Students were engaged in taking a Reading Survey on their iPads and reflecting about themselves as readers.  This time will be well spent reflecting on and judging different forms of text.  Looking forward to a great year with this group of creative students!



Monday, September 7, 2015

Back to School 2015-16

Well the hot summer days may not be done but we are back to school and the hallways and classrooms are filled with excited voices, bright eyes, and curious minds.  Before long students will start engaging in advanced learning opportunities and I will start to post all the exciting projects and events!  So, stay tuned and check out this TAG Blog again soon!  
 

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Second Grade Book Bowl

After months of reading a list of entertaining and informational books, a group of second grade students were put to the test in a Book Bowl competition  at the EPAC.   The two final teams, The Green Bay Readers and The Librarians, competed by answering questions that started with the words, In What Book.  After 20 questions, The Librarians earned the 2015 Second Grade Book Bowl Championship Title!  A great motivational reading experience for over 70 second grade readers!



Chess Champion Crowned!

Ryan Tronnes earned the honor of becoming the 2015 EMS vs. Oaklawn Academy Chess Champion' He played through a double elimination tournament and had to meet James Harvey from EMS to capture the title.  Students from both schools appreciated the opportunuty to visit the opposing school and lunch was shared at both schools to give the chess players a chance to see what both schools offer their students.   A great sharing and competitive experience for both groups of students.



Thursday, April 30, 2015

EMS and Oaklawn Chess Challenge

The Edgerton Middle School library had a different look today.  It was still quiet, peaceful, and full of books but there were a group of 16 students from Edgerton Middle School and Oaklawn Academy challenging their skills in a Chess Tournament.  The students enjoyed lunch together, discussed their school lives, and enjoyed some very competitive chess matches!



Friday, April 10, 2015

Pic Collage Makes Its Debut in TAG Reading Class

After reading one of their favorite books,  students shared a summary by using the iPad app., Pic Collage.  Students were able to highlight images from Google to show the setting of their story, they were able to creatively display character traits through a variety of different fonts, and they were able to show video clips of author conversations that touched on the conception and deelopment of the story.  Pic Collage is a creative and student friendly alternative to a standard book report.  Great job to all the students who made multiple Pic Collage screens and presented them like a slide show!  So informative and entertaining!  


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

3D Printing Comes to Life at Yahara

This morning the entire Yahara family had the opportunity to see a 3D printer working to create a replica of Yoda!  Mr. Joe Mink shared the endless possibilities of a 3D printer and students were able to view a Prezi that explained what 3D printers can create and the possibilities of the future.  An exciting morning thinking about how 3D printers may change our world!










Saturday, February 28, 2015

Lena Seyfarth Presents at National History Day

The University Wisconsin campus was the place to be today, especially if you have a love of history.  Lena Seyfarth, a 6th grade student, studied the life of Joan of Arc over the past few months and is putting her knowledge and research on display today along with hundreds of other middle school and high school students from all over Wisconsin.   Lena's Fact Board demonstrates the importance of Joan of Arc's claim to fame and displays the bravery and heroism that was evident in the life of Joan of Arc.  Lena Represents Edgerton Middle School very well and I sm very proud of the effort and endurance she displayed to be part of the exciting event.  

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Edgerton Students are Math 24 Masters!

Students in grades 4th-7th are showing their math talents by particpiating in Math 24 District Competitions.  4th grade students are challenged in single digit combinations while 5th grade students try the double digit cards.  Exponents and integers tease the brains of our 6th grade students with the decimals and fractions being the goal of the 7th graders.  Regional competitions will take place in March with 6 students from each grade level traveling to Beloit Turner or Whitewater.   A BIG thank you to the high school students who served as table leaders and a GREAT JOB to all the students who have shown great effort in this math competition!





Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Second Grade Readers are Book Bowl Bound!

Over 60 second graders at Community and Yahara are particpating in the 2015 Second Grade Book Bowl.  Students have formed teams and their goal is to read all 22 books on the Book Bowl List in preparation for the Book Bowl Competition which will start in April.  Students gather once a week to discuss books, ask questions, and check out new books to read the following week.   It is exciting and encouraging to sit in a room with so many second graders experiencing the LOVE of reading!


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Building to Survive the Elements!

A group of 6th grade students, that are involved in STEM activities, are learning to plan a structure that will withstand the elements of a given location.  These locations range from the heat of the desert to the frigid cold of an arctic tundra.  Students have been offered materials they may use for their constructions and soon
their buildings will be "tested" to see if they can withstand the weather.  Stay tuned!


Carter Friend earns 5th Grade Geography Bee Championship Title!



Programming a Human Robot?

STEM students at Yahara created some amazing commands to program human robots to follow a predetermined path through different obstacles.  Thinking of video games, students 'programmed' their robots to follow a path from a starting point to an endd destination.  I was impressed with their 'out of box' thinking and the students took the role of being a computer programmer very seriously!



Thursday, January 22, 2015

Yahara STEM Kids Join the Programming World!

A group of students, who study STEM education every Thursday morning, had the chance to become programmers and robots.   They created "codes" to make cup pyramids.  The students discovered the number of commands that are needed for one simple move.  They also learned to use repeat commands and multiple commands.   A great morning of learning computer coding!