All posts by Jenny Henningsen

A Season of Change

November 20, 2014Nordquist BlogJenny Henningsen

Wow, it’s hard to believe that the days of fall have been replaced with the dramatic shift to snow, but that’s the reality of Nebraska I guess! EY has been experiencing new and exciting shifts as well as the second quarter unfolds.

Our main focus in EY this quarter is on current events and their impact on us. Through research, students will create a timeline to show world, national, and local events in a 20 year span, with their birthday being the center point. Our lives are continually impacted by what is going on in the world around us. This topic allows us to take a closer look at how these events play a role in who we are as well as in our daily lives. We will be making connections with the past and looking at how that impacts our future. EY students are also working on the E/I opportunities I present in their regular classrooms, as this is another part of their EY experience.

I have really enjoyed getting to know all 3^rd-6^th grade students in my schools through our E/I time. I have introduced many different enrichment opportunities and am encouraging all students to own their learning by taking advantage of those opportunities that interest them. Computer coding, independent passion projects, BOTB, and logic/critical thinking experiences are just a few examples. We have also held seminars/contests for all 4^th-6^th grade students such as our Creative Problem Solving seminar, School Spelling Bees, and Quiz Bowl. We have students studying hard for the upcoming District Spelling Bee and school Geography Bees that will be taking place soon. If students are interested in an event/contest, they are asked to complete and submit an assigned task (quiz, story, project, etc…) in order to participate. These opportunities are presented to students during E/I time. Please keep an eye on the Events & Contests tab in this blog for more information on upcoming opportunities.

I am so lucky to work with such amazing students and look forward to another quarter filled with new opportunities for learning and success!

Enjoy this season of change!

Joan Skaggs

EY updates

November 17, 2014Henningsen Blog, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Hello! We area all working on our second quarter project-Superstars of History and I love to see the students researching and finding out about his/her specific time period. This week, the students will begin to research a specific event/person and begin to create the Superstar page. We will share these on the blog when complete! Continue reading for more information.

Events and Contests-There are tons and tons of events and contests for students on the EY blog. Check them out @ https://ey.westside66.org/category/other-events-contests/

Geography Bee- If your child is participating in the school be please encourage him/her to check out for resources https://ey.westside66.org/category/geobee/

For all children who love learning about our world-We have access from Nov. 10-Dec. 10 to a website which contains several resources. Scroll down to the “Books” section and look for “How to Ace the National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide,” and the “Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth’s Astonishing Animals and Where They Live.” http://www.galesites.com/trial/geobee/district66

Quiz Bowl-The EY team sponsored a quiz bowl at Underwood Hills on Nov 7th. Each of the 10 buildings sent two teams. The questions were quite challenging and I was prouf of the teams that attended-link to the event and pictures!

Math Contest Practice– Our first Math Olympiad contest is coming up next week. If your child likes to work on math contest problems, check out Math Stars

The purpose of Math Stars is to challenge students beyond the classroom setting. Good problems can inspire curiosity about number relationships and geometric properties. It is hoped that in accepting the challenge of mathematical problem solving, students, their parents, and their teachers will be led to explore new mathematical horizons. Math Stars are in sets for Grades 1-8 and include commentaries for teachers. All Math Stars Newsletters are ready for classroom use and available for downloading as PDF files. Link to newsletters

Engineering Learning Center-Mrs. Spady has put some info about engineering opportunities for children @ https://ey.westside66.org/category/parents/

Battle of the Books-The students are doing a great job with the book checks. I am reading slides, helping with goal setting, and offering suggestions on how to improve projects. The students will have to read ten books and complete ten activities to attend the book celebration in the spring- but many of the students are almost to this point and it is mid November! Way to go readers!!!

Please email me with any question or concerns

Jenny

Writing Contest-Use your voice

October 20, 2014Other Events & Contests, Uncategorizedcontest, literature, writingJenny Henningsen

Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write to that author (living or dead) about how the book affected them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels. If you are in grades 4-12, you are eligible to enter the Letters About Literature reading and writing contest. Here are the Rules and Guidelines.

Please turn your work into your EY coordinator no later than Jan. 9th, 2015!!!

Some books challenge your brain. Others touch your heart. Some books do both!

What book have you read lately that got you thinking about things you never thought about before? What book’s character made you shiver in fear or shake with laughter, clench your fists or want to hug your kid brother? What one, special book was so

powerful it became a part of YOU? Thinking and feeling are two sides of the same “brain” coin. Exploring how and why you respond to a

book—either through thoughts or emotions—is a key to understanding yourself.

Below is an excerpt from a winning letters from a past LAL contest.

Dear Mrs. Lowry,

. . . with each passing paragraph, each turned

page, each new chapter, I realized The Giver was different. I couldn’t understand why your characters had no recollection of animals. I didn’t understand the Ceremonies of Age. I didn’t understand what was meant by Release. Release. When I got to that part of your book, I became frightened . . . I have a younger sister. I reread the passage, hoping I had interpreted it wrongly. But your chilling words were still on the page. . . .It wasn’t until the end that I realized this book was a warning to this generation and to the next, to ten generations from now and 100 generations from then. It is up to us to make sure that our children’s children will always be able to ride a sled down a snowy hill. . . .

R. Pynn, Brooklyn, NY

More info for teachers and parents

Teaching Guide

http://www.read.gov/letters/

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here. The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Math Contest Practice grades 1-8

October 20, 2014Parents, Teacherscontests, mathJenny Henningsen

The purpose of Math Stars is to challenge students beyond the classroom setting. Good problems can inspire curiosity about number relationships and geometric properties. It is hoped that in accepting the challenge of mathematical problem solving, students, their parents, and their teachers will be led to explore new mathematical horizons. Math Stars are in sets for Grades 1-8 and include commentaries for teachers. All Math Stars Newsletters are ready for classroom use and available for downloading as PDF files.

Link to newsletters

On Cloud Nine

October 15, 2014Uncategorizedclouds, science, weatherJenny Henningsen

Cloud watching has been a favorite past time of kids for ages. We see them floating by, some fluffy, some wispy, and others dark and stormy.

Here is a question for you-

Why don’t clouds fall from the sky?

Watch this PBS video- Why Do Clouds Stay Up. You will find the answer to the question “Why don’t clouds fall from the sky” and you will gather fun information about these big, fluffy piles of water vapor that live overhead.

Take this quiz after watching this video to show what you learned!

EY and Conferences

October 13, 2014UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Hello! Here are some updates from EY

Conferences:

I will be at PL on Wed from 5:45-7:45

Swanson on Thursday from 10-12

Please email if you would like to set up a phone conference.

Battle of the Books- I am doing my slides checks each time that we meet. I am excited to see the work done by the students, and I am also thrilled to see that there are so many children that have already read several books and completed activities! I attached the graphic organizer link here if you want to have a visual at home to help keep the kids organized. They all have one and they are keeping it in the EY folder.

Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 7.49.52 AM — Snapple Facts

Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 7.53.12 AM — Snapple Facts

We learned how to use Haiku Deck a few weeks ago. It is a great way to showcase what the students have learned. The students explored Snapple facts, and conducted research to determine if the “facts” were true or false. You can ask your child to share this presentation with you-they are fun to see!

Each child took a Spelling bee qualifying test. The contestants will be released on Wednesday of this week. There will also be qualifying tests given in the next few weeks for the following events: Trivia Contest and Geography Bee

I have made sure that all children can log into KHAN and know how to navigate the site. The math portion of Khan is wonderful, but there are also many other learning areas that the children can access.

I am so in love with Wonderopolis. Please check it out. This site is so fun to explore and the children have unlimited learning all in one spot.

Enjoy the long weekend coming up! Please drop me a note with any questions and comments.

Jenny

Build a Whole New World

October 2, 2014UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

The mysterious door opened and none of the children were prepared for what was on the other side…

Words like these are what make fiction books so hard to put down. We are taken to amazing new worlds that allow us to experience a journey with our minds as well as our senses. The Author Kate Messner does just this – builds new “worlds” for her readers in the fiction stories that she writes. Watch the video below on creating fictional worlds. After watching, explore the “Think” and “Dig Deeper” sections.

http://ed.ted.com/on/AQtELfQR#watch

Some research has even shown that certain parts of your brain are stimulated (or woken up) when you read fictional stories. So not only are they fun to read, but great brain food too!

Hopefully this challenge will inspire you to take up your pencil and begin your own journey of “world-building”! Leave a comment and tell us about an author or book you’ve enjoyed reading. Tell us about the fictional world that author created.

A House for a Mouse??

August 26, 2014Nordquist BlogJenny Henningsen

It was awesome to see all of the EY students again after the summer break! This week we spent time jumping right into our first quarter concept: Exploration! This theme lends itself to a whole host of areas, but we are focusing on creative problem solving for now. This will also lead us into our Creative Problem Solving seminar coming up on Friday, Sept. 26th (more details on that to follow shortly).

During EY small group, students were given the challenge of building a house (or room of a house) for a mouse and then had to present their house/room as realtors selling to a mouse family (played by Mrs. Skaggs). The creative juices were definitely flowing as mouse structures were popping up everywhere! Who knew mice these days enjoy refrigerators filled with cheese, cookies for life (with your house purchase), and even a mouse potty! Check out the photos below for some amazing mouse-inspired architecture!

A Year of Opportunities!

August 22, 2014Nordquist BlogJenny Henningsen

Another school year has begun and I am left wondering where the summer went and when the snow will begin. I know, WAY to early for that, but it sure seems like time just flies right by!

This is an exciting year for EY as well as the school district! We have made some changes that I am super excited about! I will be working more closely with the teachers to provide enrichment opportunities for all students. This means that I will be in all of the 3-6 classrooms during their E/I (Enrichment & Intervention) times once a week (or every 6 days to be exact :). At that time, I will share ideas and resources for all students to use to explore and enrich their learning experience. EY students will meet with me outside of the classroom in a pull-out setting during their E/I time once a week as well (in addition to the classroom E/I lessons).

Please explore the other areas of this blog site for information on the events & contests, weekly challenges, and other exciting learning opportunities we are offering this year. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or thoughts you may have.

Here’s to a wonderful 2014-15 school year!

The End Is Here!

May 31, 2014Nordquist Blog, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Wow, it’s hard to believe that the last day of the 2013-14 school year has come and gone! We wrapped up the year with independent projects in order to dig deeper into our own interest areas. There were projects completed on the history of favorite gaming systems, nuclear reactors, basketball, robotics, the Holocaust, and more. We learned so much from each other and possibly found new interests for ourselves in the process!

The Oakdale 6th graders took “trips” to many different corners of the world and brought a piece or two back into the classroom to share. We had a presentation day that included a world feast. The food was delicious and such a great way to experience a new culture! They encouraged us all to add a few new destinations to our bucket lists! 🙂

It has been a great year full of new and exciting learning adventures! I am so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented individuals this year! We are all learners in this process and I hope you all learned as much from me as I did from you!

Congratulations to all of the 6th graders on the close of one chapter in your lives and the amazing opportunities that await! I am glad I was able to be a small part of your journey!

Enjoy your summer and always be on a mission to actualize your talents!

~Mrs. Skaggs

Westside Excellence in Youth

Talent & Interest Development for All Learners