At NDES, many resources are used to enhance reading comprehension, research, writing and presentation skills.
Fourth-Grade Writers
At NDES, many resources are used to enhance reading comprehension, research, writing and presentation skills. One resource is the Scholastic Classroom Magazines. Scholastic News is a weekly nonfiction paper geared for children that highlights current events whereas Storyworks covers every type of written work and provides interesting topics for student papers, debates and presentations.
In Ms. Theresa Matteo’s fourth-grade ELA class, students researched endangered and extinct animals, using many different resources for information. Then, they wrote different drafts using the writing process and the 6+1 traits of writing. Afterwards, students handed in their typed papers complete with graphics and presented the information to the class.
NDES ELA curriculum applies a comprehensive approach to writing that provides fundamental skills for the research, writing, editing and presentation process.
“These fundamental skills are the building blocks of organized writing and will be used throughout their lives,” states Ms. Theresa Matteo.
Nature’s Intelligent Design
As part of the science core curriculum in Mrs. Rachel Gardner and Mrs. Kathy Biro’s first-grade class, students are learning the parts of the plant and the many ways seeds are dispersed. In Mrs. Halle Davis’ STEM class, students apply their general knowledge of seed dispersal by imitating nature with fans and pinto beans. Not only are they learning the cause and effect that wind has on beans, but they are also learning the finer details of wind power and ways they can use nature’s intelligent design to solve problems.
National Engineer’s Week
In celebration of National Engineer’s Week 2018, Rockwell Automation invited fifth- and sixth-grade students from different schools in the area. NDES was one of the selected schools to participate in an “Engineer’s Week Celebration” at the Mayfield Heights facility.
The field trip included several engineering related activities. The activities included a small group mystery design task, development of a program for a LEGO Robot that included a programmable logic controller activity and a tour of several laboratories. Representatives also presented different career paths along with educational and professional requirements in the field of engineering.
“It was such a great opportunity for our students to see engineering in action,” states Mrs. Halle Davis, STEM teacher, and Mrs. Cathy Zink, sixth-grade math teacher.
