TeachAde

CMS

My "success" was the cell projects my students completed. Students were to make a model of either a plant or animal cell out of materials that they had at home. Every single student (all 150) completed a project and brought it to school to be displayed with the rest. Overall, the quality of the projects was very good. Although some were just average, the majority showed creativity and effort. Many students said they enjoyed the project. Bev Wilson

lfletcher

Mr McKolosky invited me to watch a play done by his students in Language Arts class. The play was done with several of Mr. McKolosky's students as well as Mrs. Read's students. The students did a FABULOUS job. I especially liked the "props" that the students made for the play. Mrs. Read recorded the play. I believe the students were then going to have the opportunity to watch their performances. What a great way activity for the kids!!!!!

bbender

Being that I co-teach science with Linda Wingate I recently had the opporunity to be involved with a really neat lesson that I have never seen in the 4 years working with her. We are currently on the chapter dealing with water ersoion and deposition. For this chapter the students were given a hypothetical situation- a small town with population of 900 is located along a scenic river 60 miles from big city. A proposal is being made by the big city for a dam to be constructed two miles up river of the small town. Students were then given an environmental impact statement by city engineers. Students were each assigned a person to be and told they were either "for" or "against" the dam being built. Students were to study the impact statement and use information from their text and develop an argument for their positions. In a round table discussion students then presented their findings and feelings about the dam. It was really neat seeing how involved the students actually became, the feelings they had about their postions, and their responses to the other arguments being given. Students really had some valid points and were able to respond ligitimately to counter positions. During study hall that day the students conversations revolved around the debate and how neat they thought the lesson was.

aherzing

At our last faculty meeting the staff wrote down on colored paper something, that they as an individual, started this year with a negative attitude. As everyone stood in a large circle, I mentioned to the staff that as we start the third nine weeks many of us have over come these negative attitudes or are working towards it. Everyone took their colored paper and tore it up into small pieces. To celebrate the fact that we are moving towards a positive school climate everyone threw their small pieces into the air. The circle of negative turned into the circle of positive and all staff members received a button that read YES WE CAN! As you walk through the halls of the Clearfield Middle School you see the display of YES WE CAN throughout the building.