Sunday, November 29, 2015

Thanksgiving Tradition

Mr. Brown leads Pilgrims
in song.
     In the Edgewood community, Thanksgiving doesn't begin, until first grade enters the gym. For 24 years, first graders have been the centerpiece of this holiday assembly. They sing about family, gratitude, and the first Thanksgiving. And while the morning also includes songs of liberty and enlightenment from fourth and fifth graders and marks an end to our PTA sponsored food drive featuring a donation of 30 boxes of food to the Salvation Army this year, it’s the first graders who send heartwarming reminders of why we are grateful to call Edgewood our home. 
     Before the performance begins, they enter from the back of the gym dressed as lady and gentleman Pilgrims. They look surprisingly bold, given the attention about to be heaped on them. Late arriving parents, suddenly discover the perks of SRO spots, and snap pictures of backstage rituals. First grade teachers (Mrs. Cucolo, Mrs. Lamonaca, Mrs. Mangiamele) beam with words of encouragement, while making last moment adjustments to aprons and hats. 
     And when Ms. Forte begins playing a light piano melody of the classic Edgewood Thanksgiving assembly song, Hey Pilgrims, the first graders enter the gym, two by two. Parents rise and hold their phones and cameras steady for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Older students well up with nostalgia as they flash back to their time as Pilgrims. And upper grade teachers, watch the procession with an eye on the possibilities that are budding within each child and they imagine, "Someday a tree." This is how we begin Thanksgiving at Edgewood. 
   
 Listen to first graders singing the classic Hey Pilgrims here.
- Paul Tomizawa

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Indoor Growing Season Begins

 
Fitz Hydroponics
Mr. Fitzpatrick demonstrates
the hydroponics system.
   “Repeat after me,” Mr. Fitz(patrick) cheerfully instructs. “Hydroponics.” The kindergarteners repeat the new word in staggered unison, as you might expect at this age. “We’re using water to grow plants.” And with this, these young learners entered the era of Sustainability.
     The students had come to Mr. Fitz’ art room to learn about the new hydroponics vegetable garden that was being installed in their classroom. In a hydroponics growing system, plants are placed in nutrient-rich water that is fed through a tube and up a vertical structure by a motorized pump. It’s a common hydroponics system that requires no soil and uses less space than a typical garden plot.
     “Criss cross applesauce. So everyone can see,” Mr. Fitz reminded the excitable group of students as they leaned forward and ever higher for a better view. “Are the roots going to stay wet? Yes! And it’s going to pump the water with all the nutrients to the roots of the plant.” In this case, basil, beans, and tomatoes.
     Several Edgewood classrooms are engaged in the hydroponics experiment. It’s part of a larger effort in support of the school’s Compact Committee theme Sustainability. And it’s a reminder that today’s school is more than just Readin’, ‘Ritin’, and ‘Rithmatic. - Paul Tomizawa

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Halloween Tradition

5th graders make their
carnival games from scratch.
The 5th grade Halloween Carnival is a relatively young Edgewood tradition, but it has quickly become a standout event for young, creative minds. These students assembled teams and designed games and activities for all Edgewood students. They scavenged the school and their homes for household items and recyclables to build games such as Skull Ball, the Wheel of Misfortune, and the Tunnel of Terror. Click the link below and listen to students provide insight into their (witch)craft.

Audio Sampling featuring Audrey O'Hare, Andrew Lewis, Nate Lewis, and EllaJoy Eikamp.

- Paul Tomizawa


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Persuasive Writing

     Everyone’s got an opinion. And parents aren’t going to like to hear this, but Scarsdale teachers are training elementary students to strengthen their powers of persuasion through a literacy unit on Writing Opinions.This unit is a K-5 writing strand and it is aligned with the national Common Core standards. In a recent writing workshop in Mrs. Blackley’s 5th grade class, Kristin Smith, a staff developer from Teachers College coached students on how to structure a well-reasoned opinion. She emphasized the use of supportive research.
     While other Edgewood teachers observed this fishbowl-styled professional development lesson, Ms. Smith instructed students to review the list of reasons they had given to support their written opinions and to look for a fairly common mistake-- overlapping reasons. For example, she explained, “It’s good exercise and it’s good for your health” are not two reasons. They are one and the same and should be combined and rephrased. “But what if I don’t have a third?” She assured students that opinions are better supported with “two good ones, than one that sounds the same” as the others.
     This session also reminded students that they are writing for an audience and that the purpose of rewriting and restructuring their arguments was to ensure that their reasons were compelling and persuasive. So, fair warning parents. Don’t be surprised if those backseat or kitchen table arguments in the future become a little more challenging to squash. - Paul Tomizawa