Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Thank you Mr. Eiswirth!

5th grade students got the pleasure of hearing from Mr. Eiswirth, Ike's dad, who is the President and CFO of Alimera Sciences.  Alimera Sciences specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, and is dedicated to developing innovative, vision-improving treatments for diseases of the retina.


Their team is committed to the development of therapies for eye conditions that will affect millions of people in our aging population, many of which lead to irreversible damage when left untreated. Research indicates that as many as 12,000-24,000 new cases of blindness reported annually are caused by complications from diabetes alone.


You can learn more here: http://www.alimerasciences.com/.  Mr. Eiswirth brought the company public. You can read more here about the company on the Yahoo Finance:
 http://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ALIM?p=ALIM


Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and time with us!!!


Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Zoo Books for $5

Hi parents! I saw this groupon and wanted to share!

1- or 2-Year Print Subscription or 1-Year Digital Subscription to Zoobooks, Zootles, or Zoobies Magazine for $5!!


https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-zoobooks-animal-magazine-subscription-relaunch-august-2016?p=3&utm_source=newsletter_im&utm_medium=email&division=atlanta&user=0975e857e6f6a9f12369aefe6bc969d010a5404dbbc8534ff13afaa09019ccff&date=20160826&uu=e926e016-f110-11e1-ace2-0025906047f4&CID=US&s=goods_widget&c=image&d=goods_deal-page&utm_campaign=ee73d452-5666-4488-bab0-ab37c67f1f27_0_20160826_treatment3

Monday, August 29, 2016

4th grade - Qualities of Leadership - Thomas Jefferson

Today 4th graders learned about Thomas Jefferson and his many accomplishments!  Students analyzed Jefferson's choices of what to include on his epitaph.  Students are using criteria to determine which of his accomplishments made the greatest impact.  Ask your child which three Thomas believed were the most important.  What does this tell you about him?

·       Jefferson became a lawyer.
·       He was able to read and write six different languages.
·       He was then elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
·       He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
·       He served as governor of Virginia during the Revolution.
·       He served as minister to France.
·       He served as George Washington’s Secretary of State and as John Adam’s Vice-President.
·       He was America’s third President.
·       He was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States.
·       He was an accomplished violinist, horseman and inventor.

·       He established the University of Virginia in 1819, designing all the buildings himself, as well as helping to hire faculty and create the curriculum.

Amazing 3 minute video

Hello parents! This video was shared by a parent of a student, and it is very meaningful. It reminds us that every interaction, both at home or school, dramatically impacts a child! Watch here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxyxywShewI

Curriculum Night 8/30

Hi Parents! I just wanted to give you a little shout because I will be in the media center during curriculum night on Tuesday, 8/30 if you did not get a chance to meet me at Sneak Preview! Stop by and say hello!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

5th grade dives into Financial Literacy

Hello parents! Hopefully your children have started to share with you what they are learning in TAG about financial literacy.  Yesterday was a bit of an economic crash course along with a brief history of the stock market.  Students will learn about budgeting, saving, how to invest, and stewardship during this portion of the unit.

Want to take a look at what your children are learning?  Below is our unit pre-test.  See how much you know!

There are also so many fantastic resources for financial literacy as a family out there, and I encourage you to take advantage of them!

There are a few great things on this website, including a few quizzes to see where you fall in the preparedness:  http://www.themint.org/try-it/

We also highly encourage you to talk with your kids about how you budget, save, spend + invest.  We know this is a private matter, but learning to hear how mom and dad pick stocks is "realllly coool" to a 5th grader.

We already have one expert volunteer to come in and share a bit about the Stock Market, and we thank you!  We love connecting the kids to experts in the real world.

Have a great week!

Economics, Personal Finance, & the Stock Market Pretest
True or False:


___________1.  Stocks are items found in the store room of a grocery store.
___________2.  Only rich people invest in the stock market.
___________3.  Stocks are sold by the United States government.
___________4.  If the stock market goes up 30% one year, it will fall 30% the next year.
___________5.  Any stock that goes up must eventually come back down.
___________6.  Bears, bulls, and pigs are found in the stock market.
___________7.  Stock prices are set by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a regulatory agency of the US government.
___________8.  Stock markets are open on business days around the clock, around the world.
___________9.  Sometimes companies buy their stocks on the stock market.
___________10.  It is hard to buy a good stock today because all of the good ones have been purchased already.
___________11.  Buying stocks is a sure way to make money.
___________12.  Insider trader meaning that trading stocks take place inside the building. 
___________13.  People can buy stocks on the internet. 
___________14.  When the stock market goes up, it causes the economy to grow.



Brainstorm and record your thoughts and ideas. Try your best! 

What does economics mean?  What is the economy?  How does the economy work?








What is the Stock Market? How does the Stock Market work?  What determines the direction and success the Stock Market?








How does someone decide how to invest his/her money?








What does it mean to manage your finances?  What is financial literacy?








What is a budget? What percentage of your income should you set aside for:  charitable donations?  Savings?  Investing? Spending? What is a balanced budget?








What was the Great Depression?  What caused it?  How did it change the world then?  How does it still impact our world today?  What is a recession?





Tuesday, August 23, 2016

LA flood relief

Hi Parents! As you will see coming home today, MBES is doing a supply drive for the Louisiana Flood relief. I plan to donate, and I hope you will too!

Louisiana Flood Relief School Supply Drive

As students across South Louisiana began preparing for the start of a new year, tragedy struck in the form of a devastating flood. Our hearts go out to all of those impacted.

MBES is partnering with Team Comeback Kids and schools across South Louisiana to help provide school supplies. If you are interested in donating, MBES will be collecting the following new items through September 2.

• Clorox Cleaning Wipes
• Paper Towels
• Composition Notebooks
• Boxes of Crayons
• Packs of Markers
• Sharpened Pencils
• Packs of Loose-leaf Paper
• Pocket Folders
• Glue Sticks
• Highlighters
• Scissors
• Index Cards
• Hand Sanitizer

If you are able, please send the items to school with your child marked LA Flood. One of our fellow teachers, Mrs. Barnes, will take care of the rest. As always, we appreciate your tremendous support!

Please visit www.teamcomeback.org for more information!

Additionally, many libraries were devastated and students left without books to read. MBES will also be collecting gently used and new books to deliver to those schools and districts impacted.

Saturday School with GSU

Hi Parents! We received this information from Georgia State's Saturday School program and wanted to pass it along!

Dear Saturday School Parents,

Just two weeks left until the registration deadline for our Fall A session.  We have many interesting courses offered this session.  I am sure you will find one that will appeal to your child. 
GSU faculty, staff, students and alumni get a 15% discount on registration (upon verification). 
Parking is always free on Saturdays in the GSU G Deck, right next to our classrooms. 
Don’t wait, register today!!!!


Fall A 2016 Brochure Link:


Fall A 2016 Registration Link:


Regards

John E Kesner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Executive Director
Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders

Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
College of Education and Human Development

Georgia State University

Monday, August 22, 2016

4th Grade Qualities of Leadership

Hello parents! We'd love for you to start including the 9 C's of leadership into your home conversations, as we believe this is an effective home-school connection!  In noting these traits in your child and others, he/she will be able to more effectively identify

Positive Leadership 9 Cs
Curiosity
Creativity
Communication
Character
Courage
Conviction
Charisma
Competence

Common Sense

Here are some questions we brainstormed that are great discussion questions:

Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: When have you been a leader? Think both in and outside of school. Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: What are the qualities of an effective leader? Be specific. Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: Name some “good” leaders. Justify your response. Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: Name some “bad” leaders. Justify your response. Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: In addition to government, what other areas have leaders? Name at least three. Qualities of Leadership Carousel Brainstorming: How has leadership changed over time?


5th grade - Stock Market and Personal Finance

Dear Parents,

In fifth grade TAG, we will begin with our unit on the “Stock Market:  Economics of Life,” which focuses on Higher Order/Critical Thinking and Advanced Communication Skills.  In this unit, students will learn how to make informed financial decisions and will participate in The Stock Market Game, an online simulation of stock trading, with students across the state of Georgia.  

Students will have hands-on opportunities to learn about money, personal finance, wealth building, and increase their knowledge of financial vocabulary.  Life and Monopoly are great games to play at home during this unit.  These games will offer students the opportunity to apply economic concepts to real life situations.  Speaking with your kids about how you make financial decisions would also support our unit’s learning objectives.

Each day, students will identify and progress in the use of the Higher Order/Critical Thinking Skills.  These skills include:  asking complex questions, using criteria to make comparisons, using criteria to make decisions, using criteria to evaluate decisions, predicting consequences of decisions, using metaphors, examining an issue from various points of view, and drawing conclusions.


We look forward to a fun year in fifth grade TAG!