December 15 and 16

December 12, 2014

Hello 5/6 Families,

Thank you for allowing us to take your children to the Citrus Cafe for lunch followed by a lot of running and playing on the beautiful grass field on the ASU Campus.  We had a wonderful, winter celebration.

Monday, December 15 is our new summative date.  We will meet in the 5/6 Quad area beginning at 5:00  and ending by 6:30 pm.  You will be able to tour the cafeteria, the homeroom classrooms, the hallways leading to our area, and what will be the new office area/front of the school.  There will also be an opportunity to hear a recording of your children singing - they sound AMAZING!  There will be short videos showing in each of the homeroom classrooms that have been created by your children.  Don't forget to check out the green/brown bulletin board by the cafeteria with photos from the ASU garden!

Tuesday, December 16 we will be walking over to cheer on our spelling bee winners as they compete for a spot to go to the state spelling bee.  The spelling bee will begin promptly at 10:00 am in the Cooley Ballroom.  Parents of the participants should have received an email with the information you need about parking for this event.  If you need additional information please contact Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. Biggs, or Ms. Urban.

Tuesday will be the last school day for students.  Teachers have a work day on Wednesday.  ILP conferences are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.  Parents sign up online with your child's homeroom teacher.  You may bring your child with you.  Conferences usually last about 15 minutes.

I hope your holidays will be enjoyable with your children home.   You will have two weeks to create many wonderful, life-long memories!

Wishing you peace, good health, and happiness!

See you next week at summative and ILP conferences.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs



December 10, 2014

Hello 5/6 Families,

A reminder of important information that we have sent home with students.  In case you haven't received it from your child, here it is!

Thursday, December 11 - We will be hosting all 5/6 families and students from 5:00-6:30 pm.  This will be our summative which is students opportunity to share some things they have learned at ASU Prep this year.  It is a come and go event.  We look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening.

Friday, December 12 we are leaving Poly campus around 12:00 to walk to the Citrus Cafe on the ASU campus.  This will be our winter celebration.  You can send in $7.25 for your child to participate in the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Citrus Cafe, or they may bring a packed lunch or the school lunch, if you have already made that purchase.  Everyone will be going.  We can't pay for your child if they forget their money.  Please send cash.  If you send in a check make it to ASU Prep.  We pay as we go into the Cafe.  We took the 5/6 graders last year and they LOVED it!  ASU students will be scarce as their finals are the first part of this week.  After lunch, we will head over to the big fields to play soccer, volleyball, and whiffle ball.  Your child can bring in a sport ball on Friday.

We have also sent our a permission slip for a field trip in January 2015.  We have to submit payment a month in advance.  If you haven't submitted your $14 (ticket and bus fee), please do so ASAP.  If you would like to chaperone, you will also need to pay $8.  You need to contact your child's homeroom teacher so that we can buy the tickets in advance.  They do not sell tickets at the door, so if you show up on the day of the play to chaperone and you haven't paid in advance you will not be able to attend the play.

Please keep in mind Science Camp at the end of May.  You still have time to make smaller monthly payments in order to pay the $140 fee for students.  If you would like to receive a tax credit for your science camp fees - I have a form, or Tax Credit forms are available online.  You can make a donation of up to $400 per calendar year for married couples, $200 for single families.  If you signed up to be a volunteer you need to have a fingerprint clearance card.  It takes about 6 weeks to process these cards.  Parents that receive their cards and are chaperoning also need to make a payment of $110.  Thank you for those who are making little payments every few weeks and for those who have paid using tax credit money!  It is definitely less stressful to pay a little bit here and there!  If you would like to apply money to a scholarship fund to help those who might need a little extra help, please let me know.

PTSO is still collecting donations for the Run Devil Run as well.  :)

Kindest regards,
Mrs. Biggs

Thanksgiving Week

November 24, 2014

Hello Families!
I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing four day break!

5th grade will continue working on Human Body posters in class and a group Human Body book.  We have discussed it in all the classes, and we will be handing out the Rubric on Monday.  We WILL NOT be studying the Reproductive System.

6th grade will continue their work in the garden, visit the Technology Lab on ASU campus on Tuesday, and prepare for a quiz on Wednesday over notes in their science journals.

Field Trip payments and slips are DUE December 1 for "The Thousand Cranes".  Please return these ASAP.

Science Camp is coming up in May.  If you are making monthly payments, please plan on making a payment in December.  The total cost is $140.

December 11th is our Summative beginning at 5:00 until 6:30 pm.  We hope that you will be able to join us for this FUN evening.   

Green Team is picking up Recycling on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.  Thank you to the parents that are allowing your children to help us out with Recycling!  We appreciate it!  

LEGO Robotics will meet on Tuesday until 5:30 pm and the week after Thanksgiving we will have Robotics from Tuesday through Friday as we finish up the last of our preparations for our LEGO Robotics tournament on Saturday, December 6, 2014.  Things are really coming together nicely!  Thank you, thank you for all of the support and encouragement you have given your child!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Summative

November 18, 2014

Hello Families,

Please make sure to mark your calendar for our 5/6 Summative.  It will be on December 11, 2014.  We will be hosting the event from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.  We will meet back in the 5/6 QUAD area.  We look forward to sharing what we have been learning!

Best to you and your families,
Mrs. Biggs

Update with event reminders Nov. 17th

November 17, 2014

Hello Fabulous Families!

Can you believe it is almost the end of November?  Wow!  The year is flying by!  Here are a few reminders.  Please contact me with any questions.

November 17 - November 21     Student Council is sponsoring a canned food, non-perishable food drive.  There are large black cans in our QUAD area where students can drop off their donations.  The grade level that collects the most cans earns a free dress day. (Pre-K-K)(1-2)(3-4)(5-6)

November 21   This is our "Run Devil Run".  Flyers have been sent home.  Pledge sheets will be accepted all the way up to the event date.  You can pledge per lap or just a lump sum amount.  The money from PTSO goes back to the classroom teachers.  Classroom teachers use the money to add materials to the curriculum and classroom supplies.

December 11  Summative for 5th and 6th grade.  The time will be 5:00 to 6:30 pm.

January 22   "Sadako and the Thousand Cranes" is a play we will be going to see as a 5/6 cluster.  We are able take 4 chaperones per class.  We have sent home permission slips on an orange paper.  These need to be returned ASAP with the fee to cover the cost of the play and the bus.  Chaperones also have to pay the fee to see the play.

May 20 - 22  We will be taking 5th and 6th graders to Science Camp.  If you have not paid in FULL, your second payment is DUE please.  A little bit each month will help to pay off the trip.  The cost of the trip is $140.  You can also pay with tax credit money.

* Please check your child's agenda on a regular basis
* If your child receives a diagonal mark across a box in his agenda it is a "black line".  It doesn't have to be drawn in black ink.  The teacher will write a quick note to let you know what happened during the day.  A child will receive a black line after a reminder has been given.  This helps parents and all of the 5/6 teachers to stay informed and be aware of any ongoing concerns.
* It is chilly in the morning.  Please encourage your child to wear their jacket.  In the morning the playground is in the shade so it is EXTRA chilly!

From Coach Pearson:This week your child will be bringing home a skeletal system study guide. They will be taking a test on the skeletal system the week of December first. I will have an answer key on my website with the song "Name Those Bones". A copy of the lyrics will be online below the youtube link. My website is http://npearsonasuprep.weebly.com/. Please email me with any questions you might have.  

November 10, 2014

Hello Families!

Please send in a payment towards your child's science camp fees if you are paying monthly installments.  The total cost is $140.   If you are hoping to chaperone, please make sure you have completed your fingerprint clearance application.  If your child will not be attending, please make sure to let Ms. Urban or Mrs. Biggs know.

We are working on a Green Screen movie script during science.  All classes will be working with Mrs. Houseman to create their movie on the green screen.  Each class has a different topic that they are working on.  Students are working in groups of three.  This week (November 10) students will be able to spend a little extra time during learning lab working on their scripts.

Tuesday, November 11th is Veteran's Day.  This is a school holiday!  Please take a moment to thank a Veteran and talk to your children about the holiday.

Summative is scheduled for December 11th.  Please mark your calendars for the evening.

Sixth graders have been walking to the ASU Garden once a week.  We have been weeding, planting,  spreading compost, painting, and learning about plants.  The sixth graders have been fully engaged and eager to go work in the garden.  We are planning what to plant in the planters in our playground area.  Does anyone have access to seedlings?  I have a wish list that I will send home with the 6th graders.  Period 4 will be working in the garden on Wednesday.  

Thursday, Period 6 will be taking a virtual tour in a working copper mine.

Period 2 was able to visit the kinder classes last Wednesday.  This class walked around the kinder classrooms with 3-4 kinders.  The 5th graders were kind and helpful and allowed the kinders to take them on a tour of all the fabulous work they have been doing in kindergarten.

Students should be bringing a snack and water bottle everyday.  Please check your child's agenda and sign it each day.

Thank you for your support and help.  We appreciate your emails and please know that we try to return your emails/phone calls within a 24 hour period.

Best to you and your families,

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Friday, September 19, 2014

All Students may pay $1

 to wear JEANS for the day! 

The money$$$

raised/donated/collected 

will go towards 

purchasing and donating books

 to children in need!

Bubble Gum Experiment

September 8, 2014

Hello Families,
Thank you so much for all the gum you sent in to help us complete our experiment.  I know it often requires an extra sacrifice, and I appreciate your generosity.  And the students were grateful to complete the gum experiment.

Students read a letter from a man interested in buying an established gum company.  We discussed the information in the letter, what the problem was, and we discussed how we would solve the problem.  We have pretty much finished up with the experiment portion and now we will be analyzing our data, comparing our data, and writing a conclusion for our experiment.

We also completed an experiment to discover who stole Sparky.  Students collected data and analyzed different pens to determine which pen was used to write the ransom note.  

We complete science trivia every day, and it has been exciting to hear the discussion among students as they justify/defend/explain their answers.  Your children are bright, articulate, clever, and quick witted. Our year has gotten off to a great start!

The Instagrams turned out GREAT!  I appreciate those of you that contacted me with questions concerning this assignment.  I posted the expectations and documents on my weebly, last Monday, August 25.  The paperclips are supposed to be clicked on in order to view the document.  We also discussed the expectations for this assignment every day in class.  My weebly:
  rbiggsasuprep.weebly.com   ruth.biggs@asu.edu

You can also send in a note with your child or write a question on your child's agenda.

Best regards,


Ruth Biggs

September 1, 2014

Hello Families!

I hope you have had a lovely three day weekend.  Have you done anything related to science? We spent time in class last week talking about primary and secondary resources as we researched our scientists.   We also talked about bibliographies and why it is important to document where we find our information.  We dug a little deeper and worked on questions about our scientists.  These questions and answers were completed in our science journals.  Students will have time this week to complete these questions in their journals and to update their journals.  Instagrams are due Tuesday unless you are in P6.  P6 Instagrams are due on Friday, September 5.  If your child was missing any part of this assignment, copies were posted on my weebly, Monday, August 25, 2014.  Click on the paperclips to see the attachments.  rabiggsasuprep.weebly.com

We will be completing the bubble gum experiment on Wednesday.  Thank you for your donations!

Please send in a shoe box with your child's name written on the bottom by Friday, September 5.

LEGO Robotics will be held on Tuesday and Thursday until 4:30 pm.  Thank you for picking up your child promptly.

GREEN Team will be meeting on Tuesday, September 2 at 7:30 am in the QUAD.  Please bring items that can and can not be RECYCLED to our meeting.

Please make sure your child has a water bottle and a nutritious snack each day.

Thank you for your support and kindness that you extend to our staff and students that attend ASU Prep each day.  Please don't hesitate to send me an email or leave a voicemail if you have any questions or concerns.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

LEGO Information meeting

We will be having a LEGO Robotics meeting on Tuesday, August 12 at 3:30 pm for 5/6th grade students interested in joining this after school club.  If your child is interested in learning more about this club, they are required to attend this meeting with a guardian/parent.  Participating in this club is optional for all 5/6th grade students.

Please contact me if you will not be able to attend this meeting.

ruth.biggs@asu.edu

yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

details sports/specials

August 4, 2014

Hello Families,
Here is a link if you are interested in trying out for sports.

All 5/6 students can tryout for the Athletics Program.  In the fall, we have Volleyball and Flag Football afterschool and cross country in the morning.  The students must go towww.asuprepathletics.com and fill out a registration form before tryouts.  They also must have a physical before tryouts.  All of the other paperwork and fees can be paid after they are selected for the team.

The students will walk from the ES to the high school area.  The FFB meets in the old PAC, now called Cedar Hall.  The VB meets (at least for now) at the Sun Devil Fitness Center.

If possible, could each of the 5/6 teachers put an additional page on the weebly site... labeled Athletics.  Then, just put a link to www.asuprepathletics.com on the page.
bbrownasuprep.weebly.com  npearsonasuprep.weebly.com 


If your child is in Mrs. Biggs 2nd hour class this is their special schedule.
Monday     PE
Tuesday     Music
Wednesday Learning Lab
Thursday    STEM
Friday        Life Skills/Study Hall

If your child is in my 1st hour Homeroom class they will follow Mrs. Caro's special schedule because they are in her classroom 2nd hour.
Monday     Life Skills
Tuesday     PE
Wednesday  Music
Thursday    Learning Lab
Friday        STEM

I hope this helps!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

General Info

August 4, 2014

Hello Families!

Welcome to our 2014-2015 school year.  Please submit a form through my weebly page is you have a question (rbiggsasuprep.weebly.com), leave a message at the front desk, or send in a note with your child.  I will do my best to return your message within 24 hours.

If your child is interested in safety patrol, there will be an information meeting on Tuesday at 12:45 in Mrs. Caro's classroom.

LEGO informational meeting is coming soon. It will be after school, and we are asking that at least one parent attend.  I will let you know as soon as this meeting is scheduled.

Please visit Coach Pearson's weebly page for info regarding sports' tryouts.  These begin on Monday, August 4, 2014.  There was also information in the ASU Prep Newsletter that was emailed out to families.  You can also find information regarding sports tryouts on the ASU Preparatory Polytechnic Website.

I will be including DUE dates and rubrics on this blog site under the heading "Due Dates May Appear Closer Than They Really Are".

Please check and sign your child's agenda everyday.  Please make sure your child has a water bottle, a nutritious snack, and either brings/buys a lunch each day.

Your child may wear a hat/sunglasses to PE on their PE day.

Your child's special schedule is the special's schedule assigned to their Period 2 teacher.  Has your child shared their daily schedule/special's schedule with you?

8:15 -  9:15     Period 1
9:20 - 10:20    Period 2
10:25 - 11:25  SPECIALS
11:30 - 12:25  Period 4
12:30 - 1:10    LUNCH
1:15 - 2:10      Period 6
2:15 - 3:15      Period 7

I am looking forward to a challenging, interesting, and a FUN year of science with your child.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
5/6 Science Teacher

Free Choice Dress Day Costs $$$$

On Friday May 16, 2014 students will be able to pay for free dress day.  They can pay $1 either for free choice for top or bottom or they may pay $2 for free choice for both the top and bottom.  The money is going towards a new trophy case for our school.  Student council is sponsoring this event.  Modest clothes are still expected for free choice day.

Wish List

May 12, 2014

Please visit the wish list page and send in any items that you may have to help us complete our science activities.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Mrs. Biggs

Boo Bubbles

May 9, 2014

Hello Families,
Well, this week we finished up all of our crystal making.  I have one student's creation that we are still trying to make grow crystals.  I'll be sending home all of the jars you donated.  We had such a variety of crystal creations.  Our independent variables were our pipe cleaner shapes and colors.  We tried to keep the ratio of Borax to water the same.  We tried to keep our water temperature the same.  All but one of our crystals grew.  However, the size and density of crystals varied..  It was a fun experiment to watch the Borax Detergent dissolve in the water and to also have a quick turnaround for crystal growth.  We would need to be more specific in our data collection to determine why the crystals looked so different.

On Friday we made Boo Bubbles with dry ice, warm water, and homemade bubble solution.  We talked about dry ice, what it is made of, how to handle it correctly, to respect it, and how it changes from a solid to a gas.  Sublimation.  Students wore a glove to encourage the bubble to hold its shape.  Occasionally the bubble would stick to a soapy hand or a T-shirt.  Students made educated guess about what Boo Bubbles would do(based on previous knowledge and info shared) and what they would look like.  We made a lot of Boo Bubbles but no one thought we made too many.  We talked about Dry Ice safety and we also talked about how scientist are smart with their experiments.  Dry Ice needs to be respected.  Please do not do any experiments at home with Dry Ice without first making sure you are informed about how to be safe when you are using it.

Permission slip (green) came home today.  The money is due back by the 16th.  The cost is $24 plus an additional $1 for a slice of pizza.  Please make sure you have returned the photo consent(white) also.  You will be receiving an additional slip on Monday regarding chaperoning.  Not everyone who offered to chaperone will be able to go due to volunteer limits from JA Biztown.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers!  Thank you for all that you do to help your child be successful at school.   I hope you are all spoiled on Sunday!  You deserve it!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday, May 9, 2014

Students bring in a pair of cotton mittens or gloves for class on Friday.   These are the types of gloves that will get wet in snow...inexpensive....usually can buy them for about $1.99 somewhere.  In other words don't bring in leather or manmade gloves/mittens.

 Bring in a pair so that you can share with a student who doesn't have a glove or mitten.  I will bring in a few extra also.

A BIGGS thank you in advance!

Mysteriously yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

FYI

Update on what is happening in the classroom

May 5, 2014

Hello again 5/6 science families,
I hope you are doing well!  We are working on matter in science, because it matters!  This is the beginning of chemistry for students...the beginning of a spark of interest in the science fields involving chemistry...the beginning of curiosity to learn more about the states of matter...a positive experience for science.  We want our children to love science, right?  I get excited when they bring in a nature specimen to share or relate to me a science show that they watched or tell me about something they noticed in the night's sky.  We are surrounded by SCIENCE!  We are responsible for the world we live in and the world we will leave to our children.

If you think about it, please have a conversation with your child about Arizona and what we can do to help out our environment/habitat/biome in the desert.  Can you donate your time somewhere?  Have you traveled our great state to learn more about Arizona?  Think along the lines of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Are these three words part of your daily life?  Our resources will not always be available to us.  And yes, I do believe one person can make a difference.

We are learning about BizTown in our first hour of each day.  We are talking about citizen, communities, trade, business, rights, responsibilities, economies, markets, supply & demand, scarcity, and more topics will come up.  We have 20 lessons we are teaching, we have 5 lessons being taught by classroom volunteers, and Intel came in today.  The students enjoyed learning about making a good product, finding efficient ways to make a product, working with others, relying on other people to bring you your resources, etc.  It was a fun and busy day!

FYI for upcoming events.

May 23 - Pride (no personal electronics)
May 26 - Memorial Day and School HOLIDAY
May 27 - BizTown
May 29 - AUCTION (Please send in any treasures that we can AUCTION to students)
May 30 - Breakfast/Brunch (we would LOVE donations), Boardgames, and 1/2 DAY !!!!!

Please check my wish list for items we are in need of in science.  A BIGGS thank you for your generous and thoughtful support!  We appreciate your help!  And thank you for the sweet notes and gifts for teacher appreciation week!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Talent

April 4, 2014

Hello Families!

We've got talent...yes we do!  Thursday friends and families gathered to celebrate the talent here at ASU Prep.  WOW!  Thank you for encouraging your children to grow their talents and expand their experiences.  It was a great evening.  The teachers were "Happy, Happy, Happy" to share their talents as well.

In case you haven't had the opportunity to see the space station in the evening sky you will have another chance tonight.  Here is the info:

Time:  Friday, April 4, 7:59 pm Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 44 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: E

We have been working on AIMS review in science this week.  I've been reviewing and practicing a variety of math skills.  Science and math compliment each other.  The thing I love about math is that math is constant.  What students learn in 5/6 they practice and refine in  junior high, high school, and college.  We use math for our entire life...so it is important to make real life math connections.  Practice increases our confidence.  Talking to other people about our math struggles/success helps us be better in math. Tutoring helps.  I love math, but in college I had some math classes I struggled through.  I took advantage of the tutoring.  I wasn't the fastest finisher on tests, but I usually scored well.  I maintained a 4.0 throughout college and received scholarship money.  Free college.  But, I had to work hard at refining my work and practicing my math.  I've shared the story with students.  We all have strengths in different subjects...talents in different areas.  It is okay if math isn't our strength or talent.  It isn't okay to give up or quit without giving ourselves a chance to learn and practice our math.  We need to be kind to ourselves when we get frustrated with math, take a deep breath, and believe that we are capable of doing more...doing better.  We all have different talents!  Thank goodness otherwise this world would be a boring place!

Please send in AIMS snacks on Monday and Tuesday!  Please make sure your kids are getting to bed at a decent hour and eating a healthy breakfast.  Please send them with a good snack on AIMS test dates.  Please refer to the email we sent out earlier about AIMS snacks.

Thank you for all that you do to support your students here at ASU Prep Academy and for helping the teachers.  We appreciate you and we love your children!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

AIMS Breakfast

March 28, 2014

Hello Families!

FYI McDonald's is pitching in to help kids get through the first couple of days of AIMS testing.  Must have child present with you in order to receive the free breakfast...LOL.  :)

The Big Taste
Before The Big Test
FREE Breakfast for Grades 3-8 taking the AIMS test.
April 7 & 8, 2014
from 6 to 9 a.m.
Egg McMuffin® and Apple Slices with choice of Milk or Small Minute Maid ® Orange Juice.
Offer good at participating McDonald’s® Arizona restaurants.
Valid 6am-9am. April 7 and 8, 2014. Offer good while supplies last.
No substitutions. No group redemption. Students under 15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent. Child must be present for offer. ©2014 McDonald’s. ©2014 The Coca-Cola Company “Minute Maid” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company. VOX 365678-1#1

La Gran Prueba Antes de la Gran Prueba Desayuno GRATIS para los Grados 3-8 que estén haciendo la prueba AIMS. 7 y 8 de Abril de 2014 de 6 a 9 a.m. Egg McMuffin® y Rebanadas de Man- zana con tu elección de Leche o Jugo de Naranja Minute Maid® Chico

Oferta válida en restaurantes McDonald’s® de Arizona participantes. Válida de 6 am a 9 am. 7 y 8 de abril de 2014. Oferta válida mientras duren las existencias. No hay sustituciones. No hay canje por grupo. Estudiantes menores de 15 años deben estar acompañados por un papá. El niño/a debe estar presente para la oferta. ©2014 McDonald’s. ©2014 The Coca-Cola Company. “Minute Maid” es marca registrada de The Coca-Cola Company. VOX 365678-1 #1

Please watch for sign ups to come home or through email for AIMS' snacks and SCIENCE supplies.

Thank you for all that do to support your child's education.

yours in science,

Ruth Biggs

AIMS schedule

March 24, 2014

Hello Amazing Science 5/6 Families!

I hope you are doing well.  I heard the School Picnic was FUN on Saturday.  I was disappointed to miss it, but one of my children had a lacrosse tournament in San Diego this weekend.  A quick trip!

Here is our updated AIMS schedule.  Please try to rearrange your doctor, dentist, and other appointments to different days.  Your child will be grateful to take the test on the scheduled day.

I will be sending home sign ups for some experiments that will be coming up in science. A BIGGS thank you for your generous support and offers to HELP.  I will also be sending home a sign up for AIMS week snacks. Thank you so much!

YoUrS in ScIenCe,
Mrs. Biggs

AIMS/Stanford 10 Administration Schedule Revised 3/20/2014

DAY 1 Tuesday, April 8

Gr 10 - AIMS Math

Gr 9 - Stanford Reading                                         

Gr 5, 6, 7 - AIMS Writing

Gr 4 & 8 - AIMS Science

 DAY 2 Wednesday, April 9

Gr 10 - AIMS Science                                                   

Gr 9 - Stanford Math

Gr 9 - Stanford Language

Gr 3-8 - AIMS Reading1

Gr 3-8 - AIMS Math1

Gr 2 -Stanford Reading

 DAY 3 Tuesday, April 15

Gr 3-8 AIMS Reading2                                                      

Gr 3-8 AIMS Math2

Gr 2 - Stanford Math

 DAY 4 Wednesday, April 16

Gr 3-8 AIMS Reading3

Gr 3-8 AIMS Math3

Gr 2 - Stanford Language

MAKE-UP Testing

April 15 - Gr 10 AIMS Math only

April 16-22 Stanford Gr 9, Gr 2

April 17-22  AIMS Gr 3-8

March 18, 2014

I hope you had a lovely spring break.  The weather is so beautiful this time of year.  It makes me grateful to live here.  Did you and your family do anything related to science?  I bet you did!  Science surrounds us EVERYWHERE!  Do you watch documentaries with your child?  Did you know that you can rent DVD's and CD's from the library for FREE?  I love that!  Just make sure you return them on time, otherwise there is a $2 fine for every day they are late!

Spring Picnic is this Saturday.  We are collecting items to be placed in a basket for the auction.  We have only had 2 items donated.  :(   It is going to be a very, very sad basket unless every child donates at least 1 item.  We are asking every family to participate and donate at least 1 item.  Be creative!  Pool stuff, beach stuff, umbrellas, sun screen, sun glasses, toys, bags, drinks, snow cone makers, popsicle molds, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, insulated water bottles, or maybe you know someone that would donate passes to Golfland or Sunsplash.  I'm excited about the possibilities.

15 days until AIMS testing.  Be thinking that the week of April 14 is AIMS testing.  Please try not to schedule any doctor/dentist/ortho appts.  Hopefully everyone will be healthy and strong and not miss any days.  AIMS makeups will be held a few days after the AIMS test.

Thanks for all that you do to help your child excel here at ASU Prep Academy.

scientifically yours,

Mrs. Biggs

February 26, 2014

Hello Science Families,
I hope your child came home and told you that The International Space Station is flying over Arizona this week and is visible! How exciting!  We've been learning some interesting things about the space station.  You can google "ISS over Arizona" and the first site that pops up is a spotthestation from NASA.  Look for Arizona under location.  The viewing times and directions in the sky are posted.  You can also sign up to receive notifications from NASA.  Here is the link below:
Spot the Station

ASU at the Tempe location is offering science experiences and activities this Saturday, March 1, 2014.  Here is a link that you can go to find more information as well!

https://opendoor.asu.edu/

Also, this Thursday from 3:30-5:00 we are hosting students for an academic enrichment.  Students need to have a permission slip in order to stay.  These were sent home last week.  The slip is on a bright orange/yellow paper.  We are looking forward to having your students that afternoon!

We are also collecting permission slips for Field Day.  These came home on Monday.  The form is white.  Your child has to have a permission slip signed in order to participate in Field Day.  They will also need to wear tennis shoes and bring a water bottle.

Be sure to check in with your child about their Author Lit Study that has due dates for this Thursday/Friday(summary) and it has a final due date ( Final Project)  for March 5th.  Your child has a paper from Mrs. Lawrence with the due dates and it is also posted on her website.  

I can help you if you have further questions!  Please call or send me an email.  

Thank you for all that you do to support your child's academics here at school and for offering them a variety of activities at home that enrich their lives.

Go watch the night sky for the ISS!

yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Olympics 2014

February 10, 2014

Hello Science Families,
I hope you have had the opportunity to sit and watch some of the Olympics with your children.  Science is visible in every aspect of these winter Olympic games!  The weather, the snow, icy snow, slush, incline, acceleration, trajectory, center of gravity, motion, physics, air resistance, etc, etc, etc.  We seem to be able to remember the Olympics that are broadcast every four years as we get older.  It is a great opportunity to share with our kids the joy and triumph that comes with winning and share the disappointment of being seconds away from the medal podium.

The Olympics offer all of us the opportunity to talk about hard work, dedication, fear, challenges, sacrifice, discipline...and did I mention hard work?  We share in the athletes emotions almost like we have worked along side them for the last four to eight years.  Some of these athletes are only a few years older than our own children!  Why is it that some among us take the Olympic path?  Some of us dream about if I could have I would have.  The rest of us are happy to hold the remote and be a couch cheerleader or athlete.

Go Team U.S.A. or whatever country your family is cheering for!  I for one am glad that I am not standing at the top of a snowy precipice looking down a 75% incline on a very tall mountain.  I respect the athletes for their dedication, and I'm happy to cheer them on.  Brrrrr...it is chilly inside my house.  Off to make some hot chocolate.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

OREO's and Free Dress Day!

February 2014

Hello Science Families,
Can you believe it is already February?  The groundhog saw his shadow on groundhog day(Feb. 2), so it looks like winter will be here another six weeks.  It has been a little chilly these past few days.  I am perplexed by shivering, blue lipped children that are not wearing jackets.

The tree house is officially opened!

FREE DRESS DAY on Thursday, February 6, 2014.  Students still need to wear clothing that is modest and respectful of others. :)  I will be out on Thursday for a few appointments.

Check out my planbook - QUIZ on moon phases Friday!

Our OREO activity was FUN.  Students did a great job trimming the creamy white centers into gibbous, crescent, and half moon shapes.  Their drawing and labeling of the moon phases went well also - and their motivation was HIGH with the promise of being able to eat their cookies once they finished.  I love it when kids just "eat up science!"

Thank you for helping your child find programs on your phones, computers, and electronic devices that point out what is in our solar system.  They are LOVING this, and I still have students coming to me to show me what they are seeing.  It is amazing and so FUN to be caught up in the excitement of learning about the solar system.

I'll be attending a STEM class on Saturday for 8 hours, and I'm looking forward to bringing back activities/information to our classroom.

I hope you have a wonderful week.  Remember, Think like a PROTON and BE POSITIVE!

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Books and Stars!

January 27, 2014

Hello Families,
We can still see the supernova at the top of the cup on the big dipper!  Have you stopped by the Riparian Preserve by the Southeast Regional Library (Greenfield/Guadalupe) to look through their telescope?(check hours online)  It is NEAT and COOL and AMAZING!  The Riparian is an awesome outdoor walk.  You would be amazed at the variety of birds that live there!  Bring your camera and your walking shoes!  You won't be disappointed.

Have you been looking at your bookshelves wondering how did you get so many books?  Please consider donating these to one of the teachers here at ASU Prep.  WE would love them!  Have you found any extra books at your house that have one of our names on the outside?  Please have your child return it to our classrooms!

If you don't want to donate them to the classroom you can resell them at the 2nd Hand Bookstore on Southern/Power.  It is a way to earn a tiny bit of money to buy more books!  Or consider a donation to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Deseret Industries.  It is a great way to give back to our community!

Amazing weather!  Before we know it, it will be in the triple digits!  Enjoy your time exploring and playing in our great state of Arizona!  Keep a watchful eye when you are out in the desert for wildlife and be sure to keep your distance.  And don't forget the Leavitright rule - leave it right where you found it: unless it is trash.  Carry your trash out and dispose of it properly when you leave the desert.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

STAR gazing TONIGHT! Jan 23

January 23, 2014

Hello Science Families,

Tonight in the northwestern sky you should be able to see visible signs of a supernova that exploded yesterday.  You can see it without the aid of a telescope.

Also, if you have a SMARTphone look and see if you have a STAR app or if you can download one of the STAR sights for FREE!  The apps are amazing.  You can also use an iPad for nightly star gazing.


Enjoy!

yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

Missing Classroom Books

January 15, 2014

Please help return books to my classroom!  I allow students to borrow my books, and I'm happy to share.  I love to share great literature with them!  I tell them they have to return the book to me.  My bookshelves are looking empty.  Can you please check around your house, in your child's bedroom, in your child's backpack, the back seat of your car, etc.  I would be so happy to have my books returned to my shelves.  Thanks in advance for your help!  I appreciate your efforts on my behalf!

a BIGGS thank you,
Mrs. Biggs

January 14, 2014

Hello Families!

A great goal for all of us to consider:  Be More Organized!  Everything in our lives needs a place.  Our dishes, our clothes, our food, our mail, our backpacks and purses and keys.  It frees up so much time for us...instead of hunting for that bill, piece of paper, shoe, backpack or ingredient for dinner...we can trust that it will be in its designated spot.  It really only takes an extra second to put something back where it belongs.  We all get so busy multi-tasking that it is easy to get distracted, put something down, and tell ourselves WE WILL REMEMBER!  But we don't!  Maybe some of the time we will remember where we placed it, but most of the time we go searching for it.

So, consider taking a look at your daily routines with your kids and ask yourselves how you can reduce your frantic searching time.  What are the things that you use most often? You need to have quick access to these things.   What do your kids need to be successful at school?  Where do you keep lunch boxes, backpacks, school supplies?  Do your kids spend time searching for jackets, socks, and shoes?  Are you hoping you can find your car keys quickly in the morning?  Whatever it is that seems to be stealing your time, I would encourage you to take a look at how you can improve your efficiency at home.

When my children were younger I had a cabinet that I designated for school supplies for homework/projects.  We still use the system even though my youngest are in high school and junior high.  They became self-sufficient at a young age at getting what they needed to complete their homework out of the cabinet.  It took a few minutes to sort out the craft paper, lined paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, graph paper, scissors, tape, glue, extra folders/binders, etc.  It also saved me those late, last minute runs to the store to get supplies for the project that was due the following day! "Surprise I have a project due tomorrow" is never fun to hear at 10:00 pm!

Try finding a place where you can always put your keys, wallet, purse, etc.  When you need it you will always know where to find it.  Don't slack...just take an extra second and put it in the same spot.  Have your kids always put their backpacks and school stuff in the same spot, so as you leave in the morning you know exactly where it is.  When my kids were younger they always put their backpacks by the  front door once homework was finished.  It worked like a charm...but I had seven in school at one time, and I needed a quick and easy solution.

While I'm on the subject of having seven in school at one time (now I have only 4 in school), I will tell you my kids would always forget socks and shoes upstairs.  And hair stuff upstairs.  So, I moved all the socks downstairs into a boys and girls bucket.  I also had two sets of everything you needed to "fix" hair in the morning...hairspray, gel, ponytails, bows, combs, brushes, etc both upstairs and downstairs.  On those days when we needed a little extra time it saved us time by not having to run up and down the stairs.

 Maybe these really aren't organizational strategies...but they helped our mornings run a little smoother.  My kids could get ready quickly on their own, and I could still keep an eye on their progress.  I'm embarrassed to tell you that we still have the boys and girls sock bucket downstairs.  Now that my kids are older they have special socks that they don't want to share, so I tell them to put them in their room.  But they don't.  They have become experts at sorting and matching socks.

Wishing you the best in getting organized.  If you are already organized...CONGRATULATIONS!  Now, if I could just find my car keys I'll head home to my family.  Oh look, they are right where I left them this morning.

Enjoy your families.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs

January 7, 2014

Welcome back to ASU Preparatory Academy!  I hope your winter break was wonderful, relaxing, and better than you anticipated.  I enjoyed the time with my family.

I spoke with all the 5th and 6th graders today about how this is the time in their lives when they are developing that traits, habits, and routines that will help them during their high school years.  I told them that not only are academics important but the things they do outside of school are important, too.  We talked about earning scholarships to college for academics, for sports, for dance, for music, for service and student government, etc.  I told them it is amazing how colleges will pay them money to come to their schools.  We also talked about the service academies(West Point, The Air Force Academy, The Naval Academy).  We talked about becoming inventors, small business owners, and going to trade school.  We also talked about minimum wage jobs and the lower pay and higher physical demands in these jobs.

I had students rate how they are doing in school both academically and socially.  Then I had them set three goals for either/or/both academics and social.  I believe that even though colleges don't generally look at the grades for elementary/junior high; but the skills, traits, habits, and routines that children are learning in these grades will contribute to their success in high school.

ASU costs over $10,000 a year.  The top three schools in the United States are Princeton, Harvard, and Yale.  Can you believe these schools cost over $40,000 a year to attend?  Wow!  Let's support our kids in their academics and encourage them to work hard in school and do their best and work towards earning a scholarship to college.

Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs