During the approximately 5 1/2 hours we spend over three days working on math, we cover some serious ground. Your kids amaze us every day, and we are very excited about their progress!
At the start of the year, students learned that in order to combine (or add), they must have like terms. During this past month, students have connected this knowledge to expressions in which the values that are numerated are unit fractions…
Read MoreThis week in Science we moved into looking at natural hazards, and everyone is excited to share what they know about earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc and all the damage they inflict. Over the next weeks we will definitely increase our knowledge about how these geologic threats significantly alter human populations, activities, buildings, and land and we will explore the fact that humans cannot eliminate natural hazards but can take steps to reduce their impact…
Read MoreDr. Mark Lai visited our Coding Lab this week and offered up support, encouragement, and tips to the children about how computer scientists think and work.
Dr. Lai is a postdoctoral fellow at UT's Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics (i.e. he is a fascinating guy and a great mathematician-role-model)…
Read MoreMathematicians communicate their thinking algorithmically; that is, they devote time to developing sound, precise ways to methodically illustrate the manner in which they arrive at a solution. Nearly every day we use a practice with the kids in which we analyze a fellow mathematician's algorithm….
Read MoreOur coding/computer science program began this week and we kicked off the first day with the traditional initiation into the world of coding: the "Hello, World" program. We'll be learning about Python and having the chance to experience the creativity and excitement behind programming, but more important we'll be focusing on growing our logical thinking skills, bridging to the reasoning we practice in mathematics, and learning to think like a computer scientist…
Read MoreEvery day from 11:30 to 12:30 you'll find us at Pease Park, on the banks of Shoal Creek. Having worked at many schools in which lunch time was synonymous with a noisy cafeteria or dining hall and typically involved a slew of rules and a rushed meal, our routine at Long View is a welcome break.
There is something special about our walk down the street from our Lab . . . we decompress and have a moment of being out and about, amidst the noisy bustle of the street that leads to the UT campus…
Read MoreAshby Christian is a Reading Specialist and all-around amazing (and inspiring) reading teacher and she will join us every Thursday for an hour. We will be assuming your kids are reading at home, but we want to support your work and help you ensure solid progress across the year.
During these reading "check-ins" on Thursday mornings, Ashby will conduct a brief mini-lesson and/or confer individually with each child…
Read MoreGretchen Cion joins us as our Writing Specialist every Thursday for an hour. Mrs. Cion lives (and writes) in Houston so she'll be joining us via Google Hangouts. We are fortunate to have her collaboration, as she is someone who has an incredible gift for engaging every type of writer and helping each child reach to a high level. We are hoping that next week Mrs. Cion will tell us even more about the screenplay she has just started writing…
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