Computer Science Week

This is Computer Science Week.  I have signed up many of our classes to participate in an hour of code on Code.org.  Students in Fifth grade have already begun to use this process of coding and are excited about using critical thinking skills and logic in a fun and interactive way.  This week more students in grades 2 through 5 will continue to have this opportunity.

Coding is the way our digital world operates.  Almost any technological program uses coding to provide instructions for our computers.  Students at Eastin are getting a head start working on this to prepare for future careers that most certainly will involve some sort of coding.   Code.org works with very simple Blockly coding which allows younger students to practice thinking like a computer.  This is an exciting lesson for all students.  I am looking forward to a great week of coding!

Library Now Open After School

Hello Students and Families,

Come visit the Media Center after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The doors will be open from 2:05 until 3:00 for students and their family members.  This is a great opportunity to get that extra book that you want to check out or just spend time looking through our collection.  I hope you decide to come by soon!!

Welcome Back to School

Hello Students,

As I am sure you already know, our first day of school is August 27th.  I am looking forward to seeing you and sharing some great books, lessons, and computer sites this year.  I know you must have had dynamic summers and I can't wait to hear about the fun things that you have done.  We will be beginning our year with review of our internet safety.  This year we will have many more opportunities for online learning.  So, we are going to start off our year strong. 

I have recently discovered some awesome websites as well.  Here are a couple that may be interesting for you;

http://www.fun4thebrain.com/ has online games that help you practice reading, math and science skills and it is a lot of fun too!

On the site  http://bookseer.com/  you can find book suggestions based on what you have already read.  Just type in a favorite book and author and you will get ideas for similar books to enjoy.

Do you ever wonder if you can get sick from your dog or why grass is wet in the morning?  Well http://wonderopolis.org/ is a great website for anything you are thinking about and may not have the answer to.  It is a fun sight to explore and learn many new things!

I will be sharing many more sights and some Chromebook apps this year. 

See you soon!

Mrs. Cox

California Young Reader Medal

Students in all grades have been enjoying the California Young Reader Medal Books.  There are five books nominated in the picture book category.  We have been reading these so that students may vote on their favorite books.  Votes are then submitted to the committee for the California Young Reader Medal.  This committee counts votes from libraries all over the state of California.  The winning book is given this very special medal.  Students love the fact that they are the most important part of this process. 
The books nominated this year are Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein, Press Here by Herve Tullet, Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown, Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, and Bats at the Ball Game by Brian Lies.  Children will begin voting next week.