Connecting Learning

If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.  ~ Unknown

It has been a great week of collaboration in learning at Eagle Ridge Academy.  We certainly want our students to go far and are always looking for ways to connect student learning to real life and bring others, whether from the school or the community, together for learning.  At Eagle Ridge Academy, teachers work together (across grades and disciplines) to make learning meaningful for students.  They also look outside to the local community to make those connections.  The African proverb of “It takes a village…” is certainly true and our teachers understand the importance when it comes to the education of your children.  Read more of my blog to see what has been happening at Eagle Ridge Academy this week in regards to community, learning together, and making connections.

Fourth grade students have started the school year with a science unit on meteorology.  They have been learning about air pressure, weather fronts, severe weather (and its effect on our environment), along with many specific meteorological terms.  Mrs. Madigan reached out to local meteorologist Chris Shaffer (WCCO) to let him know what our fourth graders were studying and how they had been challenged to watch the weather each night to make note of the terms the meteorologists were using.  Mr. Shaffer was so impressed he highlighted our school at the beginning of his weather report on Thursday, September 10^th.  You can see his report at this link:

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/show/wcco-4-news/#.VfIFg46PM_w.email

By doing this Mr. Shaffer made a real life connection for our students and shored up the importance of what they are learning for them.  Thank you to Mr. Shaffer and the fourth grade teachers for making this learning extra meaningful to our students!

Mr. Anderson turned his classroom into a cave.  Why on earth did he do this?  I can think of a couple of great reasons.  First of all, the 1^st grade students have been studying the cave paintings in Lascaux during art this year.  They have learned about the different animals that lived in caves and during the time of these cave paintings.  The 1^st grade students also study habitats in science and while caves are not a habitat they dive into, the connection Mr. Anderson made will extend their learning further.  The art/science/history connection is another way to make learning meaningful.  Check out the pictures below to see the cave paintings the students made (Authentically by painting on their paper on the wall not on a table, I might add.).  Thank you Mr. Anderson for the experience!

Next week is our first formal dress day of the year.  Students are expected to wear their formal dress uniform on Wednesday, September 16^th.  We have picture retakes that day, so students who need their pictures taken or retaken will be in their formal dress already!  Please make sure you review the formal dress requirements on the website.

I look forward to seeing you on Friday evening (September 18^th) at Rockin’ the Ridge.  It is an exciting community event that runs from 6:00-10:00.  The PTO is still looking for some volunteers, so please check out the opportunities on the website.  In honor of Rockin’ the Ridge, we will have our first spirit wear day for students and staff on Friday.  Students can wear Eagle Ridge Academy spirit wear.  They should not wear jeans, but can wear any Eagle Ridge Academy bottoms or their regular uniform bottoms.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier