My new FAVORITE ELA UNIT: Shark Tank PersuasionWriting & Speech!

 Ava WON the most investment in her product (($1000 Stryj-bucks!)) and successfully persuaded her peers to invest in her product! The ConVerge: a Universal Gaming console. The students had to write a 5 paragraph paper explaining their product while also persuading their audience to invest in their product. They had to use the PDF of 8 Techniques we learned about find 3 to use in the paper and their speech. They ALSO had to create a speech that is NOT the same as their writing. Meaning, they could not print it off and read it. Some created actual drawings digital and paper, slide shows, and even models!

Ava used a scetching program on our Chromebooks to develop her product. Kaitlyn, seen below, came in a close second with $700 Stry-bucks.

 They all had to do self and peer evaluations with HLT? (Higher level thinking questions) and comments. They had to submit THAT for a grade as well. We even had some kids make youtube commercials for their product like KaitlynThe U-Battery

PS. I would TOTALLY buy hers!!! Who doesn’t want a watch that doubles as an extra battery for your phone?!

We had: apps, battery chargers, gaming systems, custom squishy makers, solar pannel windows, meme makers, and the list goes on. So much creativity!

I don't think they will EVER forget how to write a persuasion writing piece NOW!!!! :)

Stryjek's Starbucks aka flexible seating

So today concluded the NYS ELA Testing (everyone sighs). So to celebrate I started Starbucks seating. What is that. Well it is where the students can sit WHERE EVER THEY WANT!!!!!!!! Leather chair, high top tables, standing desks, tables with stools.  ANYWHERE!!!! As long as we continue to be respectful with our seats and peers, responsible with our work and SAFE with the seating arrangements. This is an exciting privilege. Let's all enjoy it. One final quarter in sixth grade!

2017-2018 so far

It's been a while since I've posted since we use Class Dojo. So I figured I would post a few things we have been up to lately. So check out the captions :)


GE Kid Wind Club "blew the judges away" with their use of entirely recycled materials
Article on the district website

KidWind Club creating the blades- no 3D printer here! Hand made genius creations!

The whole team making an assembly line for the blades before competition.

They finished their presentation and are ready to go to competition in Schenectady!

Time with the GE mentor before competition day!

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 Mrs. Stryjek taking time to make a friendly bet with a Duke fan. Sadly, my team 'Cuse lost :( A bet's a bet! Well played Duke fan!

 Students using Google Classroom

Fun hands on learning with Oreos and moon phases!

 Testing the variables they created to test different paper airplanes. All students chose their own variables. Self guided learning is fun!

 Reteaching measurement and converting inches to feet :) Math goes with science!!!

 Student created slide shows and shocked me when they taught themselves to use animation

 Real world application of measurement conversions. Also trying to get our local shelter dogs adopted.

 Our FAVORITE week in sixth grade! Coding Week! Students go to K-5 classes and teach coding to the younger classes.

30 of the 72 students in sixth grade also do coding club after school every week Nov.-Dec.

 Always remember to have fun! Great rule D!

 Positive atmosphere felt all around!

 I think they're ready for Coding Club Grades 3-5, see you from April-June!

 YAY! Coding is fun and easy!!

 TWO THUMBS UP!

 What is to come? Well today was the first day of Coding Club grades 3-5! We have six sixth grade mentors that will come assist me and perhaps even teach one your their favorite coding games. 32 students have signed up and next year I hope to expand the club to even more students!!! We are just getting our feet wet with the younger kiddos but based on their energy and enthusiasm today it will be a great success!!! Look for those pictures to come. See you soon!

Virtual Lab for Wednesday

Please click the link to access the virtual lab for rock identification

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES04/ES04.html

First Sixth Grade Post!

Welcome to my first post as a sixth grade Science and ELA teacher!!! Woohoo!!! Students have been working diligently to complete plays to perform and demonstrate proper AND improper lab safety (no equipment was harmed in the making of these videos thanks to plastic beakers). The best part of this as a teacher was seeing how much fun they were having while still learning about Science, ELA, and Technology. This was also their first introduction with Google Slides and Gmail. They were given their gmail address and passwords, then they were asked to create a background on the slide(s) to use for their presentations. They all exceeded my expectations! Below you will find our class YouTube Channel and you can subscribe to be sure you don't miss any future presentations. I will also attach the rubric that the students were given at the introduction of the project so you can see what the expectations were. ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/user/cstryjek

Grade:_____/20=______%=_____

Category	1	2	3	4
Production	No set lines. Making it up.	Lines were made but some weren’t following it.	Lines were said and read off a paper.	Lines were memorized.
Content	Didn’t show both safety violations AND what to do instead.	Showed safety violations and what should be done, BUT they weren’t explained thoroughly.	Showed safety violations and what should be done, and they were explained thoroughly.	Showed safety violations and what should be done WITH ENTHUSIASM, and they were explained thoroughly.
Quality	No props or sets used.	Inadequate props were used.	Students were prepared with various props.	Students were prepared with various props and sets.
Performance	Students were monotone and not convincing.	Some students were convincing but not all.	Most students were convincing.	ALL students were convincing that they were actually playing the roles performed.
Script	NONE at all.	Basic notes.	Sloppy hand written script.	Neat handwritten or typed script.

ELA groups and ELA/Science cross curriculum

I wanted to commend the fifth graders for becoming independent higher level thinking learners. They were encouraged to use cards that were higher order questions or ice breakers to guide their group conversations. They had used them effectively and in turn increased their comprehension from basic surface understanding to a deeper and more complex understanding of the texts. I hope you use this strategy over the summer and have book clubs this summer like you guys talked about! Hint hint ;) 

I was very impressed with your final group research projects on matter. You all worked well together and followed your rubric. I liked how you all gave each other jobs and included everyone in the project. Your final assessment shows you gained an understanding of matter. You could use this same strategy to research any topic this summer. Utilize your Quaker Street Library!

Best field trip EVER!

We went to see Recycled Percussion at Proctors today and it was the best field trip I've ever been on! We had front row center seats and Mr. D and Mrs. McKane were called to be on stage! It was the most unique and creative production I have ever seen! The kids were all animated and interacting with the show the entire time. They were great role models as well. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with the chaperoning and also to those who helped to make this trip possible!