Gefen and Tamar Students Learn how to "Draw" Sound!

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

Yes, you read that title right: draw sound. Let me explain...

This week we wrapped up our Science unit. Students have spent the majority of the semester learning about sound and acoustical engineering. Most recently (and more specifically), they have been learning about spectrograms and how they work. A spectrogram is essentially an image that represents sound. After the students looked at various types of spectrograms made by experts in the field, they broke into groups to come up with their own original systems for representing sound. Each group's system had to communicate to viewers volume, duration and pitch all at the same time.

It was a challenging task and students got confused and frustrated at times. However, by following the Engineering Design Process, which involves imagining, testing and re-imagining, they were able to come up with some pretty cool sound representation systems.

As a way to test these systems, each group used its own system to make a spectrogram that represented a specific bird call (we have a collection of bird calls on a CD). I recorded who did what. On Wednesday we had a "pop quiz". All the students introduced their sound representation systems to the rest of the class. Once everyone understood how to "read" each of the systems, I played the bird calls for the whole class one by one. The students had to match the five groups' spectrograms with the bird calls they represented.

Guess how this went?

Actually, everyone in the class got every single match correct! Success!!!! I was so impressed. This is an example of hard, challenging work paying off. The students felt so proud and excited about their creations. Hamorah Janis and I were proud and excited too.

In January, we will begin a new unit on light and optical engineering.

Until then, have a wonderful winter break and a happy New Year!

Best,
Hamorah Eliza

Tamar Students Stun at MWJDS Gala 2013!

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

Fourth Graders blew everyone's socks off last night at the MWJDS Gala 2013. They looked so mature in their Sunday best. They were perfect gentlemen and gentlewomen! At the party, fourth graders' duties included: greeting Gala guests at the entrance, checking guests' coats, and selling "tickets" (shiny red beaded necklaces) for the raffle, which took place toward the end of the evening. Tamar students took their jobs seriously. They took them so seriously, in fact, that they raised... wait for it... an astounding $1,340 in raffle tickets!

During the "boring" part of the night (the speeches), fourth graders had their own "kids room" where they watched a movie, chatted and had dessert. It was a great bonding experience for the group. It was also a nice way for Tamar students to give back to the school that does so much for them every day! Here are the highlights of the night in the students' own words:

Sam said, "The Gala was lots of fun and I learned a lot about MWJDS, like the fact that a lot of supporters care about our school."

Hadass said, "My favorite part of the Gala was being able to hang out with my friends and help my school."

Avia said, "I'm glad that there are a lot more supporters for our school than I thought. Also, the dessert was delicious."

Meg said, "The dessert was awesome. And there were lots and lots of supporters that really wanted to buy raffle tickets."

Bryce said, "My favorite part of the night was raising $1,340 for MWJDS."

Bryce and Sam clean up well :-)

Hadass, Avia and Meg smile for the camera

Those are just two snapshots I took during the evening. Professional photographs from the night will be posted on MWJDS's website soon!

Best,
Hamorah Eliza

More Coding Fun :-)

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

Fourth Graders did more coding practice today. They introduced their kindergarten buddies to the Hour of Code initiative and solved coding puzzles using a site called Tynker. Students can solve coding puzzles at home by visiting http://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/. Below are some snapshots of fourth graders and their buddies at work.

Best,
Hamorah Eliza

Dear Gefen Parents,

This week our special Blog person is Maayan.

We did more history pockets in social studies.  We learned about how the Pilgrims were strict parents.   They wanted their children to have manners at the table.  Two examples are:  Stuff not thy mouth to fill thy cheeks and Sing not, hum not, wriggle not. 

We are writing "Realistic Fiction" stories during writing.  We were inspired by a story that Hamorah Janis read before we decided what to write.  The book is called Grandpa's Teeth, it is about a grandpa that blames everyone for stealing his fake teeth.  This was a good way for us to start our new stories.

We are almost finished reading Frindle.  Hopefully, we will finish next week.

We took part in the "Hour of Code" during science this week.  We did a game with Angry Bird where we had to move the bird to the pig using lines of code.

We wish everyone a nice shabbat.  Stay safe during the snow storm.

Best wishes,
Maayan

Gefen and Tamar Students Write Their First Lines of Computer Code!

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

December 9-15, 2013 is Computer Science Education Week. To celebrate, MWJDS third and fourth graders are participating in Hour of Code, a nationwide campaign backed by President Obama and famous names in the Computer Science world, including Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, dedicated to expanding student participation in computer science education.

Today, as part of Hour of Code, Gefen and Tamar students watched a short video about code writing. Then students actually wrote their first lines of code! They learned to do this through an interactive program that guided students to complete Angry Bird-themed puzzles. In order to make the angry bird move in each puzzle, students had to write code and then "run the program". The students had a ball. In fact, they loved it SO MUCH that many of them asked if they could write down the web address so that they could visit the site again from home. They were all disappointed when our Science period was over and we had to break for Spanish class.

To access introductory code writing tutorials for kids, or to learn more about Hour of Code, visit csedweek.org. To access the specific tutorial we did today, visit the direct link http://learn.code.org/hoc/1. I urge you to explore both sites further with your children. They each have a lot of valuable material!

Best,
Hamorah Eliza

  
DEAR BLOG READERS,

The best thing we did this week was practice for the gala.
i liked it because I'm excited  for the gala.
something that happened this week which i am proud of is   when we made a list of our favorite thing about MWJDS with our k-buddies.
I would still like to improve how I speak hebrew fluently .
the hardest part of the week was taking a test in math.
I hope that next week we start the book with our K-buddies.
I would like to compliment Hamorah Eliza for making this week really fun.

                                                                                                                  Thanks for reading,
                                                                                                                                               Avia.

My Week

Hello

The best thing we did this week was read James And The Giant Peach.

I liked it because I never read it.I only saw the movie.

something that happened this week which I am proud of is showing my nook  to my kindergartern buddy.

I would still like to improve how I focus on working

the hardest part of my week was practicing for the gala.

I hope that next week I will finish all my homework

I would like to compliment Meg for helping me with math 

Bye,
Jonathan

Hello Gefen Parents this week Amanda Mintz is the reporter.

Here is this weeks news from the Gefen class:

We are publishing our stories, we will be starting new narratives next week.

We are still reading Frindle it's a good book. We are up to chapter eight in the book,  Nick made a new word for pen, "Frindle."

We are taking home our keeping rooms.  A keeping room is something that the Pilgrims used to live in.

Today we had a spelling test in our class room.  We have spelling tests every Friday.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Shabbat Shalom
Hamorah Janis

Week Review

Dear Blog Readers,

 The best thing we did this week was interviewing the honoree for the Gala.

  I liked it because we got dressed up and it was really fun.

  Something that happened this week which I am proud of is reading The Witches.

  I would still improve how I write.

  The hardest part of the week was doing the colony project.

  I hope that next week I finish The Witches and work on the southern colonies project.

  I would like to compliment Hamorah Eliza for being a great teacher all the time.

 Best Wishes,

   Eliana S. 

Playground Project

Shalom Friends,

The best thing that happened this week was the playground project.
I liked it because one of the three playground ideas (there is three groups) might be the playground for the school.
Something that happened this week which I am proud of is winning game one of the 3rd super bowl.
(I have talked about it in an earlier blog post.)
The hardest part of the week was measuring part of the playground.
I hope next week I can share my minecraft merchandise.
I would like to compliment Micah for helping me measure.


As always stay cool,
Sam

books and Lines

Dear readers,


The best thing we did this week was making a book with kindergarten buddies.
I liked it because we usually only play but now we have a project.
Something that this week which I am proud of is learning how long your foot could fall asleep.
I would still like to improve how I practice my lines for the gala.
The hardest part of the week was preparing for the gala.
I hope that next week I can see how good my video is.
I would like to complement Avia for there this week


Readers goodbye, 
Elliana

Hadass's Week

Dear Tamar and Gefen Parents,

The best thing we did this week was preparing for the Gala. I liked it because we got to dress up and we got to do videos. Something that happened this week which I am proud of is me completing my first math assessment in my new math class. I would still like to improve how I write and how I express my feelings so I don't them physically. The hardest part of the week was planning my dog walking business with my friend, Eliana. I hope that next week I can spend more time on my colonial village project. I would like to compliment my class for being patient while we practiced a thousand videos for the Gala this week.

Your Blogger,
Hadass

MEGS WEEK

HI PEOPLES!!!!!!!!
THE BEST THING WE DID THIS WEEK WAS DOING OUR SOICAL STUDIES PROJECT.

I LIKED IT BECAUSE WE HAV BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A LONG TIME.

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK THAT I AM PROUD OF IS WORKING ON THE GALA.

I WOULD STILL LIKE TO IMPROVE HOW I READ.

THE HARDEST PART OF MY WEEK WAS NOT SHARING BECAUSE WE HAD ALL SCHOOL TEFILAH.

I HOPE THAT NEXT WEEK I WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLEMENT HAMORAH ELIZA FOR BEING A GREAT TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
















                     YOUR BLOGGER,
                      MEG

Dear tamar parents,

The best thing I did this week was preparing for the gala.

I liked it because I love the gala.

Something I did this week which I am proud of is behaving better.

I would still like to improve how I behave.

The hardest part of the week was behaving better.

I hope that next week it will snow.

I would like to compliment Rav Hazzan  and Madricha Ceceley for setting up the gala.

                  



                       Your Blogger,
                         Bryce

Rosh Chodesh Torah Readings

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

Yesterday morning we had three Tamar students read from the torah at our Rosh Chodesh (first day of a new month) all-school tefillah. Yasher Koach to Hadass, Avia, and Eliana S. I didn't get the best shots because all three girls' heads barely make it over the podium, but check the photos out below.

Eliana reads from the torah.

Avia reads from the torah. 

Hadass reads from the torah. 

Best,
Hamorah Eliza

THANKSGIVIKAH

Dear Reader,

Over Thanksgiving break, I got to see my cousin's at my Savta's house in Connecticut. My favorite thing I did over Thanksgiving is baking sufganiot. on the first day of hanukah I figured out that the car was broken. on the last  day i was in CT, i played with a cat and 4 dogs.






                              Your blogger

                             Hadass

Thanksgivukkah

Dear Parents and Readers,

Over Thanksgiving break I went over to my friend Amanda's house.
We went to a light place which I forgot what it was called we also went to paint pottery in Connecticut.
We watched 12 dates of Christmas where a girl was going on a blind date with a cute guy while trying to get her ex-boyfriend back. He is going to propose to his girlfriend and she got mad and earlier that day she got sprayed with magic perfume which made her repeat her day.
At the light place I was at the fried dough booth I met a guy and me and my friend fought over him and she ended up giving him up to me. Also, over this vacation I went to church with my friend.

The writer,
Elliana



  

Thanksgiving in New York!

Dear Reader,

     Over Thanksgiving break, I went to New York with my mom.  I saw a deer on the highway, many trains, and airplanes.  I saw my cousins and my grandmother and grandfather.  One present I got for Hanukkah was a Nintendo 3DS.  I got the game Lego city Undercover!  I had a great time at New York!
                                                              From,

                                                                      Jonathan
                                                                                        

Thanksgivakah Break

Hi Pepols,

Over Thanksgivakah break I went to my grandmothers house and had thanksgiving there.
two of my  favorite presents are two American girl books Saige and Meet Caroline for Hanukah.
Also i got a Pandora braclet with a jewish star charm.
Another one is figure skates.
so far I have got a lot of presents!


     
Your Blogger,
     Meg

THANKGIVUKAH

Dear Readers,

Over Thanksgivukah break I went snowboarding.

One present I got for Hanukkah is a bike jump.

I tried it but  i fell.

I hurt myself trying to stop myself on the snowboard.



              Your Blogger,
                 Bryce

Week Review

Dear blog readers,
  Over Thanksgivukkah break I went to my cousin's cousin's house.
  Two presents I got for Hanukkah was, one a hess truck and two a puzzle calendar.
   On the first day of Hanukkah I got a Kindle Fire HD.
   I smelled latkes, I heard the TV, I tasted sweetness, I saw the turkey and I touched the food.
   I travelled to Sharon. It was fun.

  Yours Truly,
    Eliana S.