1st Grade Students Get Smart with the Smart Table

Students in 1st grade have been using one of our newest tech tools- the Smart Table!  It's a multi-touch table with a built in computer.  Teachers can create lessons that help support the concepts they are teaching and load them on the Smart table. 
Mrs. Hoffman's class used it to help them practice identifying and counting coins.  Student work together to answer questions and move the coins- it's like an electronic manipulative!  It's a fun way to strengthen students' skills and understanding of concepts they are working on in class!

4th Grade Supports No Name Calling Week!

Fourth graders read a story about no name calling to second graders. Then they asked students if they wanted to sign a no name calling poster and act out a skit to show how to be safe with name calling and help reinforce the strategies for the younger students: stand up for yourself, ask a friend, find an adult, and exit the area. YEAH FOURTH GRADE!

5th Grade Investigates: What Makes Us Green?

5th grade recently took on the task of inquiring about what makes COE a green school.  Students at Caldwell Heights (also an IB candidate school) were in their Sharing the Planet unit and wanted to know what made our school so "green." 

We had some ideas, but we didn't know all the answers.  We invited the architects and builders that constructed our school to come talk to us about some of the green features. 

We were blown away!  There are so many things that help make our building environmentally friendly.  Students organized the information into a Power Point presentation so we could share it with Caldwell.  We set up a Skype conference and were able to share what we learned and answer their questions.  Check out what we learned in the slide show below!

COES Green School



COE Teachers Get Their Hands Dirty!

Chandler Oaks teachers recently had the opportunity to be students in Mrs. Lanahan's art class and take action in our community!  On our last early release day, we got to play with clay in the art studio. Mrs. Lanahan recieved a grant for materials to make bowls for the Empty Bowl Project. Our bowls will be sold at the Round Rock Empty Bowl Festival on April 14th and all proceeds will benefit the Round Rock Area Serving Center.  We are privledged to participate in such a worth cause!

4th Grade Students Create Book Trailers

4th grade students in Mr. Snyder's class have been making book trailers with their book clubs.  After finishing their books, student talked about the story and pulled out elements that might make the book something others would want to read.  Students checked out some examples, then talked about what features make a good trailer.  They created a storyboard and gathered images from clip art that would help them entice a viewer to read their book without giving the whole story away.  Finally, they used Photostory to combine their images and voices to create their trailers.  Check out a few of their projects below, and maybe even find a new book to read!

Stories in Spanish- Written by COE Students!

Third, fourth and fifth grade students have been writing their first mini-stories in Spanish using the TPRS method. TPRS stands for Total Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling. Students learn the vocabulary and are exposed to different sentence structures.  Using the framework in a sample mini-story, they worked collaboratively to create their own stories.  Our students are risk-takers in their learning- venturing out and trying new things!  
Check out a couple of samples from Mrs. Moyer's and Ms. Susong's classes!

Read Around the World

Student Council members worked together to recruit guest readers among their family, friends, and community.  The students advertised the event on broadcast and at school assemblies.  They also introduced the speakers and helped make sure everyone had what they needed on the day of the event.  Student Council's goal for the event was to create an appreciation of other cultures and languages from our community which therefore helps Chandler Oaks become a No Place for Hate!  The event was a success!