Portage Township Schools Update, February 12, 2016

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Aylesworth Elementary
Mrs. Mitcheltree's 5th grade class working together to solve a puzzle. They were using social intelligence and had to compare and contrast the difference between the two puzzles. Their findings indicated appropriate and inappropriate ways to act in a group.

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Central Elementary
Students in fourth grade at Central Elementary in Portage, IN are mind Boggled. These students are exercising their minds to increase their vocabulary skills. All fourth grade classrooms have forbidden, expired, or retired word walls that display words that students are no longer able to use in their writing. Along with these forbidden words, students have created lists of ‘purple’ words or words that are extraordinary for them to use in writing in replace of their ‘forbidden’ words. Through these lists of words, teachers have seen an increase in student vocabulary. We are optimistic that with their increased vocabulary, students’ writing on ISTEP will show growth. We look forward to the results!

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Jones Elementary
On Feb. 5th, Mrs. Anderson, from the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, visited the 4th grade classrooms at Jones Elementary. The students learned about fossil fuels and how they are pulled from the earth. Mrs. Anderson used an interactive story that allowed students to understand the process of using fossil fuels. They also learned that fossil fuels contribute to high levels of pollution. In an effort to help students understand that clean alternatives are available, Mrs. Anderson shared information about renewable energy using wind, water, and the sun. Students were excited to be able to explore the use of the sun's power through driving a solar powered car. It was a very informative and fun learning experience!

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Kyle Elementary
Mrs. Waite's 3rd gr. class learned a scientific process, also did a science project, math and reading activities using Fruit Loops.

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Myers Elementary Grandparents Day
Grandparents and special people visited our kindergarten classes to share learning activities. The children took turns writing letter pairs and numbers, reading books and practicing tying. Many left with a craft of a "hug" and listening to songs about learning the months of the year, 100 days of school and hugs everyday!

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Myers Elementary 1st Grade
This is Miss Kate Brenda's class and the students pictured (L to R) are: Emma Sutton, Abbigail Torres, Wyatt Hensley, Landon Elkins, Mia Carmin. PHS students in the Health Science Program were here to talk to our Kindergarten and 1st Grade kids about the importance of dental health and developing good dental habits.

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Saylor Elementary 1
Here is an inside look of a reader's theater mock trial for B.B. Wolf vs. Curly Pig based on the three little pigs. Mrs. Reeder's class has been working on fairy tales, so they incorporated them into their government unit in Social Studies. Both sides present their cases to the judge, and the jury decides whether or not BB Wolf is innocent or guilty. The jury concluded that B.B. Wolf was guilty!

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Saylor Elementary 2
Saylor students were visited by author John Mitchell on Tuesday. Mr. Mitchell read his book "George and Smokey a Tale of Two Cats". The book is about two cats, George and Smokey. Smokey is adventurous and gets into trouble, he is trapped, and his owner doesn’t know where he is. Our students enjoyed the book and meeting it's author.