On October 8, 2004, Wangenheim hosted over 300 parents at Shadow a Student Day. In the morning parents enjoyed a Welcome Reception of coffee, juice and blueberry muffins donated by Souplantation. When the bell rang, parents and students were off to begin their adventure experiencing a day of midddle school.
The day began with the Wangenheim Broadcast put on by the students in the broadcasting class. Then the students and teachers got right to work. In PE, some parents played volleyball, some ran "the mile," while others danced the macarena in the gym. And still others, photographed and videotaped the class. In history, parents worked with the students in a simulated archaeological adventure which required them to sort out the pieces of their smashed flower pot and glue it back together. In 8th grade parents and students learned about the Consitution.
In algebra, parents were given specific tasks to help out. One parent commented, "This is way beyond me. I told the teacher, my child didn't inherit all that math ability from me!" (Luckily the key to understanding algebra is good instruction, not genetics.) In other math classes, students and parents worked together to solve tangram puzzles.
Some eighth grade English students presented their writing, a culmination of 5 weeks of Writer's Workshop. Other English students learned how setting affects the plot of a story. Some parents even did Independent Reading with the class. In science, parents helped their children measure the density of wood. Others experimented to find out how the drop height affects the diameter of a water droplet. In another classroom students were reviewing the proper terminology for science equipment.
In metal shop, we were happy to note that all parents were wearing safety goggles. In photography, the parents were the models of the day. We expect to see many creative photographs! The parents also enjoyed listening to the choir and band. (None of the parents were spotted playing an instrument...)
Overall, the day was a huge success. The parents learned about the school, the teachers and their child's daily routine. Many parents have commented that Shadow a Student Day gives them a more complete understanding of of what is expected of their child and will allow them to better support their child's learning at home.
Please join us again next year on the first minimum day of the year. |
