Hester: All in a day's work!

Just an average day at Hester Jr. High! 

I've had this idea of documenting as much of one day as possible for a long time and I was finally able to do it on Valentine's Day! 

Below are all the pictures that were worth posting. There was even more going on, but I'm not so skilled with the camera on my new phone so some pictures were not that great! 

Feel free to leave me some feedback! 

  Mr. Zablocki's science class learning about muscles      

      Mr. Grady & Mr. Lawrence 8th grade math groups                  Mrs. Reyes   Reading Lab

 

Mr. Cronin's 6th gr. Social Studies, "Change the World" projects           

  

 Mr. Esker's 7th grade math, probability games

 

Mr. Richardson's 6th grade science class, kintec energy roller coasters

Ms. Zill's art class,   8th graders working on clay projects

  

Screen printing & clay                 Ms. Chavez's 7th grade science sound lab           ....more sound

   

        Screen printing                             Lunch recess. Too cold to go out!
More displayed art at Hester

 
  

Grease! The Muscial practice at lunch-Mrs.Castaneda (above left)
6th grade literature circles-Mrs. Yaussy (above right)
Students using our new and evolving reading nook in the library (above right)


Mrs. Petrin-Integrated Enrichment, Study Island, Fakebook, and computer coding

Mrs. Jahn 6th grade lit. circle projects (game board)

Mr. Mak, STEM class (above & below)
Marble drop challenge (above)
Hard to tell from the pic below-2014 Sochi Olympics Luge Physics lesson

Mrs. Hawerbier's 6th grade math class practicing math extended response questions (above left)
Mrs. A'Hearn's 8th gr. Soc. St. class watching and responding to The Week In Rap video (above right)

Mrs. Maloni's 8th grade Lit. class actively listens and takes notes on Catching Fire

 Mrs. Bernath's 8th grade LA class writes a portion of their career project assignment

 

Mrs. Keller's 7th grade Lit. class creates eyeball "point of view" pics (both pics above)

What else did I see? Thanks for asking..........

-Students graphing their own math grades

-Students making blueberry dip

-Students discussing Bullying and 'causes' of bullying, and things bullies say and why

-Students working in Read180 software and grading student-created tests that the teacher took!

-Students watching an Eco-Challenge video and realizing that P.E. isn't so bad after all.....

-Students using an iPad to film teacher interviews for Fitness Night

-Students showing off their final projects in SS using Minecraft, Prezi, Powerpoint, and more!

-Students checking out books, listening to book talks, and learning how to search online effectively

-Students using Khan Academy math activities to build skills and working through word problems

-Students practicing their calculator skills while taking an 8th grade math test

-Students reviewing their Valentine's Day conversation heart writing assignment

-Students editing a paragraph for correct grammar

-Students watching a TED talk on brain research (including the speaker holding a real brain at one point!)

-Students writing Valentine's to someone special

-Students utilizing the library computer lab to create projects to show their mastery of learning targets

Hester Wildcats ROAR!

Family Math Night 2/12/14

Wednesday, February 12th was District 84 Family Math Night 
Families from all four District 84 schools came out to participate in some fun math activities!
 
Thank you to Mrs. LaFleur, North School Principal and all her volunteers for organizing Math Night! Nice work!
Our AWESOME volunteers: Ms. Acosta, Mrs. Kozin, Ms.Alvarado, Ms. Craig, Mr. Schlessinger, Ms. Hawerbier, Ms. Mahowald, Mrs. Pausa, Ms. D’Antonio, Ms.  Zucarro, Mrs. Petrin, Mr. Osterlund, Mrs. DiPaolo, Ms. Yarmer, Ms. Lustgarten, Ms. Walls, Ms. Biancalana, Ms. Poppe

                                   

Spelling Bee 1/21/14

Congratulations to all of the participants in the school Spelling Bee last night.  After weeks of practice it was 6th grader Jenna L. who buzzed her way to the top of the group.  Congratulations Jenna! Jenna will represent Hester at the regional spelling bee at McClure Jr. High in Western Springs in February.
Thank you to all of our spelling champs: Nicole T., Alex V., Paul P., Karolina M., Elliott S., Chris Z., Victor R., Leslie A., Anthony V. and our second runner up, Jamie O.   

                                                               

Recent Pictures

7:30 a.m. Grease rehearsal 1/16/14

                                          WW I Trench warfare models 8th grade Social Studies

6th grade science 1/16/14 Sublimation

Zombies! 1/13/14 7th grade S.S.

After resting our legs in our last location, we paddle to this island that was used by the British as a prison colony. There are so many sights to see and very few zombies to flee. The ease of mobility allows us to take in the sights, but not for long. Along our way, we find Mr. Esker swimming in this reef that can be seen from space. Mr. Esker tells us that there is plenty of food and safety in this city named after a popular song written by Brett Dennen. (For an extra point, tell me where "a lot of good looking people are living.") All the sudden, zombies start popping up from everywhere. Mr. Esker's information turns out to be false. We flee this city only to be confronted with this wide open space of land that is called what? Hint: It is also a name of a Subaru. Along our walkabout in this space, we come across this indigenous group of people known for living off the land. To our amazement, we find Mr. Esker singing "She Talks to Angles" with one of these natives. However, instead of Mr. Esker rocking the guitar, a native man plays this elongated instrument indigenous to the island. All of this fun has tired us out and it's time once again to rest. Keep a watchful eye, as zombies aren't the only creepers lurking around. Beware of this infamous animal known for having the world's strongest bite. Sleep well.

There are 8 possible clues!

She Talks to Angles. Geometry set to music by Mr. Esker

Not only can he teach mathematics, he can sing and play the guitar!  Mr. Esker's 7th grade math classes were treated to his original adaptation of The Black Crowes song, She Talks to Angels.  

His version, She Talks to Angles, is sure to be moving up the charts on its way to being the number one Math song of 2014!

Click below to sneak a peek into Mr. Esker's math class today.

http://youtu.be/JWhGi7AJ5Eg

She always mentions the word obtuse
In certain company
She tell you she's acute
After you measure her degrees

She measures 90 degrees right now
In terms of size and time
She draws a line for 180
Straight angle makes everything alright

Says she talks to angles
Calls them out by their name
Oh yeah....she talks to angles
Draws them out by their name

She keeps a protractor in her pocket
She keeps a compass in her desk
Yeah....The protractor measures angles
And the compass is something she has not set....not yet

Says she talks to angles
Calls them out by their name
Oh yeah....she talks to angles
Draws them out by their name

She'll always discover
No pair goes unseen
All the way to 360
But she knows....they'll never exceed

8th grade P.E. Tinikling Jan. 10 UPDATED

November 20th:  These unidentified 8th grade Hester feet are just starting to learn Tinikling, a traditional Phillipine Folk dance.  Not bad for day one! Check back in a few days and I will try to post an update on their dance progress.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinikling

UPDATE January 10, 2013   Nice Improvement!!!