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Welcome to Michael C's
Place
Arts - Technology -
Math
Fall
2009
Bridge
in the Rain (after Hiroshige)
Vincent Van Gogh
1887
ARTS CURRICULUM
OVERVIEW
Overarching Goals
To cultivate the joy
of learning.
To create positive opportunities for
intellectual and social-emotional risk-taking.
Essential Questions
What are the basic elements of visual design?
• Line, shape, value, negative/positive
space, texture, color
What principles of organization can be used for artistic
expression?
• Balance, emphasis/dominance, proportion,
movement/rhythm, repetition/pattern, variety, harmony, unity
How does the way our brains process sensory information and make
meaning influence art?
• Perception of light, sound, touch, taste,
and smell; schema and symbols; multiple intelligences
How does art reflect and influence the culture of its time?
• Politics, mores, religion, commerce,
science/technology
How can we understand and interact with an audience to communicate
ideas and emotions?
• Applying creative, performance, and
responding processes; identifying purpose and context;
critiques/reflections
Themes
Castles, Myths, & Legends (K-2), Historical Kingdoms of
Asia/Pacific (6-8)
Political Kingdoms - The USA & Nations of the World
(3-5)
Curriculum
Arts-Tech Scope &
Sequence 2009-10 can be
downloaded from "Documents" on the menu on the left
side of this web page.
TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Overarching Goal
To become proficient at using personal computer and
internet technologies.
Essential Questions
• How do we properly care for
laptop computers? (handling, moving, cleaning, software
applications)
• What are age-appropriate
web sites and activities on the internet?
• How do we save and maintain
computer files for efficiency and safety?
• What can we do to increase our text input
(keyboarding) speed and accuracy?
•
What shortcuts exist for
copying/cutting/pasting/moving images and text between
applications?
• How can we use multimedia applications to
communicate our ideas more powerfully?
5TH GRADE
MATH CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
The fifth grade math classes use the
Growing With
Mathematics (Wright
Group/McGraw-Hill) curriculum. Details on the district math philosophy,
essential learning requirements, and grade level expectations are
at:
www.shorelineschools.org/departments/instruction/curriculum/math/default.php
My daily lessons employ a combination of
individual practice, cooperative learning, math games, and
discovery projects to maximize student engagement.
Differentiated
instruction is also a key ingredient to allow more advanced
students to cultivate their deep mathematical interests and allow
less advanced students to experience success with math everyday.
For example, this year we have a Math Olympic Team. More
information on the class can be found in a PDF called Math Curriculum Night under
"Documents".
The district scope and sequence for Grade 5 Math (entitled
5th Grade Pacing) can be
downloaded from "Documents" to the left.
ABOUT
MICHAEL CALLAHAN
This is my fifth year teaching at RNCS. For the 2009-10 academic
year, I am working with all our K-8 students again in the Arts
& Technology, and with our 5th graders in Math. In prior years
I served as a classroom teacher for the K-2 and 3-5 clusters
at RNCS, as well the Arts teacher. Before Room Nine, I was a 5th
grade intern teacher at Olympic View Elementary in Seattle and a
7th grade science intern teacher at Kellogg Middle School. I also
have taught after-school music classes to grades 3-5 and tutored
middle school children in math, social studies, and language
arts.
During the summers you can often find me at the Bryant Summer
Program in Seattle. I work with K-5 kids at the camp doing music,
art, digital storytelling, and field trips. My wife, Tamie, is the
Executive Director of the camp as well as for Bryant Elementary's
Before-and After-School program during the school year. Two of my
three sons often work as camp counselors with us. How fun is
that!
My former careers include entrepreneur, product manager, technology
evangelist, communications and advertising director, software
developer, management consultant, property manager, and industrial
janitor (in college). O.K. I get bored easily. :-) I did my
undergraduate work at University of Wisconsin-Madison in
Psycholinguistics, my graduate work at New York University Stern
School of Business, and earned my K-8 teaching certification at
University of Washington.
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