Specials

Technology

My name is Mrs. Dismukes. Before becoming a CCS Eagle, I previously taught 4^th grade and 5^th grade.  I received my Masters in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, and crafting with my daughter.

Here are some of the websites we utilize in class.

K-2:

Starfall (reading games)

minimouse.us (mouse practice)

www.abcya.com (practice grade level skills with fun games)

Raz-kids (leveled reading program)

Telling Time (time practice games)

3-6:

http://members.learningplanet.com/act/mayhem/free.asp (multiplication and other facts practice)

Lemonade Stand (practice math and business skills running a lemonade stand)

AplusMath (practice multiplication facts)

All Grades:

Kids Online Resources (fun learning games and other links)

http://www.factmonster.com/mathmoney.html (math practice)

Dance Mat Typing (keyboarding skills)

Cool Math (fun math games)

Funbrain (reading and math games)

Time For Kids (online news articles for kids)

National Geographic Kids (online magazine)

Nasa Kids’ Club (NASA for kids)

www.pics4learning.com (copyright released images)

 

              

Physical Education

“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.” – John Wooden

Physical Education is a time for students to get active while developing a better knowledge of their body and how it works. Students learn how to check their heart rate, monitor steps with pedometers and sport safety. Students will begin to develop the vocabulary, scientific reasoning, and mathematical knowledge of athletics.

Students Can Expect:

• Warm-Up Exercises: loosening and stretching muscle groups
• Fitness: exercises designed to develop major muscle groups
• Lesson Focus: skill development and practice for activity
• Game: use of the skills learned in a positive, competitive environment
• Health: scientific enriched discussion of lesson and other topics such as good sportsmanship, sun safety, nutrition, and systems of the body

Art To The Core

At Challenge Charter School the Arts are highly prioritized and integrated through each subject to help our students express the beauty they see in the world in many formats and mediums.

Highlights of the art program:

• Building a strong foundation in understanding and creating art by learning the elements of art and the principles of design.
• Gaining knowledge of traditional art genres- landscape, portrait and still life, as well as experimenting with abstract and expressionistic art.
• Creating a connection between Core Knowledge Curriculum (esp. social studies) and art lessons for every grade. For example, first grade is making a drawing of a pharaoh with a hieroglyphic boarder while studying Egypt.
• Incorporating art history and art appreciation in most of the lessons by learning about specific artists, artworks and art movements from prehistoric to modern and contemporary.
• Even though students get inspiration from famous masterpieces they never mechanically copy artworks-originality is always encouraged and required!
• Students are given the opportunity to use a variety of art techniques and mediums like drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and paper mache. In every class students learn new art terms to help build their vocabulary.

 

The students LOVE Mr. and Mrs. Miller’s art gallery! The Millers founded the CCS Art program with a commitment to a culture where artists are free to create with no fear and there is no “right way” to express yourself as a developing artist. To prove that art is truly in the eye of the beholder, they chose their own favorite selections each year and offer to buy these pieces making some of our students proud, paid artists! These pieces are shown off at the end of year assemblies and hung in the cafeteria gallery. Previous years’ masterpieces are spread about the campus bringing this beauty to all who enter.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” – Henry David Thoreau

Music

That's right! Music will be back on campus this year and taught by none other than Mrs. Maldonado. As her 25th year in education, Mrs. Maldonado is excited to spread her love of music with all CCS students

What Instruments do you play?

I love playing the piano and also played in a handbell choir for 10 years. I even performed a handbell duet - two people playing 25 bells!

What do you love about music?

Music has always been a part of my life. I started taking piano lessons when I was 5 and loved it! as I got older, I would sit in the living 
room with my dad and turn pages for him while he played guitar and sang. Music has a way of giving hope, keeping memories alive, 
and uniting people. 
What can students expect to do during your class?

I hope to instill a love for music in my students that will last a lifetime. it might be clapping to beat, learning how to read music, discovering new instruments, learning about composers, or even 
writing and performing music of their own!