Art

  • TEACHER: Ms. Leanne Mitchell

    WHY ART EDUCATION?

    Art Means Work

    Beyond the qualities of creativity, self-expression, and communication, art is a type of work. This is what art has been from the beginning. This is what art is from childhood to old age. Through art, our students learn the meaning of joy of work—work done to the best of one’s ability, for its own sake, for the satisfaction of a job well done. There is a desperate need in our society for a revival of the idea of good work: work for personal fulfillment; work for social recognition; work for economic development. Work is one of the noblest expressions of the human spirit, and art is the visible evidence of work carried to the highest possible level. Today we hear much about productivity and workmanship. Both of these ideals are strengthened each time we commit ourselves to the endeavor of art. We are dedicated to the idea that art is the best way for every young person to learn the value of work.

    Art Means Language

    Art is a language of visual images that everyone must learn to read. In art classes, we make visual images, and we study images. Increasingly, these images affect our needs, our daily behavior, our hopes, our opinions, and our ultimate ideals. That is why the individual who cannot understand or read images is incompletely educated. Complete literacy includes the ability to understand, respond to, and talk about visual images. Therefore, to carry out its total mission, art education stimulates language—spoken and written—about visual images. As art teachers we work continuously on the development of critical skills. This is our way of encouraging linguistic skills. By teaching pupils to describe, analyze, and interpret visual images, we enhance their powers of verbal expression. That is no educational frill.

    Art Means Values

    You cannot touch art without touching values: values about home and family, work and play, the individual and society, nature and the environment, war and peace, beauty and ugliness, violence and love. The great art of the past and the present deals with these durable human concerns. As art teachers we do not indoctrinate. But when we study the art of many lands and peoples, we expose our students to the expression of a wide range of human values and concerns. We sensitize students to the fact that values shape all human efforts, and that visual images can affect their personal value choices. All of them should be given the opportunity to see how art can express the highest aspirations of the human spirit. From that foundation we believe they will be in a better position to choose what is right and good.

     

Music

  • Mrs. Amy West

    I am looking forward to another wonderful year with the Hoover Rockets! Music classes will meet once a week. 
     
    The following is a list of essential content

    • Develop good singing posture
    • Differentiate between singing and speaking voices
    • Sing core repetoire
    • Steady Beat
    • Move to music appropriately
    • Aurally recognize loud/soft + fast/slow
    • Develop music vocabulary
    • Begin using Solfege
    • Sing expressively
    • Identify music notation
    • Use and identify classroom instruments
    • Identify line and space notes
    • Identify various styles of musical compositions
    • Explore famous composers
    • Play recorder songs with notes G-A-B (4th grade)
    • Opinion based critique of various musical compositions (4th grade)
    • Identify orchestral instruments

     

    In all of my classes there is a concentration on music and literacy. Learning to read and write is strongly connected to steady beat, crossing the midline and rhythm. I will use music- based lessons to enhance learning in the general classroom, as well as support NCA goals. These activities teach phonemic awareness, visualization, letter/sound identification, movement and specific writing-craft skills.

Library Media Center

  • photo button directing to Hoover library catalog

    Mrs. Jungwirth

    Curriculum
    Students at Hoover Elementary come to the LMC on a weekly basis. Here they learn about how the library is organized, how to find materials they need, and how to do information research. The younger students learn about various types of literature through read-alouds, and usually do an activity to expand their enjoyment and understanding of the story.  In addition to enjoying literature, the older students are introduced to reference materials - both print and online, research skills, and information literacy.

    Computers
    In addition to books and reference materials, the LMC contains a 35 station computer lab. The computer lab is used on a weekly schedule by classroom teachers, and many LMC lessons for second, third and fourth grades are also taught here.  Some computers and Chromebooks are available for student use during library check-out time.  Students may use these to find books as well as play educational games and conduct information research.

    Catalog
    The online catalog, with all the books in the library listed, as well as their availability status and location, also known as the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) can be accessed from home as well as from any computer in the school. 

    Check-Out
    Students may check out books on their library day, or at other times that classroom teachers allow them to visit. Kindergarten and first grade students may check out one book for one week; second, third, and fourth grade students may check out two books for two weeks.  Older students may occasionally check out a third book for classroom projects.  Books are renewed as needed.

    Overdue Books

    Circulation records are maintained by an automated system that prints out overdue notices.  Overdue notices are sent home each month or more often if necessary.  When a book becomes more than 4 weeks overdue (6 weeks from the time of check-out), it is considered lost.  At this point, students may not check out any more materials until the missing book is returned or paid for.  Students may renew materials as often as needed (unless there is a wait list) to avoid issues with overdue books.

    Book Care
    Students are responsible for caring for the materials they check out from the library and are given instruction on how to do so.  If an item is damaged beyond normal use, the student will be asked to pay the replacement cost.  

    Library Website
    Please visit my website for more detailed information about me, the library schedule, curriculum and links to great learning websites on my Kid Connections page.  This page is the homepage for all students using Chromebooks and lab computers.  It is accessible on our Quick Links section of the main Hoover website and by clicking here.

      I'm looking forward to another great year at Hoover!

     

Physical Education

  • TEACHER: Mr. O'Loughlin                                                                                    

    Parents, Staff, and Students working together to provide a high quality of life

    Welcome to Hoover Elementary School Physical Education! Geared for success, the program is an exciting mixture of individual and team skills, cooperative group activity, and aerobic exercise all to benefit the most important muscle in your body - the heart!

    Mr. O’s Philosophy: ALL children can succeed!

    • Provide a safe and inviting environment
    • Lessons include developmentally appropriate skills and activities.
    • Curriculum encompasses the physical, psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains

    Program Highlights

    • Freedom Run 
    • Halloween Obstacle Course 
    • Field Day
    • Jump Rope for Heart 
    • Family Fitness Night 
    • Intramurals
    • All-District Sport Days 
    • ACES: All Children Exercising Simultaneously
    • Field Trips 
    • Family Resource (sent home each card marking)

    What is Physical Education?

    Physical Education is a program taught by a trained Physical Educator that provides students with opportunities to develop and maintain the skills necessary to live a healthy lifestyle.

    What happened to Gym?

    A common misperception is that Physical Education and Gym class are synonyms. Gym class entails no skill learning, little instruction, and a competitive atmosphere where only a few children succeed.

    Why Physical Education?

    • Promotes changes in brain structure and function 
    • Reduces the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure
    • Promotes lifelong physical fitness
    • Enhances self-concept and self-esteem.
    • Helps maintain healthy bones, muscle, and joints.
    • Helps maintain and/or improve health by increasing cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
    • KIDS FEEL GREAT!
    • Physical Education and Literacy Connection-click for info

    Active living is healthy living!

    Mr. O'Loughlin's education:
    Central Michigan University, 1998 - Bachelors of Science in Education
    Eastern Michigan University, 2002 - Masters of Science in PhysicalEducation Pedagogy

    PROUD TO BE A TEACHER