Egypt vs. United States -Ms. Dressler's Class

Mr. Medina, classroom paraprofessional is currently going to school at FIU for Special Education. He put together this unit for the students based on Ms. Dressler's preference. Students were engaged in a two week unit on Egypt and how they lived years ago compared to the way we do in the US. Students reviewed FCAT skills and related them to the Story of Mummies and Pyramids by DoubleTree House Series Books. Students used higher order thinking skills, writing, drawing, listening and reading during this unit. The students were able to compare and contrast the way in which we live vs. the Egyptians. Our students had a great time and they learned a great deal of valid information. Thank you Mr. Medina.

Welcome Back Panthers "2007-2008"

Welcome back Panthers to the 2007-2008 school year at Howard D. McMillan. Ms. Dressler has planned many enriching and innovating activities for you this year. Hope you had a restful summer and are ready to give it your all!!!! We start off the school year with Special Olympics Bowling on August 29, 2007. Looking forward to another wonderful year with the best students in MDCPS.....................

Ms. Dressler

xoxoxoxoxox

Mayor Carlos Alvarez visits Howard D. McMillan

Ms. Dressler's class was so proud on the day they were part of receiving the Proclamation naming Howard D. McMillan Middle Day and Dr. Winston Whyte Day. Each student was honored by shaking the hand of the mayor and giving him their names. If only every teacher could be so proud as I was on this day. This truly was the closing of a very fulfilling and innovative school year......Our first year at McMillan was truly GROOVY (as Beatriz Jimenez says)!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to next year!!

HAVE A RESTFUL SUMMER WITH YOUR LOVED ONES!

MS. DRESSLER

XOXOXOXOXO

CAREER DAY 2007

Ms. Dressler's class was invited to participate in pizza making with Papa John's General Manager, Ms. Brown. Baby Panthers now know where the pizza comes from and how it is made. They learned a bit about the ingredients and even got to eat some great pizza.....our general ed friends joined us as well....we have Ms. Ellis to thank for the invite....WOW that was delicious!!!!

THE MCMILLAN RAINFOREST.....BY MS. DRESSLER'S CLASS

Ms. Dressler's students experienced what it would be like to live in a rainforest. They actually obtained the plants from a rainforest that was made my Mr. Greene's class on the school grounds........Each layer is filled with plants and animals that you would find in an actual rainforest. Each layer is labeled and the students are capble of giving a little information on each layer. This unit lasted for 2 weeks and our students really enjoyed this adventure. They will go on a field trip to Fair child Tropical Gardens to broaden their horizons at a later date..... Nice project for the Spring!

Our Little Panthers go on to High School

Ms. Dressler is so proud of her three 8th graders who will be moving on to Felix Varela Senior High School. They have made leaps and bounds throughout the years and we are wishing them the very best with their future endeavors. We love You!!!! Our little panthers..............

Our visit to Tropical Park

Going to the park where there are beautiful birds, ducks and lakes is always a joy for our students. We go on nature walks and end it with a most delightful barbeque. We all ate until we couldn't any longer. This trip was very special for a couple of reasons, we have a new student who enjoyed his first CBI trip. The second reason was because Mr. Cardenas taught the kids how to fish......they loved it. Everyone was well behaved and got a long just great!! We have barbeques every nine weeks in order to celebrate the end/beginning of a new quarter.

Ms. Dressler's class unit on the Human Body

Students from Ms. Dressler's class spent three weeks engaged in learning about the internal organs, muscular, respiratory, digestive and the vascular systems and how they function. There is nothing like hands-on activities to get everyone learning and engaged in the process. We had a wonderful time going through the motions of the human body says " J.C." Each student is able to answer questions about all types of facts on the human body and they are very proud of their work. Every month is a different unit and the students look forward to learning new concepts each month. Visuals are very important and my students enjoy a nice colorful powerpoint presentation in order to learn new concepts. They get to take turns reading off the slides practicing their decoding and fluency skills.................They love to read!!!!

Panthers visit the Downtown Museum and Library for Opening of School CBI

The first CBI trip of the new school year was to the Downtown Museum and Library. Students were able to read books at the library and see artwork they have never laid their eyes on before. Bright colors everywhere......Students walking with their partners for safety and learning how to work together as a team. Community based Instruction at the middle school level is to teach students various skills such as safety, social and community awareness. After we finished at the museum, it was off to Wendy's for a most delicious lunch. Student's were able to pick and choose their meals and pay for them on their own with assistance from their teachers. Mr. Cardenas, Ms. Deguzman and Ms. Dressler work together to ensure student safety. The weather was wonderful and a good time was had by all....................

Autistic Units New to Howard D. McMillan Middle School

Howard D. McMillan Middle School opened three new Autistic Units for the 2006-2007 school year. Our units serve children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are at varioius levels of functioning. The curriculum includes functional academics, communication skills, social/personal skills, electives, community based instruction and participation in the special olympics. In addition, students receive speech therapy and/or occupational therapy as stated on the student's IEP.

Our students are given the opportunity to participate in the inclusion program when they are ready. We currently have two students from the self-contained setting who are in the inclusion program. They are both doing a wonderful job and their teachers are very happy with their progress. We have students involved with the morning announcements who are supported by a classroom paraprofessional and administrator. We are very proud of our new program at Howard D. McMillan Middle School and our mission is to help each child reach their greatest potential.

McMillan Middle School is "a place where every child matters".