Thursday and math info.

Students are responisble for the following material tonight:
-Reading Log
-California study guide pages 56 & 57

Students are responisble for turning in a great deal of material on Friday for grading. Work that is due includes:
Biography / autobiography reports, reading practice book and California practice book.

Many of you have expressed a concern for your child's math grades. The curriculum that we are using this year is complex. It is mixture of fourth and fifth grade material and is challenging. As I mentioned earlier in the year, this current book is one of two programs that we use during the course of our studies. We are currently in the final 20 lessons of this book, and will finish the book by the end of April. The last third of the book is difficult and I expect the kids to struggle. As we transition into the second book, the kids will find the material too easy. The last month of school, roughly May to mid June, will be review of what we have accomplished with math thus far. I will pepper the instruction with more fifth grade material, but will generally use the time to reinforce and reteach what we have learned so far. Please be patient. It takes a while to hone math skills.

Respectfully, Mr. B

Wednesday

Howdy all. What a pleasant first day back. I am sure that the kids will have stories to tell about our classroom scandal.

I handed out the conference forms for the students' biography reports today. I completely neglected to leave them with the sub, but the kids still have an ample amount of time to complete the work. (Just so folks know, I had three kids ask me for copies of the biography packets today. I didn't have time to produce extras today, so they will be suffering Thursday night when they find themselves faced with 10+ pages of work (and art projects) to complete for the following morning.)

Thursday brings us a review of our current area of study for California. Students will be quizzed on the material on Friday.

I will collect California and Reading practice books to grade on Friday.

Students are responsible for the following work tonight:
-Reading Log
-Science packet pages 97 - 99 (98 & 99 were started in class)
-Reading practice book page 333
-library books are due Thursday morning

Respectfully, Mr. B

Holy Discovery Channel!

I'm not one to promote tv, much less watch it, but you have got to take the time and effort to see the Discovery Channel's "Planet Earth" mini-series. It is stunning. And since we spent so much time covering biomes, etc., the kids should find some familiar ideas and themes running through the work. Last night's episode on "Mountains" segues into what we begin work on next week. Really, take the time and watch. It's Sunday nights, and I am sure a welcome alternative to "the Simpsons".

Kids should recall that their biography reports are due on Friday as well. Late work will be marked down ten percent per school day.

Have a good one, Mr. B