Thursday & Friday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Yikes, the Big Spin was a screaming-fest, but it was great to honor the kids and their accomplishments.

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow's group presentations. The kids have had an interesting week preparing for both their individual efforts and the overall group effort. Lots of disagreements, lots of compromises, and lots of very interesting group dynamics have driven the kids. Hopefully tonight they are not cramming to complete their work and can simply practice their portion of the presentation.

Other than the presentations, the kids are all responsible for the same material tonight. Each student should complete the following:

- Morning HM math
- Saxon 95
- Terabithia vocabulary for tomorrow's quiz

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Thanks to the fifth grade families who have turned in their NASA field trip forms. If you'd like to accompany us on this trip, we are in need of two additional chaperones / drivers (preferably with seats for 5 students per car, as we are attempting to take as few cars as possible). Just drop me a line if you'd like to come along, as it is sure to an interesting and exciting day over the hill.

The Big Spin Assembly is Thursday afternoon from 1 - 2 in the MPR. Cheering sections are more than welcome to attend!

Tonight and tomorrow are Rio Restaurant Nights at Village Host Pizza. Let them know you're from Rio, and they'll donate a percentage of the evening's profits back to the school. Good times.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

Fourth-

- Saxon 94
- Terabithia vocabulary
- continue with group presentation work

Fifth-

- HM 16.1
- Saxon 94
- Terabithia vocabulary
- continue with group presentation work

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Our schedule was a hectic one today, as the Family Life schedule for the fifth grade students was shuffled repeatedly. Still, we were able to get through the day's plans, and most of the kids were able to get a good head start on their homework. It is my hope that they will utilize their time these next few afternoons and nights with their conservation reports for Friday. The kids have been reminded of the rubric that they will be graded with, so they understand the expectations, etc.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

Fourth -

- Saxon 93
- HM 16.4
- Terabithia vocabulary
- group presentation work

Fifth -

- Saxon 93
- HM 15.6
- Terabithia vocabulary
- group presentation work

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday and beyond

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. The world has been a terrifying place these past few days, and the kids and I have had some very interesting discussions about Japan and our collective fears of loss and suffering. As many of you may or may not know, Mrs. Koue's daughter, Kristen, lives in Sendai, Japan, where the majority of the immediate damage took place. Thankfully, she is well. Sadly, we know there have been thousand of deaths, and the pictures of devastation are all too vivid. I'm sure that many of you have already spoken with your children about what is happening in the world, but please continue to keep the dialogue open. They are curious beyond words.

I will attempt to go light on the homework this week, as the kids are preparing themselves for their conservation speeches this Friday. The effort is a collaborative one, and each child will contribute to a single group effort. I'll be grading the kids as individuals for their speaking poise, the level of information they choose to share, and their overall contribution to the effectiveness of the group. I'll also be grading the overall group effort, especially in the area of cooperation toward a common goal.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

Fourth-

- Monday Folder
- HM math 16.3
- Saxon 92
- Terabithia vocabulary, section 2
- group presentation work

Fifth-

- Monday Folder
- HM math 15.5
- Saxon 92
- Terabithia vocabulary, section 2
- group presentation work

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant