Wednesday & Thursday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. The kids are completely pumped for tomorrow's aquarium trip! We went over rules and so forth today, so we are looking to have a very pleasant day. Again, it is extremely important that each kid bring a sack lunch. No lunch boxes, etc. Just a bag will do. They may choose to bring a camera as well, but please show the kids how to turn off the flash. We're leaving at 8:40 and returning very near to 2 tomorrow.

Homework is light these next two evenings. Tonight the kids are responsible for:

- reading log (due Friday)
- math quiz 5
- continue with vocabulary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday and conferences

OK, the conference schedule is up and notices went home with the kids today. The schedule is extremely tight, so please be mindful of starting and ending times. Again, I would appreciate the kids attending their conference. Honestly, their presence benefits us all (and is why we are meeting).

We are working diligently on our in-class ocean animal report in preparation for Thursday's aquarium visit. I emailed all drivers and chaperones yesterday, and we are looking quite good.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

- reading log
- nature log entry
- math 6.5 (pages 55 & 56)
- continue with Native American vocabulary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday and beyond...

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. We have a very busy week ahead of us, and the kids are very excited to visit the aquarium this Thursday. I'll be emailing drivers and chaperones tonight to get the logistics squared away. For the rest of you, the kids need to bring a bag lunch Thursday. They may bring a camera if they'd like to, but there is no need to bring money as they will NOT be visiting the gift shop.

I will have the conference schedule for next week shortly. I will post the schedule here and send copies home with the kids.

We are not working from our reading text this week which means no spelling. The kids, however, do have vocabulary that they will be quizzed on Friday. They began the definitions and sentences in class today. Their work will be collected Friday before the quiz.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- blue folder
- reading log (due Friday)
- math 6.3, pages 51-52
- Native American vocabulary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Thursday & Friday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. We've been having a great week! The kids have been very enthusiastic with their ocean animal report and research, as well as the Southern Sea Otter report that we are writing as a class.

Tomorrow brings the Harvest Festival. While I will have to miss this year's festivities, it is a complete blast and a fun way to connect with the community at large. I'll miss the dunk tank this year!

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

- reading log
- math 6.2, pages 49 + 50
- reading practice book 110
- continue studying for tomorrow's spelling quiz

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday

Howdy folks, and thanks for checking in. Sorry I am posting this a bit later than usual. We had a very groovy day today. We began working on our class Southern Sea Otter report. The kids will use it as a model for their ocean animal reports when they start writing next week. We had a blast with Jenni, our SPECTRA artist, this afternoon as the kids made monster sculptures.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- reading log
- reading practice book page 99
- math 6.1, pages 47 & 48
- be sure to bring back library books on Thursday

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- reading log
- nature log entry
- math review of chapter 5 (handout)
- reading practice book pages 102 & 103

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday and the week

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. We're off to a gray start after a beautiful weekend,and the kids came in a little groggy today.

We have a writing intensive week ahead of us as we begin formatting our ocean animal reports. We'll go over exciting introductions and work with a color-coded writing system to ensure that the kids are using strong topic sentences, and supporting them with appropriate details.

I am also excited to inform you that we have a month of clay with local artist Jenni Ward starting this Wednesday afternoon. We'll see her the last hour of the day as part of the school's SPECTRA program. We'll have 5-6 weeks of painting in the spring as well.

Blue Folders are full of returned papers this week and a new reading log. Friday science exam was, for the most part, a dud. Disappointing knowing that it was an open-text exam and the kids were not timed. Many of the students blazed through the content without taking then time to check their facts. Sad, because this should have been a breeze for those who made the effort.

Students will be taking a district math benchmark exam on Wednesday. The exam is used for district purposes only, and the kids will not be graded on their work. I will, however, share the results with folks at conferences.

We are looking good for aquarium drivers next week. If you have not completed the necessary insurance paperwork in the office, please do so immediately.

Scholastic Book orders are due by Thursday, as I will be submitting them on Friday. Feel free to use the link on the lower right hand corner of this page.

Last week was National Turn Off the TV Week, and I completely forgot to mention it. This week, I am going to encourage folks to take a peek at the Ken Burns "National Parks" series on PBS. It airs each night, Monday - Friday, at 8pm. It started yesterday with John Muir and Yosemite. It was amazing and beautiful.

Finally, whew, the Harvest Festival is this Friday.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

- blue folders
- reading log
- math 5.5 (pages 45 & 46)
- reading practice book pages 106 & 107

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant