Wednesday and beyond

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. I've got a few important bits of news to share with you. I was made aware yesterday that the Accelerated Reader website will no longer be accessible from home for the kids to work with. I realize that this will cramp the style of several students who have made a habit of testing at home, but it is my hope that this change will also allow the kids the opportunity to take a greater deal of responsibility for their studies. With this information in mind, I am going to remove the link from the classroom blog.

Secondly, there has been a decided sea change of behavior, both within and out of the classroom, since returning from Winter Break. Concepts of respect and acceptable behavior have gone out the window. Kids have gotten bold in their efforts to demoralize each other, either through words or actions. Its been extremely disheartening to see. Today, in lieu of my planned afternoon of science and social studies, the class engaged in a 90-minute discussion about their experiences in this, as of late, negative environment. The kids were very candid with each other regarding their concerns and emotions, and the conversation was extremely powerful. We'll continue working with communication skills in the hopes that we keep our school safe and nurturing. In the coming weeks and months I will be taking the class through the strategies of conflict management and introducing relaxation techniques, such as meditation, into our schedule.

Because of altered afternoon, we were unable to hit subject areas that would have extended to this evening's homework. Instead of piling it on tonight, I will restructure tomorrow's schedule to accommodate what was missed. For tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

- reading log
- math 15.4
- finish "Rescuing James" paragraph and art (if need be)

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

six more weeks of winter

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. That world famous rodent from Gobbler's Knob has told us to expect six more weeks of winter. That,combined with El Nino, should make for a wild ride.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- reading log
- math 15.3
- nature log

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Just a few things of note today. Blue Folders contain permission slips for the Ano Nuevo trip on March 4th. The $5 cost of the trip includes the tour, parking AND the San Juan Bautista trip rescheduled for February 18th. Please send the $5 with the signed permission slip. If you need to write a check, please make it payable to the Parent Alliance.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- blue folders
- reading log
- reading practice book pages 240-241
- math 15.2

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Thursday & Friday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. The kids got their first real taste of the MyAccess writing program today, and the enthusiasm level was high. The program will take some time to master, but the initial run through went quite smoothly. The groovy thing about this program is that it can be accessed from any computer with an interweb connection. It is linked at the bottom of our classroom's blog. Students are using their AR log-ins to gain entry to the site (students must add 'pv' to the end of their 6-digit student id #). We are looking forward to utilizing this tool in both our expository and narrative writings for the remainder of the year.

Tonight, the students are responsible for the following:

- reading log (due tomorrow)
- math 14.4
- reading practice book page 224 (the irregular verb 'be'
- tomorrow's math quiz will cover prime and composite numbers, as well as factor trees

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday

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

- reading log (due Friday)
- math problem o' the week is due tomorrow
- library books are due tomorrow
- science practice book pages 96 - 97
- math 15.1, pages 129 - 130

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

PS - If you are able to drive or chaperone for the Mission San Juan Bautista trip on Thursday, February 18th, please let me know via email.

Tuesday

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

- reading log (still due Friday)
- reading practice book page 215
- math 14.3
- nature log entry
- complete peach ad if necessary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday & progress...

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Hopefully you noticed that progress reports went home in today's folders. If you have not had the opportunity to look it over yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. Please also note that progress reports are just that: they are a snapshot of where your child is as of this writing. Progress reports do not reflect what will appear on report cards on March 12th, but rather are offered to help inform us of what is working and what is not. Students know that I will accept any late work, so there is a motivation to get missing assignments completed and turned in for credit. If you have concerns or questions about the reports, please feel free to email me.

The Blue Folders also contains information regarding the school's all-call phone system, and how it can be tailored to best suit your needs. The material is time-sensitive, so please look it over sooner than later.

Yearbook and Scholastic Book order forms are also included in the Blue Folders. An ordering link for Scholastic Books is on this blog, while yearbook orders are a paper transaction.

The Mission trip has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 18th. It is not necessary to send out new permission slips, but I would ask that drivers who volunteered for the canceled trip affirm their availability via an email to me.

Finally, the kids are responsible for the following today:

- reading log (due Friday)
- math lesson 14.1
- reading practice book pages 220 - 221
- Blue Folders should be returned in a timely manner

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant