Wednesday

Hello all, and thank you for checking in.  We've been having a great deal of fun this week working with various electricity and magnetism experiments.  Yesterday we made compasses out of corks and needles and today we made electromagnets.  Cool stuff!
We got the go ahead for our San Juan Bautista Mission trip.  It will be taking place on Friday, February 8th.

Today, the kids are responsible for the following:

- read twenty minutes
- a nature log entry on a creepy crawly (bug, spider, worm, etc.)
- math 6.5, pages 131 & 132, problems 6-30

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday

Hello all, and thank you for checking in.  Your children are a genuinely curious bunch.  Lots of questions today about where people originated and why there are two streams of though; creationism vs. evolution.  Be prepared for questions!

The class is responsible for the following today:

- RPB pages 86 & 87
- 20 minutes of reading
- math lesson 6.3, page 126, problems 13-27
- math problem o' the week 3a

Respectfully,
Mr. Bryant

Monday and the week

Hello all, and thanks for checking in.  Please take  close look at your child's red folder today.  Attached to their homework sheet is a video consent form that I will need back as soon as possible.  As the paper mentions, I am working with teachers from the Bay Area on improving math curriculum and instruction.  As part of our efforts, I am wanting to videotape a few lessons during the course of the year to share with them.  Your signed consent forms will allow me to include your child in these lessons (and in all likelihood they will only been seen from the back and in profile, as the camera will be set up in the rear of the room).  Childrens' names will not be included as a part of the taping.  If you have questions, please feel free to send them my way.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- Red Folders
- Video Consent Form
- RPB pages 82 & 83
- Math lesson 6.2, page 123, problems 5-30

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Thursday, Zimbabwe, and Lice !!!

Hello all, and thank you for checking in.  We were fortunate enough today to be honored by the presence of Martha and Jacob, performers from Zimbabwe.  The pair shared their culture and music with the entire school today.  The kids had a blast!  Much thanks to our very own Cox family for arranging their visit.  It made for a wonderful experience.
The class had a lice exposure yesterday, so each child was screened by a health assistant today.  We got the all clear, but an exposure notice did go home with each student.
Pictures also went home with each child today.
Weather permitting, the space shuttle Endeavor will be flying over the Monterey Bay tomorrow morning on its way to the LA Museum of Flight.  We will be climbing Cow Hill to get the best possible view of the ship.  Fingers are crossed.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- read 20 minutes
- study for tomorrow's spelling quiz
- RPB page 62
- math 5 review, page 110, problems 1-15

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday

Hello all, and thank you for checking in.  The kids and I had an interesting day as we began our studies of native Californians.  As I mentioned last week, we will be crafting rather large study guides to help us practice reading for important details.  Its not a habit the kids are used to, so we had some grumblings.  It is my hope that the process will strengthen their comprehension skills, as well as ready their confidence levels as they prepare for a test.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

- read 20 minutes
- RPB pages 56 & 57
- math 5.4, p 103, problems 3-27

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday

Hello all, and thanks for checking in.  We had a pretty groovy morning and got to nerd out for a while discussing continental drift, how the earth has looked in the past, and how it will look in the future.  The class is science-minded, and already has a great deal of knowledge.  It's exciting for me, being a fan of the sciences.

Wednesday begins our exploration of Native Californians.  The kids will be constructing and writing a rather sizable study guide / book over the next few weeks of study.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

- read 20 minutes
- RPB pages 60 & 61 (week's spelling)
- math 5.3, pages 99 & 100, problems 9-25

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday

Hello all, and thank you for checking in.  Please be mindful of checking red folders, as they made their way home with the kids today.

The kids are responsible for the following today:

- read 20 minutes
- spelling / vocabulary
- math 5.2, pp 95-96, problems 12-30
- RPB page 54, if necessary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant