Thursday & Friday

Howdy all. Well the biome quiz seemed to go off without a hitch today. Hopefully tomorrow's gold rush quiz is just as stress-free for them.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:
-math 89 (all)
-study for spelling and gold rush quizzes
-Great Horn Spoon and biome packets are due tomorrow

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

This week and test info!

Howdy all, I will be out of the classroom at the beginning of the week, but will return on Thursday. The kids are in the very capable hands of Ms. Weston while I am in Sacramento.

I hope that each of you were able to review your child's report card. I know that we are all obsessed with grades, but take an equally serious look at the effort portions. I'd appreciate signed report card envelopes to be returned to the classroom in your child's orange folder as soon as possible.

As far as testing is concerned this week, we have have two sizable exams looming. The kids were made aware on Friday what they should be looking at to prepare themselves. For the Gold Rush exam, the kids should be reviewing sections 1-5 of their Gold Rush game packets. For the land biome test, they should be studying their land biome notes from our work in class.

I am allowing time in my absence for the following homework assignments to be started in class with Ms. Weston. So, depending on the level of effort the kids put forth during the day, they may not be bringing all of this work home.

Monday:
-reading log
-math 86 (all)
-reading practice book pages 295 - 297 (spelling for the week)
-Reflections practice book page 71

Tuesday:
-reading log
-math 87 (all)
-reading practice book pages 291 - 292 (cause and effect)
-Reflections practice book pages 72 -75

Wednesday;
-reading log
-math 88 (all)
-Morse code message
-reading practice book pages 299 & 300

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Pink Friday

Tomorrow is the day in our state where tens of thousand of educators will receive letters informing them that are being laid off at the end of the school year. With the special election in May, some of these jobs have the potential to be reinstated, but there are no guarantees. So, in an effort to show support for those affected by these layoffs, and in a school setting...who isn't?, tomorrow has been deemed "Pink Friday". Everyone is encouraged to wear pink to show their support for education.

Tomorrow brings the wrap up of our Gold Rush work. We completed the Great Horn Spoon today and will be viewing the film version, "Bullwhip", in class tomorrow. We'll also be reviewing our final biome, the desert. Both the Gold Rush and land biome quizzes will be held next Thursday and Friday. Check the schedule for exact dates.

In an effort to foster a greater sense of ownership for their work during this last grading period, I will be marking down late papers by 10%. The kids were made aware of this today, and I will begin enforcing it tomorrow. Students who are absent will not be marked down 10% as long as they submit the work the day they return to class.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

-reading log
-complete and study vocabulary for tomorrow's Gold Rush vocabulary quiz

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday and diseases

Howdy all. I am happy to report that your children know that a symptom of cholera is extreme, explosive diarrhea. Honestly, I have never seen people so excited to learn about diseases as I did today. In my defense, we reviewed a few of the diseases that were present during the Gold Rush, looking specifically at the aforementioned, yellow fever and scurvy. Seriously though, anything about pooh and their attention is rapt. I'm quite proud of them.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

-reading log
-math 14A
-Gold Rush vocabulary
-Gold Rush menu (if not completed in class)

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Tuesday

Howdy all. Our week is swimming along smoothly. We started a Monday Math enrichment class yesterday that was very successful. 5 to 6 students per week will spend the final 45 minutes of the day working with higher-ordered material in a pull out setting with Mrs. Mitchner. On the classroom side, we are working with fifth grade material as a warm up activity each day. The kids are feeling very confident with themselves and their work. No worries, as we will still spend time with grade-level material as well.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

-reading log
-math 84
-continue with Gold Rush vocabulary for Friday

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday

Howdy all. We'll be spending the bulk of our week wrapping up our Gold Rush simulation and biome books. I've updated the dates for the quizzes that will accompany each. We may or may not finish By the Great Horn Spoon this week as well. We may have more chapters than days.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

-reading log (new in orange folder)
-Gold Rush vocabulary (due on Friday before quiz)
-math 83 (all)
-orange folder

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Thursday & Friday

Howdy all. I have just learned the the Board of Trustees voted on the 2009 - 2010 operating budget last evening / this morning at 1:30am. While the cuts are not what were expected (14 million instead of 17 million), they are nonetheless devastating to the state of education in PVUSD. The Board is hosting a meeting at Aptos High this evening at 5:15 to discuss their decisions, and I would encourage everyone who is able to attend to do so.

As Friday the 6th is the last day of the grading period, I cannot except work for the second trimester report cards past tomorrow.

Finally, the kids are responsible for studying their spelling words for tomorrow's quiz and must remember to turn in their reading logs.

Have a wonderful weekend, Mr. Bryant