Hopefully, no snow

Hello,

I'm hoping that we don't get a snow day tomorrow, although I'm probably in the minority in our classroom. 

Mrs. Farrand, school counselor, came into the classroom today and lead a discussion on bullying.  It was sad to see all of the hands go up when she asked who thought bullying was going on at HBS.  Lunch recess was the time that the kids thought the most bullying was going on.  When asked what we could do to help thwart that, more than one child said the adults on duty need to spread out more and move around.  I couldn't agree more.

We talked about the NWEA MAP testing that is upcoming.  I let them know that based on years of experience with the test, it is highly likely that the test results will say that some of them have moved up multiple grade levels and that others have actually moved down.  Although I want them to try their best on these tests, I don't want them to put too much stock in the results.  Luck will play a certain role in the results.  Some people will happen to get tougher questions, some will happen to get all of their guesses correct.  On the whole we will see improvement, but I usually have to explain to a couple lucky parents that their child isn't a genius, and to a couple unlucky parents that I their child didn't unlearn more concepts than they have learned this year.  I ask that you take the results in stride as well. 

If you are interested, I have a list of terms available that continually appear on the tests.  Many of them do not fit in our curriculum.  My goal is to let students make connections with all of the different concepts that we are learning about, and some of the terms don't fit in with what we are teaching.  I'm not purposefully leaving things out that I know that they will be tested on.  If you want the list to help assist your child or just for your own interest, I'd be happy to give it to you.  I think you may be surprised by many of the terms.

Keep your eyes on the skies.  And on the morning news.  We may have no school tomorrow. 

I'm hoping to get the cast off my thumb in the next couple days.  This hen peck typing is ridiculous and takes forever.  Although I'll have to start doing dishes again...

Thanks for reading,

Mr. Shea

Hello

The food tasting went very well.  The focus was on healthy local foods.  A local farmer from Crystal Springs farm showed us a slide show and gave a talk before the tasting.  It is amazing that they grow 50,000 pounds of vegetables every year.  I would have loved to see a bit more manners, especially when I felt like I had prepped them pretty well.  I felt like last night's homework story about a fisherman's wife who is not satisfied with the gifts that she received was fitting.  We had a little talk about that.  Please ask your child about the different foods that they had an opportunity to try.

Our class adoption kit finally arrived.  We received a stuffed animal version of a dugong, an adoption certificate, a photo, and a reusable tote bag.  The class voted our dugong to be a male and that we would take turns taking him home.  I'll give him a journal so we can keep track of his exploits.  (That earned a groan from many boys.)  I learned from the information card that the dugong is the only marine mammal that is solely an herbivore.  We will vote on a name for our class dugong tomorrow.

We will be taking the NWEA MAP tests over the next two weeks.  The math portion will be taken with your child's math class.  My math class will take it next Tuesday.  Let me know if you want the exact day of your child's math test.  We will take the reading test as a homeroom on the Tuesday after that, March 13.  This is the test that Brunswick has chosen to measure yearly progress.  Each school in the state is required to measure student progress with beginning and end of the year benchmarks.  I wish our end of the year test wasn't taken during the first week in March.

Thanks for reading,

Mr. Shea

Welcome back

Hello,

Here comes another brief one. It is already 6:50 and my thumb is in a bit of a cast so this typing thing is hen pecking.  I gave the class the challenge of counting a large amount of change for our Pennies for Peace collection.  They did a good job of discussing multiple plans and then working together to count the cash.  They worked in pairs.  Each pair got a total, but we will figure out the grand total tomorrow.

Our local foods taste testing happens tomorrow afternoon.  Thanks to those who have volunteered to bring in something from Maine, or made from Maine foods. 

The system is going down.

Good night.

Finishing strong

Hello,

We made it into the computer lab for some more animal research.  Students are slowly getting better at becoming more independent when it comes to research.  I'll take some parent volunteers in the coming weeks to help, however.  It gets harder to focus as the project goes on.  It also becomes more difficult for me as the students get to different stages of the process.

Tomorrow is orange day.  We will be serving clementines for lunch.  I'll try to find an orange tie. 

I had a math curriculum meeting tonight.  We're not sure how the latest budget news is going to influence our attempt to bring in a new math program.  It is still our top priority, however.

The class heard tales from the south in the tradition of Uncle Remus in their library class today.  I didn't get a chance to ask about them, but you should.

I gave another word puzzle for homework due to popular demand.  I also wanted to see the less successful students put their new strategies for solving the puzzle to use.  Thanks for the help at home last night.

Spelling test tomorrow.  Math vocab test tomorrow. 

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

Only a short meeting tonight

Hello,

It is a rare night where I am getting to start on the blog before 5:00.  We had a full day.  It was "green" day.  Most of the students wore green and were treated to snap peas in our dining room.  Tomorrow is "Yellow" day.  Students are asked to wear yellow.  I believe that pineapple will be the food treat.  Colors week is part of our 5-2-1-0 program.  Each day we are featuring a different color and a different fruit or vegetable.

My math class did a lot of estimating today.  Estimating how many steps to the end of the hall, how long to tie their shoes, how many jumping jacks they could do in 15 seconds...etc.  We reviewed rounding over the past couple days, which is one strategy to use when estimating.  Last night's homework was about when it is appropriate to estimate and when you need exact figures.  I felt like we had some good discussions on that today.

Our animal research reports are still coming along.  I think they are losing a bit of steam, but I still see a lot of holes in the research.  This is not easy, but these are essential skills that they need to learn.  We will get back in the computer lab tomorrow and get back at it.

I'm happy with the progress of the biography reading.  We will have a big tea party after vacation where students will be asked to come in character.  I have dressed like a French butler the last few tea parties.  I plan on serving a variety of food and drink that will hopefully be new to them.

Two days until vacation, but they are holding it together pretty well.  Let's go in strong.

Mr. Shea

Happy Valentine's

Hello,

I met with a parent tonight.  Please let me know if you want to meet to discuss the report card or any other things on your mind regarding your child's schooling. 

I'm going to make this short tonight so I can get home to my honey.  At the request of a student, I will post an explanation of where Valentine's Day came from.  Forgive me some of the facts, this is an elementary school version:

St. Valentine's Story

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.

Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

decent start

Hello,

We had a decent start to the week.  Mondays tend to be a bit harder, just breaking them away from their weekend routine. 

We will not be having a Valentine's Day party tomorrow.  I will give them the last twenty minutes of the day to hand out Valentines that they bring in to give away.  I'm asking for all or nothing when it comes to bringing in Valentines.  I don't want some kids getting five and others fifteen.  You may bring one in for all or none.  

We had our best turn out for homework club tonight.  We are up to eleven. 

Spelling will be as usual this week.  "But vacation starts on Friday!" someone whined.  Nope.  It starts on Saturday.  Friday, we have a spelling test. 

Getting late.  Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

Hello

Government test tomorrow.  I am very worried.  I scrapped our attempt at an interactive government.  We've been reviewing all week, but I think that it is too abstract for many of the kids to understand without living it.  In past years they could tell me what individual positions or branches were responsible for because they had experienced it in class.  Videos, books and worksheets are much tougher for a kid to digest.  We'll see.  We made study sheets.  They are responsible for knowing why we have government, the three branches and their responsibilities, the top jobs and their responsibilities, and why the Constitution was written and what it does for us.  When I write it like that, it seems like a lot to me too.

We had another good day today.  I've been using the interactive white board more this week.  I know that the kids like it.  I'm not sure if I'm being more effective using it, but it does keep their attention.

I realize that not many papers have been making it home outside of spelling and math.  I'll do a better job of getting things graded promptly and in your child's hands to be taken home.  My apologies.  I heard from some parents today and it is definitely motivating to hear when something is missed.  I need to take advantage of all of my parents who will reinforce the messages that I put on the homework. 

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea 

Hi

Hello,

Staff meeting tonight.  It always ends up in conversations that go until 7pm. 

The class had a very good day today.  We did some animal research in the computer lab.  We read some of our biographies.  I read a Pocahontas picture book to model how I want them to glean information from their biographies.  I don't want our biography unit to be a research unit.  We are researching Maine animals for that written paper.  I want them to enjoy their biographies and take away some big picture understanding.  What were they like?  What did they do?  How did they act?  I'm not worried in the least about dates or hard facts.  I tried to get them to understand the difference in how we are reading in the two units.  In one, we are looking for specific facts.  In the other, we are reading for generalities. 

It is late.  I've got to go.  Best day in awhile today.  Let's make it two in a row tomorrow.

Mr. Shea

Quick notes

Hello,

We worked a little more on our animal research today.  I'm off to Curtis Memorial Library to see if I can get a few more books. 

Everyone seems pretty excited about the biographies that they have started.  A few haven't got a biography of their famous person yet.  If I can't locate a few more tonight, I might just have to ask them to choose something that I already have in the class.  I have more biographies than the school library, so I don't feel too bad about having to limit this free choice thing.

Your child should be able to tell you what an adaptation is.  Name a wild animal and ask them to name an adaptation that the animal has developed to help it survive. 

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

Good start to the week

Hello,

Rough game last night.  I hope everyone has recovered.

The class did well today.  I think it is because they like starting new things.  They chose a biography to read for our next reading assignment.  They will have to read one chapter book biography and one picture book biography on the same famous person.  They will be responsible for filling out an information sheet, completing a poster, and then coming to a class tea party as their character.  More details to follow.

I passed out books for our upcoming Maine animal reports.  Let the research begin.  I'll have to get some more books from Curtis Memorial Library.  I was a bit dismayed about the huge discrepancy in the number of books on exotic animals, compared to the number on animals that we have living around us in our own state.  We have over twenty books on panda bears but only one on black bears.  We have five times as many books on koalas as we do on lobsters.  You get the point. 

Report cards went home on Friday.  No signature is necessary this year, which kind of worries me.  Let me know if you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss anything. 

Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

Report cards are coming

Hello,

You will see the second quarter report cards come home on Friday.  Once again, it has been decided that there will be no letter grades.  I don't think that you'll ever see letter grades on the HBS report card.  The biggest change from the first quarter is that the math portion of the report card has been shortened considerably.  We will grade the major areas of math with a 1, 2, 3 or 4, but will not grade each individual skill.  The individual skills will no longer be shown on the report card either.  If you want to know the details of the math grades, you can ask your child's math teacher for more information.

In reading class today we read tandem poems from the 1989 Newbery Award winning Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman.  The poems require two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous.  All of the poems focus on members of the insect world.  The class did a good job of choosing, practicing and then perfoming their poems.  Some children chose to read color-themed poetry.  I decided to assign them homework that followed up on the theme of colors as symbols.  They just need to write a few lines with a color as the major focus. 

My math class dipped our foot into the pool of three dimensional shapes today.  I know that they will enjoy the next few days of deeper exploration into geometry.  It will culminate with Marshmallow Geometry where we will create pyramids and prisms using toothpicks and mini-marshmallows. 

Have  a good night.

Mr. Shea