Sorry so late!!

Hello,

I'm sorry this is so late.  I'll be fast and brief to get this out by 7:00.  I had a math meeting that just ended.  We are breaking up the classes by like abilities for math.  Tomorrow will be your child's first day with their new math teacher.  A couple will have me, but not many. 

The class got their first taste of my "lectures" today.  I spoke to them on the importance of reading.  I'll give you my "Get the TV out of their bedroom" blog post another day. 

We did a couple of logic problems today.  Many students took home the next problems in the sequence.  The problems will get harder and harder as they go.  I am encouraging everyone to do at least one a week, but they are optional.  I introduced the problems shortly after I gave a little talk on being responsible for their own education.  I hope that they won't choose to do the minimum. 

We have gym tomorrow.  I hope no one forgets sneakers.  Ms. D'Agostino wouldn't be happy.

We played a dice rolling game in math this morning.  Students rolled two dice at a time and kept adding up the totals.  The object was to get as close to fifty as possible without going over.  I can see that we need a lot of practice adding, even just single digits.  Very few students could add up numbers like 6 + 7 without having to count it out.  I recommend games at home that use cards or multiple dice.  Yahtzee, monopoly, cribbage, etc.  all are great ways to get some of these basics to be second nature without them feeling like they are doing school work.

We are starting a class read: Witches by Roald Dahl.  I don't plan on doing big class reads like this, but I like to start out with everyone reading the same material so I can make my expectations clear across the board.  We will be doing most of the reading in class so that all levels can reach a certain level of understanding. 

I have more to say, but since it is nearly a quarter past seven I will leave it for tomorrow.

Have a good night. 

Mr. Shea