Meetings, meetings, meetings.

Hello,

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween.  Some of the students were pretty jacked up this morning.  Overall, we had a good day despite some afternoon weariness. 

It is a week full of meetings for me.  I just got out of a report card meeting.  This one was about how to enter grades into our new computerized system and then print them out.  I have a scheduling meeting tomorrow.  We are trying to fix our current school schedule.  Over 650 kids trying to get through the lobby at the same time is a bad idea.  Giving the second graders an afternoon of 3+ hours with no breaks for specials also was a bad idea.  We are working on fixing these major issues and more.  Thursday night is our interactive whiteboard meeting.  This is the first year that I have had an IWB and I definitely could use some more instruction on how to use it.  I just found out that document cameras are in for the rest of our grade.  I'm excited about that.  I think I'll use that more than the IWB. 

Conference sign up slips will go home tomorrow.  Wait until you see these report cards.  They are something else.  I'll reserve judgement on them until I have some more time to get acquaited with them. 

I have a question for all of you.  I was asked why many elementary school teachers don't give homework on weekends when that is the best time for many kids to do it.  It is a valid question.  I'd like some input from you.  Would you like weekend homework?  I have always felt like school is very similar to a kid's job and that most people don't take their job home on the weekends.  Believe me, I know plenty of us work on the weekends.  I guess I haven't thought about it too much, but I always thought the "no homework" weekends were the times when kids could go back to just being kids.  I'm open to thoughts and suggestions.

We have a substitute on Friday.  I am going to CREA for a teaching seminar on Earth studies: history and geology.  Luckily, CREA is paying for me to be there because there isn't money in the budget for us to go to professional development seminars.  I'm happy that it was approved and hope that I can get some good ideas.  We will be hearing from professional geologists and a gemologist.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Our class field trip to the Cathance River, which will also focus on geology, will be on Monday, November 7th.  We are asking that everyone bring a bag lunch.  Permission slips will go home tomorrow.  We will be going rain or shine.  Please make sure your child is prepared for the elements.

Have a great night.  Expect short posts the next two nights.  These meetings will be long.

Mr. Shea