Funny day

Hello,

We had a funny day.  We have an inflatible deer head at the front of the class that seems to put everyone in kind of a silly mood.

The biome museum due date is fast approaching.  Some are in good shape, some not. 

I introduced four more book choices for book groups.  Some groups are still reading their first one, but those that are steaming ahead, I don't want to hold back.  The book choices included two of my favorites: The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon, and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  Other choices are the Newbery Honor book Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle and The Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting.  Please don't hesitate to ask for an extra copy at home.  Nothing sends the message that you value reading, especially their reading, by reading a book at the same time so you can talk about it. 

I shared one of my favorite quotes from The Mixed-Up Files to the class about "choosing adventure over safety."  I challenged them to choose adventure over safety sometime in the next week, so watch out.  I told them that I wasn't giving them to permission to misbehave.  They can't cut your hair off while you sleep and say, "Mr. Shea challenged me!"  I will give consequences for anyone who I catch doing something out of line.  That's part of the challenge.  They have to weigh the possible consequences with the adventure.  Many of them choose adventure over safety every day when the attempt to run through the halls.  They miss some recess.  They make a choice, and when caught, live with the consequences.  We'll see how this plays out.  It definitely made for some giddy fourth graders for the last half hour of the day.  I wonder what their minds will come up with...

Have a good night.  May you have all of your hair in the morning.

Mr. Shea  

We have a class video and discussion tomorrow with our school counselor, Mrs. Farrand.  The topic will be personal space.