Friday already

The whirlwind season has begun.  It goes very fast from here on out. 

We hit many topics today as we went through a concise history of Maine.  We had to stop and discuss/explain some of the points along the way.  Questions came up about: the ice age, French and Indian War, War of 1812, Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII, the Civil War and the great depression.  (I know, I didn't put them in order)

I was a little disappointed to find out that the senatorial candidates for Olympia Snowe's current position spoke last night at Harriet Beecher Stowe without me knowing about it until after the fact.  I spoke to a bunch of teachers today who also didn't know.  I feel like we missed out on an educational opportunity.  I wish I could have informed you.  Fourth and fifth grade studies way too much government to be caught so unaware of something so major in our own backyard.  After all, we're taking a field trip to Augusta to see an near empty State House.  I would rather sit with some kids to hear a few candidates speak. 

I was pleased with the double digit multiplication of my math class today.  They definitely understand multiplication to be able to do it so well, so quickly.  Ask your child 23 x 45.  If they don't get 1035, tell them to check their work and tell you what they did wrong.  I bet they'll get it.

Some of the boys complained that our new read aloud, 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, is too girly.  I reminded them that the main characters in most of our read alouds have been boys.  It just goes to show that the research that says that young girls will read books regardless of the sex of the main character, while boys generally do not, is correct.  They'll get into it soon enough.

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea