Homework club is a success

Hello,

It was the first night for the homework club.  Despite not passing out an information sheet, I was pleased with the turnout of eight kids.  They spent the first ten minutes getting out some of their energy.  Some ate their extra snack.  From 3:30 to 4:15, we hit the books.  With our homework complete we played a little nerf dodgeball outside.  At 4:30, the indoor game of the day became Risk.  We didn't get far, but I took a picture of the board and we'll have to reconvene at an indoor recess or later homework club.  It went very well.  Great kids.  I heard a lot more questions during the homework time than I usually do.  I hope these meetings get them to be a little braver and ask more questions during the day as well.

We talked quite a bit about our constitution today.  We will be spending some time on the preamble over the next few days.  This first paragraph really outlines the goals of our federal government.  We will be getting to the Bill of Rights very soon.

The math test didn't go as well as I had hoped.  Many questions were missed due to not reading directions or rushing through something.  I told them that teachers learn what we did well and not so well from tests.  This test showed me that I've got to teach them how to take a test.  It is about being patient.  I learned that they don't know what it means to check their work.  I learned that if they don't know the answer instantly, they tended to guess and move on.  We'll be working on all of those things. 

Lots of great picture books read today.  I loved seeing Madeleine, Ping, The Lorax, Blueberries For Sal, Where the Wild Things Grow...  It was fantastic!  Some great discoveries were going on.  Their plot summaries will get better as I have more one on one conversations with them.  Good stuff.

I've got to run.  My wife is under the weather.  Lots of sickness going around.  Please remember that we don't have a sink.  Individual hand sanitizers are allowed if you have a child who doesn't want to be bothered with going all the way to the bathroom before lunch or snack. 

Have a great night.  P.E. tomorrow.

Mr. Shea