Team meeting

Hello,

We just had a team meeting in my room.  Sometimes I feel like there isn't a whole lot of common sense in education, but I must say, we have a very good fourth grade team.  I know that I'm biased, but it sure is nice to hear other adults in the building share the same thoughts that I have.  We were able to discuss a lot of the issues of the day in a very relaxed and professional manner.  We meet every Wednesday after school and it usually goes until five or so.   This year, we also have smaller PLCs (Professional Learning Committees), that meet after school every Monday.  Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Viola  and I make up our PLC.

I can see with my schedule this year that this blog won't often get done until sixish at best.  I promise to have it done by seven or I won't bother.  I appreciate the number of parents reading it.  I was happy to see eight students at the homework club yesterday, and I know that the blog was the major reason.

The next club to begin will be the Harry Potter Club.  You must have read the first book to join.  As the year goes on, you must read successive books to continue to be a part of the club.  We generally don't go further than the fourth book.  The club will meet once a week at lunch time, I'm currently thinking Wednesdays.  We will occasionally meet after school, but that will be for special events like making wands, making house banners, playing quidditch, or watching movies.  We will only watch the first three movies, however.  Those are the only PG movies in the series.  Number four is PG-13.  I think we will start with 12-15 members and then hold sorting ceremonies during the year to add new members.  My goal is to end the year near 20-25 so that we can have proper quidditch teams.  We currently only have five students from our class signed up.  I am going to open it up to students from other classes, but only after our class has first choice.  Kids from other classes will be invited to join, but it will be invitation only.  I will be getting names from the other teachers of kids either highly interested in HP, or ones who would be motivated to read because of the club.

Our government unit continued today with an interesting talk about the flexibility of rules at different houses.   Most kids had rules that will change as they get older and can handle more responsibility.  I compared those rules to the rules set forth in our constitution, and how they have changed over the years.  The Bill of Rights is on deck.

Our class Senate and House of Representatives discussed which class jobs were underpaid and which were overpaid.  As president, I let them know that I think we may need to hire an extra librarian and an extra postmaster.  This will be the last week of the full class legislature.  We will be electing a three person senate and a five person house of representatives shortly.  Those will be paid positions, but will be more of a part-time job, kind of like our state senators and representatives.  Maybe we'll have a class governor this year instead of a president.  Just thinking out loud.

Quick reminders: Friday is an early 1:00 release and then there is no school on Monday due to Columbus day.  Tomorrow night at 6:30 is the informational meeting for the new math program.  October 30 will be our first field trip.  The class will be going to CREA as part of our study of geology. 

 Have a good night,

Mr. Shea