Getting back on track

Hello,

I think it is taking me longer to get back on track than the kids.  For the second day in a row I forgot to use the restroom at lunch.  On most days I don't have any break from 12:05 to 3:15.  I was very relieved when the bus calls came this afternoon. 

Our Roald Dahl Jeopardy game went very well.  Ask your child if they were able to answer any questions correctly.  It was a close game and a good end to that successful reading unit.  Mysteries are on deck.  I read them some two-minute mysteries and then we went over some terms this afternoon.  Do you know what a red herring is?  We also talked about these terms: alibi, clue, evidence, hunch, motive, suspect, victim and witness.  These will keep coming up over the next few weeks but I was having fun using them all afternoon.  ("I have a hunch that __________ isn't going to put up his chair and I will be the victim."  "__________ had motive to leave quickly, the evidence is this mess under her desk!" etc.)

I sent another blank rock cycle sheet home tonight.  It is for studying purposes only.  They won't need to pass it in.  They will need to know the cycle to do well on tomorrow's geology test.  I'll have some hands on portions of the test as well. 

It is quite possible that your child has already asked you to buy them some corn starch.  We played around with it this afternoon in our study of states of matter.  When mixed with water, is it a solid or liquid?  It is fun to try to figure out.

I officially sent in the money to make our symbolic adoption of the Amur Leopard.  I'll let you know when the furry thing and the papers arrive.

Students got to choose their new seats just before the end of the day.  I'll move the desks in the morning.  (Why do now what you can do tomorrow?)  Ask them if they chose to sit next to their friends and whether or not they are mature enough to handle that.  I bet they will say yes to both questions.  We shall see.  It was interesting to see who chose to sit in the back rows. 

Thank you for outfitting your kids properly.  We will be going outside during any recess where the temperature is at ten degrees or higher.  Hats are a necessity!

I have one small request.  We have gone through tissues like I've never seen.  We are currently using the school's thin scratchy ones.  I can't seem to keep the class stocked with the softer ones.  If I could get a few parents to buy a couple of boxes, it would be a great help.  We seem to be going through almost two boxes a week.  Thanks in advance.

Have a great night. 

Mr. Shea