Hello,
I don't know how many years in a row that this has happened, but I'm sure that you probably have read about another two million dollar or so surplus for the school district. I can assure you that it never feels like we have any extra to spend. This year we underbudgeted for dry-erase markers. We were all out before Christmas. Today came word that we are out of pencils. Sounds crazy, but the only way we will have new pencils this year is out of pocket. Our class has gone through at least 300 of the ones that I bought from those ridiculous back to school sales back in August. I should have bought more. I will be purchasing more in the coming days, (our parent group has given all the teachers Target gift cards to help out with in class purchases), but I would be very thankful to anyone willing to donate a box of ten or twelve. Thank you so much.
We will be making islands tomorrow. Thank you to all of the dough makers. We were a little short for today, so I'll make some more tonight and that should be enough. We practiced making some land forms this afternoon with clay, and tonight's homework is to put down a rough sketch of a plan for their island(s). It should be fun. We'll be wearing our aprons that were so generously donated a couple years ago by Wild Oats, but I would still recommend that students don't wear their Sunday best. We will be painting the bases first and I am more worried about that than the flour or cornstarch dough.
Crazy weather today. I'm hoping for power when I get home. Kids were in for the first recess, but got to run around a bit in the afternoon.
I can't believe it is only two weeks until February vacation. This year is going fast. I've got some work to do.
Have good night.
Mr. Shea
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Better than shoveling my roof
Hello,
Wow, it's warm. At least I don't have to get up on the flat part of my roof this time.
It was an odd day. The kids had a substitute for math. Some math classes had some kids take advantage of the "new" teacher. We talked about that for a bit before lunch. I was back in the classroom in time to send them to gym class. It was nice to see some of my former students in the gym helping Ms. D'Agostino with a 5-2-1-0 class. Ask your child about the planting, eating and exercising that happened during that forty minute period.
I think I'm going to get pulled to meet with the math specialist for another forty minutes tomorrow. That means that we won't officially need the play dough until Friday. It also means that I need to write up another plan for a substitute. That isn't one of my favorite things to do. Thanks to the parents who have made dough or plan to tonight or tomorrow.
Some of the clues that I heard about from last night's homework were fantastic. We'll jump into that a little more tomorrow. I think coming up with the clues before we come up with our "crime" is going to work out great.
My wife comes home from NYC tonight. My dog and I will be happy to get things back to normal.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
Wow, it's warm. At least I don't have to get up on the flat part of my roof this time.
It was an odd day. The kids had a substitute for math. Some math classes had some kids take advantage of the "new" teacher. We talked about that for a bit before lunch. I was back in the classroom in time to send them to gym class. It was nice to see some of my former students in the gym helping Ms. D'Agostino with a 5-2-1-0 class. Ask your child about the planting, eating and exercising that happened during that forty minute period.
I think I'm going to get pulled to meet with the math specialist for another forty minutes tomorrow. That means that we won't officially need the play dough until Friday. It also means that I need to write up another plan for a substitute. That isn't one of my favorite things to do. Thanks to the parents who have made dough or plan to tonight or tomorrow.
Some of the clues that I heard about from last night's homework were fantastic. We'll jump into that a little more tomorrow. I think coming up with the clues before we come up with our "crime" is going to work out great.
My wife comes home from NYC tonight. My dog and I will be happy to get things back to normal.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Short post
Hello,
I just went to the fifth grade band concert. Amazing how big kids can grow in a year. I hope to see a lot of this year's class putting on the show next year.
Sorry about the top play dough recipe that went home last night. 2 cups of water are necessary for that recipe. I heard about some dry, powdery disasters. Thanks to everyone planning on making a batch or two. I'd like them by Thursday, but unexpected plans may push the project to Friday. We'll see.
We will be having a substitutes tomorrow for all fourth grade math students. The teachers will be meeting with a Math In Focus instructor in the morning and then see her/him teach a sample math class to Ms. Thayer's math class. I will be back in my homeroom by 10:20 to send them to phys. ed.
Early release day tomorrow. Students will be dismissed at 1:00.
I need to write up a sub plan now, so have a good night.
Mr. Shea
I just went to the fifth grade band concert. Amazing how big kids can grow in a year. I hope to see a lot of this year's class putting on the show next year.
Sorry about the top play dough recipe that went home last night. 2 cups of water are necessary for that recipe. I heard about some dry, powdery disasters. Thanks to everyone planning on making a batch or two. I'd like them by Thursday, but unexpected plans may push the project to Friday. We'll see.
We will be having a substitutes tomorrow for all fourth grade math students. The teachers will be meeting with a Math In Focus instructor in the morning and then see her/him teach a sample math class to Ms. Thayer's math class. I will be back in my homeroom by 10:20 to send them to phys. ed.
Early release day tomorrow. Students will be dismissed at 1:00.
I need to write up a sub plan now, so have a good night.
Mr. Shea
Monday, January 28, 2013
Greasy roads - no blog
Hello,
I just got out of back to back meetings and the word is that the roads aren't good. So, once again, but I'm bailing.
Have a good night.
Mr. Shea
I just got out of back to back meetings and the word is that the roads aren't good. So, once again, but I'm bailing.
Have a good night.
Mr. Shea
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Lock down practice successful
Hello,
We practiced our first lock down drill of the year this afternoon. We had a lengthy discussion this morning about the hows and whys. The kids had a lot of great questions and many of them were able to talk about some of their fears, mainly ones that they have at home. I was surprised at how many hide under the covers from all sorts of imagined threats. I think it was good for them to hear how many of their peers also have these fears: Monsters in the walls, stranger in their house, mysterious sounds made by unknown sources, etc. I think the most common thread for most of their fears had to do with darkness. I didn't get the sense that any of them don't feel safe in school.
The lockdown lasted for about 20 minutes. Students sat in small groups on the floor partially hidded by bookshelves. I read some more of The City of Ember. Lina and Doon have found the way out of the city, but are now wanted by their city police for "spreading vicious rumors." It is getting really good.
We read Doreen Rappaport's fantastic picture book on Martin Luther King Jr. this morning. This led to a very interesting discussion about race relations in our history, racism, sexism, religion, and even gun control. I think it would be worth your while to hear some of your child's views on today's discussion. One girl told about reading how men get paid more for doing the same jobs as women. Some kids got pretty worked up over some of these issues. It is great that they are interested in being informed. I heard myself say a few times, "Just because it is something that we have always done, doesn't make it right."
Spelling test tomorrow. I hoping the days of flunked spelling tests are over. One student that did extra spelling work for the first half of every lunch recess this week sure hopes so too.
Harry Potter Club meets tomorrow night until 5:15. Looks like I have one of those years where they like to meet on Fridays. Not my first choice.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
Mr. Shea
We practiced our first lock down drill of the year this afternoon. We had a lengthy discussion this morning about the hows and whys. The kids had a lot of great questions and many of them were able to talk about some of their fears, mainly ones that they have at home. I was surprised at how many hide under the covers from all sorts of imagined threats. I think it was good for them to hear how many of their peers also have these fears: Monsters in the walls, stranger in their house, mysterious sounds made by unknown sources, etc. I think the most common thread for most of their fears had to do with darkness. I didn't get the sense that any of them don't feel safe in school.
The lockdown lasted for about 20 minutes. Students sat in small groups on the floor partially hidded by bookshelves. I read some more of The City of Ember. Lina and Doon have found the way out of the city, but are now wanted by their city police for "spreading vicious rumors." It is getting really good.
We read Doreen Rappaport's fantastic picture book on Martin Luther King Jr. this morning. This led to a very interesting discussion about race relations in our history, racism, sexism, religion, and even gun control. I think it would be worth your while to hear some of your child's views on today's discussion. One girl told about reading how men get paid more for doing the same jobs as women. Some kids got pretty worked up over some of these issues. It is great that they are interested in being informed. I heard myself say a few times, "Just because it is something that we have always done, doesn't make it right."
Spelling test tomorrow. I hoping the days of flunked spelling tests are over. One student that did extra spelling work for the first half of every lunch recess this week sure hopes so too.
Harry Potter Club meets tomorrow night until 5:15. Looks like I have one of those years where they like to meet on Fridays. Not my first choice.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
Mr. Shea
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Lock down drill tomorrow
Hello,
We are having our first lock down drill of the school year tomorrow. We will be very clear explaining that this is a practice drill, much like our fire drills and bus evacuation drills. This will take place tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you know how it goes.
Our class is in the middle of a mystery. Mrs. Smith's class won the Golden Trash Can Award last week and now it has gone missing. Many kids in the class think that they have seen or heard clues to help us solve the mystery. One student already thinks he knows where it is. We'll have to take a look tomorrow to see if he is correct. I think there are more clues to come. I was trying to convince the class to work together, rather than work on the mystery separately. The mysterious note in our read aloud, City of Ember, created many different class factions. They did not share with one another and went to lengths to conceal their discoveries.
The antagonists that were created last night were fantastic! What originality! We had villians, suspicious people, robots, creatures, even an evil tissue box. Great details and some very creative thinking. Tonight, students need to write a short storyline in which their antagonist will play a role.
I am usually on top of making sure that kids know why they get days off from school. We'll discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tomorrow morning when we usually have a spelling test. Our spelling test will be on Friday, due to the short week.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
We are having our first lock down drill of the school year tomorrow. We will be very clear explaining that this is a practice drill, much like our fire drills and bus evacuation drills. This will take place tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you know how it goes.
Our class is in the middle of a mystery. Mrs. Smith's class won the Golden Trash Can Award last week and now it has gone missing. Many kids in the class think that they have seen or heard clues to help us solve the mystery. One student already thinks he knows where it is. We'll have to take a look tomorrow to see if he is correct. I think there are more clues to come. I was trying to convince the class to work together, rather than work on the mystery separately. The mysterious note in our read aloud, City of Ember, created many different class factions. They did not share with one another and went to lengths to conceal their discoveries.
The antagonists that were created last night were fantastic! What originality! We had villians, suspicious people, robots, creatures, even an evil tissue box. Great details and some very creative thinking. Tonight, students need to write a short storyline in which their antagonist will play a role.
I am usually on top of making sure that kids know why they get days off from school. We'll discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tomorrow morning when we usually have a spelling test. Our spelling test will be on Friday, due to the short week.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What happened to the snow?
Hello,
I think many students were anticipating a snow day. Lucky for them it was the weekend so they didn't get caught without doing their homework.
We got a visit from Mrs. Yeodsnukis this afternoon to talk to us about fossils. She worked in Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming. She brought in a lot of great specimens. It was great to see how they find and cut away fossils from the land.
Students did a little character sketch today. Their homework is to apply some of those skills to create an antagonist. I think they were very motivated to create "a bad guy."
The Harry Potter Book Club will be gathering after school this Friday, January 25 from 3:15 to 5:15. We will be viewing the first Harry Potter movie: The Sorcerer’s Stone. We will be discussing the differences between the movie and novel, answering trivia questions, and enjoying refreshments. This meeting is completely optional for members. SPermission slips went home, but just write a short note if you didn't see one. Thanks.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
I think many students were anticipating a snow day. Lucky for them it was the weekend so they didn't get caught without doing their homework.
We got a visit from Mrs. Yeodsnukis this afternoon to talk to us about fossils. She worked in Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming. She brought in a lot of great specimens. It was great to see how they find and cut away fossils from the land.
Students did a little character sketch today. Their homework is to apply some of those skills to create an antagonist. I think they were very motivated to create "a bad guy."
The Harry Potter Book Club will be gathering after school this Friday, January 25 from 3:15 to 5:15. We will be viewing the first Harry Potter movie: The Sorcerer’s Stone. We will be discussing the differences between the movie and novel, answering trivia questions, and enjoying refreshments. This meeting is completely optional for members. SPermission slips went home, but just write a short note if you didn't see one. Thanks.
Have a great night.
Mr. Shea
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