Say You Want a Revolution

Well here we are at the start of a new week, and what better time to try to play catch-up on this blog, and if all goes according to plan, you will be receiving this in hard copy form tomorrow, since we still have a few parents out there who are not accustomed to the blogosphere just yet. And you know what? That's okay. This one is dedicated to you.

First off, on Friday we're going to have a Social Studies test over the American Revolution. I have to say that this is the best I've ever taught the Revolutionary War if I say so myself. I think there's something to be said for slowing down and taking a little time to really investigate the inside-outs of the war, looking at it from both sides, and trying to show just how daring these guys were to try what they did. When you look back on it with all the facts in your hands, it's pretty stunning that it worked out like it did. Anyway, I will be giving the kids a study guide by Tuesday, so they'll have a pretty good idea of what to study for the test. Like I said, we've really dwelt on this for awhile now, so I'm pretty comfortable with seeing what they pulled from it.

For Reading, we're starting in with a set of novels for their reading groups. Don't worry, we will be continuing with our reading program in our curriculum, but it's high time we're doing some novels as a part of our class work as well. I'll list the books in a future post, but in the meantime, just know that they are of different lengths, but it's no worry--one kid isn't going to get an easier job than any other student.

In Science this week, we will be doing some mini-experiments to help drive in some key concepts to the scientific method. From light refraction to the properties of air, we will be donning the lab coats a few times this week.

FYI, I will be gone Wednesday afternoon because I'm going to be having a wisdom tooth pulled and having a broken tooth repaired, hopefully all in one fell swoop. I'm sure it will be completely painless, too.

Congratulations to the Math Bowl team this week! We placed much better than we had last year, which is great. But what really made this team great is that there was no whining, we had a high attendance during the practices after school, and spirits were great all the way through the practices. I want to extend a huge thank-you to Mrs. Franklin, Mrs. Carroll, and Mr. Ohnemus for all their help and donations during the before-time and to Mrs. Carroll for her snack donations for the practices. And to the team, whether you were on the team by choice or because Mr. Carter knows your parents too well, I want to thank you! You guys rocked. And to Ike and Michael: You guys rule also. Thanks for the time you took to be there. To Mr. Vahle, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Elder: Thank you for coming out to support us that night! It meant more than you can know to have you there for us. I felt like something of an outsider just watching all of this happen...thank you for doing the work!

The Maggie Moo's fundraiser was awesome, guys! Thank you to everyone who came out that night and supported the PTO that night. Who knew how much fun it could be to scoop ice cream and serve up some truly twisted creations to you all. (Royal blue cotton candy ice cream with Butterfingers crushed up in it? Glad all I had to do was make it!)

New due dates for the paper:

Second rough draft: Monday, March 15.
Final draft: Friday, March 26
The next week will be the presentations. Details on that will come home this week!

Thanks to everyone who sent in their change for the Pennies for Patients project last week for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This came today from Nurse Barb:

We now have totals for the week:

Monday…Pennies….$192.32

Tuesday..Nickels…..$302.36

Wednesday…Dimes…$577.42

Thursday….Quarters…$884.84

Friday….Dollars….$891.35

Total raised for Pennies for Patients by Woodbrook Elementary was $2848.29

Breakdown was:

- 26444 Pennies

- 5520 Nickels

- 6126 Dimes

- 3817 Quarters

- 7 Silver Dollars

- 734 dollars in paper money