You Got to Know When to Hold 'Em

It hit me today just how much we have accomplished this week:

• We have studied and talked about the states of matter for science (test next Wednesday!).
• We have learned about slavery, and the colonial Americans' part in it--as well as the part played by Europe and West Africa. It wasn't just a Civil War thing--it took place long before, and all over the world.
• My students had the chance to learn some karate from my good, good friend, Shinan (formerly known--and still known to me--as Sensei John from Adamson's Karate. 
• We have taken time each day to talk our way through analogies.
• We have also taken time each day to discuss predicate adjectives.
• Last but not least, we have discussed character traits--not directly given to the reader, but what we can learn through a character's actions.
• In math, we have learned about finding the area of different polygons and deconstructing different odd polygons into simple shapes to find their areas. All of the kids also passed their fraction-decimal quizzes!
• We learned today about sign language and how it works. 
• I learned a thing or two about Spongebob Squarepants from the students when I thought I was just reading a trivia question.
• Today, we started to learn about aquifers, and how ponds can be formed and water can be channeled from the ground. 
• Finally, we finished reading Qwerty Stevens today, and we are ready to start the second book tomorrow. Plus, we started a dialogue with the writer of this (and The Genius File), Dan Gutman! 

You know what? I'm going to call this week a win. Don't forget, bookmarks are due tomorrow, and we have a spelling test! 19/19ths of the bookmarks being turned in would be a huge bonus.