We have been really busy the last couple weeks. With ISTEP over for now, we have been focusing mainly on the research paper. Remember that all forty note cards (one fact each) are due on Wednesday of this week. On Wednesday, we will be having a more detailed lesson on outlining the papers. The updated list of due dates will be sent home either today or tomorrow. Many of the kids have complained to me about their busy schedules and the fact that they don’t have time to do their homework. This is why I’m trying my hardest to give them time to get their work done during class. They’re not going to have time to get everything done in class, but I am giving them more time to work as the year wears on. Warning, however, this is nothing like what next year will bring. I walk a fine line between trying to get them ready for next year and trying to give them the last breath of elementary school. Let me know if you have any questions.
Just Right
The team went down swinging last Tuesday for the Math Bowl competition. I truly appreciate the time the kids put into coming to the practices, doing extra math during their lunches and all that. The appreciation everyone--students and parents alike--showed to me that night was just incredible. I was very proud of them. Even when things looked bleak, they didn’t get down. Wouldn’t life be wonderful if everyone was always such a good sport as what we saw out of your kids that night? I think we should all recognize Irene Georgiadis, Ryan Jou, John Meganhardt, Kristyn Eckl, Naheel Khatri, Richard Du, Sebreena Zalam, Madison Linkmeyer, Mitchell Zimmer, Ryan Karpinski, Will Weghorst, Lizzie Simpson, David Baldwin, Gretchen Nihill, Rachel Page, Joey Vinyard, Matt Han, Kimaya Raje, Olivia Morfas, and Max Jolly. Also, I want to thank Nathan Bruns for being the designated card-flipper and Michael Hargis for helping me out that night. I should recognize our gallery of fans as well: In addition to the kids’ parents, we had Mrs. Elder and Mrs. Hall from the school show up to support the team, as well as Mr. Vahle, Woodbrook’s proctor, and a handful of student fans who came out and cheered us on: Matt Rhoad, Jack Johnston, and Justin Carlton. Guys, I honestly can’t tell you how much it meant to the team (and me) that you all showed up. Thank you so much. It was a very worthwhile experience for everyone. And if I missed anyone, please let me know.
Baby Baby It’s a Wild World
Coming up in Science, we’ll be taking a closer look at the diversity of life and environments of living creatures in the ecosystem. There are lots of interesting things that we’ll be doing with this unit, which is usually a lot of fun. We’ll look close to home with creatures that are native to Indiana, and even closer to home in our own backyard. I get to dust off more of those outdoor education tools I picked up at Camp Tecumseh on this one, as well as stuff from Project Wild and even the Indiana Soybean Board, which supplies us with oodles of awesome Science supplies for the unit. Animal adaptations, the parts of a cell, and all kinds of other pieces of the living kingdom will be studied this spring--as well as one the kids are mostly looking forward to: dissecting an owl pellet.
Wagons West
We’ve been studying up on the birth of the United States, arguing over the Constitution, and the upcoming (in class, anyway) Lewis and Clark expedition. This week we will be watching a video by Ken Burns about the Corps of Discovery as they charted the way west, discovering new animals and plant life along the way. They had no idea where they were going, or what they might find.
Expository
I really hope that by doing the research paper, your kids are all gaining an appreciation for independent study. It’s fun watching the kids come back from the library and want to actually write their information on their note cards. Hopefully soon you’ll be seeing some new entries on the blog (http://dojobooks.blogspot.com)
because the kids are turning in some nice work there. I even have some high hopes that the kids will continue to contribute next year, when they’re reading more books beyond my class.
By the Numbers
We’re on to a new unit on rates and cross-multiplication to solve rates and to compare fractions. Oh, and we’ll be sure to use what we just learned in our probability unit this week--okay, maybe only in homeroom--to compare our picks in some kind of tournament that begins this week. You know, it wouldn’t feel right to ignore such an opportunity when it knocks.
24 Hours
I’d like to announce to everyone that Carmel’s Relay for Life is from June 6th until June 7th of this year. This is a week after school has ended. As the team captain from Woodbrook, I’ve developed quite a group of people who come out each year to support the cause for the American Cancer Society. It’s a big twenty-four-hour party during which we will have to keep someone walking or running on the high school track for an entire day. This is one of my favorite activities of the year, and I’m sure that everyone--like me--has someone special they have lost to cancer, or a close cancer survivor. We will need volunteers to head up any fundraising (the kids are already talking lemonade stands and car washes). And please don’t think you have to come for the whole twenty four hours, but feel free to if you want. Please contact either me or Jodi Weghorst if you’re interested in this. It’s a great big bang for the end of the year.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too, can become great. ”
—Mark Twain
