Dramatic Effects

ISTEP has come to and end--at long last. Okay, only for this year, but what can you do? 

Currently, we're working on our radio dramas. We have more Health and Science to do next week than anything, but we'll still be having our share of DOLs and other review lessons in the next couple weeks. The school year is coming to a close, and it's important that the kids remain as busy as possible, because they're getting excited to get out of my class and on to jr. high. 

Mama Might You Spare a Piece a'That Pie?

Pizza party tomorrow! Just got the plans nailed down.

I'm proud of you guys for shattering the school record. 

Also, ISTEP has become such a mundane part of our existence this year that it has become commonplace, but please keep in mind that it's next week and the same rules go: No visitors, volunteers, or singing telegrams next week. 

Over and out.

The Champions

Well, if this wasn’t a landmark week for 5-1, I don’t know what would be. First off, we walked in on Monday morning to learn that 5-1 received the most specials awards for the last six weeks. Not only that, but we shattered the record for the most awards ever! I’m so proud of this class, and as a reward for their efforts, the kids win a pizza party from Mr. Akin. And actually, I owe the kids three different popcorn parties now—we’ll hop on that next week, before time runs out.

As if that wasn’t enough to bring a manly tear of pride to my eye, Barton—our beloved classroom turtle—one-upped us all. In a race between Barton and a much larger turtle from across the hall (named Bubba), Barton pretty took off down the home stretch and left Bubba in the dust. It was a good week for us.

And on a personal note, I’d like to make a shout-out to my mentor and fellow Woodbrook teacher, Mr. Jay Vahle, who won the Carmel Clay Teacher of the Year this week. It could not have gone to anyone more deserving than Mr. Vahle. He is a true pro in every sense of the word, so if you see him in the hall or out and about, please extend a congratulations to him.

The kids’ papers looked fantastic this week! They probably told you why there was a delay in them getting them back (left them at my folks’ house after taking them home on Easter Sunday), but I was happy to give them only small things to change for the most part, and from there, it should be a piece of cake. These are due next Friday. The kids will also be doing informal presentations on their findings, just so that they can share with the class what they learned during this process.

Next week we also have a test in Caesar’s English. Don’t throw out this week’s spelling list, because it has the words on it for the Caesar’s English test!

In reading, the kids are doing a story from the Junior Great Book for the first time this year. We are reading a story called “Ghost Cat”, and this should bring out some good discussion from the class.

In Math, we’re studying volume and area as well as some algebra, such as the distributive property and the combining of like terms.

Bits of Business         

●Mrs. Zalam is collecting pictures of your child this year and when they were younger for the end of the year fifth grade graduation. She wants to have all of these collected by May 8th, so hurry them in so that she can do what she needs to do. And thank you to Mrs. Zalam for doing this!

●ISTEP is not next week, but it is the week after. This is the last time we’ll be taking ISTEP this year, I promise.