Hike & Bike

Here are a few words about Hike and Bike to School Day on October 3:

• Families choosing to participate in Hike and Bike take responsibility for their own safety
• ALL students must be accompanied by an ADULT.
• Please be sure to fill out the School Dismissal, before 1:30 pm, for your child with specific dismissal instruction for this day.
• Watch your e-mail that morning, for a school messenger, in case of any weather related changes. 

This is a pretty cool day at Woodbrook. I love seeing everyone coming in to school on a brisk autumn day that way. If you are able, think about bringing your child in to school by either walking or biking to school in that way. 

When September Ends

I apologize for the lack of post yesterday, but time got away from me and to be totally honest, I forgot.

This week we have learned about adverbs, homophones, commas, Lakota Indians; and the sun, moon and stars.

We had a lockdown drill this morning while the kids were in the library, and Mrs. Vahle said it all went very smoothly. I had no doubt it would.

We've had our spelling test and are in the middle of grading our GCL's, but we took a break so the kids could go out to recess (my day off!).

Check your kid's grades. We had quite a few people not turn in their bookmarks and their reader's responses today. When those go from being simply a missing assignment to being a zero in the grade book, it's going to really do some damage. I'll be speaking with some of them this afternoon about this, but I wanted to make sure that is reiterated at home as well.

Everyone have a great weekend and enjoy this weather!

Spirals

I'm anxious to tell you all about what we've been doing in class lately, but I hope your kids are coming home and talking about it too.

I have to admit, the things we have been learning about in language arts may seem a little dry--namely comma usage and adverbs this week--but it is no less important to help the students to become educationally literate.

As for Science and Social Studies...well, the kids have been studying for their Science test all week (right?), and for Social Studies, we have been making their Lakota Winter Counts just like the Lakota tribe used to way back in the day. Wow, I just realized that for all I know, there could be Lakota who still do this. I should research. In the meantime, ask your child what exactly this is, and have them try to explain it to you.

More soon! Hope you're all having a great week.

Alma Mater

It's College Go Week across the state of Indiana, and we are celebrating by having a college day tomorrow--wear your college gear and look awesome!

And Now, a Word From Mrs. Ratner

Dear Parents,

                We are in need of more volunteers for the fifth grade musical.  All volunteers receive two front row seats for the evening performance.  Please follow the links below if you are available to help.

Costume Help:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4aa9a82fa4fe3-wright

 

Backdrop Help:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4aa9a82fa4fe3-wright1

Thank you!

Lindsey Ratner

Music Teacher

Woodbrook Elementary

Carmel Clay Schools

Growing Out Sideways

Today in Science, we will filled out a study guide for our exam on Friday. It is all about everything we've learned in Science this school year so far. The format of the test will be mostly multiple choice, but there will be some fill in the blank and a long answer in there as well.

We also learned about the use of commas in direct address ("Brice, could you give me a hand?"). I read the kids another Chinese myth called The Five Chinese Brothers. The kids clued me in on the message of the book, which had escaped me from the time I was a little kid.

I hope everyone has had a great Monday evening. Talk soon!

Before the Day Even Begins

 

 

It was an absolute honor to be the "Mystery Staff Person" on the morning announcements on Friday. The best part for me was watching the behind-the-scenes action going on. It was just like a real newsroom--all kinds of running around and little panics that never comes across on screen. Watching Connor and Maisy receive directions from Mrs. Dunlap on the fly, and seeing Wyatt give directions to Dylan and Arden, who will be taking over next week, and seeing the nervous first graders holding the flag was all a fun part of my morning.

Well done, Mrs. Vahle, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Dunlap! Also, great job to all of the members of the team. I never knew how hard you work every morning before the academic day even begins. Bravo!

Truth In Parables

• Anyone interested in going on the trip to Camp Jameson with us on the day before fall break? We're looking for some folks, so let me know. It's a fun time. 
• We were treated to guest reader Mrs. Davis on Friday afternoon. She came in and read us one of our books for the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Students. This book is called The Three Questions, and it is written and beautifully illustrated by John J. Muth. It goes to prove that not everyone has the same responsibilities for our time on Earth, but that together we all play a part to make the world work. Thanks so much for being our guest reader, Mrs. Davis!
  
  

Familiar Faces On a Friday Night

I wasn't very good at getting lots of pictures at the Woodbrook Carnival two weeks ago now, and what's worse, is that I've been remiss in posting about it. I was only there for the first shift, but it was fun to see so many familiar faces, both recent and from the past as well.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible! It's a great tradition.

Sad Farewell

Yesterday we said good-bye to Perla. It was way too soon for her to go--only six weeks in to school--but her family moved and therefore she will now be going just a few miles away to Orchard Park.

I didn't find out until yesterday morning, so most of our day was spent going through all of the normal Friday stuff, but we did play a game of Silent Ball where she got to be the ref for one last time.

Whichever teacher gets her at Orchard Park is lucky.

Come back and visit us, Perla! We will miss you and you will always have a home in Area 51. 

Stars My Destination

The kids are in the computer lab right now doing a lesson on digital citizenship, so I'm taking advantage of this time to get a post out to you all.

We went to the CHS Planetarium today, and it was a really valuable trip. We learned about the tilt of the earth, the way the earth rotates as it orbits the sun, the way the moon goes through various phases as it orbits the earth, and so on and so forth. (And personally, I wonder what Hope is looking at in the picture...seems pretty mesmerizing, like she saw a UFO.)

Tomorrow we will have a spelling test and a states and capitals quiz. Don't forget bookmarks are due too!

Last but not least, the permission slips for our trip to Camp Jameson are going home today. The trip is on October 12--the day before fall break. Should be a good time! Let's just hope the weather cools off before then. 

Busy Days

Meaning Exercise for Spelling tonight!

My Math class: a page for 2.2!

Read 20 minutes for reading!

Those are the main things you need to know for tonight. We had a pretty good day, covering a Chinese myth of the sun, studied the sun in Science (with the assistance of Bill Nye), and wrote some dialog into our stories. 

More to come, but I have to get out of here pretty quickly today and wanted to make sure I let you in on the homework before I took off. 

Connor

Happy Birthday to Connor!

Connor is one of those kids that I've been waiting for a long time to have in my class, ever since I had his older brother a few years back. That said, Connor is his own man. He's a football player and a runner. He's a sharp kid and he's well-liked by everyone in the class.

For the last several years, Connor has treated all of Woodbrook to an epic drum performance at the talent show. Last year, when he picked "Left Hand Free" by alt-J, a song I had played all year long on a classroom CD, I knew this kid was one I wanted in my class. It's not one of those songs that just anybody knows. Luckily I got lucky! I got the music snob.

Connor is also an anchorman for our morning announcements at Woodbrook. With his killer smile and perfectly-gelled hair, he just may have a future in the broadcast world. Plus, he speaks clearly, which sounds pretty basic, it is a skill that is pretty rare at this age.

He has a great heart, and is always willing to help when it is needed. He is a natural leader. This footballer, drummer, and spokesman is one who I am proud to call mine as a member of the Area 51 family.

I hope you had a fantastic birthday, kiddo. You deserve it!

I'm Not the Only One Staring At the Sun

Homework for tomorrow is 3x each and read for 20 minutes.

For my math class, you have the 2.1 Home Link.

Today we learned about the changing of the seasons (and how the sun affects them), the proximity of the earth to the sun, and how you can tell the seasons just by looking at the shadows (more or less) in the middle of the day.

In language arts, we had discussions about adjectives; the homophones their, there, and they're; and once again, subject nouns.

Don't worry, Connor, I will get your birthday post up tonight, but it will be kind of late (relatively speaking) by the time I get home tonight. 

Making Ends Meet

Today, we spent some time reviewing the subject and the predicate. As I told the kids, they didn't all do very well on that part on the test last Friday, despite being allowed to use their notes. I did give them another page today after reviewing that will help out their test grade by adding more potential points onto a greater outcome. For instance, if the test was out of 50 points before, I will change it so that it is out of 60, including whatever they earned on this additional assignment.

Their reading comprehension was great, though!

My Math class did pretty well on their test last Friday, I have to say. But then again, I also have to say that only a small handful of people have turned in their homework from last Thursday (the math box fill-in) and even fewer of those people wrote their names on their papers. Yikes.

Alright, that's about all that's urgent for now before I sign off. I hope everyone's Monday evening is a good one. 

Predicated Things

Alright, well, this week we are going to be going over complete subject and complete predicates again! Plus, we are going to review simple subjects and simple predicates.

In addition to that, we will have a spelling list, we will have a trip to the Planetarium on Thursday, and my math class (as well as Mrs. Loeffler's and Mrs. Stemnock's math classes) will be starting a new unit.

We will also be starting a new unit in reading (even though--as I said--we will be reviewing as well) a new unit in Reading this week.

More to come! I hope everyone has had a restful weekend.

The Road Ahead Is Blue

We learned a ton over the last couple of days. We have talked about predicate nouns and predicate adjectives. We have talked the reason we have different constellations in different seasons. We have talked about why different groups of Native Americans lived in different parts of what is now the United States. We have reviewed capitals of some of those states. We have written conflict into our personal narratives.

Your kids have been working their brains like crazy over the past few weeks. They deserve some big praises, and a nice, relaxing weekend.

Everyone wear your Blue and Gold tomorrow--or your Colts blue! (You could just wear some blue tomorrow and be in a good place.)

What Is Thy Bidding, Master?

Wednesday as usual in 5-1 today!

No new homework tonight. Just a meaning exercise, math homework, and the Reader's Response is due on Friday.

A Wide Cast Net

Don't forget that Wednesday is Disney Day! Wear your Mickey wear, or if you're like me and you don't have any real Disney stuff, don't forget that Disney now owns both Star Wars and Marvel Comics, so...you have options.

To the Point

Today we covered a lot of ground, but here are the basics you will need to know for this evening:

• 3x each is due tomorrow for spelling.
• My math class (6th grade math) has homework tonight.
• Read 20 minutes!

Lastly, we do have a quiz over States and Capitals on Friday! Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois are all on it. 

More to come. Hope you all have a fantastic evening. 

The Stuff Of History

I have to admit it was more than a little disheartening today to hear the kids coming into the classroom making jokes about 9/11. With grins on their faces, they made light of the firefighters who rushed in, the people on the planes, or the people who jumped out of the towers on that horrific day.

I had to remind myself that--to these kids--this isn't even real. No wonder it's easy to make fun of the people who suffered through that day. It's the stuff of history books to them.

For me, it was the first year I was a teacher. From the back of the Woodbrook library, I watched the smoke pouring from the first tower, wondering what could have caused that plane to fly into it. Then, in sheer terror, I watched the second plane hit.

I'm sure you all have your own stories of what happened on that day. I hope you have taken the time--or will take the time--to share them with your kids sometime soon, because I'm sure none of you were laughing or joking around about it on that day.

Hero Up!

Don't forget that tomorrow is Super-Hero Day! This is a spirit week (well, 3/5 of it is) to celebrate the Carmel High School Homecoming this Friday evening. So everyone break out your fantastic, amazing, and uncanniest duds for a better-than-usual Monday.

Laughter And Nostalgia

The first thing that made Friday so special is that it was Special Friends Day at Woodbrook. Special Friends Day started out as Grandparents' Day, but then we quickly learned that not everyone has grandparents still with us, or not all of them live nearby. In a place like Carmel, which is suburb to a metropolitan city, you get people from all over the nation--in fact, all over the world.

I was so thankful to have so many parents and grandparents make it in for this event. They had so much fun telling the kids all about what school used to be like back in "ye olden days" (I was the same age as some of these parents). They told stories of such unheard-of relics as chalkboards, slide-rules, Mac II's, floppy disks, homemade lunches in schools, and carousel projectors.

Thanks again to everyone who was able to come that day.

Wyatt

Happy Birthday to Wyatt!

Wyatt had quite the day at Woodbrook--he was nearly overshadowed today by the Carnival and Grandparents' Day, but I think it's fair to say that he still had a pretty good one.

Wyatt is a hockey player, playing for the Indianapolis Racers travel team. He is also a gymnast, and does backflips on the playground (on the mulch) to prove it.

One of the best things about Mr. Wyatt is that he has such a big heart for the lifeskills students. He is great at working with Liam in particular. He walks the lifeskills students down to the buses every day, and does work in their classroom as well. He just has a very special friendship with them which is neat to see.

I hope you have had a great day so far, Wyatt. You deserve it! And I also hope to see you this evening at the carnival.

But the Clouds Got In the Way

Well, today we had just a few snafus, but luckily the kids and their behavior had nothing to do with it at all. Mostly, it was my fault. Because of Grandparents/Special Person's Day tomorrow, we aren't going to have math, which I should have known. Had I known that, I would not have spent all of math today preparing for a cumulative quiz tomorrow.

The second part was not my fault (honest!). We were supposed to go out to do our sundials this afternoon, but the sun did not cooperate. Okay, technically the sun was still doing its job, so I guess it was the clouds that did not cooperate. We started watching a video on the space program--an old Nova episode about the birth of the space program.

I reminded the kids that they have a quiz for both Caesar's English as well as States and Capitals tomorrow. I am so happy that it seems like they have been studying.

Busy day tomorrow around the WB with Grandparents' Day and the Carnival. I hope to see everyone at either one or the other or both. 

Base-Twelve In One, a Dozen In the Other

Even though we have a very base-10 understanding of most numerical things. Think of the metric system, money, etc.

Then we have the Standard English system, which of course uses a set of twelve inches creating one foot. And then we have twelve hours in one set of the clock (two sets of twelve for AM and PM). I never knew why this was until today. I love it when I learn new stuff.

It turns out that at least one ancient civilization (the Egyptians) used their thumbs to count the rest of the segments on their other fingers. There are three segments on each of four fingers, and that's where they get twelve. It's as natural to them as our base-10 is to us, because of our ten fingers.

We started making sundials today in class. Having done this before, I thought I knew all of it. Turns out I didn't, and I love it.

Ask your kids to demonstrate this method of counting, and see if they can remember it.

The Walk Of Life

We started off our day with a double-loop around the school. It was Wellness Wednesday here at Woodbrook, so we took a hike along with the rest of the school. When we came back in, we also discussed eating healthy snacks and not candy during school!

In Math, we did some reviewing of the different types of numbers we learned about yesterday. Math was a little abbreviated this morning because of the Wellness Walk.

I showed the kids how to do a proper reader's response, and I have changed the due date on that one to FRIDAY now instead of tomorrow.

We took also reviewed our states and capitals, our Caesar's English, and we did an exit slip on the simple subjects of a sentence.

This afternoon we finished off The Genius Files book one! The we began constructing some sundials. Hopefully tomorrow we will get those finished up.

It was really a packed day today. I was very happy with how well the kids did it today.

Now I'm sitting here breathing a big sigh or relief. Good day today. 

It Looks Like a Lot, But It's Mostly For the Week

Folks: Sorry for the fast update (while the kids are playing silent ball), but I'm going to have a really busy after-school that will then extend well into the evening, so I wanted to tell you the homework right now (even though it should be in your kids' assignment notebooks):

• States and Capitals quiz on FRIDAY
• Caesar's English quiz on FRIDAY (ask your kids about this...they have lists for both of the quizzes to study from)
• Read 20 minutes
• Math homework
• Reader's Response is due Thursday (we also discussed this in class, they received notebooks and rubrics and expectations and questions and more...)

Face Palm!

I was so good on Friday, I made sure the kids had their next states and capitals list for next Friday, I had all the papers I had graded in their mailboxes and ready to go home. What I forgot, however, was to hand out the next round of bookmarks.

When I hand them out on Tuesday, just add whatever you've read already. Bookmarks will once again be due on Friday this week.

Sorry about the confusion. I hope you are all having a great long weekend right now.