Summer Happenings

So now that you are a good week into your summer break, what are you up to? Leave comments so we know what everyone is doing. I am working at a reading camp and then will start my vacation. Look here in July for a daily tribute to each of your classmates. Something to look forward to… Hope everyone is having fun!

It's been a Busy Week!

I know I am going to sleep well this weekend after all of the excitement of the last few days!  I just wanted to share a few photos from our field trip and field day.  (Thanks to Seth for the pics from Huntsville!)  If you have photos from either event and would like to share, please email them to me or send me copies.  Thanks!  One week left. . . .

And away we go. . .

  


Huntsville, here we come!



Full sized shuttle model

Saturn V rocket

Actual Apollo 16 capsule

  

Let the Games begin

Our team banner (Thanks Mrs. C!)

Carrying the torch

Victorious!

What a great group!

What a tired group!!

TCAP Contract Fulfilled

Since all 21 students kept their end of our TCAP agreement, we celebrated today by making our very own, individual sized servings of homemade ice cream.  It was delicious if I say so myself.  It is actually very easy to make, and you probably already have everything you need at home!  Here is what we did:
 

1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups crushed ice
4 tablespoons salt
2 quart size Zip-loc bags
1 gallon size Zip-loc freezer bag
a hand towel or gloves to keep fingers from freezing as well!

Mix the milk, vanilla and sugar together in one of the quart size bags. Seal tightly, allowing as little air to remain in the bag as possible. Too much air left inside may force the bag open during shaking. Place this bag inside the other quart size bag, again leaving as little air inside as possible and sealing well. By double-bagging, the risk of salt and ice leaking into the ice cream is minimized. Put the two bags inside the gallon size bag and fill the bag with ice, then sprinkle salt on top. Again let all the air escape and seal the bag. Wrap the bag in the towel or put your gloves on, and shake and massage the bag, making sure the ice surrounds the cream mixture. Ten to fifteen minutes is adequate time for the mixture to freeze into ice cream.

Thinking "Inside the Box"

Last week, April 20, we had the privilege of visiting with Doug Peterson, an author who works with Mr. C--#7's dad. Although more known for his work with Veggie Tales up to this point, Mr. Peterson has released his first novel for adults, The Disappearing Man. This work of historical fiction focuses of the life of Henry "Box" Brown, the slave who mailed himself to freedom in 1849. The novel is an easy read--appropriate for middle school age and up. To help our students get a taste of what Henry went through, Mr. Peterson brought in a replica of the box used in this great escape. Several students had the chance to get inside the box and test it out for a few seconds. Even though the students had room to spare, except for maybe the triplets, no one wanted to reenact the 27 hour escape! We want to thank both Mr. Peterson and Mr. C for sharing the story of Henry Brown with us! We had a great time and learned much! If you would like more information on Doug Peterson, The Disappearing Man or any of his other works, check it out HERE or HERE.  Enjoy!

The Whole Gang!

Exciting Week(s)

We've got a busy week leading up to our break next week.  Please don't forget that the PTA is sponsoring the book fair this week.  We previewed the fair Friday, and several students have long wish lists!  I will remind you that sales tax will be added to all purchases.  Sorry about that.

Then Thursday night is the spaghetti supper and music program.  The first seating begins at 5:30.  If you are planing on eating, be sure to send in your reservation and money.  Our students will then perform at 7:15.  I hope to see everyone there!

Also, just a reminder of our trip to Huntsville.  We need you to send in the permission slip as soon as possible.  Any parent planning on attending with us needs to fill out the Pencil Partner volunteer form for the background check.

And finally, starting 3:01 Friday afternoon we begin our Spring Break.  No April Fool's joke there!  I hope that everyone has a wonderful week off.  Feel free to leave comments here throughout the week letting us know what all you are doing!  Have a great two weeks everyone!

March Madness

The NCAA men's brackets were announced last evening, and our class will be using the tournament to refresh some of our basic math skills over the next few weeks.  Students filled out their brackets today, and we will use their predictions to work with fractions, decimals, mean, median, mode, range, percentages, graphing, and multi-step word problems, as well as reading, geography, and logic.  Although I anticipate refreshing our brackets once we hit the Sweet 16, I thought you might enjoy seeing which two teams the class thinks will make it to the final game along with the other teams in their Final Four!  (I'm not sure what the determining factor was with some-"that's where my family lives" was a phrase I heard more than once!) So, here's to your picks--best of luck! 

I don't recommend betting on any of these predictions!  I cannot be help accountable for any monies gambled on such expert(?) picks!!

1. UCONN beating Belmont  (Memphis, Texas)
2. Duke over Detroit  (Iona, Texas)
3. UNC-Ashville over BYU  (Lehigh, Lamar)
4. St. Louis beats NC State  (Notre Dame, Vanderbilt)
5. BYU over Kansas  (Duke, Ohio State)
6. Kentucky beats Texas  (New Mexico, Alabama)
7. Memphis over Texas  (Notre Dame, Belmont)
8. Kentucky beating Florida State  (Florida, Belmont)
9. Alabama beats Kentucky  (Memphis, Florida State)
10. Purdue over Baylor  (Michigan State, Florida State)
11. North Carolina over Kentucky  (Michigan State, Syracuse)
12. Kentucky beating Vanderbilt  (Davidson, North Carolina)
13. No winner picked--S. Dakota State v. Florida State  (BYU, Kansas)
14. Ohio State over Florida  (Kentucky, Georgia)
15.  
16. St. Louis beats Texas  (VCU, Detroit)
17. Florida over North Carolina  (Duke, Vanderbilt)
18. Memphis beating Alabama  (Kentucky, Syracuse)
19.  
20. Davidson over Ohio  (Kentucky, Syracuse)
21.  
22. Alabama over VCU  (Virginia, Ohio State)
23. No winner picked--Kentucky v. Kansas  (Virginia, Montana)

Mrs. Taylor's Picks--Kentucky over Kansas 72-65  (Missouri. Ohio State).

My picks?  That wouldn't really be fair to share with all of my insider information and all.  But if you're curious how it all will turn out, here goes:

Kentucky takes it all beating Kansas by a final score of 78-72.  The other two teams in my Final Four are Missouri and the hometown Commodores!

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky indeed!  Happy Leap Day everyone.  Take a look at what we had to deal with in order to get some learning done today!  Of course I came to school non-wacky as usual; I'm that dedicated. ;-)   Can you believe someone had the nerve to wear a Cubs hat?!  I'd never mention names or call out the student who had the unfortunate taste of wearing the Cubs hat, right Seth?  So sad.  Has the time with me this year not enriched the students' understanding and knowledge of quality baseball teams?  I mean, really. . .the Cubs?

Also, the students have been completing sudoku puzzles this week.  I shared the following website with them and thought you all might enjoy accessing it at home, too: http://www.jigsawdoku.com/  Enjoy what's left of your leap day.  Just think, the next leap day will be during your child's last year before high school, and the following leap year will be when this group graduates from high school!  I better be invited to all of those graduation parties!

Liberty's Kids

Our class has been studying the Revolutionary War as you know.  (I am still trying to get those last two songs added.  Fret not!)  A few years back PBS had a show called Liberty's Kids that is an animated walk through the Revolutionary War as seen throuh the eyes of two young journalists and Ben Franklin.  Each episode contains fun things like Continental Cartoons (said with a French accent--ask your child) and a theme song.  Here is our class's version of the Liberty's Kids theme song.  Enjoy!

And for those of you who are wondering, no the class does not sing all day long as it might seem. :-)  For the record, I am not a singer at all, so it might seem odd to have all of these songs as a part of our class.  I guess it goes to show that the students run the show from time to time around here!!

Times Line

It's been some time since I've posted TIMES LINE results.  Today the students took another timed test and here is who made the cut:

TIMES LINE 

* indicate members of the 100s Club!

4

5

6

7*

8*

10*

11

12*

13*

14*

16

17*

18*

19*

22*

Well done!!

I am still trying to get the final videos posted.  I'll get them up there somehow!

Revolution Tunes

As we have learned about the American Revolutionary War, the students have learned some songs about some of the famous people and events.  I'll add them throughout the weekend as time permits.  Enjoy--

Trouble Brewing

Midnight Riders

Bring Us Water Molly Pitcher

Keep On Sewing

Row, Row, Row the Boats



It's a Non-Party

Since we cannot have a Valentine's Party, we will instead have a "Non-Party."  Please feel free to use the comments section here to discuss and communicate among yourselves about what you would be willing to send in for the "Non-Party."  No one needs to feel as if they have to send in anything.  I just want you to have the opportunity to make arrangements if there is interest.  Thanks!

Online Learning Activities

Good afternoon.  I shared a website with the students that offers several excellent math learning activities.  The site is for PBS's Cyberchase.  The first activity requires students to match equivalent fractions.  You can find it here: http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/melvins-make-match/  Another activity is to find 13 ways to make one half.  That is at this link: http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/thirteen-ways-looking-half/

Thanks for the emails and notes asking about how I'm feeling.  I am fine, but will probably have a cough or congestion for several weeks.  Once it sets in, I don't give it up too easily.  The online grade book was reopened Monday while I was out.  I plan to update all grades this weekend.  If you have been checking, I'm sorry for the delay.  Look for updated grades on Sunday and work to come home Monday.  Thanks so much!

Also thanks go out to the moms of 7 and 13 for heading up the teacher luncheon last week.  Thanks to those of you who contributed items for that.  You all go above and beyond to make the teachers and staff here feel appreciated.

Snow Days and Holidays

It's been awhile since my last update.  It seems as if everyone had a great Christmas break.  If the students got half of what they've claimed, they were truly blessed!  In the meanwhile, we are back to work and trying go get into our routines again at school.  The mysterious snow day Friday will throw us off a little, but we are moving along in the right direction preparing for TCAP.  Expect report cards tomorrow.

Today we are out of school to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.  I took a group of students there several years back, and I have to say that it might be the most memorable day of my teaching career.  It is a deeply powerful and moving place.  The museum is located in the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated.  The lessons and stories shared there are well worth the price of admission.

On a much less serious note, this Friday is our field trip to the symphony.  Please send in your permission slips, lunch option, and money as soon as possible.  Have a great day off, and I'll see everyone bright and early tomorrow!