Projects and Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Well the past two weeks have gone by in a whirlwind -- with 1/2 days and 12 hour days, I am amazed that (a) I'm still standing and (b) it's almost THANKSGIVING!

Two weeks ago - the middle school hosted a Social Studies Parent Night to showcase the cool things we've been doing! My class showed off their leaf burst paintings and myths we'd written while studying Native American settlements. The leaf project was super fun -- we got to go on a little scavenger hunt for the perfect leaf -- right outside my class  (Have I mentioned I LOVE having a door to the outside in my room?) -- then we painted and pasteled and watercolored our little hearts out. The end result was really cool, and the kids had a blast doing it!

 After this, we studied myths written by a variety of Native American Groups. The kids were split into groups, reading different myths, and had to report
            What the myth was about
             What they didn't understand that they were trying to explain
              How they explained it
As odd as it was for them to wrap their minds around the fact that these tribes wrote stories to explain things like fire, sharks, and rainbows -- they really enjoyed the fantastical elements of the myths.
After our group studies -- we tried our hand at writing our own myths explaining the seasons. I trickiest part was to have them erase their knowledge of "The earth goes around the sun ...that's why we have seasons." After many mini-conferences with them -- the end result was AWESOME! So much creativity -- so many different reasons, gods, and animals that could've brought us our seasons. When we put them on display -- the parents were just as impressed as I was! My class is awesome and I love when I get to showcase that to everyone. :) SOCIAL STUDIES NIGHT = SUCCESS!


        And now, for the main attraction and what should've been the LONG part of this post: Parent Teacher Conferences. Wednesday and Thursday were the two days, that every teacher either dreads or anticipates. I can attest that any "dread" only stems from the preparation that is necessary for the conference and not the conference itself. We spent a few weeks compiling work, getting folders together, setting goals, and making sure the kids were ready to conference with their parents. That's right... the kids do the conferencing. My school participates in Student-led conferences -- every student selects the work they want to showcase, they're given a checklist and they sit down and talk to their parents about how their doing in school. My job, is to monitor, add some minor details and presto! We have a conference!
       It was 2 very long days...but I have now been swayed to the support team for student led conferences. Having my students explain to their parents their triumphs and turmoils in school is a lot cooler for both me and them than having me explain how they're doing. The students were so well practiced introducing me to their parents,
       
          Student:  "Miss Brown... uhh this is um, Bradley.."
          Parent:    "Bradley?! Since when do you call me Bradley?"
           Me :      "That would be my fault -- I told them I couldn't call you Mom/Dad -- so they needed  to introduce you by first name." :)

After introductions they chose a table, and began by going through their grade goal sheet -- setting new goals, with their parents, for the next marking period. On each table are 4 cups: red, yellow, green, and blue -- representing the 4 core subjects. If the parent has a question for the teacher -- they place the corresponding cup on top of the stack and then we come over and answer their questions. My experience was a little different since I was meeting many of these parents for the first time -- so I sat down and chatted with most of them. It was fun and really great to meet them and talk to them about the great things their son/daughter has been doing and all of the exciting stuff we are about to do!
Conferences have been conquered -- and I'm only 2 1/2 days away from Thanksgiving break -- Hooray!

The Election Connection.

Wow! So, we have survived another election -- lots of dodging people's politically charged posts and trying to bite your tongue when someone says something horrific. Another 4 years for Mr. Obama and he has lots of work to do. The American public showed their uncertainty with the outcomes of those state elections last night. With a race that close -- anyone has to be grateful for the seat. With all of the buzz around the election and this being the first time my students have been at an age where they can really take on the task of understanding what it means -- we had some fun.
In 5th grade we:

•    learned about the voting process
• took a look into what it means to be a part of a democracy
• explored the process of the electoral college
• learned more about our states...like their names. :) 
• participated in our very own voting process -- with booths and all
• Happy to report that Obama won out in 5th grade ---but the overall school consensus gave us a tie! 

Today, after the results were in -- my journal topic this morning was : "Your thoughts on the election results."  This got a lot of them really fired up -- echoing their parents thoughts and parroting these comments in their journals. One of my students was so eloquent and respectful in her description that she was happy with the results because, "Obama kept his promises last time so I think he was a good president..." but also shared that she was afraid he would keep his promises again and make her go to school all the time. Gotta love kids.

One of my students hit a button with me when he got angry and said, "I'm mad that Obama won because he is going to keep letting all of the lazy people take my money and make me pay taxes to let them be lazy." I pushed back on that one -- realizing he was just echoing the thoughts of his parents -- but I asked him,
"Do you have a full time job?" 
He replied, "Well, no..but my dad does."
"So these taxes that help all of these 'lazy people' aren't coming out of a paycheck you have..."
"Well, no...but it's basically the same because my dad does...and I get his money."
"But, sir, you don't have a job and therefore this doesn't directly affect you -- so what you're saying is -- you're dad is upset -- so you are?"
We had such lively discussions about what they liked and disliked.

During our Social Studies block - I had them watch most of Obama's acceptance speech. We talked about how both candidates give a speech to their supporters after the results are announced. I said, "Whether you like him or not -- Obama is an amazing public speaker -- watch and listen to this for the way he presents his opinions and what he's saying to the public"

Afterwards I had them tell me something that they liked that he did in his speech. Even those that can't find a nice thing to say about him -- were able to point out something he did well in his speech. :)

What a great opportunity for teaching and learning! I love when life gives you such amazing tools for making learning so fun!

Spooky Celebrations

Halloween has come and gone -- and I have to say I'm glad to say farewell for another year. I've never been a person who LOVED Halloween -- it never seemed like a real holiday and I never really got into celebrating much for it. However, I know I'm in the minority here and especially for kids -- it's a big deal.
I learned that Halloween is a big deal  for 5th graders at my school. This big deal of a holiday means that the day is packed with activities for the kids and way too many sweets! The day began like every other -- although I adorned some black cat ears to complete my WAY too creative costume. (I'm sure I'll get more creative over time). After 1st hour the kids returned in full costume ready for the annual costume contest. We paraded over to the Activity Center and they were separated into categories - Scary, Funny, Sports/Historical, and the like.

They presented their costumes to our tough panel of judges -- Mr. Cook, Mrs. Clore, and Ms. Reed. They had the impossible job of deciding the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place for each category and the winners were given baskets of Halloween goodies (glow sticks, pencils, slime, etc). After this excitement we segmented into class groups and began the rotations. Each 5th grade teacher set up in a classroom/computer lab/AC and planned an activity to do with each group. My group was in the AC, so we played musical chairs and Halloween games in the gym. The kids loved just running around and being out of class -- so we had a blast! We took a brief break for lunch and then went right back into rotations. At the end of the day we went back to our homerooms and had our individual "parties." We watched Monsters Inc and passed out treats.


I have to say, for only giving my class a 1 day notice of the "party" --- they definitely all pulled through on bringing in treats. I was astounded when my counter began to fill with treats of all varieties.  I felt sick to my stomach just looking at their places after everything was passed out. So much sugar -- at least it was at the end of the day and it only comes once a year, right?

For the kiddos it was truly a Happy Halloween - I was drained of energy by the time I got home -- it was definitely an early bedtime for me! :)

My first field trip!

      On the 25th, my lovely bunch of 5th grade friends got to take a trip to the nature center near our school. Along with 2 other 5th grade classes, we all hopped on a bus and went exploring nature with the help of our trusty naturalist -- whose name I cannot recall.
With all of the excitement -- our bus was a little rowdy. The kids were singing and chatting and making enough noise for 2 full classes -- but I didn't mind it. I feel -- happy singing kids are better than angry quiet ones.

       When we arrived at the center we were given a group presentation about the layers of the forest we would be studying. A few of my students were part of the simulation -- showing the canopy, understory, and ground level.

They especially loved her demo of creating soil... especially when they got to smell it. ICK!
 

Taking in some fresh air.

      After this, we split into lovely little groups of 10 and I set off on a trek through the forest with a bunch of my kids. We tested the best kind of seedlings for our weather pattern, searched out tree types and plants -- and even started a caterpillar scavenger hunt. Our count reached 5...and then shot back one, when one of mine squished it under his foot right as another said, "Watch out for that caterpill... Oh, too late." Poor guy... just trying to make it across the boardwalk.

Lil' fuzzy guy!

    An overall highlight was when we went through the swampy area and the guide asked us why we thought it smelled so bad... to which I replied (under my breath)... "This is where everything goes to die... it's basically the cemetery of the forest." The boys in the back loved that -- they looked at me and snickered. Then I took it further and told two boys (and one parent)  "This is where I take all of the students who just WON'T stop talking." This really got them going -- which was hilarious for me to watch as they told everyone the story on the bus ride back.
     We were blessed with a gorgeous day and great attitudes from the kids about trekking through nature. Aside from the two who were certain they were dying of thirst from the one hour we spent outside -- dramatic, much?--- everyone had a GREAT time!

Testing out seedlings. Which will travel furthest?

:)

Always interesting.