Oh Happy Day!

This pedagogue is happy to announce that the class average for the Chapter Two Singapore Test was a whopping 86% with only two scores below an 80%!!!! I knew these scholars could perform at this level...they just needed a little bit of prompting and pushing. They will continue to improve as the year goes on. I have no doubt!

Scholars should be finished and prepared for their Hero presentations on Monday Morning. They have had a month to work on their hero biographies and we are all super excited to see what they have created as their way to present. We spent quite a bit of time in class discussing their options (in the center keeper of their Language Arts folders) and they came up with some very creative ideas. If your scholar is presenting on Monday and you would like to observe, please feel free to find your way into our family room and make yourself comfortable. I have 20 to get through, and the entire class SHOULD take about 1.5 hours. We will be moving right along...if you join us, I will be sure to put your scholar next. I would like to begin presentations by 8:45.

I will be working on invitations to the Math Counts Team and the Novel Writing Team this weekend. If your scholar gets invitations to both, please realize that there is a serious time commitment involved. Math Counts Team will be working together on individual and team problems two recesses a week, and one day after school which has yet to be decided, depending on the team. Then once we return from Thanksgiving break they will be also working together for an hour both Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, hopefully during character time.

The Novel Team has to be responsible enough to meet together every morning Monday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 to watch their lesson, work in their workbooks, and then do the homework assignments. They will also have to be responsible enough to collect the spelling/vocabulary/ and Latin that they will miss each morning from the class secretary. Once the Math Counts Team has competed in February, the Novel Team may have to meet during lunch recesses to get their chapters written and meet the date for editing in May. Students who are not well organized and able to catch up when they are sick, or "life" interferes would not handle this program well. They need to be able to know where their books are, and keep track of all their writing, all the time! :)

I don't expect students to jump and answer right away once they get an invitation. Please discuss it as a family, taking into account Grandiloquent Guardians Forensics Team, and whether or not your student is serious about debate. The competitive team will be traveling to tournaments and working on their speeches, which will also require time. I ask that families consider together which activities the scholar would most enjoy. Also, please note, that if your scholar is failing any of the basic subjects, he/she may NOT take part in tournaments, competitions, etc. We work with first things first.

The Greek party is going to be upon us soon as we head into the first week of October. Each scholar has chosen a Greek god or goddess and will be responsible for designing a costume and contributing to our Greek meal. Moms and Dads who wish to help out with the day (Oct 3, 1:00) please contact Mrs. Tracy. I am sure she would love some help. We are doing this as a joint effort with Mrs. Hartman's sixth grade so there will be parents helping from that class also.

Scholars will have to give at least five facts about their god/goddess and the rest of the class will be guessing who he/she is representing. We will have a small competition to see who knows the most about the Greeks! We will then enjoy Greek foods that families have contributed. It is bound to be one of the scholars' favorite learning experiences!