Constitution Day

Today, September 17, is National Constitution Day.  We celebrate it today because it is the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.  Try the quiz on the link below and see how much you know about our constitution!



Washington Post Constitution Quiz

Be more AWESOME!

I don't know if any of you have had a chance to see any of the Kid President videos on YouTube, but he is just the cutest kid with really intelligent and challenging words.  He posted a new video yesterday challenging teachers and students to always be learning and always be teaching.  It's a good thing to think about as we are now almost a month into school.  

What do your actions teach the people around you?

Getting ready for a new school year

It's almost that time again, time for that fresh start to a brand new school year.  Often we spend these last couple weeks finishing up summer homework and shopping for new school supplies.  One more thing to consider is getting back into the routines of school.  I know I always have trouble getting back into my school sleeping patterns so that I can wake up refreshed in the morning, even if it is early!

Check out this list of suggestions for parents and children to help adjust from the lazy summer sleep patterns.  It can be one more thing that helps starting school go smoothly.

Back to school sleep tips for the whole family.

Can you beat 5 second?

With Terra Nova testing just around the corner, it's a good idea to give yourself some time to review math facts before the big test.  Of course, any time is a good time to review math.  But here's a fun new game to play.  Our second graders and fifth graders got their times down to under a minute today.  Can you??

Kakooma Game

1. Click on the link above, then click on the Kakooma game.

2. Choose which math facts you want to practice.

3. Choose easy or hard on the six sided shapes (other shapes are available, but the hexagons are free!)

4. In addition, fractions, and integers, the goal is to pick the number in each hexagon that is the sum of two other numbers in the hexagon.  In multiplication, the goal is to choose the number that is the product of two other numbers, then the final hexagon is addition.

See if you can beat your best time each time you play.  Or see if you can beat the All Time records on the side of the page.

Just another way practicing math can be fun!!

The Pope retires! Can he do that?

In addition to being the resource teacher, I teach one class of fifth grade religion.  It just happens that we were discussing how Pope's are elected and how the conclave works this past Friday.  I even said to my students, "It's good to know, but this probably won't happen for a while."  Then I woke up this morning to the very interesting news of Pope Benedict XVI resigning.
In trying to find some information to present to the class, I came across a couple great resources.  This one is a very easy to read graphic from the Washington Post that was put together at the time Pope Benedict XVI was elected.  The numbers may be a little off, but the process is the same.

How Does a Pope Get Elected (Graphic)

This one is a video from You Tube that has much of the same information, but is presented in a different way.

How do they choose a Pope (video)

Hope that helps!

New Year, New Start

Often during the first few weeks of a New Year, we take some time to write resolutions for ourselves.  We think about what we would like to do differently in the new year.  In my religion class today, we wrote goals, but I challenged the students to think about more than just the end result.  I asked them to think about how they will reach the goal and what the steps to that goal might be.  Then I had them draw a picture visualizing what it will look like once they have reached the goal. 

This could be a good activity to do at home as well, especially with students who struggle in school.  Take time with your kids to talk about what they accomplished in the last year and praise their hard work.  Then ask them what they would like to accomplish in the upcoming weeks (until the end of the trimester), months (until the end of the school year) or year.  As they make these goals, talk about what it will take to reach the goal, not just the end result.

You might even create some family goals like more time together, nightly walks, or less arguing between siblings.

If you need some ideas for how to start, click on this link to find different formats for goal setting.

Goal Setting Worksheets

What is your favorite part of Christmas?  My favorite part is decorating the Christmas tree, but my family usually does it on Christmas Eve.  We then leave the tree up until Epiphany and enjoy the lights through the twelve days of Christmas.  Every family has different traditions and ways they celebrate the holidays.

In religion class, we have been learning how children in countries around the world celebrate the season of Christmas.  I have been using a website that has a different country for each day of Advent.  While we have seen most of these in class, we have not had a chance to check it every day, and will not see it for the last few days once we are out of school.

Take a minute and look through the calendar with your friends or family and see if there are any traditions from around the world you might want to start with your family!!

Interactive Advent Calendar

Wow!  It's amazing how quickly the school year flies by.  I started the year thinking I would post links and suggestions every couple weeks.  All of a sudden I look at the website and it's been 3 months!  We are now well into our second trimester and all working hard in the rhythm of school.
Last week, Ms. DeNeve and I went to a conference of math teachers in Chicago.  I came back so full of ideas, I wish I could just teach math all day.  I am going to try to post a new link or website each week to give parents and students both ideas for how they can work on those important math, reading, and writing skills that can help in every subject.

Stay tuned for new websites and apps coming soon!

There's an App for Math

With all of the technology available to parents and students alike, it can be hard to decide what is helpful and what is not. Knowing who created the app or game can be a good place to start. I recently found out that there are some great math apps available for iPod and iPad devices. If you search for National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, there are a number of free math apps available. These are all apps that are created by the NCTM which is a well known and reputable organization. I have downloaded some to try and have found them easy to use and helpful. They span from number recognition to fractions and decimals. Check them out!

And, as always, feel free to email me with any ideas you have that may help other students.

Getting into a Routine

Now that we are coming to the end of our first week of school, students are starting to have homework and projects assigned.  Here are a few tips to help with getting this work done at home.

1. Water your brain!  The brain is a muscle, and, as with all muscles, it needs to be hydrated to work best.  Students might not always get the water they need during the day, so when you get home, drink a big glass of cold water before starting your work.

2. Take a break!  After working all day, it's important to give your mind and body a break.  Play outside, read a fun book, maybe even take a quick nap.  Then you will be energized to get back to your work.

3. Find a homework home!  Doing your homework in the same place every day will actually help with memory and concentration.  Make sure your homework place is away from distractions like TV, games, or cell phones. 

4. Ready, Set, Go!  Now that you have your mind, body, and space ready, it's time to start your work.  Look through your planner before you start and see what the most important homework is.  If you have an assignment due tomorrow and one due in a few weeks, spend the time on the immediate needs first.  But don't leave those big ones until the night before!  A little each night makes for less stress in the end.