Family Life has officially started!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  The children's eyes glaze over.  The are strangely silent.  No one ever has any questions.  I must be very effective at teaching this stuff.  Or the children are horrified.  I will have a question box in my room available for them.  Everyday we cover the subject, they will have received a packet.  If you are curious as to what they are learning, ask to see it. Maybe you can sit down and discuss is with them to see if they have any questions.  Further, if you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Civil War is taking some time to cover.  I will be hitting it hard this week and next.  Please encourage your student to review the various sections now.  Twenty-five sections is too much information to cover in one night.

Sixth grade:

The "machine projects" are challenging the students.  True collaboration is needed.  Some are understanding that while others continue to avoid it.  I will try to steer them in the right directions.  I have absolute faith in them

Seventh Grade:

We have been watching the Pearl Harbor DVD.  It is a very good documentary about the attack and it's aftermath.  Both for the nation and the people it affected.  WWII will be our last unit in history.  We will be having various chapter quiz instead of a unit.  To much information to cover. 

The Civil Waris a huge section!!!!

Parents of my darling Fifth graders, I need your help.  I have been trying to impress on them that the Civil War is a huge section that is difficult to understand and retain all the information.  I have asked them and reminded them that they will need to start truly studying NOW!  Last nights homework was to review sections 9, 10, and 11.  Much to my chagrin, very little effort was used by the students to achieve the intended goal.  So, what do we do now?  I have handed out review questions for all 25 sections.  There are about 4 questions for each section.  Yes.  ONE HUNDRED questions.  See what I mean?  Hopefully they will answer the questions fully; That will help them in the long run.  More effort now translates to less effort later when they are trying to study.  Please keep on them.

Next!  Family life time!  We will begin Family Life next week.  It will take us about a week to cover all the information.  I do not sugar coat the subject matter.  We cover all this information under the supportive guidance of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is a faith based approach that is very complete.  We discuss everything they could possibly need to know at this age.  The students are given an opportunity to get all the giggles out on the very first day of class.  I allow ten minutes for them to laugh at all the words I will write on the board.  After that, they are told that if they cannot handle themselves in a mature manner they will be asked to leave the room during this time and will cover the material with their parents.  To date, I have not had to do this.  They understand and act accordingly.

I also have a question box available to them.  It is anonymous.  I pick out the question answer it and go on.  If it is a question that I feel is more appropriately answered by the parents, I instruct them to ask you.  I just like to share!

Sixth Grade:  We will be having another group project.  This time they will delve into their inventive side of themselves.  I want them to come up with an "invention" to make their lives easier.  Hopefully this will be a fun exercise for them.

Seventh Grade:  World War II is a deep subject filled with disturbing information.  I am trying to explain the subject matter as best.

Yes, Virginia, it is FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Another week come and gone.  They are going faster and faster every week.  Is it me?  Or does it seem like that to you as well.  Anyway,  the kids are starting to get as excited as the teachers about the end of year.  I will make this promise to you if you promise to do the same:  I will finish the year strong, and do my level best to have the students do the same.  Please help me.

Now it is that time of the year:  "Family Life."  Go ahead, let the giggles out.  You laugh now, but when the kids come home and start asking pointed questions, it will be me who will be silently snickering.  All joking aside, the family life program we use is pretty straight forward and thorough.  There are some new words for them to hear.  Yes, I will let them know the anatomically correct names.  I will allow about ten minutes of unbridled laughter to get all the nerves out.  After that, I expect them to approach this subject matter in a very mature (for their age) manner.  If I have any student who is not ready for this, I will ask them to leave the room and they can cover this information with their parents.  They are still responsible for the end of unit exercise.  I will have an exercise where they must identify both sexes genitalia and "parts" as well as a unit exercise.  After eleven years of covering this area of study, I have yet to send a student out of the room.  They seem to be able to grasp the seriousness of this topic.  Now, if you have any questions, I can send the material home to you for your review.  Or you can just ask your child.  Kidding!  I kid!  We should be done with this unit in 6 days. One last note:  I always put out a question box.  I allow and encourage the kids to ask any question they may have in total anonymity.  If it is too sensitive of an inquiry, I will ask that they talk to you.  I further encourage you to be open to any or all questions they may have.  Phew!

Have a great weekend and pray for me next week!

The week is done!

First off I would love to say thank you to all the little actors in my class.  They put in a lot of effort and work into their roles.  Both 5th and 6th grade put on a great play!  Thank you parents for your support.

Next week we will have a Vocabulary exercise on Wednesday, Spelling on Thursday and really diving into the Civil War.  It is a huge Unit!  Help me by reminding your child to review as we go.  Do not wait until the night before!  PLEASE!

Other than that, see you later!

Friends! Roman! Contrymen!

Tomorrow is the big day!  All the sleepless nights running lines.  Remembering where to stand!  Tomorrow your efforts will shine through in your performance.  Here what the children need to expect for tomorrow:

Students will come to school in uniform

9:00 a.m.- change into costume.  (girls may have some make up on but they should come to school with it on)

We will walk to the hall: bring your snack and some water, and a book to read

In the hall, sit and wait for directions

Once placed, stay there until further instructions

NO TALKING PLEASE: BACKSTAGE OR IN THE PATIO AREA

Remember that props are not toys and should be placed at the prop table when not in use

When waiting in the patio area, please do not go into the Wall of Remembrance area

After lunch, we will change into costume and walk to the hall.  Get to places and wait quietly for the start of the show.

In the evening, arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. Check in with your teacher and wait in the patio area.  Please come in costume and any make up.

The show is about 35 to 40 minutes.

BREAK A LEG!  HAVE FUN!

Thank you for all you do!