MrHowd.com

Here’s a good wish list for what should be taught in school. Time management was featured, and I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Do those planners we give kids work? I’m not sure. For some, I suppose. But some just jump through the hoop, and fail to use it to plan their homework. Maybe we should be doing more with time management…

#5: Time Management

Speaking of other skills that can be utilized in any job and career is time management. The majority of students never really learn to value their time and mange it while in school. Procrastination is all too rampant (studying right before class, doing homework and essays the day it’s due, partying the night before the exam). This lack of time management often carries over into adulthood, which becomes a major liability.

Learn to make a to do list. Learn to prioritize. Learn to break things down into 30 minute blocks of time. Learn about actionable items. David Allen’s GTD system is your best friend here… Again if you’re unfamiliar with these people, Google is your best friend, but I’m sure the majority of readers will know what I’m talking about.

What’s on your wish-list of things that schools should be teaching kids? Share your ideas in the comments.

Top 5 Things That Should be Taught In Every School [BrianKim.net via 43Folders]

Spelling: Today finished reviewing prefixes for not, such as il-, ir-, un-, im-. The unit 9 spelling worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due Friday. 

Reading: Today was a discussion day for Literature Circles. We also had the Read-a-thon. Thanks to the eight families that raised $126 for our class trip to Mackinaw!

Writing: Students again researched their “I-search” topic on the Internet. They have been asked to locate at least three (3) different information sources for their topic, including at least one book, and at least one website. It might be a good idea to visit McFarlen or Baker Park Library and look for more books, and use the computers while they’re at it, to find more information about the selected topic. This project will be due on April 27, but will likely be presented on April 30.

Math: None today due to the Read-a-thon.

Science Inquiry: Today students did experiments with light, electricity, static electricity, magnets, flight, ramps and rollers, sound, and more. 

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

The Weekly Wrap (our week in 60 seconds):

• Spelling: possessives, contractions, prefixes
• Cursive: ten cursive sentences 
• Reading: New Literature Circles nonfiction groups, Read-a-thon 
• Writing: New “I-search” nonfiction project, topic selection, research
• Math: Division using multiplies of ten
• Science: Volume, pitch Science Inquiry 
• Social Studies: Pontiac’s Rebellion, Proclamation of 1763

Notes:

• Juice Volunteers for Friday, April 20: Tiyanna and Alex H. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• Spring Conferences are on April 2, 3 and 4!
• Upcoming Events:  Spring Conferences (April 2, 3 and 4); New writing piece due (April 27); Kids’ Inquiry Conference (April 27); Straits of Mackinaw field trip (May 11). See the class calendar for more information.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: Today we reviewed the un- prefix, as in unnoticed and unkept. The unit 9 spelling worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due Friday. 

Reading: Today was a reading day for Literature Circles. We also had WEB.

Writing: Students researched their “I-search” topic on the Internet. It might be a good idea to visit McFarlen or Baker Park Library and look for more books, and use the computers while you’re at it, to find more information about the selected topic. This project will be due on April 27, but will likely be presented on April 30.

Math: We discussed the multiples of 10 strategy to divide, and remainders. Homework is to finish Math Boxes 6.2.

Science: We used tongue depressors to investigate the relationship between length and pitch. We found out that longer objects create lower pitches, and shorter objects create higher pitches.

Social Studies: We finished reading about Pontiac’s Rebellion and found out that the Native Americans did not defeat the British, but they did get their land back, fair trades and respect.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Juice Volunteers for Friday, March 30: David and Erin. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Read-a-thon Mackinaw Fundraser on Friday! Click here for details. Donations are due Friday.  
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• Spring Conference times are now available for April 2, 3 and 4! Sign up at the office windows.
• Upcoming Events:  Read-a-thon Mackinaw Fundraser (March 30); Spring Conferences (April 2, 3 and 4); New writing piece due (April 27); Straits of Mackinaw field trip (May 11). See the class calendar for more information.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: Today we reviewed apostrophes in contractions and their homophones pairs. The unit 9 spelling worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due Friday. 

Reading: Today was a discussion day for Literature Circles.

Writing: Students wrote an interesting question for their nonfiction “I-search” project we just began this week. Interesting questions we talked about include:

• What if…?
• Why…?
• What is the best/worst/biggest/tallest/ grossest/fastest/slowest/most dangerous…?
• What would it be like to be/live…?
• Why would you not want to…?

Students also checked out books at the library this morning to research their topic. This project will be due on April 27, but will likely be presented on April 30. Find out what your student is researching!

Math: We used a multiples of 10 strategy to divide. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 147-149.

Science: We brainstormed examples of sound sources and sound receivers, talked about pitch, and learned that higher pitches make faster vibrations, and lower pitches make slower vibrations.

Social Studies: None today due to extra time with writing.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Juice Volunteers for Friday, March 30: David and Erin. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Read-a-thon Mackinaw Fundraser on Friday! Click here for details. Donations are due Friday.  
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• Spring Conference times are now available for April 2, 3 and 4! Sign up at the office windows.
• Upcoming Events:  Read-a-thon Mackinaw Fundraser (March 30); Spring Conferences (April 2, 3 and 4); New writing piece due (April 27); Straits of Mackinaw field trip (May 11). See the class calendar for more information.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!

Spelling: Today we practiced using apostrophes in possessive nouns, such as Kayla’s first place science fair medal, and Cameron’s second place science fair medal (congratulations!). The unit 9 spelling worksheets are available here.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due Friday. 

Reading: Today was our first reading day of the new nonfiction Literature Circles cycle. Some groups practiced determining importance and connections as reading strategies.

Writing: Our new writing project, a nonfiction research piece was introduced. Students looked at different nonfiction books to get an idea on what this type of writing involves. We also talked about choosing narrow topics, and the format of the project, which will be a PowerPoint presentation. This project will be due on April 27, but will likely be presented on April 30.

Math: We started learning about division using a multiples of ten strategy. We also has a presentation on hygiene during this time from student nurses from UM-Flint.

Science: We learned that larger vibrations produce louder sounds, and smaller vibrations produce softer sounds. We also learned that sound sources produce sounds, and sound receivers recieve or “catch” sound.

Social Studies: We learned that the Native Americans attacked, but did not capture Fort Detroit. However, Native Americans were successful in capturing nine British forts during Pontiac’s Rebellion.

Behavior Update:

Ask your student what kind of choices they made.

Notes:

• Juice Volunteers for Friday, March 30: David and Erin. Click here for a list of volunteers.
• Wizard of Oz play auditions are Tuesday, March 27 from 6:30-8:00 pm. A note of explanation was sent home Friday.  
• Thank you to the nine chaperones who have volunteered for the Mackinaw trip. At this point, we have no more availability for additional chaperones. Spaces may open up as the trip gets closer.
• Spring Conference times are now available for April 2, 3 and 4! Sign up at the office windows.
• Upcoming Events:  Read-a-thon Mackinaw Fundraser (March 30); Spring Conferences (April 2, 3 and 4); New writing piece due (April 27); Straits of Mackinaw field trip (May 11). See the class calendar for more information.
• We are looking for donations of medium and long cardboard tubes (have plenty of short ones, thanks!) for class projects. The tubes can be sent in any time during the year; this project will be on-going. Thanks for any help you can give!