MrHowd.com

Today was Team Day! Students worked in teams to solve several challenges:

• Students had to “stick” their ankles to the student next to them in line, and the entire line of students had to walk forward without letting their feet separate from the people next to them.
• Students had to untie a “human knot” of tangled arms.
• Students had to lower a hula hoop with their team each only using one finger to hold it up. No fingers could separate from the hula hoop.
• Students had to untie a knot in a rope around a tree by moving their bodies through the know!

It wasn’t always easy, and there were some frustrations, but students solve the challenges by working hard and working as a team. Thanks to all the family volunteers that helped run the team activities! Look for pics soon!

After Team Day, I asked students to comment on what they learned. View their comments at TodaysMeet.

We also played people bingo today and practiced a few room procedures.

Notes:

• School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Students, visit StudentCentral here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at ParentVue and StudentVue.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

We continued to learn new procedures and meet new people today:

• Teams elected team captains that will help their team be the best they can be.
• Each team received a class job.
• Students received lockers and selected partners.
• Students used a website today called MobyMax. We’ll use this website this year to practice reading, math, and language arts. Today, we practiced vocabulary words. Your student can access this website from any internet-connected computer in order to practice and get smarter!
• We played a game call “Win as Much as You Can.” The goal is to win points, but the number of points earned is based on what each team selects. When the teams work against each other, some teams win, and some lose. When the teams work together, everyone wins. So far, the class has been working against each other, and they are starting to see that working together might be a better idea. We’ll finish tomorrow and see if the students decide that working together is better than working against each other.

Notes:

• Team Day is tomorrow, Friday, September 6 from 10:15-11:45 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Can you help? Instructions will be provided!
• School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Students, visit StudentCentral here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at ParentVue and StudentVue.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

We continued to learn new procedures and meet new people today:

• New teams were formed and we talked about how to elect team captains (we’ll elect them tomorrow).
• We learned about behavior expectations for the office, cafeteria and playground.
• We started to learn the McGrath Pledge in sign language.
• Students received their PBS Kids Web License and we talked about using the internet wisely and safely.
• We talked about using an antivirus program on home computers to keep your computer safe. Here are two good, FREE antivirus programs to install if you don’t have one (you only need to install one): Microsoft Security Essentials OR Avast.
• We used our Google Chromebooks and students received MrHowd.com Google accounts for Gmail and documents.
• We worked on math skills using KhanAcademy.org. Students work using Khan Academy to work on math at school or home from any internet-connected computer. Have your student show you what their were working on!

Notes:

• Team Day is Friday, September 6 from 10:15-11:45 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Can you help? Instructions will be provided!
• School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Students, visit StudentCentral here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at ParentVue and StudentVue.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

Welcome back to school! Today was filled with get-to-know-you activities and procedures. Here are some highlights:

• We played a game to share some news from the summer.
• Students took the Mr. Howd test; most failed! I told students that failure will often result from not preparing, but hard work is usually rewarded!
• We took a tour of our new planners. Parents, look in the planners for a bunch of paperwork for you to fill out. That’s your homework!
• We attended Literacy and an assembly about the new year.
• We reviewed procedures for recess and walking to the bus.

Notes:

• Team Day is Friday, September 6 from 10:15-11:45 am. The class will be completing team-building activities in student groups. Can you help? Instructions will be provided!
• School Supply list
• Students will need a pair of earbuds this year. Something inexpensive will be fine.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that here.
• Parents and family members, find out more information about our class here.
• Students, visit StudentCentral here.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at ParentVue and StudentVue.
• More class information…
  • About MrHowd.com
  • Class Info
  • Contact Mr. Howd
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subjects

Today we had a great time at the waterpark! Hope everyone has a great summer. Keep me posted on all the great things happening at the middle school!

Here are some greatest hits from this year:

And here are some memories from our fourth grade year.