A Fond Farewell

I really thought that the promotion ceremony was wonderful. Thanks to all of you for coming and thanks for your kind words during our goodbyes at the end. I certainly couldn't have made it through the last two years without you. I mentioned this to some of you already, but it bears repeating: just because your child leaves my class, don't think that they're no longer my student. Once a student of mine, always a student of mine. What I mean to say is if there's ever anything that you or they need, don't hesitate to get in touch. You know where to find me.

Here are a couple of parting gifts that I promised, a summer reading list and a guide to some technology tools...

Summer Reading List 5th Grade 2010

A Short Guide to Technology Tools

A couple parents also asked about some projects that could be worked on at home this summer. Not sure if this helps, but you might want to look at webquests, which are online research projects. Use THIS LINK and then scroll down to use the "Curriculum x Grade Level Matrix" to pick a subject and grade level. Webquests are usually designed for groups of students, but you can probably adapt them to fit your needs. This also might be good for future Exhibition ideas, maybe.

Thanks again, and have a great summer!

Come Home Soon

I know they're out there...books borrowed from the classroom library in the recent past or long ago. They're hiding under beds, in backpacks, on floors, in closets, and who knows where else. Hopefully, they were thoroughly enjoyed before being laid in their current spots. Regardless, it's time for them to come home to room 302.

Please take some time before the end of next week to look around for books belonging to UPA or to me. I operate my classroom library on the honor system, so a few missing books are pretty much par for the course. But I'd like to keep the inventory as high as possible for the incoming fourth graders next year.

I am particularly on the hunt for a hardcover copy of The 39 Clues, Book #2. (I think it's got a green cover. Or red...). I'm not naming names, but I think the last person I saw with it has a last name that rhymes with "limbs." :)

Letters For Justice

I know I mentioned this before, but I wanted to do so again because we've added some new things...our class blog project with 826Michigan has turned out exceptionally well. Please take a look and leave comments: http://letters4justice.blogspot.com .

This blog is a product of our discussions of social justice. We tried to get the kids to notice examples of injustice in their communities. We also tried to get them to brainstorm actions that can be taken to fix these problems.

Take a look and let us know what you think.

Next Week Update

Just a rundown of next week's schedule as a reminder for what's ahead:

MONDAY--Exhibition make-ups 8:30-???

826Michigan Celebration 12:30

TUESDAY--Science Olympiad 1:00

WEDNESDAY--Field Day at Wayne State 9:00-2:00

THURSDAY--Third Floor Awards Ceremony in Gym 10:00 a.m. All families invited!

FRIDAY--End of the Year Breakfast 8:00 (Please turn in $10 ASAP if you haven't already.)

Promotion Ceremony 9:00-10:00

Please call with any questions that you have.

Exhibition Schedule

It all starts Monday. Your final Exhibition Week at UPA Elementary. Here's the schedule:

MONDAY
8:45-Alex
11:15-Josh

TUESDAY
11:15-Justin
1:30-Kyree

WEDNESDAY
8:45-Michael
10:00-Shayna
11:15-Troi
1:30-Ileana

THURSDAY
8:45-Claire
10:00-Angela
11:15-Keily
1:30-Noah B

FRIDAY
8:45-Noah W
10:00-Pierre
11:15-Stasarahmy
1:30-Tayia

Please use the weekend to get all the projects together and ready. See you next week!