Alaska Fifth Grade

I’ve always felt that New Year’s Day ought to be at the beginning of a new school year, instead of in the middle of winter.  I have a fresh, new beginning and lots of exciting, new ideas for the coming year.  I can’t wait to meet my new students and families, and try out some of the exciting ideas that I’ve discovered during the summer.

Dear Families,

Our music concert will begin on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 9:30.  Kindergarten will begin the show, and other grades will follow.  Our class sounds great.  I hope you can make it.

The last day for missing work is Friday, Dec. 14.

Our class party will be Wednesday, Dec. 19, in the afternoon.  Students will bring any food treat they wish (maybe think protein or veggi?) and a board game or two to play.

There will be no assigned homework this week, so families will have time to do things together.  Students should continue to take home unfinished work each day.

Class Schedule
8:30 Reading, Spelling, Writing
9:45 Math
10:55 Special Class
Mon.-Library, Tues.-Music, Wed.-Gym, Thurs.-Music, Fri.-Gym
12:00 Recess 12:30 Lunch
1:00 Buddies/Science
2:00 Social Studies
2:30 Monday–Gym

Spears of light

Pierce the dark

Probing the clouds

for the layer of warmth

hovering above.

As I drove to school this morning at 3°F, my daughter and I discussed the lights that were reflected in the frosty fog.  This poem came from our morning sky gazing.

My laptop computer died this week, and I realized how much I had on it that couldn’t be replaced.  I was locked out of my lists of addresses and access to all the sites for this class and for the other class I’m taking.

Last night, I managed to start it up and use disc first aid to repair the damage.  I also removed the information that I need for my classes.  It’s a good thing I did that, because as soon as I started to use the computer today, I got the same old restart message again.    AARGH!

I’m working on borrowed equipment and trying to get somewhere worthwhile.

We spent most of our hour accessing and learning how to add addresses to our blogroll. Then we found that we needed a widget in order to have the blogroll appear on our page. We all managed to get the widget and place it on the page. Then we realized that the names and addresses, or links still weren’t appearing. Finally, after playing with the whole thing for an hour, we discovered that there is a tiny box to check to have the links appear. Mission accomplished for the day.

I’m taking a class at my school, and learning to use the web with my fifth grade.  All of the pieces are just beginning to make sense and fit together.  I have a long way to go.