Can you believe it?

The month of August kicks off on Monday. Time flies when you are having fun! With just about three weeks until the start of school, here are some things that I suggest you fitting in before the first bell rings.

*Dust off your multiplication flash cards.
*Read a couple more good books and add them to your AR reading log. Can't find your log? Print a new one from the Gilchrist website.
*Wait to buy school supplies until after orientation on August 18th. But if you are DYING to pick up a few things (I love school supplies too!) then get items like notebook paper, pencils, markers, glue, scissors, pencil sharpener, and colored pencils.
*Do some family field trips to places like the Mary Brogan Museum, the Tallahassee Museum, the farmers market, etc. Local businesses and museums need our support.
*Spend the night with friends. Stay up too late, watch funny movies, swim, eat lots of watermelon, and enjoy being a kid!

Can't wait to meet my future 5th graders!

The joy of summertime

3,2,1 Blast off!!

It's hard to believe that today marks the end of an era. NASA launched its final shuttle today. Three men and one woman will venture into space on Atlantis. How cool is that? These pioneers are in a exclusive club with of brave souls that have been exploring outer space for decades now. My students and I don't know a time that astronauts weren't traveling outside the comfort of our atmosphere. It wasn't long ago that all Americans were dreaming of a time that men and women would blast off into the great unknown. I think we take space travel for granted now, and forget how dangerous this job is. I remember watching the Challenger shuttle explode just a little over a minute into flight in January of 1986. Then as a nation we again watched the Columbia shuttle explode in February of 2003. We are reminded the risk behind exploration and discovery. As a teacher and a life long learner, I greatly appreciate their bravery. Good luck to the crew of Atlantis, and we wish you a safe return to the comforts of Earth!