Classifying Critters

Today we spent some time reviewing why we classify living organisms.



We quickly learned that we have some similarities to this gal (other than our teacher being almost as big as her now that she's 37 weeks pregnant!)



And that our teacher is looking forward to football season starting this weekend so she can cheer on the...



So try your hand at classifying critters by clicking here!

Science buddies are building animals

On Friday we played host to our third grade science buddies from Ms. McKnight's class. My fifth graders have been partnering up with third graders for years now, and sharing their love of the scientific world. It's a great collaboration and one that is extra special because Ms. McKnight is my mom!

This encounter with our buddies allowed the petite scientist to create an animal using their classification skills. We look forward to many great meeting of the minds!

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the classroom!

This is what our classroom felt like at 1:10 p.m. today! Yes, the air was not working. Other than a minor heat wave to sweep through the main building at Gilchrist, our first couple of days have been a blast. My new students are busy meeting new friends, working together, and getting ready for a great year. Today we had to relocate to the media center, thank you gracious hostesses Mrs. Anderson, for some reprieve.

Tomorrow the Gilchrist meteorologist, Miss Lynn, says that we will not have any record temperatures. We'll see about that. We will be starting our new math series with our first lesson on division. Wish us luck!

Twas the Night Before School Started

Twas the night before school started,
When all through the town,
The parents were cheering.
It was a riotous sound!
By eight, kids were washed
And tucked into bed...
When memories of homework...filled them with dread!

New pencils, new folders, new notebooks, too!
New teachers, new friends...their anxiety grew!
The parents just giggled when they learned of this fright
And shouted upstairs-...
GO TO BED-IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!

I borrowed this from another blogger, but seems fitting as we get ready for tomorrow. I'm looking forward to starting a great new school year! Sleep tight, and see you bright and early!

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned at Gilchrist!

Today teachers headed back into their classrooms to prepare for the start of another great year. Some along the halls of Gilchrist could probably set their rooms up with their eyes closed, and some are new to this time of year. We are excited to have two new fifth grade teachers, Mrs. Iott and Mr. Kenton. But I am equally excited to be entering my seventh year of teaching with some very familiar faces. Some of which taught at Gilchrist when I was a student there.



This past weekend my dear friend Brandi and her mother, Mrs. Marsh (our former guidance counselor extraordinaire) threw a beautiful baby shower for my family and friends. Brandi and Katherine were friends of mine at Gilchrist, and have been in my life ever since. We have grown up, but still have a good time giggling together! Now they are mommies and teaching me a thing or two about being a well-balanced mom!



Mrs. Anthony (on the right) taught me in third grade at Gilchrist and helped mold me into the person I am today. Mrs. Dunn (on the left) welcomed me to Gilchrist with open arms when I first returned as a teacher and hasn't stopped offering encouragement!

A few more days until we get to meet our students at Open House! I better run and get some work done!

It's a Family Affair!

Remember the science mural that we started in late spring? Oh yes, it is still a work in progress. The end of the year got super busy, and the animals have been left without color for the summer. This was a great excuse to call on former students (those rising 6th graders) and their families to come and paint! Summer thunderstorms threatened our progress, but we couldn't be stopped! The science spot outside our classroom back door is almost done, and we are so excited to have a beautiful space to learn through inquiry and discovery.

Is summer vacation the best for our students?

This picture pretty much sums up my childhood. Grand intentions of a stress free, fun family vacation. In the end I doubt any of them were stress free for my parents. Having two parents as teachers, we were given the gift of time in the summer. Time to tour our neighborhood, Tallahassee, and far beyond. We loaded up and drove up the east coast one summer, to California and back during another. We were closer to the Griswolds that the Cleavers, but we made great memories along the way. My parents made a point to take us to museums, national parks, and historic sites (my Dad and I acted out Kennedy's assassination on the grassy knoll when I was going into 5th grade!).

However, summer vacation is proving to cause a huge gap in academic progress for millions of our nation's children. Last night while reading David Von Drehle's article in Time magazine, it is clear that summer enrichment is a must not a luxury for our kids. As a soon to be parent, this concerns me. I hope to create many educationally rich experiences for my children during the summer months. Whether it be visiting the public library, the top of the Capitol, cooking at home, cleaning up an area park, or touring some of the country's landmarks, I hope that you and your family are thinking outside of the classroom walls during these summer days. Make some memories, especially ones that are benefitting your child's academic progress. Let's not throw away the "lazy" days of summer, let's just "liven" them up a bit!