Well...the trip is over! We had a fantastic time in Washington, DC. It was busy as expected but well worth it. I agree with the tour guide in that now that we're home, we really have to sit and think about everything that we've seen. We visited most all of the memorials, got to go up in the Washington Monument, toured the Capitol and visited Arlington National Cemetery where we witnessed the changing of the guard. I think everyone is glad to be home and getting some much needed rest, I hope. Thanks so much to all the parents and fellow teachers who helped make this trip such a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

Yesterday, we had our meeting about Washington for the kids. I hope they are a little better prepared for what they will see there. Today, I received the final itinerary and sent it home with the kids. We are staying at a very nice hotel in Alexandria, VA. I discussed with them proper hotel, restaurant, and bus etiquette. Notice on the new itinerary that we will be arriving home quite a bit earlier than we had previously thought.
As for classroom business, we will have our WWII Social Studies test on Thursday. Also, those who are re-testing on the states test should expect that on Thursday as well. We have plans to Skype a school in Denmark on March 31st as a follow up to our novel study of Number the Stars. The students will be simultaneously completing a project on the novel that is due April 3rd. You should have received a paper to sign yesterday.

I got a little carried away yesterday blogging about our Skype call and didn't really mention anything else! Next week is our final week before Spring Break. We will be finishing Number the Stars and our study of WWII. The students should expect a test over WWII on Thursday of next week. Also, those taking their state re-tests will have that on Thursday as well. We're also completing our Number the Stars stations next week. The students have been visiting stations to study Denmark, WWII, and the Holocaust. If they bring any of these stations home for homework, they are optional. I am giving them time next week to wrap it all up in class.
Our student meeting for Washington, DC travelers is on Monday afternoon. I'll be going over with students some of the places we will be visiting while on the trip and some important etiquette rules. Please pick up outside my room at @4:30. We may finish a little early. We'll be leaving Friday morning. I know I'm excited! Any questions, please have them ready on Monday afternoon.

Yesterday evening, we had our second Skype call: this time to Bendigo, Australia. We met at school at 6pm Thursday evening, which was 9am Friday morning for the Aussies! We communicated with Ms. Leung's fifth grade students. We found out that they had a Prime Minister, what they liked to eat (hamburgers), TV shows they watched (The Simpsons), and we learned what an echidna was. The kids had a great conversation.

I apologize for the label across the video. I wanted to try the product out before I purchased it. Seems to work well! The kids are having a great time with this and learning that there are many other cultures out there that are ultimately just like us! We hope to visit several other countries before the end of the year.

Tomorrow we will have our second Skype conversation! We are communicating with a school in Australia. The time was originally set for 5pm, but since we 'sprung forward' we now have to meet at 6pm. Sorry about the change. It will actually be 9am Friday morning in Australia.
We have been working hard this week learning about WWII. We have been reading Number the Stars and doing a little research on the Holocaust. I think that the students are finding this to be an interesting topic. Please be sure to visit our portaportal if you would like to see some of the links to the research the kids have been doing. Remember, the guest login is lanning.

On Friday, we had our Chapter Six test in Social Studies wrapping up our study of the Great Depression and FDR's New Deal. We also finished reading Out of the Dust. I think the students really enjoyed Billy Jo's story about her life in the Dust Bowl. It was a little difficult to follow at times because the entire book is written in free verse poetry, but the kids did well with it. Next week we begin WWII and the novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowery. Typically, this becomes the students' favorite novel of the year. The students will visit different stations over the next two weeks and study different aspects of WWII and the Holocaust. This is a difficult subject to teach and attempt to keep at an age appropriate level. It is always good to discuss at home.
We have been studying prepositions in English and will have a quiz over prepositions on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Our Skype call with Thailand was such a success that we've already scheduled another contact! On Thursday evening, we will be conferencing with a school in Australia. Our call will be at 5pm Thursday evening which will be 9am Friday morning for the kids in Australia. We're working on our dialogue for this conversation and questions that we have for the Aussie kids. I'm going to attempt to post the audio for this call this time. A letter will be sent home on Monday concerning this call. Have a great weekend!

Well, today was the big day. Several students and myself met at school bright and early this morning for our Skype call with the students in Thailand. I think we were all a little nervous because we really weren't sure what to expect. All in all, I think it went really well. The other class was more experienced at it, but our kids hung in there and did a great job. It was fascinating to see the kids, hear their accents, and really discover that they are just like us! We learned that it is very hot in Thailand right now while we're freezing in Tennessee! My students were very surprised to see American children in Thailand. They told me that it wasn't at all what they expected to see. Ms. Hellyer has posted our experience on her blog. Check it out and you'll see our kids projected on her blog in her classroom! This project was introduced to me through my PLN on the web. The project is called Around the World in 80 Schools and I'm very excited to be a part of it. We learned a lot from our first experience. Now we have our feet wet...let's see where we can go next! Thanks to all the parents for your help and for bringing your kids so early. Special thanks to Mrs. Duggan for the biscuits!

Ok, I've graded the states tests. Most of the students did very well. Yay for you guys! Those who scored below an 85 will receive a parent letter tomorrow and get a re-test on 3/19.
Today I also worked on a Washington update letter which you should receive tomorrow. We're finishing up the Great Depression this week and our novel. Students will have a reading test and social studies test on Friday. Don't forget about our Skype call tomorrow morning. The kids are so excited. Plan to be in seats by 7am...see ya then! BTW...parents are welcome to stay and observe too!

Well it is officially the first of March. For us in the education world, that usually means crunch time for TCAP. It is my theory that if I have instructed the children well throughout the year, they will have retained the necessary knowledge and we won't have to "cram" so much. I can certainly hope! We do have a lot of review to do...they have slept since November. We have about three weeks until Spring Break and our big DC trip. After returning from Spring Break, we'll have about three weeks until testing. I am going to be absent tomorrow (Monday) because I will be judging the National History Day competition in Knoxville. On Tuesday, we are going to get in to The Great Depression. We'll finish up with our study of this topic and our novel study on Friday. Next week, we'll begin WWII. Boy, time sure flies when we're having fun!!