Here's a friendly guide to keeping your things organized. "There's a place for everything and everything in its place" is our motto. Basically, your table shelf holds your math journal, history book, reading folder and pencil pocket. The pencil pocket contains two sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser and some page flags. No more, no less. Your seatback pocket holds your binder, agenda and current novel. Please don't cram anything else in the pocket as it will tear. Everything else goes in your cubby: other folders, writing binder, markers, vocab book and math study links. Oh and I'll keep in group piles the things we use only a few times a week: science folder, math supplies and reference book. Your snack goes on the table by the door, your book bag, PE things and lunch stay in your locker.
Uncle Sam proudly displays my global t-shirt collection about 6 at a time. Students guess what's under the current shirt. We started with the 2004 Florida four hurricane survival shirt. I have probably enough shirts to show off about three a week. Stay tuned.
Hawaii became our 50th state fifty years ago today. We took photos of everyone wearing a lei and when we get media permission forms we'll post them.
Students started preparing for the National Geographic Bee by visiting the online daily Geo Bee Challenge practice sessions. Our school's fourth through 8th graders all participate in this academic contest annually. The preliminary rounds take place in each classroom in December. The winners advance to the school finals held in January in the school theater. Last year, Sammy Lundy, from our class, finished second overall. She was the first Lower Division student to almost win the school championship.
Many books needed to be reshelved in our classroom library.
Students enjoyed the challenge of assembling a cart to hold all our math gear bins.
Nobel Prize for Peace winner and wheat authority Norman Borlaug paused for a photo during the memorial service in Tucson a few years back for our mutual friend Dr. John Niederhauser. We're smiling for the cameras despite our sorrow over the passing of such a special person in our lives. You can learn more about the life and career of Dr. Niederhauser here. Dr. Borlaug's life is profiled here. Both of those links take you to educational websites pertaining to food history my wife and I operate as educational nonprofit enterprises.
