March 8-12, 2010

Mr. Harris' first week of his solo went very well. Students continued to work on their biographies and made a lot of progress. We will continue working on completing the report in class. Our goal is to have the final typed or hand written report due on Thursday, March 11. This should include a cover page with the title of their report and at least 1 picture. Most students have already started this in class. For those who need additional time, reports will be accepted until Monday, March 15 at the latest. Once the reports are turned in, students will have about 2 weeks to practice their speech and gather up either a costume or props for their project. In the past we have required students to memorize their speech, in first person (for example: I am Benjamin Franklin. I was born on ...), or use note cards. We don't want the students to simply read their report word for word in front of the class. We would like everyone to be prepared and ready by Thursday, March 25. We will begin that day for those who are ready and will go into the week before Spring Break. We will listen to 4-5 speeches per day. ALL speeches will be completed before Spring Break vacation. Mrs. Feldbrugge has offered to video tape those who would like to be video taped.

We apologize if the deadlines for this project have not been clear. You never know how long something like this will take a class to complete, especially with so many more students this year. It's been a challenge supporting everyone, and we appreciate the help you have done at home.

Since we are completing the biographies, there will be no spelling packet this week, only math homework and reading logs. Also, on Tuesday we are having a GATE icon lesson presented to our class and will hold Lit. Circles from 9:00-9:25. If you are a volunteer, please come at this time if you can. Again, some students are consistently forgetting to bring in their Lit. Circle job and book to class on Tuesdays. When their assignment and book is not turned in it can affect the whole group. Someone even turned in one of the books to the Aptos Branch Public Library. If you notice a book that is unfamiliar, please check to see if the book belongs to our classroom first.

Thank you again for all of your support this year! Have a nice, hopefully dry, weekend.