Blog Meister --

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Here we go! 09/21
My name is Stephanie Greer. I have just completed my 9th day as one of the two new teachers in Class 5 Red at the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, in Hunts Point, Bronx, NY.

I am so excited about my new fifth grade class. So far, we have already created and displayed beautiful silhouettes in the school hallway. BioPoems that each student has written, typed, edited and published on the computer will soon accompany them. The students have also created a series of wonderful posters for our walls describing a few unwanted classroom pests we are watching out for. [Be especially on the lookout for the Crimson Mouth... we seem to be having trouble getting rid of that one. ;-) ]

In math, students have been developing their language of the discipline, and have begun to aptly use the same words of true mathematicians. Words like: factor, factor pairs, multiples, squares, square root and prime cover our walls and slip from the lips of the students. We even have a little chant we used today to remember multiples: To find the multiples... you gotta' multiply!

During reading workshop, students have already begun to dive into some great books. Students have also been doing an excellent job self monitoring their independent reading using the class rubric:
3:
• I did not talk to anyone
• I was absolutely quiet
• I stuck with my book
• I stayed in my seat
2:
• I mostly did not talk to anyone
• I was mostly quiet
• I mostly stuck with my book
• I stayed in my seat

I won't bother to include the 1, since I haven't had a student need it yet! Today, we even began to log our steps for the Scholastic 100 Book Challenge. Our goal is one hundred 15-minute steps per school quarter. That's a total of... well... you can do the math... hours per quarter! If I know these students, they'll meet that challenge in a matter of weeks.

Yesterday, in writing workshop, my team teacher, DeShan Lett, introduced the students to their Writer's Notebooks. She presented a wonderful chart full of ideas that students can refer to when writing in their notebooks. Already, the pages have begun to disappear beneath their ideas and thoughts. I also can't wait to hear about some of the storytelling objects they bring to class to inspire their realistic fiction pieces tomorrow.

The last classroom news item I'll mention is the students new Bronx Arts Visa Card they are working on obtaining. By building up good behavior credits, within a few short weeks, students will be able to have optional seating during reading and writing workshops! Some students are already on their way. They are working on establishing these three classroom norms:
WE ARE RESPECTFUL!
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE!
WE ARE MOTIVATED!

There is so much happening in the class, it would take hours to try and fill you all in. Instead, I'll leave it up to my students from here on out. Keep checking in to read about all the exciting learning that is taking place in Class 5 Red.

Over and out.
Ms. G

This is new ground for me and for AAHS. It is therefore with a little trepidation that I say: "Welcome to the Room 110 Classroom Blog!!"

I intend to use this blog to inform students and parents of what is going on in our class. Students will have a chance to write articles/responses as well - with my approval.

Remember, we're blazing a new trail here, so be patient as we develop our AAHS Blogosphere

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Imagine that all of the computer technology in the world stopped working at the same time. Describe in a story what you and the world would be like in this situation.

Now that you have read what it means to think like a blogger it is time to practice reflective blogging.

Read the article “Kids, Blogs, and Too Much Information” from MSNBC. Once you have read the article, blog your thoughts on the following prompt.

1. What would you say to Marcy about what she discovered on her daughter’s and others’ blogs?

2. What would you say to Marcy’s daughter?

3. Do you agree with Aftab that being on the internet is an “attention competition” and kids are more likely to do things online that they would never do offline?

4. What should parents do to help their children have safe, positive online experiences?

It would have been the most extreme conditions I have ever run in. Even the locals said it was tough. There was wind, sleet, rain stinging my face and then there was the cold. It was the coldest I have been for a very very long time.

I had a double thickness polypropelene top on with a singlet and running jacket. I had a beanie too. I wore my running tights and normal shoes and socks. I also wear polypropelene gloves and these were essential.

The race started at 7.30am but by 9 am the conditions had eased a little at the stadium but where we were which was round by Cook Strait it was still blowing. I got to the halfway mark OK but started to feel a little less energetic soon after and had quite a struggle over the last 10kms.

I finished the 42.195kms in 3 hours 59 minutes and 32 seconds. I am proud to have conquered such severe conditions and I certainly used my virtue of determination !

A person cannot go to Salt Lake City, Utah without visiting the Tabernacle. It has been raining every day that we have been here, so there wasn't a great time to go.

Last night we went out for dinner early and so we decided to drive around the temple after dinner. A parking space opened up and so we decided to go ahead and park and go into the temple square. It had stopped raining (temporarily) so we walked around a bit. There was one spot where several (maybe 6 or 7) young women were standing with dark clothing and all holding onto books of Mormon. They were very friendly and talked to the people going by.

When we got there one of them talked to us and offered us a free tour. It was very interesting. The two women who took us on the tour were from different places. One said she was from California, but she had a Mexico flag because she was Mexican. The other was from Guatemala.

They told us about the temple and then also took us through a display on how families are eternal. I was struck by how sincere they were and yet how bizarre some of the things that they were saying seemed to me. If I was an argumentative type I guess I could have challenged some of the things that they said, but it didn't seem like it would be productive at all. I don't think I would understand any more and I am positive that I couldn't convince them of anything different than what they already believed.

How did Mormonism get to be such a huge international religion? Why did anyone follow Joseph Smith when he was saying things that seem like nonsense to me? There must be SOMETHING to it for it to grow the way it has.

At the end of our visit someone said that every religion has people who are devoted and good and people who do not live the faith that they pretend to believe.