Special thanks to the families who sent in treats for Friday’s Valentine’s party. The student committee who put together the party did a great job. In other words, there was plenty of sugar for all (yikes!). On Friday the kids also learned a bit about Presidents Day by reading a fun play called, So You Want to be President? Don’t be afraid to ask them what Presidents Day is all about.

This week we’re undertaking some big projects. First of all, we’re starting the annual Checkbook Project. It’s a powerful way to increase motivation while teaching financial literacy and math. Students maintain checkbook registers. They get “paid” for the classwork they do, for attendance, and a variety of other small items. Students must use their money to pay taxes, rent their desks, and pay fees and fines (such as for card changes, tardiness, and messy desks). What remains is for discretionary spending such as buying rewards at auction. As the project progresses, students will also be able to purchase their desk space, apply for classroom jobs, and start businesses. Ultimately the Checkbook Project creates a “mini-economy” within the classroom. Students who work hard and are well-behaved tend to do well. Students with bad spending habits or study habits tend to do poorly, sometimes ending up in the “group house” due to the lack of funds available to pay rent. Click on the image to see a sample of a checkbook register. And click here to read more about the program.

We’re also starting our Constitution Project. This one involves students going through the same process as our “Founding Fathers” when drafting a Bill of Rights. Students will actually draft a list of rules and privileges. To see a Class Constitution from a former class, click here.

Spring Conferences are coming up…or maybe they aren’t. Click on the tab above for more information. Also, we’ve started reading aloud the book, Harris & Me, by Gary Paulson. This is an engaging and touching story. Although it includes some coarse language and questionable subject matter, please know that I edit as I read.

In class this week we’re hoping to perform our class plays based on the American Revolution, possibly this Friday. Stay tuned. We also have two additional field trip dates: April 7th is our return to Crater Lake trip, and May 16th is our Table Rock hike with our reading buddies. Here’s the math homework for this week: Tuesday, Feb. 18th; Wednesday, Feb. 19th; Thursday, Feb. 20th.