First Day

The first day back after break was as expected... loud and kind of crazy. Of course everyone wanted to tell each other about all the presents they'd gotten over break. It feels like I have to reteach them everything about focusing and being productive, but hopefully this is just a one day thing. We did have a few quiet rounds this morning.

They'd earned a class prize before break and we voted today as to what their prize will be. I gave three choices: Wishbone episodes (2), extra credit on any subject, 30 minutes of extra recess. I wanted them to pick Wishbone episodes, which they eventually did. The 6th graders were pumped when I brought up Wishbone. The 5th graders, not so much. Of course, they didn't know what Wishbone was. Since it's a short week and we don't have spelling or handwriting, I let them watch an episode so the 5th graders would know how awesome the show it.

For those of you who didn't grow up in the 90s (or didn't have kids who watched PBS at that time), Wishbone is a show about a little terrier and his owner Joe and Joe's friends Samantha and David. The things that happen in their lives remind Wishbone of a classic book, and he imagines himself as the hero of the book. It makes the classics waaaay easier to figure out! Today's episode was about Hercules. I'm not sure which two we're going to watch tomorrow... I did say they could have a say in which ones.

They almost voted for extra recess, but then strategizing took over. There are two definite recess groups in my classroom: the insiders and the outsiders. They know that if they voted for extra recess, I'd make them vote on whether to go in or out. Each side is not willing to take the chance that their side wouldn't win, so only one person voted for recess. One person voted for extra credit. Two people abstained because any of the choices sounded good to them. My cat loving student is not thrilled about having to watch a tv show about a dog, but hopefully she can put her dislike of dogs aside and still enjoy the humor and the stories.