“When you learn to love, then you will love to learn.”

-Marty Fetch

The first week has flown by, and I don’t even know where the time went. We’ve accomplished so much in so little time. The students have been great this first week and I am amazed at how well they listen. It has been a nice transition from the PE classroom into my new “home” in the Math classroom.

Hopefully everyone remembers to bring their binders (2 inch) on Monday so we can begin the process of the Math Notebook. I’m excited and ready to see everyone start the year organized. Will everyone stay organized? No, but at least they will be off to a good start.

Music has been a big part of my classroom so far. I hope everyone has liked it, and I hope everyone has enjoyed the videos that go with the tunes. We’ve been very diverse on the music scale, and I plan to continue that. Parents, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask your kid what has been going on in class.

The quote at the top of the page is a quote that means a lot to me. A lot of the team building, the community building, we’ve done in the classroom is because of that quote. I firmly believe that if we can get along and trust everyone in the classroom, even more learning will take place. We’ve been trying to build a small little community in each period where everyone gets along and everyone treats each other with respect. I know when people leave this classroom, things can happen in the hallway or in other classes (picking on others, yelling, fighting, arguing, etc.). In here, I won’t tolerate it, and that is the biggest reason we try to build a little community. Beginning next week, I will encourage everyone to sit next to someone they normally wouldn’t. This way they might get to know them, when they otherwise would have been avoided.

A couple of things on the horizon next week, “Picture Day” is Tuesday, and also Open House is Tuesday night from 6:00-7:00. I hope I am able to meet a lot of people that night. Also, Math books will be handed out on Monday.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: It’s probably what everyone else is watching…the Olympics. I love the Olympics. You are able to watch obscure sports that you otherwise wouldn’t have watched. For instance, Ping Pong/Table Tennis and Badminton. How cool were those sports!!! Watching a birdie be hit at up to 200 mph, and then it has to be served back? Unreal! Ping Pong was just nuts. That is the only way to explain it. Along with all the victories and celebrations, you get to witness the heartache of some athletes. Watching the U.S. Softball team, who had been so dominant, lose. Heartbreaking is the only thing that describes it. However, you look across the diamond and see the Japan team celebrating and throwing their coach up in the air. It has been an exciting couple of weeks.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: “Apologize” by One Republic. Great song! Cool melody. Not much else to say about it.