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Today was a fun day for us in the fourth grade. It was enjoyable to see the students connecting with one another, particularly in our first class: Math. Instead of delving into money, multiplication, and time, areas we saved for the remainder of the week, we spent the time playing math games, instead. Below are [...]
In early December we visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Ilwaco, Washington and Fort Clatsop in Astoria, Oregon. Unlike the Corps of Discovery, we found a beautiful, heated home to ‘crash,’ and shared tacos, chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, and homemade waffles!! We weren’t worried about fleas or moccasin making, but had a fabulous time playing Twister and exploring the unknown… A hearty “thank you” to our wonderful chaperones: Amanda, Charles, Chi, Chris, Lester, and Sara.
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Today, during Expedition, students had the wonderful opportunity of meeting a Newfoundland dog (like Captain Lewis’). We were all surprised by the dog’s sheer size and strength and enjoyed seeing her webbed feet and ‘rescue’ abilities. The fact that the Native Americans called Seaman “Bear Dog” made tremendous sense to us after meeting this beloved pet. Beware: Many students asked questions about where to get one for themselves! :)
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THANK YOU for the amazing amount of care and concern during the last few weeks. I had my surgery, dealt with post concussion syndrome vertigo, and am back in the classroom after 6 days of parking on the couch watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ via Netflix and asking my husband to do everything for me. (It might sound like a dream but it was actually quite terrible: I strongly dislike not being able to do what I want!) :) In any case, I’m back.
Your children were pretty great for the substitutes/guest teachers. They were able to work through area and perimeter in math, dealt with technology issues during Daily 5 Listen to Reading (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing), and learned about and practiced latitude and longitude in Expedition. While it’ll take a few days for them to ‘come back’ (You may remember how differently you acted while having a sub. as a child? 
) they’re on their way.
I am excited to announce our next overnight fieldwork on December 6-7. We’ll be staying in a house (yeah, no tents!) at Falcon Cove and will visit Fort Clatsop and Cape Disappointment. Because Tricia et al will be in Hawai’i prior to the trip, I’ll need some volunteers for food prep. and will need to have my drivers secured by next Friday, November 25th. Please email me directly if you intend to come with us. Information that I need to have is: your name, cell number, how many children you can chaperone, and whether you’ve had your background checks within the last 12 months.
Rescheduling the last of the conferences and the Math Geek Night will happen. Let me get my feet under me again. I’ll keep you posted.
I appreciate your patience and love.
Renée
Aside from their terrible spelling, Lewis and Clark were fascinating individuals. We’ll be following the Corps of Discovery Expedition in the next several weeks as their survival was epic. Students will get into Corps groups (of 4) as we simulate their adventure, learn about Oregon history, and develop our own skills. I wonder if, in the next few days, you might look around to gather resources for our endeavor. Specifically, we’re still in the need of the following items: paper towel tubes, various fabric (1/8 of a yard each), spools of thread (any color), and resource materials (library books and/or printed internet articles) about the geography of North America in 1803, Native Americans, Corps of Discovery, plants and animals, Thomas Jefferson, Fort Clatsop and Fort Mandan, the flag of 1795, sign language, Newfoundland dogs and Seaman, clothing worn by the Corps of Discovery, Louisiana Purchase, Sacagawea, pirogues, and York. I have books in my possession about most of these topics, but if one of you is going to the library it’d be great to have some more! We’ll begin our adventure on Monday, November 7th.
Our first overnight brought fun car rides, fire-making, knot tying and rappelling, map and compass use, creating emergency shelters, reading survival stories and guides, scary gummy bear stories around the campfire, s’mores, the idea of a ‘big black thing,’ (thanks to the New Moon), tenting with friends, great meals planned and cooked by awesome chaperones, exploration in the forest, and taking a hike on the Barlow Trail. The sun glistened through the forest canopy and provided a “Terabithia-like” magic as students enjoyed playing games, climbing trees, and hiding from one another. (Quite effectively, I might add: Lots of camouflage!) Many thanks to our drivers and chaperones for this trip: Josh, Tricia, Oscar, Chi, Amanda, John, Michelle (and the girls). Sleep well tonight! 
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Now that our student led conferences are complete, we’re eagerly awaiting (and planning for!) our first fieldwork this Wednesday to Rhododendron, Oregon. Thank you John, Michelle, Tricia, Chi, and Joshua for volunteering to chaperone. We’re still in need of another driver or two. Please let me know by Monday morning if you’re able to come. (We’re leaving on Wednesday at 9:00 am and will be returning by 3:00 on Thursday.)
After visiting Andy and Bax (an army surplus store here in NE Portland) as well as Next Adventure (an ‘alternative outdoor store’) I’m excited about and feel more prepared for our trip. As you may know, survival gear doesn’t typically thrill me as much as it may other people. I’ve learned a lot in the last several weeks and find the exuberance and knowledge of my students to be motivating and amusing. I love that ‘we’re crew’ and that we really are doing this together!!
