Duh! Or Am I Missing Something?

Quotes from fifth grade writing samples:

• "It was the best first time camping trip I've ever had."
• "He is the best brother I have ever had plus my other brother."
• "Some day we'll be better than best friends."

Are these students writing something so deep that I'm not getting them?

Budding Scientists

Questions that have taken our science intersession class off on tangents:

• How do birds fly?
• Do penguins have hollow bones?
• Why do some birds run fast?
• Can an ostrich kill a lion with a kick?

• How is that potential energy?
• What does gravity have to do with energy?
• How much gravity is there on Jupiter?

• How can those weigh the same?
• Why is that balanced?

And my favorite, I don't get it! Followed by much effort to understand how something works.
All of this is from a one hour period this morning.

Race Plays a Role

The morning message in my classroom today is about the Little Rock Nine. The message briefly describes the event in history and then asks if students have heard of it? Of the 14 students who signed the message (I'll ignore my frustration with the 5 who didn't) only one had heard of the event. She is African American.