Hello Everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your holidays, vacations, shopping, eating, sleeping in, and general break from reality. Hard to believe we have been out of school for a week already - time sure does fly! I should be at the stores right now taking advantage of all the great sales & deals and making my returns/exchanges, but you know what? I'm just too tired right now! Holidays can be exhausting! But, I am proud to say that I have stuck to my workout routine. My trainer shows no mercy, and I'm so thankful to her for that!

Is anyone out there? I've been checking to see who's dropped by the blog to leave a thought or two, but sadly, no one has visited since early last week. Don't forget to leave your comments on the blog! Comments don't have to be school related (since were not in school right now!) So please, drop me a line to say hello! That's what it's here for, so comment away!

With 2010 quickly approaching, it's a good time to start thinking about your goals for the new year. What is it you want to work on and improve during the new year? For some of you, being more organized might be a goal. Others of you may want to learn something new, like chess or some other skill. Maybe you want to improve an existing skill like playing an instrument or karate. How are your grades? Your study habits? Your eating habits? Your relationships with your friends and family? The possibilities are truly endless.

For me, one of my goals (non-work related) is to continue living a healthier lifestyle. I will still go to the gym and see my trainer, but I want to kick it up a bit and go more frequently than I have been. Working late should not be an excuse for me not to go to the gym! Another goal is to run a 5K sometime in late spring. I've never run a race before, so I would love to get some training advice and tips from any runners and/or parents out there that have run in races - and I know you're out there!

When we return in January, have some goals ready to share that you want to work on throughout the year. Your goals should be challenging, yet attainable. In other words, your goal should not be "to win the lottery." Sure, who wouldn't want that? But can you really do anything to guarantee this will happen? No, you cannot. Pick a goal that you can actually take steps to achieve. What will your plan be to achieve your goal? How will you know if you've been successful? Most New Year's Resolutions fail because people do not have a plan to achieve their goals. Their goals are too "big" and are simply unrealistic, so they give up and quit. Really give this some thought; think about what you can stick to and achieve in a reasonable amount of time. Post suggestions on the blog, too, to help others get started. Hint: I bet this would make a great writing assignment!

Have a great weekend and Happy New Year! : )

The Party's Over.......

But we really had fun, didn't we? Thank you to Mrs. Frazier, Mrs. Chirokov, Mrs. Schechtman, Mrs. Koufman, and Mrs. Neides for helping with the holiday party. The craft was terrific, the snacks were yummy, and the help was very much appreciated. I would like to thank everyone for all of the generous and wonderful gifts. Looks like I'll be busy eating and shopping!

I would also like to take a minute to wish each of you a joyous holiday season. As you spend time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks, take a minute to remember your "school family," and I know you will smile. Remember our servicemen and women that may not be with their families now, but hopefully will be very soon. Happy Festivus, everyone - see you in 2010!

White Elephant Exchange Approaches....

Don't forget to bring in your "white elephant gift" for the gift exchange on Friday. Notes went home today, so start shopping or searching. Remember, if you would like to participate in the exchange, you need to bring in a small, wrapped, inexpensive gift suitable for either a boy or girl. Be CREATIVE, not costly! The class party will start approximately at 2:00. HAPPY FESTIVUS EVERYONE!!!

Holiday Party...This and That...

What did you think about The Biggest Loser finale? I was stunned how much weight some of the contestants lost! Danny, the man that won, looked like an entirely different person! Their stories and experiences were truly touching! How about that marriage proposal? All in all, it was a great show; I'm already looking forward to the new season, which begins on Tuesday, January 5, 2010!

Our class holiday party will be next Friday, December 18. To help kick off winter break, we will be having a "white elephant" gift exchange. Students should bring in a wrapped, inexpensive gift, suitable for either a boy or girl. You are still able to participate even if you will be out of town. Simply bring in your gift before you leave for vacation, and a gift will be put aside for you. With a "white elephant" exchange, cost is not the focus, but fun, funny, and festive are what's important. I will give more information in class this week.

Thanks everyone!

Get Ready to Be INSPIRED!

Tune in tonight for the finale of THE BIGGEST LOSER! If you have never seen this show, watching tonight on channel 3 (NBC) at 8:00, is well worth your time. You will be simply amazed at the transformations of the men and women. It's not just a competition to lose weight, but it's truly a show about setting goals, hard work, and determination. I truly feel it's a wonderful opportunity to share a life lesson about how sticking with something that is important, even when it's easier to quit, is what counts. You don't have to "win" at something to be a "winner." If you do watch it, let me know what you thought! Enjoy!

In the Spotlight

Congratulations Feranmi Motoni and Kristen Mehalko for being selected for Moreland's Student Recognition Program! Feranmi was selected for excellence in citizenship; Kristen was selected for achievement in academics for Trimester I. Both girls should be so proud of themselves for their accomplishments so far and certainly deserve a round of applause for their hard work and dedication. Selecting only two students is a difficult decision to make when you have a class filled with equally deserving students. Who will be selected for the second trimester? Tune in sometime in March for the big reveal!

Hats off to the students that read Crash. What AMAZING projects! Such creativity! Such effort! Such a love of a good book! Students shared their projects today in class. We now have a few fun board games to play, a special Lego scene to admire, and a beautifully written extending ending to read. Way to go Alex F., Alex C., Kristen, Dana, Marvin, Java'n, and Jake (who will present on Tuesday.)

Last week the students that read Al Capone Does My Shirts also presented their end-of-the-book projects. Again, I was truly impressed by the effort of the students, the quality of their work, and their effective demonstration of comprehension. The class was lucky enough to see many creative board games, fancy posters, detailed maps, an informative interview with the mother of an autistic child, and so much more. This is a GREAT book and the group is eagerly waiting to read the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes. Congratulations to Ben, Chandler, Cori, Melissa, Adam, Allie, Anjali, Jamie, Keyvon, and Rachel.

Up and Coming: The Toothpaste Millionaire projects will be presented next Friday. (Students that read The Cay also had fabulous projects. They presented their projects before the blog was up and running. Their next book and projects will be featured on the blog in January.)

That's it for now, Folks! Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

As the Holidays Approach.....

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break! Now that we're back at school, I have a couple of quick updates.

We have been SO busy in science. With a partner or a group of three, students have been researching biomes. There were numerous requirements to this project, along with some good old fashioned creativity. We are almost finished with the presentations. The final products are very impressive. Look for them to be displayed in the hallway soon. No, they are not graded yet. Like I always tell the kids, they had several days to work, so I get a few days to grade! These things can't be rushed!

Forms were sent home today regarding the upcoming H1Ni vaccinations. Vaccines will be administered to the students on Tuesday, December 8. Parents, we MUST have BOTH of the forms returned to school by Friday, December 4. If the form is not returned by Friday, your child will not be able to receive a vaccination.

And since vaccinations are available that day, why not curl up with a good book later that night? That's right, the Scholastic Family Night Book Fair, sponsored by the PTA, is also on Tuesday, December 8, from 3:30 - 7:00. Our class will visit the Book Fair during our library time on Thursday, December 10.

Conferences: A Success Story!

Thank you, Parents, for making conferences very successful. Because of all the great conversations, the time truly flew. I've added some links to the reading section. Several parents requested some suggestions for books - the sites I posted are GREAT and are very informative. I noticed that several of the books we read or will read are on the lists.

Check out my homeroom's persuasive papers which are displayed in the hallway outside of our room. Does the idea of not eating turkey on Thanksgiving enrage you? Or, has someone convinced you to make the switch to pork? The students did a very good job, made thought provoking arguments, and showed much creativity. Three cheers for them!

Have a great weekend everyone! See you Monday!

KD : )

Parent-Teacher Conferences are well under way! Remember, there is no school on Thursday and only a half-day on Friday. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 on Friday. Next week is a two-day week - then it's time to talk turkey!

The students in my homeroom have been busy writing persuasive essays on what should be served for dinner on Thanksgiving. Should we stick with traditional turkey or try something new....like pork???? Which students will be most convincing??? I'll keep you posted!

Field Trip Reminder

Reminder: Field Trip to the Science Center is on Tuesday, November 10! The trip will focus on our former unit on ELECTRICITY!!!!