We have finished growing plants for our class science experiment, which we did as a model for the student projects. Now it's time for the students to pick the topic for their own projects. I told them to look for ideas in three places:

• the library has many books
• the Kragen class folder has links to many pages with suggested topics
• parents have ideas too!

Please talk with your children this week to help them come up with good ideas for their own project, one that tests a single variable in a valid experiment.

What an amazing Friday! The weather was gorgeous at the Long House. Eating lunch on the lawn and looking out over the Sound was such a treat.

Ask your child about the best part of the first week of school. I asked the class and got a dozen different answers. You should hear what appealed to YOUR child.

Please go to the Parent Resource page. I have updated the calendar for the year as well as the two documents: "Teaching and Grading Writing" and "Teaching and Grading Math." You want to read those. If you haven't read them before, you will also want to read the AGATE expectations (on the same page).

For those who didn't make it to the Parent Curriculum Night last night, I have a couple of other housekeeping items:

• Every student should have their dividers for their binder by now and the dividers should have their labels all done in order. If your child hasn't finished doing that, could you help them get that done over the weekend please? (See the supply list on the Parent Resource page for the way to organize the dividers.)
• There are some items I am looking for--a DVD of The Secret Garden; Before/After ads from magazines/newspapers/internet ("Here I am at 300 pounds, and now here I am at 185 pounds, all because of NutriAmazing!"); plain white tissue paper (like you use to wrap around presents); and magazines to cut up (but I don't want you to send them to school until I ask for them--I don't have any room to store them). Thanks!
• I need to remind everyone that I sent home the Free/Reduced Lunch forms last Friday. The office would like them back from everyone, even if your child does not need Free/Reduced Lunch. If you already threw yours away, you can email me and I will make a note that you don't need yours. 
• Last night I asked for help in the classroom. I always ask for parent volunteers because there is no way I can do this job effectively without your assistance. This year I have 30 students, so it's even more necessary. I had lots of people generously sign up last night (bless you all!), some to help in the classroom and some who could do things at home. If anyone else is willing to pitch in, please send me in email about that too.

And have a great weekend, everyone! Enjoy the last of the sunshine!