Dr. Johnson's Reading Blog

Thanks to everyone who came out to EdVenture. Everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures from the evening. On another note, this Friday (or next Monday), our classroom will be taking part in an in-school field trip called CSI: Forensics in the Classroom . A mock crime scene will be set up and students have to inquire, and use their knowledge of science, to solve the crime scene. Some of the things students will do is learn how to fingerprint, collect DNA samples, learn how to use microscopes, and enhance their observation skills. The price of the field trip is $20 per child, but we are not collecting money at this time. Later in the school year, we are taking a field trip to historic Brattonsville. Mrs. Debeaugrine is combining the two field trips so that payments can be made, little by little, through Powerschool. If I'm correct, the total amount due ($45) would not have to be made until the Brattonsville trip, which will be in April.

Dear Families, I wanted to let you know that I will be absent from the classroom this Thursday, September 15 , Friday, Sept. 16 , and Monday, Sept. 19 . Last week, Debbie Manning , one of mentors and closest friends passed away after battling cancer. I will be flying to California to attend the memorial service on Saturday, September 17. I would like to share a little about her just so you understand how special she was to me. In 1996, I did my student teaching with Debbie and we had an automatic connection. In the midst of doing my student teaching, I was hired at Dailey Elementary (in California) and worked alongside Debbie for the next 10 years. She mentored me professionally, demonstrated the importance of inquiring alongside children, and instilled in me a love for children's literature. It was at her insistence I move to South Carolina to work with Dr. Mills and the Center for Inquiry, as I earned my Ph.D. I would not be the person I am without her. The local paper in Fre

This week we continue to complete assignments left off from last week. We are finishing looking at the different regions of the United States before starting our first project. For this project, students will get into groups and make a poster about one of the regions we looked at. They will share these posters at our gathering next week (Friday, September 16). Students will also begin sketching out their logos. I will hand out sketchpads for students to draft their personal logos. They will share these logos at our gathering next week. In math, we are working on measurement. Right now we are working on creating benchmarks that will help us estimate the size of an object. For instance, a forearm is about the size of a foot. We are working on both American and Metric measurements (you will see practice sheets in their homework for this week). In reading and writing, I am finishing up conferring with students. For homework, packets will go out today and be returned on Friday. Ha