From June 1 to Graduation

We were all busy in our mixed-group, mixed grade math classes during the last full week of school, which also included our camping trip.

Groups were working on graphing with real data, learning more about setting up and solving linear algebra problems with theĀ Hands-On Equations materials, and delving into several kinds of logic puzzles. It was a good way to wrap up the year’s work.

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The weather was uncertain through the entire week, but we did manage to do our overnight camping trip at my house as planned. On the first day, we went to Lake Nockamixon to eat our lunches and then go out in kayaks. Almost all of the kids and several parents put on life jackets and picked up a paddle, including several kids who had never been in a kayak before. In no time at all, everyone had it figured out and was happily paddling around in the buoy-defined area around the marina. Jonah’s dad, Mike, bravely took his SLR camera with him to get closer photos than the ones I took from the shore.

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When we drove the short distance to my house, kids quickly made themselves at home — setting up sleeping areas, jumping into the (cold) pool, and exploring the boulder-filled forest. We would have liked it to have been warmer, but at least it didn’t rain!

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After the camping trip, we wrapped up things we had been doing in the classroom, sent home individual archives of the year’s work, and started packing up so camp could come in. It’s a lot of work in every classroom. We’re fortunate to have students old enough to be able to be tremendously helpful.

And, of course, we prepared for Skit Night and graduation. Jeri and the fifths did amazing work with the parent-provided anecdotes. On the night itself, there were a number of moments in which things were not quite as planned, and students just stepped up and did what was needed. It was a delightful series of performances! We also need to thank Mike Batchelor for setting up perimeter microphones that really picked up the kids’ voices.

Graduation day means speeches and music. We rehearsed in the classrooms as well as on the stage. Parents who provided the decorations worked around our schedule, which we very much appreciated. And, of course, graduation day went as well as anyone could imagine. The weather was good, the audience was supportive, and the refreshments at the end were . . . well, refreshing. Thanks go to a group of 5th grade parents who volunteers to deal with serving and cleanup. (Next year’s 5th grade parents will do the same for you when we have graduation in June, 2016.)

So that’s it — the end of another school year. We wish our graduates well and hope they’ll come back to visit in the fall. Their many friends will be glad to see them.

 

 

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