The Week: 9/16 - 9/20

I am so glad that I finally got to meet all of you on Friday.  I took your cards home and read them.  Hopefully I know a little bit more about you now.  There were questions on some of your cards that I didn't get to answer, so I'll answer them here:

• How old are you?  Um... old enough to be a parent, but young enough to not be a grandparent.
• Are you going to buy a new motorcycle?  Not for a while.
• Who drove you here?  Me.  I can still drive a car.
• How many bones did you break?  I broke two bones:  my radius and the tibial plateau.  (Remember when I said I'd throw big words at you?  There are a couple.  If you're reading this on my blog, then you're a Google search away from learning those!)  I also dislocated my ulna.
• Was it cool up there?  Oh, absolutely yes!  My friend and I rode right up to the base of Mt. St. Helens.  The views along the way were incredible!

• Who was taking the pictures:  Three of the pictures were taken by the paramedic who treated me on the scene.  Most of the others were taken by my wife.
• Were you awake when you drove in the ambulance to the doctors?  Yes, and I was talking to my family and friends on the phone.
• How did you go to the bathroom?  Really???  Here's how you can answer that one.  First, drink several glasses of water.  Then tape a cardboard tube around your left leg and put a sock on your right hand.  Wait for nature to take its course and see what solution you come up with.  You'll find a way!
• Did you cry when you had the accident?  No, but after a few weeks of not being able to walk, go places, or play with my friends, I did get pretty sad.
• Does your knee still hurt?  Yes, but not too bad.  It feels like the doctor hit me with his reflex hammer a little too hard.
• Were you worried?  I was more worried about things I couldn't do, like mow the lawn, drive my kids to practice and teach.
• Did you make the boat?  Yes.  Well... I'm making the boat.  It's not quite finished yet.

• Is the crash test dummy outside real?  No.  It's just a poster.
• Did you ever play video games?  Yes, but probably not as much as you.  I like Guitar Hero and Mario Cart.
• How much money do you make?  A bazillion dollars an hour.  Enough to afford a Scion.  Not enough to afford a BMW.
• Do you like peanuts?  Yes, and peanut butter.

Welcome to Fifth Grade 2012-2013!

Welcome to a new year!

This year will be a little different.  Since I was in a motorcycle accident this summer, I won't be able to start the year.  Don't worry!  I'll be okay.  I have to take care of my knee so I will be able to walk on it again.  When I return, I'll tell you all about it and show you all the gross pictures and x-rays you can stand to look at.

For now, your substitute will be Mrs. Barbar.  Listen carefully and study intelligently so you'll be ready to show off what you've learned when I get back.  While she is teaching in front of you, I'll be doing some teaching behind the scenes.  Here's how:

• I will post blogs (like this one) with information about what you've learned so you can remember.
• I will set up online learning opportunities like Kahn Academy, IXL, Memrise, and more.
• We have a Skype channel where you can talk to me when I'm online and Mrs. Barbar says it's okay.
• The iPads will have an app where we can solve problems together.

Watch the blog to see other ways that we can use technology to make learning better.

Something you will always find in the blog is a list of vocabulary words.  Any time you learn a new word in class, it should be written somewhere.  Maybe Mrs. Barbar will write it on the board.  If not, you should write it down somewhere.

Here are the words you've learned so far:

• arrogant: thinking very highly of yourself (usually to the annoyance of others)
• quarrel: a small fight or argument
• glum: looking sad or dejected
• engaged: busy with something
• synonym: a word with the same meaning
• integrated: two things working together like one (in school, we might integrate math and writing if you write about a math problem).

You will find these words in my Memrise account.  If you want, with your parents, create an account and keep track of your own points!