Mr. C's Blog

First, a word about retests: this matter was discussed at our first major faculty meeting before school began. It was decided not to give retests. Allowing retests implies that a student would not have to prepare as much. If a high grade is scored, it was done with minimal preparation. If a low grade is scored, the student now has to put in greater effort to score higher on a retest. Besides, God doesn't give a "relife" to get into heaven.

The first quiz for the 5th graders went rather well. Very few scores were low. The low scores indicated a weakness in times and division tables. Please practice (on a casual basis) with your children. Proficiency in times tables and division tables makes all the difference.

The first quiz for the 6th graders was terrific- an abundance of A's.

I am also guiding the students on taking notes. (Remember, each student is to have a seperate notebook for Math).

Good notetaking is a skill. It makes test preparation easier. The best way to prepare for a Math test is to do a few problems from the corrected homework assignments. The student notes remind and explain what to do better than the textbooks explanations.

PENCILS, PENCILS, PENCILS!

Hi parents,

I still notice that there is a small number of 5th graders who continue to be weak in times tables and division tables. You will see this on the corrected quizzes I send home for parent signatures.

The 6th graders are doing well. They had similar problems with multiplying last year, and everything eventually worked out.

The 5th and 6th graders I have this year are terrific. They are polite, respectful and want to learn. You are doing a great job parents. Thank you. More later.

Mr. C.

Hi parents,

Thank you to all who came to visit me at open house last Sunday. I enjoyed talking to you. It's easy to see why my students are so nice and genuinely respectful. It starts at home. You are doing a great job moms and dads.

I started the 5th graders on geometry last week. Besides teaching the students how to take good notes (a great learning skill), I have also made self-learning worksheets which the students said were very clear, and they were able to learn this way also. I wish I had the time to write a Math book. I like to teach step by step.

Please keep practicing those times tables and division facts if you see incorrect quiz/test answers due to this. Most 5th graders know them very well. It makes a world of difference.

The 6th graders are now into percents, a very important Math topic. Steadfast notetaking will insure high test scores.

Do you remember signing the "1894" worksheet? I told the 6th graders that Pearl Flanagan, the 5th grader who studied from the book I found, had it rough. Poor Pearl had to walk 5 miles each way without shoes, through snow (even in May) and uphill both ways. There were several boys whose eyes got watery. Talk to you soon.

I'm Mr. Ciezadlo, and I approve his message.