Curriculum Night, fifth grade

Emilyn has had a mix of veterans and brand new teachers. But I felt like Mrs. Ketteman really taught me something on Curriculum Night (what you may know as Back to School Night).

She laid out every single thing they'll be doing in fifth grade. And, in her 21st year at Sorrento Springs, it's clear she hasn't lost her enthusiasm for filling these little heads with the knowledge they'll need to get them off on the right foot in middle school. (And she really got a makeover since our last post about her!)

She thanked us for sending her such well-behaved fifth-graders... She said the class had agreed upon some expectations for the year: Be responsible. Be respectful. Be ready. She's computer-savvy, so you can even click on her picture above to find out what Emilyn's doing for homework this week!

In science, the kids will be learning about the water cycle, environments, the solar system and levers and pulleys. They will switch units off among the three fifth-grade teachers (to get used to the idea of switching classes in middle school).

Mrs. K was especially excited about their history unit (colonization, Revolutionary War and the U.S. Constitution) and (drumroll, please) their field trip to Biz Town! It's the Junior Achievement's introduction to work and money and all that fun stuff that goes with it. The kids (and a bunch of parents) will go to BizTown and spend the day running about a dozen businesses, including... wait for it... a little St. Louis Post-Dispatch! I am stoked!

Leading up to this, the kids have already started getting paid for fifth grade! They're getting paychecks, having taxes and rent and utilities deducted... and they have to write checks for demerits, such as not having homework done. Let me tell you, Mrs. K was just gleeful at the prospect of teaching these beautiful little children about the (insert evil laugh here) real world!

I think it's going to be a fun year, and there's always more to learn. Stay tuned!