Bowling Bonanza

There's nothing better

Blast Bowling Bonanza

Three Girls

Dancing

Laughing

Singing 

Celebrating life

Teachers and Students

Family 

One

Task for Wednesday May 28 in-class.

Task for Wednesday May 28. Complete as much as you can as time allows.

1. After you have finished the first draft of your literary essay on your blog, tweet it out.
2. Reread your own entire blog from start to finish for the school year 2013-2014.
3. Pick your five favorite posts. Start a new blog post called, “My favorite posts of the 2013-2014 school year.” Explain why each post is a favorite. Each explanation must be at least three sentences long. This is your chance to reflect on your year as a blogger.
4. Tweet this post out.
5. Read at least five different 5^th graders blogs. Read each blog for at least three minutes. Nominate a 5^th grader for Blogger of the Week.
6. Read at least five different 6^th graders blogs. Read each blog for at least three minutes. Nominate a 6^th grader for Blogger of the Week.
7. Read in silence as time allows.

The Heat and pacers

the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers have met in the playoffs for the last 3 years in the EasternConference  Finals. Every single time it game down to game 7 and it was brutal. but this time it is different the Miami heat is up 3-1 and are one game away from reaching the NBA Finals 3 years in a row.I want the pacers to win but the heat right now have the upper hand. I hope they would make a comeback but I don't think it is happening so I guess the Finals will be Heat vs. Thunder or Spurs.

Guest Blogger Sathvik. 

Diver Down!

On Friday and Saturday, Zack and I went diving at the Gilboa Quarry in Findlay, Ohio, about two hours south of Detroit. We brought along our camping and cooking gear and spent the night Friday in a very comfortable tent. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. On Saturday we made three dives, all in preparation for our trip to the Florida Keys at the end of July.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend, both Zack and I would agree, was when we went down to about 30 feet below the surface with fish food to feed the fish. The quarry is stocked with thousands of trout, bluegill, bass and even some koi. There is no fishing allowed, so the fish are plentiful and very friendly, They are fed by hand with fish food every day by the caretaker of the quarry. Divers are allowed to purchase pellets of fish food in ziploc bags that we carry down with us below the surface.

Zack and I had two bags of fish food each. As Zack took his out of his vest pocket, an enormous large mouth bass swarmed around him and snatched the food right out of his hand, bag and all. Zack watched in horror as the fish swam away desperately trying to swallow the plastic bag containing the fish food pellets.

We certainly will have quite a "fish tale" to tell for years to come!

Congratulations to Fawaz and Aria

Fawaz and Aria have been named Joberts Bloggers of the Week for the the week of May 26. Congratulations to both of you! To read the comments, go to the previous JBOW blog post.

Now it's time to nominate people for the JBOW award for this week. Let's get blogging and tweeting!

Character Education Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CharacterEdSurveyothergrades

Zack Track Banquet

Congratulations to Zack on a great track season. He is definitely a sprinter, and wants to run again next year. I've been running after him since he learned how to walk, and he just gets faster by the day.

Last night was the track banquet at UD Jesuit. All the runners, throwers and jumpers were honored, along with the coaches. Dinner was catered by a restaurant in Detroit called Z's Villa. The salad bar, spring rigatoni, and mostaccioli and meatballs were delicious. There was cake for dessert, with the team picture on top of the cake.

I was proud of Joberts alumnus Don Rea, also a freshman runner, who earned a varsity letter. It is difficult to earn a letter as a freshman. Don runs the 400 and 800 races. A runner has to be the top runner in his event in order to earn a letter. Great job, Don!

Birthday Celebrations!

Happy Birthday to you! Yesterday we celebrated Zack's birthday by starting the day off with presents and the Mexican happy birthday song, "Las Mananitas" (Little Mornings). Then last night we all went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Mi Pueblo in Southwest Detroit. After Mi Pueblo, we came home and had mom's famous ice cream pie. What a day!

Zack appreciated all his digital wishes on social media from friends and family around the country.

Birthdays are important days to remember the ways our loved ones are important to us. We are lucky to be able to celebrate and enjoy them.

Happy Birthday, Zack!

Tomorrow Zack will be 15. Wow. It's hard to believe he'll actually be 15 years-old. I remember the day he was born so clearly. It was a very exciting event in our family's history. He was such a little baby and now he's well on his way to becoming a man.

I am very proud of him. He is working hard in school and just finished track season. He is kind to others and thoughtful of the people around him. I am excited to celebrate his birthday with him today!

Congratulations Joe and Shin Be!

Joe and Shin Be have been named Joberts Bloggers of the Week for the the week of May 12. Congratulations to both of you! To read the comments, go to the previous JBOW blog post.

Now it's time to nominate people for the JBOW award for this week. Let's get blogging and tweeting!

Working for Families

Yesterday my family went to Lansing and talked to Senator John Pappageorge and Representstive Jim Townsend about the importance of supporting families with children who have mental and emotional illnesses. They were kind and supportive of us.

 Mary Beth works for the Association for Children's Mental Health, an organization that helps families who have kids with emotional and mental illnesses. Her job is similar to what Jordyn's mom does.

When we left the Capitol, we saw a group of people on the steps outside protesting violence in Erhiopia. I was impressed by their message and reminded of the power of our first amendment and freedom of speech.

Bingham Kids Belt it Out!

Last night I went to Groves to see my nephew Andrew sing. He is in 2nd grade at Bingham Farms. He is in the same class as Profesora Snyder's son, Liam. I also saw I'Yana's little sister sing, too. 

The show was amazing and the singing was loud and full of excitement. I was excited to see such a great show :-)

Book Club Bonanza

We have worked hard, collectively, to learn the art of good discussion backed up by evidence from text. This is truly a lifelong skill. The use of video has helped us literally see ourselves and critique our work so we can be the best we can be. 

We will only continue to improve as we balance student choice with teacher instruction. This is the speaking and listening part of language arts. Let's talk!

BPS Sustainability Fair

Big thanks to Logan, Fiona, Leo, Jake P, Ryan L, Sam K, Jake F, and Eric for all our hard work in telling the Joberts story of sustainability and sustainable living last night at the Sustsinability Fair at Seaholm. 

We are changing the world one person and one message at a time!

Chester the Chipmunk

My mother in-law called Friday night with an unusual request. Since my father in-law was in the hospital with gall bladder surgery, she was wondering if I could come over and help remove a little "friend".

My in-laws have been trying to catch a groundhog who's been living under their back porch and terrorizing, well, maybe he hasn't been terrorizing anything. The point is, they're trying to catch this little furry rodent, but he has proved to be a bit elusive. They did, however, manage to ensnare a chipmunk on Friday night.

So Nick and I put on our pest control hats and headed over to grandma and grandpa's house. The chipmunk, whom we affectionately named Chester (can't resist the alliteration) was waiting for us in grandpa's steel trap. We took him to a nearby park, opened the trap door and away he went in a flash.

On My Way Home

I'm sitting at O'Hare Airport in Chicago waiting to fly home to Detroit. My flight is delayed because the crew is late in arriving. I think they are coming in on a different flight. Tomorrow will be weird because I will teach 6th LA, go to my friend Jean's funeral, and then be back in the afternoon before Choice Hour. I think. I just don't know exactly when.

At any rate, I had an absolutely incredible experience yesterday. After having a day of interesting and inspiring meetings in preparation for my trip to Japan, all of us 50 teachers got on a bus to go to the Japanese consulate. A consul is a diplomat, someone who works in a foreign country to represent citizens of their home country who are studying, working or traveling in that country. Since 25 Japanese teachers were traveling in the USA and 25 American teachers were traveling to Japan in June, the consul invited over to his house for dinner.

"House" is not really an accurate description of the palatial mansion that we visited last night, however. This place was an absolutely beautiful Italianate stone mansion built in 1905. It had an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. We were treated to an exquisite Japanese buffet of sushi and California rolls. It was extremely delicious. We were all excited to get dressed up and celebrate our collaboration.

At this point, I will let the pictures do the talking. By the way, I just finished writing this post for the second time. I'm still at the airport and my flight is still delayed. There is free wifi, but it's only good for 20 minutes, then you have to pay. I used 20 minutes on my phone, 20 on my laptop, and I have about five minutes left on my ipad. Sometimes this is just how things go. I will be happy to get home.

But, I digress. And now, the pictures from yesterday's adventure in The City by the Bay...

 Jerry Rice autographed helmet...

 ...in this trophy case in the hotel

 Sitting and getting

 Sara sensei, balloon twister