Practicing our spelling words

How do you study? This is something we've discussed in Room 8. How do you study when you're by yourself? What about if you have a parent to help?

On Thursdays, we often pair up and study our spelling words. I've seen a huge improvement since we started. After going through the words, Room 8ers love to think of sentences using these words. I try to use as many of them as possible on Fridays when we have our spelling test, which is spelling dictation.

Look at us studying:
Wesley and Sam
Shane and Rocky
Sarah and SummerJust in case Sarah drops her pencil...we'll know who to return it to!
Moriah and Wasey
Max and Austin (They really were studying!)

Kaia, Vanessa, and Ashley (We had an odd number of Room 8ers - thus, a group of 3!)
Kacey and Orion
Danny and Shelby

Abby and KatyKobe and Spegi

Spelling in Room 8... oh boy!

Mrs. C takes a photo

My buddy in Room 6 came into Room 8 last Friday while Vanessa, Austin, and I were talking. She took our photo...and put it on the Room 6 blog. I stole it for Room-8-News... but she said it was okay!

One of the few times that 'stealing' is legal! Thanks Laner!

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week started today. A group came into Room 8 and talked to the kids about what Red Ribbon Week means and they led them in making some posters. Since 'Red' is part of the name, only red paint was used to make the posters.Ideas were discussed...
within the three different groups...

Once the plans were made, out came the red paint.


Now this poster below proved to be a... well, a problem for someone in Room 8. Seeing as it is a vertical sign, the people helping Room 8ers make posters, thought it would be PERFECT to hang on the door. So, they hung it on the inside of our outside door. It looked great...
Fast forward about a half hour later. I was teaching... was standing at the overhead... when I had one of my now infamous 'hot flashes.' Room 8 knows all about them. As usual, I kept teaching but quickly walked to the outside door to open it and get some cool air. Also as usual, I kept teaching, leaned against the door to push it open, stood there, fanning myself, and then proceeded to walk back in...teaching the whole time. UNTIL...some Room 8ers began to inform me that I had red paint all over by backside. I do mean ALL OVER. We all had a good laugh... I called Ms. R, our principal, gave my distress call, and she came and stayed with Room 8 until recess.

This was my time to drive home, sitting on a plastic bag, and change my clothes.

This time it was Room 8 who quickly figured out that someone needed to take a picture for the blog!

Prison Ball

Today is Tuesday, our gym day, our day to play Human Foosball.

Well, thank goodness 'We're flexible in Room 8!'

We were heading to the gym with gear in hand when we saw people setting up chairs in the gym. I told Room 8 to do an "about face.' Back we went, grabbed these 2 HUMONGOUS balls, and off we went to play Prison Ball outside. Room 8 had a BLAST!Fun in Room 8!

The Political students of Room 8

I have NEVER had a class into politics as much as this year's Room 8. Granted, our Scholastic News has had quite a few articles about the upcoming election, but even so, I'll hear them discussing/debating/arguing points about McCain and Obama while standing in line to go to lunch.

Yesterday we voted - secret ballot, of course. Today I tallied while Room 8 sat in rapt anticipation of the results.

Are you ready? Look...It was wonderful how respectful they were towards each other. Too bad many in our society can't be as gracious to others who don't agree with them.

Be sure and ask your Room 8er the 'Zucchini and Tomato" story. It was retold by me from Peter's, (Kaia's dad) original version!

"He told me I jumped like a turtle!" exclaimed Vanessa.

Room 8 ... and especially me, have been so happy to have Ashley and Vanessa back to school. We were all so excited to see them walk through our door on Monday morning.

Today, Ashley, Vanessa, and I were sitting in the room eating lunch. Somehow, jumping came up in the conversation. Vanessa said, "My dad told me I jumped like a turtle!" She laughed. Now Dusty coaches basketball and I used to watch him play when he was in high school. I guess he knows a thing or two about jumping...which he has relayed to Vanessa. She began to explain to Ashley and I how to tell a normal jump.Vanessa explained that you lay down and stretch your arms above your head. She had Ashley lay down and then she marked her length. (Note the calculator at Ashley's feet and the stapler at her head. It was at this point that I said, "HOLD ON WHILE I GET MY CAMERA. THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE BLOG!") Ashley was getting a kick out of all this measuring of her body! Actually, I was getting a kick out of the whole episode myself!Vanessa explained that if you can jump this distance, that's a normal distance.
Oops! Doesn't look like Ashley is a 'normal jumper' either - at least not according to Dusty's criteria!Oh well, I think the girls were ready for Round 2. I'm not sure how far a turtle can jump, but my guess is that Ashley jumped a little farther than your average turtle!

Exploration Day

Exploration Day was last Thursday... it was an absolutely wonderful day. I've never been more thankful that I took many pictures than I am now.

Tragedy struck Room 8 Monday afternoon. Our precious Nicole was taken from us in a tragic car accident. Room 8 is devastated. I know many have been coming to Room 8 News and looking at pictures, so I decided to go ahead and put these on now.

Tuesday, as we were all talking, several Room 8ers said that Nicole was still a part of us - Absolutely! One of Kaia's responses, 'I feel like a part of me is missing.' There is... there is a part of all of us that is now missing.

As I was loading my pictures from Exploration Day onto the computer, I realized how many I had taken of Nicole that day. I'm posting them here, along with many other Room 8ers. We're all so thankful for wonderful memories!