The district continues to work with periodic email issues. However, some of you have told me you've sent me emails and I've never received them. It's possible they are being grabbed by the district SPAM filter and I'm not receiving them. If your email warrants a reply and you don't hear back from me within 24 hours or so, please let me know via email or my personal email account. In fact, you might find it helpful to send all emails to my school address (mattheba@unit5.org) and my personal address (ben@benmatthews.net) ...

Additionally, most of you have replied and let me know that you prefer to just receive the newsletter via email and don't need a paper copy as well. Thank you! If you have not replied yet, please take a moment to do so.

I wanted to take a moment to explain my "study guide" philosophy. In fact, I'm starting to think I should call them something other than "study guides" ... maybe "checkpoints" or something similar would work better.

I sent home some reminders about study guides in an earlier newsletter, but due to a number or questions related to the issue, thought it would be beneficial to send some of that information home again.

I understand some of you may be used to a different system of study guides ... different formats, different timelines, different expectations.

I rarely send home a study guide earlier than the night before a test. Often when they are sent home earlier there is more confusion about when the test is and/or confusion about content that might not have been covered until a couple days before the test is scheduled. Sending them home the night before ensures that all the content has been covered and reviewed in class prior to the study guide going home and to the test.

I also do not require students to complete the study guides ... I only require them to get them signed by you and to bring them back. This helps me know that each of you are aware of the test. I do strongly recommend that students complete the study guides though ... sometimes I even send the test home the night before as a "study guiide" without them knowing.

Since I do not require students to complete study guides, we do not go over them the day of the test ... I do however review with the class the day before (or two days before) prior to giving them the study guide ... they have a chance then to ask questions, get help, etc. Bottom line is ... if the student is waiting for a study guide to prepare for the test, they probably won't be ready anyway - whether it comes home one day before a test or one week. Their test preparation should be occurring in class and at home as they participate in class activities, complete homework, and so on. I don't want them to get in the habit of studying for a test right before - if they've done their job, asked questions, and gotten help when they needed it throughout a chapter or unit, they should be ready for a test even if they didn't receive a study guide at all!

I simply send them home as one final chance for the student to make sure they are ready ... a "final checkpoint" of sorts. It gives them a chance to check what they know and review items they may still have trouble with. It also gives them a good idea of the types of questions that will be on the test so they can be as prepared as possible.

Hope that helps!

Hopefully you received the letter and fundraising materials that came home this week. I won't bore you with rewriting the entire letter here (although you can read the whole thing at our fifth grade website)...

I know that several of your children may be involved in other fundraisers for a variety of activities. Please know that we have no desire or intent to cause more of a burden. We've attempted to find an easy, successful fundraiser that will allow students to reach their goal with as little trouble as possible. If you are going to buy wrapping paper for the holidays, for example, this is a great way to do it and have part of the money (half, actually) come right back to us to use for these exciting field trips.

We've had great experience and results using this fundraiser ... there are a variety of items available, the costs are reasonable, we get a great profit (50% of all we sell), students feel a sense of ownership - that they've done something to earn the privilege of these trips, and every year we've been able to meet our goal as a group, even with competition from other fundraisers that other local groups may be doing. One of the other great pieces is that your friends and families from out of town/state can participate online ... you just have to register using the information in the letter and send them invitations to participate.

But the bottom line is, as the letter states, we are encouraging all students to participate - it is not a requirement. After October 19 (when the fundraiser ends and materials are due), if you've chosen not to participate or weren't able to reach your goal, I'll let you know what other options exist.

Thanks for your help, support and participation!

I hope to see lots of you tonight at the Open House! I believe a letter was sent home earlier from PIECE with the details ... feel free to hang out in the room, though I'll often be out of the room and in other places of the building ... if you see me, say hi!

Finally, Parent-Teacher Conferences are approaching! A letter should be coming home with your child today that does two things: 1. reminds you of your time you have already scheduled, if applicable 2. gives you a chance to request a time slot (for those who have not already done so and/or those who would prefer a different time slot). Be sure to grab that letter, look through it, and return it ASAP!