5th Grade Eve

I really should have started this two years ago, during my first year of teaching, but I'll start year number three off this way. With a blog.

Today is the day before school officially starts. I'll have to say I'm pretty nervous considering I've switched to a new grade level with my only experience being in 4th for two years. My team is great, and I kind of wish they had Twitters or blogs that I could link to, because they are all phenomenal teachers.

Anyway, I've got a few ideas for tomorrow. Getting to know your classmates. A rundown of the expectations and goals (&hopefully how to get there). High energy ice breakers. And my traditional first day of school pop quiz.

This pop quiz is something that my high school science teacher did, and I totally ripped it from him. It's a ten question quiz. Mostly multiple choice (for added fun) with a few true/false, fill in the blank and short answer questions as well.

This is something that I've done every year (the past two) that I've taught. So far, it's been great. This past year, my principal was doing a walkthrough and sat in on this quiz as we got to the question that asked, "What’s the lowest grade Mr. Arakaki ever received on his report card in high school?"

Yeah. I never heard the end of it.

Here's what I gave to my last year's class. I've updated and modified some questions this year, since I had some of them already. Haven't shared many things in the past, so this is something new for me.

It was a D, by the way.