Thank you for a wonderful school year!

Dear Families of Room 10,

      While I promised the kids I would post the photos I took at Field Day, I couldn't have the year end without telling you how great your kids are!  Every one of them shared a unique prospective and made each of us better for having spent the year together.  Thank you so much for sharing your amazing children with me.  I know I have said what a JOY it is to be a 5th grade teacher at Slingerlands, but I am honored that you entrusted your children with me without reservation.  Thank you for your patience, trust, honesty and appreciation.  To quote the song "For Good" from the musical Wicked, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good!"  Have a restful summer and best of luck in the Fall.  READ, READ, READ!      Fondly, Mr. Betor

Post Nature's Classroom

Dear Parents of Room 10,

       After a whirlwind of a weekend, I wanted to touch base and offer you my perspective of the events that unfolded last Friday.  After an uneventful lunch and departure, our bus experienced a flat tire shortly after leaving the Becket campus. In response to the loud BANG, the bus driver pulled the bus onto the shoulder of the road and immediately sprang into action. Quickly we decided to send the other bus on its way with three 5th grades.  Initially, the children of 5B seemed a tad uneasy with the decision, but never did they show their disappointment.  After I explained why the other three classes should depart and we should stay, they immediately accepted the delay with maturity and grace. Thanks to Mr. Gallagher, the children had snacks and writing utensils to keep themselves busy.  Mr. Burns and I passed out the snacks and paper to write on.  Fortunately, Mr. Burns turned around and returned to the bus when he heard about the flat.  He was very helpful and definitely brought levity to what, could have been, a frustrating and scary situation.  

      I am attaching a few more photos.  The rest of the pictures we took will be included in our end-of-year iMovie.                                                                                           Lester B and Class

Nature's Classroom Teachers

 In the bus after the flat tire.

They don't look too unhappy do they?

 Lunch

NC Cinco de Mayo 2016

Greetings from Nature's Classroom!!!

      Even though it continues to rain (or mist), the children are having an amazing time.  Last night we experienced the Back to Basics program where the kids made candles, biscuits on an open fire, rope, ink. They also learned how to make a fire without matches and listened to a storyteller. This morning after breakfast they started preparing for tonight's Oregon Trail journey, and then they will be taking their first class.  I know many of the kids are looking forward to dissecting a squid or rat, building a rope bridge and learning about camouflage.  Here are a couple of photos we took this morning before field group.  Have a wonderful day!  Lester B. and Class

Greetings From Rainy Nature's Classroom!

Dear Parents of Room 10,
      I am pleased to report that the rain has not dampened anyone's spirits!  The children are having the time of their lives.  They enjoyed a lunch of Mac & Cheese and baked ham along with their peers from Elsmere.  It was actually very good!
      After moving into their cabins, they experienced their first field group and, as I type this, they are attending their first class.  We have been taking lots of pictures thus far, but I am not sure I have everyone.  So I am posting a photo of five happy teachers in the Scorpion Room!  I will share photos of the children tomorrow.
      After dinner we will be enjoying "Back to Basics;" it's a chance for the kids to explore life BEFORE electricity. It will be followed by S'mores and a sing-a-long.
                                                                                       Take care,
                                                                                        Lester B. and class

An Amazing Week with a Sprinkle of "Fifthgradeitis!"

Greetings from Room 10!

      We had an exciting week in Room 10.  While a part of our focus was preparation for the upcoming NYS ELA and math tests, we didn't let that get us down. Instead, we enjoyed the final preparations for the annual 5th grade Wax Museum. During school, the children's dress rehearsal included visits from both 4th grades and 2nd grades.  They had the opportunity to hone their skills for the evening exhibit.  From my vantage point (at the bake sale table), I heard numerous comments about the children's performances; all of which were extremely positive. The children's hard work while researching their wax museum subject certainly paid off!  I am including some photos of both the day and evening museums.

      Fifthgradeitis! While it's not a real word, it happens to my students every year.  And this year is no exception. I bring this to your attention because I spent some time talking to the children this week about maintaining the "5B Community" that we established in September. As a part of our community, it is important to think about others as well as yourself. And it became apparent that the children needed reminding of that! There was a short period of time when I had a room full of Divas, complete with attitude and demands.  I think our talk helped them see the importance of being a community and thinking of others.

      On April Fools Day, Ms. Qualtere and I traded places for the morning. During this time, Ms. Qualtere helped the children come up with a prank to pull on me.  I hope your child told you about it!  They had me confused and fooled for rest of the morning.  As I told the children, it was the BEST PRANK EVER!!! More importantly (and this might sound silly) but spending the morning with Ms. Qualtere's class made me realize how thankful I truly am to have your children in my class!  It helped me put things into perspective and realize that even when they are being "divas," they are MY DIVAS!  And I love them!!!

       The next two weeks will be challenging because of the number of hours we will spending with NYS testing.  The children will need plenty of sleep and a hearty breakfast.  I plan to have the kids eat their snack at 9:15am because NYS does not allow for breaks during testing. Each day, testing will begin at 9:30am and last a minimum of 90 minutes. Children will be given an opportunity to work on their tests in the classroom for an additional 60 minutes. Children requiring additional time (beyond the 2 1/2 hours) will have the opportunity to do so in a different location.  We hope to have math at noon and will have recess and lunch at 12:55pm.

                                                                       Kind regards,

                                                                       Lester Betor and class