McGill

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Hello families,

Every year that I have taught, (this was number fourteen, believe it or not) I have found that the last week of school is a blur and that enough emphasis is never placed on how much I enjoyed the kids and the year we spent together.  It is always too busy, and I feel like I have too many things that must be done. 

Since I have the responsibility of maintaining this blog, I'd like to focus on some thoughts I have right now about our year. 

The children who were placed in my class were excellent in a variety of ways.  Some of them were academically advanced, some were socially intelligent, others used their kinesthetic skills to the advantage of all around them, and our artists were numerous and enthusiastic.  They were a balance of many backgrounds and abilities.  In truth, they were easy kids to enjoy and appreciate.  I'll miss every one of them.

Having come here from another county of employment, with much to learn of the culture, methods, and emphases of Garrison Mill, I still have to say that this was perhaps my happiest year of teaching. 

I owe extensive thanks and sincere gratitude to Ms. Wilson for inviting me to become a member of the faculty.  She has been the greatest leader by example for both staff member and student alike.  I believe she will be back to visit because she really loves this place!  Her care and concern for each child here is unique.  We are lucky to have had her as our principal.

Ms. Huffman has certainly continued this legacy of positive leadership throughout our year.  She is an effective leader, communicator, and educational mentor.  Now that she will take over the reigns as principal, I am certain the school will continue to be the warm, unique learning environment it is known to be. 

I met parents this year who truly value the important job each of us has in teaching.  This is largely due to how they value the important job they have as parents.  This community is about excellence, character, and positively influencing each other.  What a fortune for me, a new teacher with a young family, to join such an environment at this point in my life.

Our fifth grade team of teachers at Garrison Mill have been a mirror of these community standards.  They are professional, but they each care very sincerely for the children in their classes.  Likewise, the rest of the faculty have a close bond.  This extends from those who opened this school all the way down to teachers who have only recently joined the ranks, like me. 

With each passing week, I have seen others' dedication to making this a great place to be.  It has been an enjoyable year, and those who took part in the experience can tell you how much fun the events like the Sock Hop, Fall Carnival, Talent Show, and Foundation Sale all were. 

Of course, the Fifth Grade Luncheon was so well done that I cannot imagine it could have been improved in any way.  The food, the involvement of numerous people in the planning, the care put into the decor and meeting the deadlines; these things were all evident on Thursday.  Ms. Wilson's speech at the very end was also powerful and memorable.

Today, as the Walk of Fame occurred, I was intent on doing what was planned, so I did not focus emotionally on the event.  The kids in my class were relatively composed, but I know half of their minds were on moving to middle school, while the other half may have been considering the challenges which may concern them in only two months. 

When I think back on how many faces I saw in the hallway, cheering for all the fifth graders taking their last stroll through the wings of the building, I realize that once again, the commitment of the community was evident and on full display.  All the teachers, staff, students, and families were eager to cheer on those who had reached a new milestone in life.  What a wondrous thing to acknowledge!

As I reflect on the year that has been, I wish to thank all of the students and parents one more time.  Your involvement in our program this year was unforgettable.  Thank you again for all of your commitment, dedication, and extensive effort.  My hope is that we'll continue to see each other often. 

"Garrison Mill, that's where we want to be! We love it! We love it! Going to Garrison Mill!"

Truer words could not be spoken.  Thank you to all the students, families, faculty, and staff for an amazing experience this school year.

Sincerely,

Alex McGill

Trivia answers

1. d. all of the above

2. d. all of the above

3. c.  2, 4, 8, 6, 2 again, 3 and now 5...this is the order of my teaching as well!

4. c.  Mayfield's Dairy Farms

5. b.  a rabbit named Inky...he's now six years old! 

6. d.  Practice makes perfect...I actually do say, "Practice makes performance".  This is because perfection, while a nice cliche, is not an attainable goal.  One's performance is directly related to the practice involved prior to the performance, I have found.

Boni (bonuses)

1. d...I toured Austria and Germany in college with the Middle Tennessee State University Chamber Choir in 1989, back when I had hair!  When I was thirteen, I began working for my Jr. High shop teacher, Mr. Clariday, making wooden toys.  He was a big help to me in getting over my parents' divorce.  In 2002, I was playing semi-professionally with a rock band known as Kenny Howes and the Yeah!.  We had a gig over the winter holiday break at Phillips Arena, and our music was piped over the P.A. during an Atlanta Thrashers game.  We didn't play in the main room, but instead were on one of the tier levels being broadcast into "the rink."

2. d....I met Louis Sachar and Robert Newton Peck at a Young Writer's Weekend in McMinn County, Tennessee, 1998.  I met Kurt Vonnegut a few years later at the University of Tennessee where he was giving a speech.  I really like Ms. Paterson's work, but have never had the fortune of meeting her.

Thanks for playing McGill Trivia #2!

Mr. McGill Trivia #2

Now that our year is but one day away from concluding, we might as well see if any of you happen to remember discussions we've had in class (of course they were curriculum related!)

1.  Mr. McGill has earned a college degree from

a.  Middle Tennessee State University

b.  The University of Tennessee Knoxville

c.  Lincoln Memorial University

d.  all of the above

2.  When he was 15, Mr. McGill was in a car wreck with

a.  his friend he's known since he was three.

b.  a groomsman from his wedding.

c.  his eye doctor.

d.  all of the above

3.  Mr. McGill has taught the following grades

a.  2, 3, 4, 5, and 8.

b.  1, 2, 3, 4, and now 5.

c.  2, 4, 8, 6, 2 again, 3, and now 5.

d.  2, 4, 6, 8 and now 5. 

4. Mr. McGill's hometown of Athens, Tennessee is also home to

a.  the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

b.  The University of Tennessee.

c.  Mayfield Dairy Farms.

d.  Krystal restaurants.

5.  Mr. McGill's current pet is

a.  a collie named Dobie.

b.  a rabbit named Inky.

c.  a cat named Max.

d.  a bird named P.J.

6.  Each of the following is a saying Mr. McGill likes to use to encourage proper behavior in the building except

a.  "Potty, not party"

b.  "choose a partner, not a playmate"

c.  "Lips sealed, eyes peeled"

d.  "Practice makes perfect"

"BONI" (McGill-speak for Bonuses)

1.  All of the following are things Mr. McGill has experienced except for

a.  traveling to Germany and Austria on a choir tour.

b.  making wooden toys as a part-time job.

c.  performing in a rock band at Phillips Arena.

d.  taking a Disney Cruise with his family.

2.  Mr. McGill has met each of the following authors except

a.  Louis Sachar, author of Holes and Sideways Stories from Wayside School.

b.  Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions.

c.  Robert Newton Peck, author of Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die.

d.  Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins.

If you answer 1-6 correctly, you have truly been a class participant, scholar, and listener.  You are certain to have a bright future because of your skill!

If you missed no more than three of the first six questions, you were apparently focused some of the time in Mr. McGill's class.

If you missed more than three questions, that is not all you missed this year!

If you got one or more of the Boni correct, you have learned good critical thinking/test taking strategies. 

Thanks for a great year students!
Yours truly,

Mr. McGill

Garrison Mill Media Center: Summer Availability Info

The media center will be open this summer on the following dates:

June 2nd & June 4   10:00 a.m. until Noon
June 9th & 11th       10:00 a.m. until Noon
June 16th & 18th     10:00 a.m. until Noon

Students will be able to check out books and take Accelerated Reader tests that will count for next year. 

My letter to the Garrison Mill Class of 2007-2008

                                                                                                May 22, 2008

To the Fifth Grade Graduating Class of Garrison Mill,

Can you believe it?  We are at the finish line.  You have survived a year’s worth of subject matter, problem solving, nightly reading, optional weekend homework, (if you were a student of mine) research, prewriting, drafting, editing, rewriting, underlining the question, circling the key words, reading the captions, analyzing the graphs, creating new graphs, bubbling in the answers, guessing and checking, eliminating the obviously incorrect answers, carrying out the investigation, reflecting on and evaluating the results, observing, plotting, drawing, practicing, memorizing, presenting, listening, repeating, considering, determining, and ultimately learning.  It has been a year of action. 

            But what will you do tomorrow?  Will you, students, continue to do what your teachers, parents, peers, and other community members have asked of you?  Will you use what you have learned?

Will you remember the lessons, the activities, the surprises, the victories, and even the occasional disappointments?  Will these events become touchstones for your future, or will the experiences of this year be safely placed on a display shelf, to be occasionally reviewed in the future, the way a treasured yearbook or trophy might be taken down and used as a conversation piece?  As with a yearbook or a trophy, the dust may accumulate on your fifth grade year to the point that it loses its luster or it is otherwise worn and frayed.  Is that the legacy of your experience from this year?

          Remember what Stephen R. Covey has said:  “To know and not to do, is really not to know.”  In other words, the doing, the action, is where true knowledge and comprehension are found.  You have been “doing” all year, but what you know depends on what you did!

Whether you realized it or not, our year of action planted seeds you will harvest in the future.  Every step you have taken this year is another step on your life’s educational journey. You have learned academics assigned by the state of Georgia, Cobb County, and your classroom teachers.  You have learned about yourselves and your friends by participating in discussions, working with partners, and reviewing for tests.  With each action, you have developed skills to move you forward in some direction, whether it is according to your plan or in response to unforeseen circumstances. 

For many of you, this recognition of your effort validates your hard work.  You have followed the guidelines, completed the tasks, and tried to do your best.  For others, you may have some sense that you could have done more, or that what you did was not your best.  So be it.  Either way, in the days ahead, you have an opportunity to do your best. 

During this year, I have had two messages posted in my room which I believe to be true.  The first one reads, “Make sure that your past does not hold your future hostage.”  The second one reads, “Change brings opportunity along with it.”  Both of these messages offer definition and hope for each day of a person’s life.  Yesterday does not define what will come today. 

There will always be change, and that is one thing that will never change.  How you respond to change depends largely on your attitude.  With each new day and each moment within it, you have the opportunity to redefine yourself.  If you are used to your efforts being rewarded with success, it can be difficult to find the meaning in failure.  However, there is meaning to be found when one exerts effort to try again following a real or perceived failure.  If you learn from your mistakes, then you have not really failed, have you?

We teachers, believe it or not, face the same daily challenge.  You students may have thought that teaching is nothing more than checking off a “To Do List” of lessons. It is a common misconception that people become teachers so they can be in charge of kids and tell them what to do.  You may think that we enjoy being in control and that we spend our planning time conjuring up ways to make life inconvenient for you.  The reality of the teacher and student relationship is actually more complex, and less sinister, than that.   

Just as you students have depended on us teachers, we have depended on you.  You have challenged us just as we challenged you.  We have chosen to be here because we need to learn more ourselves, and this can only happen through teaching what we know.  Teachers are only in existence when there are students.  There can only be students if there are also teachers who are available to pass on what knowledge we have ourselves learned. 

We teachers reflect on our successes and note the satisfaction such successes have brought us.  Likewise, in the areas of our shortcomings, we try to understand where we went wrong.  During our time with you this year, we sometimes believed our lessons with you were successful, and other times we wished different outcomes would have occurred. 

We may have wanted to be more effective, more helpful, or more able to reach you in some meaningful way.  There may have been times when these feelings were not obvious to you, but even in those moments our desire has been to connect with you in order to improve your knowledge, your skills, and eventually your ability to make good choices. It is part of our life’s work to understand and relate more effectively with our students and our peers. 

If we teachers are to grow in our educational skills, we have been told that we must continue to model lifelong learning.  Learning is dependent on evaluation, reflection, and determination by the learner.  In the process of helping you to learn, we ourselves learn.  Without these actions, we cannot determine what we should do in the future.  If that sounds like a lot of work, that is because it really is!  Really thinking takes concentration and effort. 

It is, however, in moments when we are thinking about our thoughts, in what is called metacognition, that we must realize these struggles give our lives meaning and strength.  Just as the butterfly must beat its wings against its cocoon in order to gain strength enough to fly, you have had to push away from this safe place in order to spread the wings which will carry you to the next phase of your journey.  Your wings will carry you to where all of us can see the colors you display in all their glory. 

I’m sure Ms. Wilson and Ms. Huffman would agree that a primary purpose in life is to take the opportunity to use your gifts, your talents, and your abilities to find your voice, your calling.  Some people have a clear sense of this early on; they find their calling and pursue it.  Others have to search longer to find theirs.  Either way, this search is an action; it is a challenge. 

Whether you view this year as your best so far, or as the year when you really struggled, remember that change has come today.  Change brings opportunity along with it.  Make sure that your past does not hold your future hostage.  To change is to commit to action, just as learning is a commitment to action. 

We believe in each of you and in your ability to continue active, lifelong learning for personal growth and self-mastery.  We are proud of each of you and the changes you have made this year.  It has been a pleasure teaching you and learning from the experiences we have shared.  Good luck next year and have a safe, memorable summer.

                                                                                    

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Alex McGill

                                                                                    Fifth Grade Teacher

                                                                                    Garrison Mill

                                                                                    Elementary

5th Grade Luncheon Correction from PTA

Teachers, Please remind your students that the 5th grade lunch is TOMORROW at 11:15am.

They should wear their class shirts.

The tentative schedule for the day is as follows:

11:00 - 11:15 orchestra will perform as parents arrive and are seated

11:15 -11:30 there will be introduction of students, announcements, etc.

11:30 -12:15 orchestra will perform as people are served and eat.

12:15 - presentation of class gift/teacher inspirations/closing remarks by Mrs. Wilson

1:00 - dessert reception in covered play area

1:30?? - showing of 2008 class DVD Thanks!

IF you have any questions, please feel free to contact a PTA representative.

Thank you students for the thoughtful gifts. I feel appreciated!

I really was touched by the enormous gift basket and the abundant flowers given to me for teacher appreciation week.  It certainly has been my good fortune to have Garrison Mill and our students to call my home base.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Alex McGill

As of Friday, It's Goodbye 2007-2008 Greyhounds!

After a terrific set of presentations for Decade Days from all the fifth grade classes, our students are gearing up for the end of the year.  Our Fifth Grade Luncheon is tomorrow and parents are invited to attend the festivities. 

The remainder of this week, while somewhat flexible, has some key specifics.  Please keep these in mind.

1.  Luncheon-May 22, 11:30:  Students are to wear their Team T-shirt (if it's clean!).  Advance payments for the meals should be already turned in at this point.

2.  Student bookbags:  Last day to bring these to school is Thursday, May 22.  You may see the items from their desks coming home Wednesday and Thursday, along with any unclaimed presentation materials.  We'll keep having snacks through Friday, so if they bring one, it should be in hand when they enter the room on Friday.

3.  One of our parent volunteers (whose help certainly has been effective this year) is presenting a mini-lesson reviewing economics Thursday morning, May 22.  It will be fun and thought-provoking.

4.  Student Teaching Lessons May 22nd and 23rd:  Students were given a form a week ago to identify a skill or lesson they would like to teach their classmates.  We'll be accomplishing these short demonstrations the last two days of school.  This should not be a stress inducer!  :)

5.  Book Buddies' Last Hurrah on May 23rd:  We'll meet with Ms. Whitson's class to say goodbye to our reading pals from this year (and have a snack)

6.  Walk of Honor-1:45 Friday, May 23:  Our students have earned this, so we wish to have them celebrate their transition to middle school!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Thank you for the wonderful year with our class.  Sending them ready to go each day has made them the successes they are.  Each student has been important in our class's learning experience this year, and we will always remember our time together.  Some things were stressful, (CRCT, ITBS, Writing Assessment, '90's Presentations, Research Paper, etc.) but we have certainly been successful (Each day was one for reflection and self-knowledge...keeping in mind life's important things).  We all are wiser people than when our year began.  That is a commendable thing!

See you at the luncheon and thank you for your support of our class!

Sincerely,

Alex McGill

Decade Days and Research Afternoons

Hello,

Mr. McGill's class has begun our research into the long-ago decade known as the 1990's.  Since our students were born during this decade, they have some familiarity with its events.  We have spent some time in class since the first days of May reviewing the presentations from last year as well as finding information through the Garrison Mill Web Links Notebook about the '90's.  Ms. Schulman has posted helpful links directly related to our decade, but there are also links which can be found in the Online Resources and section as well. 

Students have selected their areas of interest and have begun groupwork related to the presentation.  Your child should be able to name the content area in which they are working, and they know the other members of their group.  They have had time today in which to work with these classmates to identify key facts and areas of interest within their topics. 

Some cautionary statements have been shared with students relating to the presentations and their research:

1.  Students are expected to do nightly research for the presentations.  They need to also stay in close communication with their group members in order to organize any meetings to complete their research.  Likewise, they will need to work together outside regular class time to complete presentations.  These will be shared and filmed during the final week of school (May 19-23). 

2.  Material to be researched and presented needs to be school appropriate.  Some of the events of the 1990's were unfortunate for all who experienced them.  We need to remain respectful in our presentations.  Parent supervision and involvement is strongly encouraged.

3.  It is important to avoid reporting on events or trends which actually are from a different decade.  Though some fads have a period of nostalgic re-emergeance, students need to keep to the true '90's information.  Forcing a current trend or concept into the '90's as a way of simplifying the research process is intellectually dishonest. 

4.  Students need to use search engines with Safe Search technology turned on to alleviate unnecessary links.  Likewise, blogs, chat rooms, and other questionable sources are to be avoided.  The use of appropriate print media is still encouraged. 

It is a positive exercise to review your memories of the decade with your child as he or she searches for interesting facts and stories to relate to classmates.   You may find that "the rest of the story" (apologies to Paul Harvey) was not familiar to you or that time has revised appraisals of an event's significance. 

This should be fun and informative for both researchers and those they teach with their findings.  Of course, if there are any problems, please contact me.  Thank you for your continued help!
Sincerely,

Alex McGill

Field Trip Reminders for May 7, 2008

GM Fifth Grade Rock City/Ruby Falls Field Trip Guidelines

Do…

·       Arrive no later than 6:45.  Departure time is 7:00.  We will not wait for tardy students

·       Wear sunscreen

·       Wear close-toed shoes (no open-toes)

·       Wear layers of clothing (a light jacket or sweater can be tied around your waist when not in use) so you will be comfortable in a variety of environments

·       Bring a snack and dispose of its trash appropriately

·       Stay with your buddy/chaperone

·       Listen to the presentations and stay quiet

·       Choose to be buddies with a  partner

·       Bring a water bottle you’ll carry yourself

Avoid…

·       Choosing playmates for buddies

·       All electronics; they will be taken up and returned to a parent only

·       Multiple foods/gum/candy/money...Teachers have decided NOT to go to the gift shop

·       Inappropriate behavior at any time

·       Leaving the group/chaperone

·       Sharing criticisms of people or things while on the field trip

Let's have a great time on our way to and from Tennessee!

Sincerely,

Mr. McGill