Thursday - no school tomorrow

We took our reading test this morning. In math the students reviewed for the test. I believe we will do the test on Monday after we review. I just felt that the first test wore some of the students out enough that they wouldn't be successful on a math test.

We had the gold card store today. Students earn gold cards based on behavior. On March 6th we will be at a ballroom dance assembly from 10:30-11:30. On Friday is the Walk of Fame for Accelerated Reader points. Students are also being encouraged to read Dr. Seuss books for our Literacy night on April 10th. Classes who read the most Dr. Seuss books will earn a doughnut party.

Wednesday - Math test tomorrow???

We re-read our story today and talked about what the different meanings and feelings in the story. We reviewed our vocabulary words by having each person present the word they prepared yesterday. We had our review spelling test and then went to a pep assembly for the basketball team.

Students went to science and learned about planets and space. Then Mrs. Smith came in and gave each student a pledge to help our school stamp out all bullying. She read them a very good story about not giving into the temptation of bullying, even when there is a cause for it. After recess we practiced writing cursive R and B.

Tuesday - No math test tomorrow

Today we practiced finding the main idea and details in a paragraph. Students went into teams and practiced the skill. Then we got out our definition cards and worked on the definitions of our vocabulary words. In math we had a big review for our math test tomorrow. Most of the students finished their work. Those who did not stayed in until they were done. Anyone not finished was to take it home for homework.

Just to let you know, we had an assembly yesterday and will have another one tomorrow. Our class was absolutely wonderful during the assembly. They used good manners and were very respectful to the speakers. They deserve a pat on the back for their excellent behavior.

I just re-read the schedule for tomorrow. It appears that our pep rally will take place right in the middle of math. So the test will be postponed until Thursday. I know some families will be out of town for that. I will try and make arrangements so those students can take the test early.

Monday

We read a story about music and slavery today. We will be singing some of the songs and I will teach the students what the words hid from the slave owners. Students reviewed spelling and vocabulary words today. They took home their homework sheet. In math we reviewed how to compare fractions. We are preparing for a fraction test on Wednesday.

Today we had an excellent assembly to encourage the children to stop the bullying. Afterwards some of us began talking about some unruly behavior during the assemblies. We are going to get a practice sheet so students can learn the difference between behavior in a nice auditorium, a basketball game inside, a football game outside and a rodeo. We hope to improve the behavior so when people come to our auditorium they will be impressed with the good behavior of our students.

Friday

Today students took their reading tests. We discussed the test before to make sure that those who have been gone would understand the information. In math, after a quick multiplication test, we practiced turning decimals into fractions. We will finish that page on Monday. Then we worked on making geometric shapes. Following directions seemed to be the most difficult part of that assignment. Some students stayed in at recess to see if they could get it done.

Don't forget the Hoedown tonight. It starts at 6:30 and lasts until 8:30. It has a $1 entrance fee and it is $3.00 for dinner. Come and watch your children do their line dances. They have been practicing for weeks.

Thursday - Spirit Day tomorrow - Wear your colors

This morning students took their spelling test. Then we re-read the Anne Frank excerpt. Students worked on homophones. In math they were given a worksheet, with information they knew but presented in a different way. I told them to read the instructions and do the work. Later, I told them that often we will be given tests and we need to learn how to read the directions and look at the paper and figure out how to get it done. We started learning about how decimals and fractions are related as we move forward adding decimals.

In social studies, each team was given a section to read and then report about it to the class. Students reported on agriculture, ranching, sheep vs cattle, and how Idaho became a territory. At the end of the day we looked at some pictures from the 1940s, we talked about how grateful we should be for the things we have.

Tomorrow evening is the Hoe Down. Please come and help support the school.

Wednesday

We will have our spelling test tomorrow. The words are fairly simple this time. Today we learned about homophones. We listed as many as we could on the board. Then we read through and discussed our fluency words. We talked about what it must have been like for people living during the days of the Gestapo. Some of the children had interesting ideas about what it would be like to live then. Students finished their workbooks for their spelling words.

In math class we finished our estimation papers and then played multiplication bingo. That was fun for students. In Social Studies we studied about games that the homesteaders children would play. In our story last week, Mr McBroom and the Big Wind we learned that the children jumped rope and played marbles. Other games the homesteader children played were jacks and dominoes. Then we got out these games and the students took turns playing.

Please remember to attend the Hoe-Down on Friday from 6:30 to 8:30. Entrance cost is $1.00 for anyone not a student at HBL. Dinner is $3.00 per person. There will be line dancing and a silent auction for items brought by parents. Please help out if you can.

Tuesday - Spelling test on Thursday

We learned a little about Anne Frank today. We read a short excerpt from her diary. Then we talked about how racism can hurt many people. We reviewed our spelling and vocabulary words, but we will not have the pre-test until Thursday. Those who don't get 100% will take it again on Friday.

In math we were evaluating how to recognize if the sum of two fractions would be greater than one, equal to one, or less than one. Students who did not finish today's assignment are required to do it for homework. It is due at the start of class tomorrow.

In Social Studies we learned about the problems Native Americans had when the settlers came in. We talked about how ideas and values have changed, but that we shouldn't judge people long ago by our ideas of right and wrong.

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The school's Hoedown is coming on Friday. Please find the orange paper that your child brought home today to understand what is happening that evening. All the money earned is to be used for the field trips this year. Other funding just isn't there. It should be a lot of fun. If you have something for the auction, you can bring it into Amy or bring it that night. If you would rather just give some money, I am sure that would happily accepted too.

Wednesday

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Students are very excited. Many have already brought their valentines in to share. We will have our party at 2:15.

We took our spelling test today so that all we have left tomorrow will be the reading test. We re-read the story today and discussed the questions that might be on the test. We also worked on personification and conjunctions. We had our math test yesterday and most students did fairly well. I will be taking groups tomorrow to work on the problem areas. Tyler Cahoon earned 100% on his test.

We ended the day discussing bullying. Mrs. Smith came in and talked to the students about things they might not see as bullying, but really were. Before she came, we had a class discussion, trying to help students understand how important it is to take care of each other. I hope it has a positive effect.

Tuesday

This morning we finished reading the story about Mr. McBroom and the Big Wind. We quite enjoyed it. We also reviewed our vocabulary and spelling words. Students need to study these on their homework sheets.

The math test was taken today. It is still in the process of being corrected, but most of the students finished on time. These students used the laptops and played fraction games at the site, Thinking Blocks. It is a good place to practice math.

In social studies we continued our study of mining in Idaho. Tomorrow we will learn more about the environmental effects. Students will determine how to still use our resources, but to do it while taking care of the earth. Remember, it is a short week this week. There is no school on Friday or Monday.

Monday Math test tomorrow

We had such a fun time reading this morning. We began the story, Mr. McBroom and the Big Wind. The students really enjoyed this Tall Tale. We read through and discussed our frequency words. I believe these words will help the students learn to read better and understand the meanings of more words. I ask the students to mark the words they don't know and then at the end of a column, we go back and discuss the meanings. Students also completed pg 96-97 in spelling

In math we reviewed for our test tomorrow. I will include some problems at the end of this blog. Then students were taught about Circle Graphs. Some will have taken it home as homework.

In Social Studies we are learning about the gold rush in Idaho. We are watching a short movie that explains about the goldrush, boom towns, and ghost towns.

Types of questions we will have on the test are: 1. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division Problems 2. Place value; 3,914,078 using the number what digit is in the hundred thousands place. What is the value of the 7? The digit in the hundred thousands place is 9. The value of the 7 is 70. 3. Given a number line with whole numbers and fractions, be able to identify where fractions and mixed numbers would go. To help students with this, use a ruler. Find 3 3/4, or 2 5/8, students often forget to look at the whole number. 4. Change improper fractions to mixed numbers. 4 5/7 multiply the 4 times the 7 and then add the five to the product. That number is the numerator. The denominator is the same denominator in the original fraction. So 4 5/7 would be 33/7. Then be able to change an improper fraction into a mixed number.We do this by dividing the numerator by the denominator. Students have to be able to compare fractions. One way is the obvious way. 1/2 is less than 3/4. And 1 1/2 is less than 2 1/2. Those should be obvious. But if it is not obvious, find a common denominator, and then multiply each fraction by 2/2 or 3/3 or whatever identify fraction which will give you a common denominator. Then students must list them as 1/2<3/4 or whatever the problem is. Students will also have to identify fractions. They will look at a picture and tell what fraction is shaded. They will need to be able to put fractions in simplest terms, such as reducing 8/12 to 2/3 I hope this helps.

Friday

We took tests on our reading and spelling today. Then for math we used the laptops and practiced fractions. Finally, students made their valentine boxes, Chinese lanterns, and fortune strips to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Snake. Students got to attend a Star Discovery program in the library today.

Thursday - making Valentine boxes

Tomorrow the students will be making Valentine boxes or envelopes. Students need to bring any supplies they want to use. We do have construction paper to make envelopes. Thanks to the parents who have volunteered to help next Thursday afternoon with our party.

Today we finished our story about, The Big Wave. It was excellent. Now we are reading the entire book as the students want to know what happened. We also studied prepositions and prepositional phrases. We will work a little more on those tomorrow. Also we have reading and spelling tests tomorrow.

In math we continue to work on ordering and comparing mixed numbers. We had a problem today that kind of surprised me. But we decided that with some critical thinking skills, looking at the different fractions and what they really meant, we could still put them in order without finding the same denominators. As we hadn't dealt with the before, it was a bit of a wake -up call to use our critical thinking skills when we aren't sure of an answer. In science the students are learning about the different states of matter. It is a fun lesson.

Remember, book orders need to be in by Tuesday. The code is LJ87V if you want to order online.

Wednesday

We read a sad story today. It is called, The Big Wave. A young boy in Japan loses his entire family to a tsunami. He is taken in by a kind family. It was very touching, especially as a tsunami just hit the Soloman Islands yesterday. We also took our spelling test.

During math we are moving forward comparing mixed numbers and improper fractions. It is exciting to see how quickly the students are understanding this.

Our Valentines Day party will be February 14th from 2:15 until 2:50. Any parents willing to help by bringing treats and possibly coming up with a short game, would be appreciated. Please let me know. I think we just need two or three parents or grandparents to help. Thanks for all that you do.

Book orders are going home today. You can order online using the code LJ87V. The family needs to make an account and use a credit card to order. Or you can always send the money and order form to school.

Monday

We finished reading the story about Matt Henson today. We read in our groups. Tomorrow, we will start a new story. Students studied their spelling words to prepare for the test tomorrow.

In math we reviewed how to change mixed fractions to improper fractions and improper fractions to mixed fractions. If the students did not finish, they had the paper as homework.

Tomorrow is our first spelling test. Please study hard so you don't have to take the test on Friday!

Monday

We started reading our new story today. It is about a man named, Matt Henson, who went to the Arctic. We reviewed our spelling and vocabulary words and checked our Language Arts practice.

In math we are doing more with fractions. The students are learning about mixed numbers and improper fractions. We are learning how to move them around, and changing the mixed to improper and the improper to mixed. There is no additional homework today.

Friday and tests

I am re-thinking our Friday test schedule. Most of the students do very well with what we are currently doing, the change will not hurt them. But a few students are really struggling by the time they are taking the math test. I am seriously contemplating changing our math test to Tuesday. This will give us Monday afternoon to review and remember the information and then on Tuesday, first thing in the morning (which is usually reading time) we will test. I hope this will allow the students to be fresh and alert during this time. If anyone has thoughts on this, please share it with me.

We did the tests yesterday. We also did our art project combining groundhog day, Presidents Day, and Valentines Day. We will spend more time on the Presidents later, but we now have some very creative projects in the hall.