Friday

Today students took their reading and spelling tests. They also worked on their fences page. During math we started learning a new strategy in multiplication called decomposing. We took numbers apart and then divided them. We will work more on this on Monday. Then we started our auction and had a great time figuring out how much money we needed and had, and could be buy what we had bid for. I think the auction itself was quite the learning experience. Homework papers are coming home that will go from this Friday until next Sunday. That way the students can still read during Thanksgiving and have a paper for you to sign off.

Thursday Auction tomorrow!

We celebrated another birthday today and finished reading our story. Tomorrow will be the spelling and reading tests. In math we practiced relating connection between multiplying by tens, hundreds, thousands etc. In Social Studies students gave their last native american reports. Almost all of the students were prepared.

Tomorrow, along with being spirit day, is our class auction. Students will bring different items form home and auction them off. It is a reward for good behavior. I am also trying something new. Each student has, on their desk, a little piece of paper. If I have to get after them for calling out, not following instructions, being off task, etc., they put a mark on their page. Anyone with less than three marks at the end of first recess, gets $5.00 of our class money. This rewards those who are doing what they should. I appreciate ideas from parents that make our class move along better. Thanks!

Wednesday

This morning the class reviewed all of the vocabulary words and took spelling tests. In math student practiced multiplying and noticing that relationship between numbers as they are multiplied by tens, hundreds and thousands. In the afternoon two of the groups gave their Native American reports and showed the dioramas. Most did a great job. The last part of the day, after music, we went to see a little play put on at the auditorium. It was very good. Remind your children to bring things for the auction on Friday. We are getting a few things in and we all want them!

Tuesday

We practiced finding the subject and predicate in sentences this morning. Students then started their fluency list. Then they started the reading. It is quite fascinating, things that people used to believe before there were microscopes. In math we are working on division with remainders. We did it in an odd, way, figuring out the multiplication problem that would lead to the division problem. The purpose in this is to make it easier for the students to connect the two operations. We also took a 3x multiplication page. Students took it home. Please help them learn the ones they are not fast on.

In Social Studies students were supposed to bring the assigned parts of their diormas. Many forgot the parts. They can come in before school and during first and second recess to take care of this tomorrow.They will start the reports tomorrow also.

Monday

This Friday will be our Big Bucks Auction. Students have been earning 4B dollars throughout the school year. They earn this by their behavior, work and attitude. To make this auction work, each student needs to bring something to auction. It can be a small toy that the student no longer uses, but is still in good shape, a treat, a craft, anything like that. This is not to be anything expensive, so please help them use wisdom in what they bring.

We did our spelling words this morning and then worked in the computer lab. We hope to work on a short Power Point presentation after Thanksgiving. In math we dealt with the relationship between division and multiplication. In the afternoon students worked on their Native American project. This will be due on Wednesday and Thursday. They need to be working on their diorama too.

Friday

Student took their reading and spelling tests today. Those students who missed spelling words were required to write them ten times. The hope is that they will spend a little more time studying next week. Then the students began on their writing assignments. In math we did story problems that required adding and subtracting. That was startling to some of them. They asked why they needed to learn this. I pulled out my check book and showed them how important it is to know how to add and subtract so you don't get overdrawn. In the afternoon we did some science supporting the information students are learning in Miss Lu's class. We talked about vertebrates and invertebrates and then watched some videos showing the different animals. We watched how a sponge takes food in, we saw jelly fish, and watched a sand dollar move.

On Friday the 22nd we will be having our class auction. Each student is to bring an item to auction off. It is not to be anything expensive, a liter of pop, homemade cookies, a toy in good condition that just isn't used anymore, a book that has been read and put aside. All children must have something to add to the auction so they can participate.

Thursday - School Colors tomorrow and read!

Students wrote a short paper concerning their reading assignment for the week. They also presented their vocabulary words to the class. They are getting very good at this. Each student also re-read the story. Tomorrow there will be a spelling and reading test. In math we worked on word problems using subtraction. Most of the students did quite well on this. In the afternoon students went to science and then headed to the auditorium for an assembly. Ask them about that. We ended the day reading, A Christmas Carol.

Tuesday

This morning students reviewed how to put paragraphs in a logical order. They need to do this for their reports. Next we went over the fluency words and then read our story. It is a folktale called, "Salt." After recess students practiced subtracting and regrouping. This is something that is often a bit of a struggle as students try to understand about zeroes and subtraction. Students then went to science and library. Mrs. Maw said that our class was exceptionally good going to the new middle school library. I gave them all gold cards for good behavior. After the room was cleaned we went back to reading our book, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. In December we will be watching movies of the Christmas Carol and compare them to the book.

Monday Veterans Day

This morning we learned about Veterans Day. We listened to the poem, "In Flander's Field" by John McCrae, "In Flanders field the poppies grow. . . " Then we made poppies to remind us of the many sacrifices that have been made for us. We hurried on to do our Language and spelling and then went to the computer lab to type. In math we worked on subtraction. At 11-11 at 11:11 all of the school stood and said the Pledge of Allegiance. This was the time that the armistice was signed that was to end all wars. In the afternoon students went to science and then we had the Veterans Day assembly to honor those who gave so that we could have freedom.

Anyone who still wants to order books, please do so now. We only have two orders in.

Friday

We did our math and spelling tests today. Those who missed more than two had to come in and re-take the test at lunchtime. It seems to me that some of the students aren't studying their words and I hope that this encourages the students to do better. We worked on our writing, then some students read their paragraph on why we shouldn't use drugs. In the afternoon we worked on an art project. In our story this week we learned about stencils, so the students made stencils and colored them in. Then the sheriff sent a few officers to encourage our kids to stay off drugs. We ended the day with the Walk of Fame.

If you have anything you want to order from Scholastic Books, please do it before Monday as I will be sending things off in the afternoon. Thanks!

Thursday - wear red tomorrow

This morning we reviewed our vocabulary words. Students should be able to write their sentences on their homework. Then we worked on writing a thesis statement for an essay and how to write the sentences to explain topic sentences. In math we worked on the subtraction algorithm with three digit numbers. If your student talks about regrouping, it is just the old borrowing, just with a different vocabulary.

Tomorrow is our last day in anti drug week. Students have been asked to wear red. If they don't have an entirely red shirt, then help them find something that is red. We are also working hard to get 1/3 of their AR points by November 15th. Just as an aside, I have told them that next semester, this will not be acceptable. They must be reading the majority of their books at their reading level We will have the Walk of Fame tomorrow at 2:45 and our assembly is at 2:00.

Wednesday Book orders due on Friday

Students took their spelling tests this morning. Then we read, wrote more on our anti-drug essay and took AR tests. During math we took the 2nd half of the math test. I took some of the students this morning, before school, and during morning recess to work on areas they were struggling with the math test. In the afternoon students went to choir and to Miss Lu's class for science.

Remember that book orders are due on Friday. It is best if you order online. If you cannot, just sent the paper, filled out (last time I had two with no names on them) and the money and I will do the ordering. Tomorrow is hat day.

Tuesday

We read our new story today. It is about a visually impaired boy and his friend who start a business. We then did our fluency words and started on the vocabulary words. In math we took a test and corrected it in class. Then students went to the library and to science. Students have been taking AR tests in the morning and hopefully they will achieve their goals.

Tomorrow is wacky hair day.

Monday

Today was mismatched day. Tomorrow will be twin day. I told anyone that didn't have a twin to wear a sports team shirt and jeans and we would be matched. We did spelling and typing this morning. In math we prepared for our test tomorrow. The students seemed to understand the material. In the afternoon students took AR tests and then went to science.

Friday

This morning, after our spelling and reading tests, students started working on their writing. They are learning to add more information to their paragraphs, which is not as easy as it sounds. They are also working on their grammar, spelling and handwriting skills. After recess we reviewed rounding. Students were instructed to take their paper home. Please look at it and see if they need more help. We worked on equivalent fractions in class. Students struggled in following the instructions to write the numbers on the number line showing how many fractional parts were in each section. Once they followed that instruction, it was much easier for them to complete the assignment.

Next week is Red Ribbon week. We will be teaching the students the joy of staying away from addicting substances. Monday is mismatch hair day, Tuesday is twin, or triplet or . . . day, Wednesday is wacky hair day, Thursday is hat day and Friday is red shirt day. Please help your child participate in this activity and more importantly, talk to them at home about the need to stay free from addicting substances. Share with them how difficult it is to stop and how much control of their lives, their money and their freedom people lose by becoming addicted. Thanks for all you do.