Merry Christmas!!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy this time with the people you love!!

IN History Test

Last Friday was our IN History test. I am sure many of you have heard from your child it was much more difficult. Instead of creating the test, as I have done in the past I have begun using the book test to help prepare them for upcoming grades where the book tests are often used. The first test is often the most difficult until the students get used to the format. Each test after this one will look very similar to this one (coming home today). So please don't worry too much if your child didn't do as good as he/she usually does on these test. Hopefully it will get better each time!

More Pictures :)

2 More Days...

This were the shoppers who helped shop for the gifts at Wal-mart!

Below, Brielle and Grace quickly hunt for the piece of paper with their name on it. What a fun game!

Gift wrapping at the Christmas party. Everyone did a great job at wrapping gifts! Thanks!

Anxiously awaiting the gift exchange game. Students has to pass their gifts right or left depending on the words used in the story.

Only two days of school this week! I am sure the kids will be very excited, as am I! We have several Christmas activities planned this week. Christmas day will be here before we know it! Thanks for a GrEaT Christmas party!

Light Shows

Enjoy!

Trans-Siberian Light Show

Amazing Grace Light Show

Christmas Time is Here!

Wow. I am so impressed, proud, amazed, speechless,.....I could go on and on.....with each and every one of my students...your children! They have worked so hard over the last month or so to raise money for our Christmas family and have gone above and beyond what I ever imagined! I witnessed so many amazing things over the last few weeks. Students not only budgeted their money to spend throughout the weeks, but they also brought in their own money for this Christmas project. Some students forgot money here or there or were unable to pay for certain days. We had several students offer these students money from their own pocket so they wouldn't miss out on the reward for the day. No one asked them to do this....they just did it! Each and everyone of you parents should be very proud of your child. After the fundraising was over Vicki took the money to the bank and came back to tell us the total....over $370!!! Wow! Because of that amazing total we were able to pick up another child to shop for! Thanks to everyone who could make it to Wal-mart to shop, and for those of you who couldn't we completely understand! Hopefully you can make it to our Christmas party where students might be wrapping a present or two for our family!

4 More Days....

Thank you to those of you who sent in items off our class wish list!! The items are greatly appreciated and come in very useful!!

The Countdown....7 More Days!

• We are almost there! Only 7 more days....where does time go?? I want to send out a huge THANK YOU to everyone! I don't know the final count yet, but our class donated lots of money for our Christmas family in need this year. You should be very proud of your child! There were several students who helped out other students as well, when money was forgotten or they didn't have any. It was a great reminder of what Christmas is really about. I am very proud of each and every one of them. And a huge thanks also to Vicky...who really made this all happen. Thank you!!
• Next week we will be doing a Christmas activity. If you have any extra Christmas gift wrap, bows, ribbon, or name tags laying around we would love to have it!
• Don't throw away your old Christmas cards this year! Cut of the front and send them in! We use them to decorate cards to our nursing home buddy along with other crafts as well!
• Don't forget to send the appropriate recess gear with your child....snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, etc. It helps if you bundle them all together in a large bag, such as a garbage bag.
• IN History and Jeopardy test next Friday, December 18th
• Christmas party next Friday, December 18th at 2:30 pm
• We are beginning to collect items for our OCAS Buddy! Items need to be in by Dec. 17th! Just a reminder: Our buddy's name is Charlene. She is on a sugar free diet. She enjoys music and dancing along with word puzzles. She is in room 207 A if you ever want to stop by for a visit. Hopefully we can have a goody bag ready to do! Anything such as winter/Christmas decor, magazines, lotions, sugar free candy, etc. would all be great gift ideas!
• Christmas exchange gift for our classroom are due next Tuesday!!

First Snow

The first snow always brings a lot of excitement for recess. Just remember that in order to play in the snow students need snow pants, boots, etc.! It helps to send them into school with these items sometimes in a large garbage bag. This way they don't try to stuff them into their book bag and get all their homework and papers wet!

Reminders

• We are beginning to collect items for our OCAS Buddy! Items need to be in by Dec. 17th! Just a reminder: Our buddy's name is Charlene. She is on a sugar free diet. She enjoys music and dancing along with word puzzles. She is in room 207 A if you ever want to stop by for a visit.
  Hopefully we can have a goody bag ready to do! Anything such as winter/Christmas decor, magazines, lotions, sugar free candy, etc. would all be great gift ideas!
• If you are able to donate items or help at our Christmas party (Dec. 18th) contact Vicky Zeddis!
• Gift exchange gifts for our Christmas party!! If you are uncomfortable sending a gently used toy from home, you may purchase a new toy (under $5) to send in.
• Shopping day for our adopted family on Sunday, December 13th at 4:30 pm. We will be meeting at the Wal-mart at Jefferson Point. Hope you and your child can make it!!

We're Back!

Back from Thanksgiving break and back to work! We have soooo much to do before Christmas break. We are going to be busy!

In math, we are continuing our work with multiplication and division. Remember we will also be assessing these in third quarter, so we don't expect students to have the process mastered yet. It is a hard skill to learn....so be patient with them! We are also working with graphs, lines, and angles.

In reading, we have been focusing on plot and character. They have been doing a great job. Identifying character traits is a great way to extend your child's vocabulary. So often they can describe the character, but can't come up with that one word...help them and have them put it in their "New Words" section of their RNB.

We are starting our focus on non-fiction in reading. So encourage your child to bring home a non-fiction book and read 1-2 nights a week. It is great note taking practice and a great way to expand their reading interests.

Have a great week!!