Valentine Day Party Information

Our Valentine Party will follow our History Hall of Fame on Friday, February 12th. Hall of Fame is from 1:00-2:15 pm and the party will follow at 2:30 pm.

Brenda and Jeramie are in charge of the party this year so if you have any questions they are the ones to ask! Invitations will be coming home this week.

They are in need of some items (which will also be listed on the invitations) to help with the party. There will be a list of items to sign up for on the invitations.

It will be here before we know it!

Thanks!

RNB Assignments

We have spend lots of time on our readers notebook, and I feel the students have been doing a great job. Thank you for your support at home. Because they have been doing such a great job, then it is time to try to lessen the homework with hopes they will continue to do some of it on their own.

They will continue to have nightly reading assignments of 20 minutes. PLEASE make sure this happens. Spending time reading helps with all academics and success in school. The will no longer have the assigment on Monday and Wednesday to take notes on what they read (unless they choose to do so). They will still be held accountable for what they are reading on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they will have to do a RNB response.

We will soon be starting some ISTEP prep work as we prepare for the first round of ISTEP testing that starts March 1. We will spend time on literature response activities, writing prompts, and problem solving in math.

TIME Magazine HW for Tonight

Students are to read the cover story (pages 4-6) in their TIME Magazine tonight. They are then to make a Fact and Opinion chart in their RNB or WNB (their choice). They are to find at least 3 facts from pages 4-6. Then they are to write at least 3 of their own opinions related to the article.

Help our GPS Math

Next Wednesday (the 27th) we are doing our GPS (Group Problem Solving) math. We will be constructing snowmen using food items. We will be measuring the mass of the different items and the goal will be to build a snowman to equal a specific mass.

So what do we need? Items to build with! Any items such as marshmallows (big and small), small candies (red hots, MM's, Skittles, etc.), raisins, toothpicks, gummy candy (Dots, etc,), frosting, pretzels, licorice, etc.....whatever you have in your cupboards that you think could be useful!!

Thanks in advance for your help and donations!!

Spelling Lists

I have noticed some things in spelling. One big thing is that the students are doing a great job on their spelling tests (yay!), however it is not fully carrying over into their daily work yet. This tells me that they are memorizing how to spell the words, but not taking the time to think about it and write it a couple different ways in their WNB, RNB, and other daily work. One way to help this is to simply expose them to more words so they learn to recognize what looks right and what doesn't.

The class is divided into two spelling groups based on their current spelling needs. One group is spending time working on long vowel patterns...and there are several. This group is taking a break from spelling tests because they have proven they can do well on these because we have already done long vowels earlier in the year. However, they have not proven carry the patterns over into their daily work. Last week this group got a "long A" packet. This week they will get a "long E" packet. This packet is given on Monday and due on Friday. They may work on it at school during word study time as well as take it home from time to time to work on.

The other group is working on suffixes: word endings. This week we will spend time working on -sion and -tion.

Please spend time reminding your child to slow down when they write and sound out each part of the word. Have them write it 2-3 different ways and identify the ones that looks best to them. Then have them look it up on the computer or dictionary to see if it is correct. Please don't just give them the spelling!

Spelling lists are important, but it is even more important that we see them trying to spell words correctly in their daily writing.

Thanks!

Sample Hall of Fame Boards

Historical Hall of Fame

We have spent several weeks researching and reading, and I appreciate your help at home with this process. This week we are beginning the actual writing of our biographies. The students have also begun typing their title page, bibliography, and any extras (time lines, important dates, bio poems, fun facts, etc.). We have also printed some pictures of their person to include in their report. They are to write captions for this pictures.


In a couple weeks (hopefully next week) your child will receive a poster board. I will have samples to show them and hopefully pictures to put on the blog so you can see sample boards. This is one area they can really display their creativeness. We will work in class to write, type, and print clues for their board. I will also provide colored construction paper for them. They may print or add any additional items at home that they wish. They may add pictures, but not of their person. For example, if someone was doing Micheal Jordan they may add a picture of a Bulls Jersey, the number 23, and maybe a basketball, but no picture of him. They will actually complete this poster at home after I have provided the supplies.


It is time to begin thinking about their costumes. Remember these do not need to be extreme. Some people wear very simple ones while others go above and beyond. It is up to you and your child. Below are some pictures of costumes from past years.

Early Dismissal

Due to the weather we will be dismissing at 1:45 pm today, Thursday, January 7, 2010.

IF we do not have school tomorrow, we wrote our math homework in our assignment books and students were instructed to take home math books and folders. They are to complete Chapter 19, Lesson 1 (#1-7) and Lesson 3 (#1-31).

Again, this is only if school gets canceled on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Happy 2010!

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year!! See you all in a couple days!!