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This week will be pretty normal. I say pretty normal because two of the five days will be a little different. Learning will happen all 5 days, but on Thursday we will have a Christmas theme to our learning and on Friday, it is Polar Express Day.
In Lead 21, we will read about the South Eastern states and do some skill work. We have been working hard on comparing and contrasting, making connections to our reading, clarifying, and making inferences. This week, we will work on identifying generalizations, writing summaries, and more with synonyms and antonyms.
In language, we will continue to work on all skills learned by doing more Mountain Language. This program is designed to give kids mini lessons and repeat the same type of problems over and over again to help move the skills to long term memory. If you look at the online gradebook, you can see how most kids are getting better and better over time. We did the first one together so they would have a perfect guide to look back on. We have also graded a few in class together since then to review those mini lessons. This week, we will stress even more on adjectives. We will learn that there are two types, ones that answer what kind and ones that answer how many.
Spelling will be different this week. We will step away from the book and do some Christmas words. We will play some fun spelling games like sparkle, basketball, baseball, and password to help with spelling this week. The test will be on Thursday this week instead of Friday, due to Polar Express day. There is only one list this week.
In math we will pull out those rulers and learn to measure to different lengths and use different systems. We took our final multiplication test on Friday. Instead of 3 minutes I told the kids to just sit back and relax and do their best. I shared that it would be timed, but that I would not tell them how long it was going to be, but that it would be more time than I normally give. I gave them 5 minutes. I wanted to ease the time factor and just allow them to see success without that added pressure and it worked. It was long enough for most to finish, but still short enough that I could tell if they knew them without fingers or too much thinking. Well done class. Now, keep on practicing. We will use it all year long.
In SS, we will have our SE states and capitals test on Thursday. I sent home a blank map with all the kids on Friday. Some of you were requesting one so kids could practice the location part of the test. I decided that was a great idea and sent it home with all of them. We will also wrap up or first unit in MT History: The basics. Kids will have an open notebook crossword puzzle test this week.
All homework this week, will have a Christmas theme. It will mostly consist of math.
Nolan was our star of the week last week. He sure does enjoy those derby cars in boy scouts. He obviously is very good at it as well. He now took up karate instead, but you can tell that he remembers it fondly. Thanks for sharing Nolan!
While the class was in library on Friday, I snuck down to the Christmas concert. Boy that Ms. Waddell does some amazing things with those kids. I walked out thinking WOW! So, so cute, and everyone was dressed to the tilt. It made me smile to see so many parents filling every single seat in the gym. Arrowhead rocks, because of parents like you! Nicolas and Spencer were awesome elves as well. They got the props out quickly and picked them up even more quickly. Well done boys!
This Tuesday is the final Fitness Club. The Iron Eagles will also be announced. In order to become an Iron Eagle, students had to attend all fitness club workouts along with have excellent respect and responsibility character traits in and out of the club. That means, that everyone was watching them at all times. Mr. Pertuit emailed me with a list of kids that were eligible for the Iron Eagle Award asking me if they were showing above and beyond levels of respect and responsibility. Sadly, I couldn't say that for all of them. There is a lot of talking out in our classroom and some kids have some issues with turning their work in on time and completing homework. On the other side, I was able to say YES to so many. I was in fitness club the day that Mr. Pertuit explained these expectations and he made them VERY, VERY clear. There was no question as to what was expected of these very honored Iron Eagle members. He will offer another round later in the year. Who made it??? We will have to wait until Tuesday to find out. All students will get a reward for being in fitness club that day as well.
On Wednesday, the 5th grade band will have their holiday concert. We will attend so that kids can see what they are in for next year. 5th graders have the choice to be in general music, band, or orchestra. The concert will be at 1:30.
Well, that about sums it all up. I hope that you have an amazing week and that the weather is enjoyable the whole time.
Ms. Erickson
