Holiday Fun!

We had a fun Friday! We performed our reader's theaters, played math bingo, had a pizza party lunch and had a fantastic Winter Party! Thank you to all that helped organize. The students had a terrific time. Have a fun and relaxing holiday break!

Hour of code

This is Evie and Hayden bloggers this week.  We are doing hour of code this week. Hour of code is computer programing. We are learning to do this by playing these games.  You have to think ahead of what you are going to do then you test it.  Some are real easy and some are really hard.  It can really get your mind thinking.  Here is the link: http://csedweek.org/learn

Donze's Details 12-13

During math stations this week, students had to help Santa save Christmas! Students had to use their math skills to budget money for presents, multiply, and add up the costs. Today they had to finish the project. I was excited to see how they naturally collaborated with each other to problem solve!

Details for next week :

• We will have a science test next Wednesday. The study guide will be sent home today.
•  Next Friday is our Winter Party! Our party will begin at 2:00.  Thank you to all that are organizing!
• Students have earned a double reward party and voted to bring in stuffed animals and watch a movie next Friday. With your permission please let your child bring in a stuffed animal. Thanks!
• Winter break begins after school next Friday!  Classes resume on Monday, January 6.  Have a nice relaxing winter break!

Student working together on a math project to save Christmas!

Weekly Update 12-6

Happy snow day!  I hope everyone is enjoying staying warm and enjoying their day off.  Here is information about next week:

• Our Unit 4 math test will be on Monday!  Students were given the study guide on Tuesday to use as a review.  
• Wednesday, December 11 is an early release day. Please make sure your child knows where they are to go at dismissal.
• We will have a science vocabulary quiz next Wednesday.  The vocabulary cards are in the student's binders.
• Six Flags reading forms will be sent home Monday.  Students can read to earn a free ticket to Six Flags. The forms are due February 20!

 You may have noticed students writing journal coming home more often.  A few days a week I give the students a prompt to respond to as homework. They are doing a great job using what we are learning in class in their journals! 

In science we are learning about rocks, weathering, and erosion.  On Wednesday we went on a "Weathering Walk" in Crestwood Park to find signs of weather or erosion. 

Thomas and Will's IMPORTANT blog post

(Will's part)

Today the principal, city Administrater and ,get this, the mayor of Crestwood where here at school (more info at Thomas's part).He said some hi's and looked around.  Any way more about the event on Thomas's part.

(Thomas's part)

Here is the whole story. I went up to the office and waited for the Mayor, Jeff Shlink and City Administrater, Mark Sime. Went they got here we lined up just inside the door and shook the Mayor's and City Administrater hand. We gave them a tour around the building. The kindergarten classroom, the first grade room, the fourth grade room and the fifth grade room. They didn't ask many questions and we told them about the other spaces. 

Two Ways to do 2 Digit Multiplication and other Details

Today we began 2- digit multiplication!  The students were excited to learn this skill.  I showed the students different ways to solve this type of problem.  The first way is a traditional method.  (The way I learned in school).  The other way is a called lattice multiplication.  At first it looks intimidating, but sometimes this way is easier for the students to solve. After practicing both methods several times I let the students decide which way they would like to solve their problems.   Take a look!

Other details:

• No Friday homework this week!  Happy Thanksgiving!
• We do not have school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Enjoy the long weekend!
• Spelling tests will be Monday and Tuesday for the Green and Yellow groups.  The lists are in the binder for students to study.

Turtlehead Multiplication (Traditional)

Lattice Multiplication

Rocks Rock!

Hi am Jack. I'm class blogger of the week. Today we learned how to make rocks and we observe rocks. When we were making the rocks, we used sand, gravel, pebbles and suger water. Now, we have to wait in till Christmas break!!! This is my favorite unit in science! :)

Writing Celebration and other Details

Today we celebrated our writing! Our class has been working especially hard in writing and I am so proud of their growth!  Students have been writing realistic fiction stories for the past several weeks. At the beginning of our unit we work on creating a story arc to map out our stories.  Then we had several lessons over dialogue, creating interesting characters, using "show not tell" sentences, and creating interesting leads. Students also met with writing partners throughout the unit to help come up with ideas and revise their stories.  Once students created their final drafts they created a cover to go with their story.  Today they shared their stories in groups and gave out awards!  Ask your child about their story!

Next week:

• Monday is our Veteran's Day Assembly.  It will begin at 9:00.  Please encourage your child to wear patriotic colors!

• Wednesday is Early Release.  Please make sure your child knows what they are to do at dismissal. Thank you in advance!

• We will have a social studies test over chapters 4 and 5 on Wednesday.  The study guide was sent home yesterday.

• Friday homework this week is a math page.  It is due next Friday!

Have a great weekend!