Awards

Congratulations to our honor roll and principal's list award winners.  And also to our monthly award winners: Joshua - student of the month, Satrese and Collin - most friendly, and Satrese - most improved.

I gave the students their rubric and requirements for their power point presentations today.  We will be working on them in class next week - make sure your student has a flash drive.

I am also sending home a gymnastics permission slip.  I will start teaching my class a gymnastics routine for the Art Extravaganza.  Each child will have a part.  Please sign and return the permission slip by Monday.

Our field trip for this quarter will be to Gatorland on March 10th.  Please let me know ASAP if you will be able to attend.  Drivers are always needed.

Please make sure your child has completed their Reading Plus by Sunday night.

Reading Packets

Today the students drew posters about GRIT (God with us, Rising to the top, In spite of trials, Try, try again).  It is a reminder for those times when they are feeling uninspired and need to persevere. Good job Joshua on your poster.

In science we continued talking about good communication skills.  In fact, we even role-played different scenarios for practice.  Ask your child some of the things they have learned about communication.

I handed out new reading packets to the students. These chapters will be due on Monday, February 9th. If any student loses their packet they will lose 10 points from their grade.
3rd grade - chapters 1&2
4th grade - chapters 1-8
5th grade - chapters 1-10

Today we watched a video about how to create a PowerPoint presentation.  Next week we will begin to put together a PowerPoint about our scientist. Please make sure your child brings a flash drive to school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyoeGSFmI4E

Tomorrow our weekly assignments are due: SpellingCity, spelling words and definitions, and memory verse. Also remember that it is Spirit Day and Awards Day. 

Grit

Today we talked about grit.  Grit determines a child's educational success. Not their socioeconomic background, IQ, or even their health.  We talked in length about perseverance, passion, stamina and grit.  We even made our own class slogan to remind us what grit means. Each student also discussed their personal long term goals which helps them focus and stay motivated. Please watch these videos and discuss "grit" with your child. http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit#t-353973 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0qrtsYg6kI. 

We were also blessed today to get another gift for our classroom! Headphones for each computer. The students have been blessed with new and updated computers and headphones.  Thank you to our generous benefactor.

Tomorrow the 5th graders will have their Chapter 7 test. The students also did a handwriting assignment that is due tomorrow. 

Over time, grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness. ~John Ortberg 

Awards and Spirit Day This Friday

Please make a note that this Friday is our monthly awards ceremony and it is also our spirit day.  Students can wear their favorite team's jerseys or team colors.

Today the 4th graders did a great job on their mid-chapter test.  The 3rd graders have theirs tomorrow.  We also did our weekly math facts test.  Please continue to have your child work on their math facts.  There are many fun apps, games and flash cards for this purpose.  One such website is: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm.

In science we are talking about communication and today we discussed non-verbal communication, such as body language.

In writing we are going over the research papers and watching lessons on WPPonline to help us in the areas that we are weak.

The students took their reading tests today and tomorrow we will be introduced to their new reading books.

Due tomorrow: math assignments, math facts and handwriting lessons.

Our quote for today is from Eric Hoffer, "The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings."

Math for the week of January 26

MONDAY – MATH FACTS

3^rd                319 – 322, khanacademy.org – more than one equal section

4^th                319-322, khanacademy.org – multiplying fractions and whole numbers (STUDY)

5^th                325-328, khanacademy.org – multiplying mixed numbers

TUESDAY

3^rd                323-326, khanacademy.org – fractions on a number line (STUDY)

4^th                323-324 Mid Chapter Test – fractions app

5^th                329-322, fraction app

WEDNESDAY

3^rd                327-328 Mid Chapter – fractions app

4^th                325-328, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etIV7cDGNQs

5^th        333-336, khanacademy.org - STUDY

THURSDAY

3^rd                329-332, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp1ctUdv1c4

4^th                329-332, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BZYcGF_1bQ

5^th                Chapter 7 Test, 337-338 definitions

FRIDAY

3^rd                333-336, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZXAt4uNWFw

4^th        333-336, khanacademy.org - Multiplying fractions word problem: movie marathon

5^th                339-342, https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&v=ERQ_js-8piA&x-yt-cl=84503534#t=124

Half Day

Although today was a half day we still accomplished a lot.  The students started on their new spelling words and definitions, Bible verse and did their math assignments for the day.  

Tomorrow they must bring in their reading books.  We will be having our reading test.  They may also use their reading packets and questions and answers.

The 4th graders will also be having a mid-chapter test in math.

Today I have included a picture of the students enjoying the new computers.

Our quote for today is from Samuel Johnson, “What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”

Monday Math and Bible

MONDAY – MATH FACTS

3^rd                319 – 322, khanacademy.org – more than one equal section

4^th                319-322, khanacademy.org – multiplying fractions and whole numbers (STUDY)

5^th                325-328, khanacademy.org – multiplying mixed numbers

"My son, listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you.  What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal." Proverbs 1:8, 9

 

Velbis Classroom Upgrade!

Mrs. Velbis' classroom had an amazing surprise today when the students entered the classroom - 8 brand new computers!  A generous benefactor donated the new computers so that the students would have efficient and updated devices, that would help their computer skills and knowledge in our ever changing and fast pace world.  Mrs. Velbis and her classroom are so thankful and excited.

Please remember that the teachers have an in-service on Monday and so it will be a half day.  Also, Monday morning I will be checking WPP online for the research papers that are due.

Due on Friday

Due tomorrow: Spelling City assignments, definitions, Bible verses and questions and answers from each chapter of the reading book. Parents please sign homework sheets.  Today we did peer edits on our research paper and we also went over sample essays and I gave the students graphic organizers to help them with their papers.

Rough Drafts

Today in Bible and science we talked about making good choices when we are faced with difficult or stressful situations.  We did some role playing about different situations. The story of Joseph is a great example of how a good attitude can really change the outcome of our lives - God's training ground for us.

In math the 5th graders had a mid-chapter test today. The 4th graders have their chapter 7 math test tomorrow.  Please review the week's videos and lessons with them.

Today in writing we are working on our rough drafts for the research paper.  Tomorrow we will start to peer edit.  One student was very thankful for the steps we have taken and said, "I will never write a paper again without an outline! It makes it much easier."

In reading we are working on our questions and answers and going over reading packets. Next Tuesday we will have our reading tests.

Our quote for today is from J. Baxter, “What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.”

Doughnuts for Good Grades

Congratulations to Gabriel, Collin, Rebekah, Samantha, Luke, Jose, Joshua and Kristen for being either on the Principal's list or Honor Roll during second quarter!  They had doughnuts with the principal today in celebration of their hard work.

In Bible we discussed emotions and managing stress. Here is a good video on different ways that we can manage our stress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpQrMqDoqE

Today we started working on our rough drafts to our research papers.  We will be working on these tomorrow also and then we will start peer editing.  The paper is due on Monday morning on WPP online. Here is a video on rough drafts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=393LmOJn-5I

The students got their reading packets back today.  They will be writing their own questions and answers this week and will take the test next week.  The 3rd and 4th graders will need to complete 5 questions from each chapter and the 5th graders will need to complete 1 question from each chapter. 

Each answer must NOT be answered with a yes or no but a complete sentence – where the question is restated as an answer. These will be worked on in class and due on Friday.

Tomorrow the students need to show their completed math facts and math assignments.

Our quote from today is from David Almond, "Books... You read the first word and you're off on a journey of exploration and discovery.”