From February 23-27, we will be PARCC Testing from 9:30am-11am everyday. Because of testing, we will NOT be having spelling words for the next 2 weeks. This week, we will be doing some prep work during our normal shared reading time. I didn't want to continue with the spelling words from the unit since I would not be teaching the unit until after PARCC testing is over (Week of March 2). Later this week, I will post again about some tips for the week of testing. Thanks!
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In Science, we've been studying properties of matter. This past week, we tested 4 different kinds of toilet paper. We looked for softest, strongest (using beans), and flushability. The students loved it! The students will analyze their results and the best toilet paper will be revealed tomorrow (Monday) at school!
As we’ve been working with multiplication, the students have been having a really hard time memorizing their facts. To give them more practice, I am sending home a set of Multiplication Flashcards. We have already cut them out and put the answers on the back. Please keep these at home and practice EVERY night for at least 10 minutes. If your student is struggling, it might be helpful to focus on 10 at a time and once they are proficient in those 10 facts, add 10 more.
We filled our Jar of Marbles, so this Friday, February 6th, the students will be allowed to wear their pajamas to school. We are the ONLY class that I know of that is doing it this Friday, so if there are siblings that go to Kenwood, please still send them in uniforms. The students are also allowed to bring a stuffed animal with them to school. We have already discussed how if the stuffed animal/toy is a distraction at school, I will take it from them. The students are SUPER excited about this privilege and party! :)
With the 2 snow/cold days we had last week, instead of giving students their Spelling Test on Friday, I will be giving it this Friday, January 16th. Extra week to study those words! :)
We will also begin MAP testing this week (we were supposed to start last week but the weather caused us to push it back). In case some of your children bring it up, it is a benchmark test taken on the computer over 4 days. We took it once before at the beginning of the year and will once again take it at the end of the year (3 times a year, overall). The tough part about the test is that it is on the computer and some students have a hard time being familiar with the technology (We have used the computer quite a bit this year thus far, so hopefully it won't be as much of an issue this time around). A benefit of using the MAP test compared to other benchmarks is that it tests comprehension, not just reading fluency,and the questions also get harder or easier, depending on a students' answer. Please do let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this test. :) Because of MAP Testing, I will not have enough time throughout the day to teach all subjects, so that will mean less homework! I'm sure the students will be very upset about this... :P Below are links to our Holiday Program. Please share it with any family members that might not have been able to join us! :)
http://viewpure.com/bWsznDMzF4k http://viewpure.com/vEC5P8yyy_M Reading BuddiesEvery Thursday, we get together with Ms. Choi's class (kindergarten) and have reading buddies. Usually, we read and share our writing or books with our kindergarten friends. This week, we started a reindeer holiday craft! Code with a Kid TimeThis week was Computer Science Education Week so we invited parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. to come in and code with us during our Coding Time. We had a great turn out! They kiddos got to program cards, Christmas trees, and coded with Anna and Elsa from Frozen. Thanks to all the parents that came to join us!
Next week is National “Hour of Code” week. There are over 15 million students worldwide (and 5,000 in Champaign) that are signed up for this event. Even though we do some sort of coding/computer programming every week, our school is trying to make this week a little different and more special for our kiddos.
On Thursday, December 11th at 11am, I would like to invite all parents, guardians, or family friends/members to “Code with Your Kid” time. We will talk a little bit about our code time and then you will have the opportunity to experience Code Time with your student. We will be coding from 11:00-11:50am and go straight to recess and lunch. Please feel free to stay or leave as time allows for your schedule. We hope to see you all there!! :) I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family near and far. Last week, we made bread, pumpkin pie, butter, and apple butter so that we could have a mini-feast on Tuesday together. Did you know that there is actually no butter in apple butter? We thought that was not the best name and we decided as a class that apple spread was more appropriate! The students enjoyed themselves a lot learning about some of the food the settlers and Pilgrims ate when they came to America. Lots of fun and good food for all!
This Tuesday (December 2), we will be having a Holiday Program in the Centennial Auditorium. Our Program starts at 7:15pm while K-2 starts at 6:15pm. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early so that we can get lined up and ready to go. If you need a ride, please let me or Mrs. Ranney know and we can arrange one for you. Hope to see you ALL there! It's been a LONG time since I have updated our Classroom Blog. Sorry!
We have been busy with the start or 2nd quarter on many different things. The students have started their second round of Passion Projects and have some awesome ideas in the works! We finished off our Social Studies unit on Western Expansion and have started our new Science unit on farming and where our food comes from. In math, we have started to learn our multiplication facts which the students have been very excited about! We have won many different contests throughout the school. Woohoo! We won a snow cone party because of all our reading minutes, we won the chance to go Fact-or-Treating in other classrooms because of our math minutes, and we won the Box Top Contest! We have been busy with lots of different parties! I will hopefully be better about updating more frequently as to what is occurring in our classroom. This week, I will be presenting at a Conference on Thursday and Friday so there will be a sub in the classroom. Please be aware that things might not come home in a timely fashion or things might be a little off. Let me know if you have any questions! :) |
Ms. MaaThis section will be updated with weekly information and special announcements. Please check in every week! Archives
December 2015
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