Hello Parents! I hope you are having a great week! We actually have had a FULL week! We had better hold on because I think it will get a little crazy!
Reading- This week they were taking their unit tests. I will send scores as soon as I am done checking them. I would say overall scores came up with this one.
Next week they will get back to spelling tests and a weekly story. This week they also started a new writing project. This one is being done in partners. They were given a piece of paper that had 3 different lists. They would roll a dice for each category. That number would determine their setting, character, and plot of the story. They could add characters to the story as they wrote. We are almost done typing our Harris Burdick stories and will be sharing those in class. I will post the finished ones in the hallway for conferences.
Reminder: Book Reports are due on Friday!!!!
Math- This week they were busy with their Biztown Math. They were to choose an item that they would like to save up money for and purchase. These were BIG items for the most part. Once they each had a picture of the item and an average price, they had to determine how many years they wanted to save up the money to buy it. Then they figured out how much they would have to save each month. Once they had that figured out we went shopping for banks. They were looking for the best interest rates for savings accounts. We found Wells Fargo had the best rate. From that point on we entered their data into a calculator on moneychimp.com. This showed them how much interest they would make in 5 years based on how much they were going to save each month. I think they had fun doing this project. They are also discussing all the different ways we can pay for items or get cash. They read information on debit cards, cash cards, gift cards, credit cards, checks, cash, and prepaid cards. They are determining which ones are easy to use, more difficult as well as the advantages and disadvantages of them. They will be working on Biztown in social studies starting on Thursday!
Religion- Their test is on Thursday. We will start a short unit on Lent next.
Conferences: I sent an email to you to have you sign up for conferences. If that day doesn't work for you, email me and we will make other arrangements. Thank you!!!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! It sounds like it will be a very nice weekend! God Bless, Miss Surma
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Hello Parents, I hope you are going to enjoy our spring temperatures this week! I hope it sticks around!
Math- We are working on our BizTown math during class time. Last week they learned how to write a check and record it. We are doing more of that this week. They are also learning about overdrafts. Such fun stuff! I think they are enjoying it!
Math tests were pretty good. I told them the thing I picked up on is that they aren't paying attention to their decimals. That was usually the reason the answer was wrong. They know how to multiply! They just need to pay attention to whether they are multiplying whole numbers and decimals or decimals x decimals. The rule for their decimal changes with each.
Reading- We read an excerpt this week from The Black Stallion, This part of the story focused mostly on Alec and the Black learning to trust each other to help their survival on the island. We also focused on the story map and figuring out the conflict of the story and then how and when it was resolved. They also had to come up with a theme or a lesson we are to take from the story. Their spelling list this week was fun to give because it is words from other languages. I love telling them that before they take the pretest. Their reactions are funny! They did decide some of those words are hard to spell. In grammar we are working on how you write titles of books, magazine, articles, movies, TV shows, etc., when you include it in a story. Some get underlined, but others just need quotation marks. I told them if they can remember --if you can hold it in your hand, it gets underlined-- books, magazine, movies. Poems are usually in a book of poems, articles in the newspaper or magazine--do not get held alone. You hold the newspaper or the book it is found in.
Auction- Thank you for the donations! If anyone else still wants to donate, please do so! I will get it to Katie or Kim! Don't forget to buy your dinner tickets for March 5 if you are able to attend!
Religion- Our chapter is covering the Sacraments of Healing. We discussed both the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. We will have the students go to confession during Lent.
Book Reports-- Their 2nd report will be due on Friday, February 26!
Have a great weekend! Enjoy those spring like temps! I may even wash my car! :)
God Bless, Miss Surma
Math- We are working on our BizTown math during class time. Last week they learned how to write a check and record it. We are doing more of that this week. They are also learning about overdrafts. Such fun stuff! I think they are enjoying it!
Math tests were pretty good. I told them the thing I picked up on is that they aren't paying attention to their decimals. That was usually the reason the answer was wrong. They know how to multiply! They just need to pay attention to whether they are multiplying whole numbers and decimals or decimals x decimals. The rule for their decimal changes with each.
Reading- We read an excerpt this week from The Black Stallion, This part of the story focused mostly on Alec and the Black learning to trust each other to help their survival on the island. We also focused on the story map and figuring out the conflict of the story and then how and when it was resolved. They also had to come up with a theme or a lesson we are to take from the story. Their spelling list this week was fun to give because it is words from other languages. I love telling them that before they take the pretest. Their reactions are funny! They did decide some of those words are hard to spell. In grammar we are working on how you write titles of books, magazine, articles, movies, TV shows, etc., when you include it in a story. Some get underlined, but others just need quotation marks. I told them if they can remember --if you can hold it in your hand, it gets underlined-- books, magazine, movies. Poems are usually in a book of poems, articles in the newspaper or magazine--do not get held alone. You hold the newspaper or the book it is found in.
Auction- Thank you for the donations! If anyone else still wants to donate, please do so! I will get it to Katie or Kim! Don't forget to buy your dinner tickets for March 5 if you are able to attend!
Religion- Our chapter is covering the Sacraments of Healing. We discussed both the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. We will have the students go to confession during Lent.
Book Reports-- Their 2nd report will be due on Friday, February 26!
Have a great weekend! Enjoy those spring like temps! I may even wash my car! :)
God Bless, Miss Surma
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Happy Thursday!!!! I hope everyone is having a good week! I guess winter is still here. :( I think we all had a great time at the basketball game at Wells Fargo!
Reading- This week they read a story called Darnell Rock Reporting. It was about a boy who wrote an article for the newspaper about the need to turn a basketball court into a garden for the homeless people in his town. He then had to go to the city council meeting and make a presentation on the topic. He had to go up against a girl who wanted the court turned into a parking lot for the teachers. One of the things we discussed that while he lost at the meeting, some good things came out of it. A man donated some land for the gardens, plus the newspaper asked him to write another article. We talked about how the author's purpose was to show that one voice could do a lot, and that you might not get everything you want, but good things can happen anyway. Their grammar this week has been on different kinds of pronouns: indefinite, possessive, and interrogative. These would be words like: someone, anything, anyone or hers, theirs, mine, and who, what, and which.
Next week will be the last story in this unit. That means they will take a unit test the week of Feb.22. There won't be any spelling words that week. Their book report is due Friday, Feb.26.
Math- We finished our last lesson on Monday. On Wednesday, they were assigned the chapter review. We will go over that on Thursday, but I am pushing the test to Monday. On Friday, we need to do some math for our BizTown field trip. I will remind them on Friday to take home that extra practice worksheet in their math books. That can be used like a study guide for the test.
Religion- We are just starting our new chapter. This one is on the sacraments of healing, which would be penance and reconciliation and anointing of the sick. They also filled out their Lenten promises for this Lenten season. They will start activities with their Lenten Angels next week, I believe. If you notice on the school calendar, we are still having the Seder Meal, but it will be the Wednesday before spring break starts.
Living Rosary- The 5th graders did a GREAT job last week with the living rosary! I received many compliments from other teachers on how well they did!!! Go 5th GRADE!
Auction- Thank you to those who have sent in a donation towards our basket and silent auction items. For those of you that haven't yet, please do what you can! We will need those in by the end of the month for sure, if not sooner. Please just do what you can to help out.
Valentine's Party is on Friday. I have my volunteer for drinks and snacks! Keely Coen received money from one of the STM alumni postcards. They requested that money be used in the classroom somehow...so that is how it is being spent! Thank you, STM Alumni!!! I did make a bag for our teacher's aide, Miss Thomas, so if your child wants to give her a Valentine, that would be great!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am planning on going home to pick up Mom if the weather cooperates. She seems to be getting more snow than we are here! She will be with me until Spring Break!!!
God Bless, Miss Surma
Reading- This week they read a story called Darnell Rock Reporting. It was about a boy who wrote an article for the newspaper about the need to turn a basketball court into a garden for the homeless people in his town. He then had to go to the city council meeting and make a presentation on the topic. He had to go up against a girl who wanted the court turned into a parking lot for the teachers. One of the things we discussed that while he lost at the meeting, some good things came out of it. A man donated some land for the gardens, plus the newspaper asked him to write another article. We talked about how the author's purpose was to show that one voice could do a lot, and that you might not get everything you want, but good things can happen anyway. Their grammar this week has been on different kinds of pronouns: indefinite, possessive, and interrogative. These would be words like: someone, anything, anyone or hers, theirs, mine, and who, what, and which.
Next week will be the last story in this unit. That means they will take a unit test the week of Feb.22. There won't be any spelling words that week. Their book report is due Friday, Feb.26.
Math- We finished our last lesson on Monday. On Wednesday, they were assigned the chapter review. We will go over that on Thursday, but I am pushing the test to Monday. On Friday, we need to do some math for our BizTown field trip. I will remind them on Friday to take home that extra practice worksheet in their math books. That can be used like a study guide for the test.
Religion- We are just starting our new chapter. This one is on the sacraments of healing, which would be penance and reconciliation and anointing of the sick. They also filled out their Lenten promises for this Lenten season. They will start activities with their Lenten Angels next week, I believe. If you notice on the school calendar, we are still having the Seder Meal, but it will be the Wednesday before spring break starts.
Living Rosary- The 5th graders did a GREAT job last week with the living rosary! I received many compliments from other teachers on how well they did!!! Go 5th GRADE!
Auction- Thank you to those who have sent in a donation towards our basket and silent auction items. For those of you that haven't yet, please do what you can! We will need those in by the end of the month for sure, if not sooner. Please just do what you can to help out.
Valentine's Party is on Friday. I have my volunteer for drinks and snacks! Keely Coen received money from one of the STM alumni postcards. They requested that money be used in the classroom somehow...so that is how it is being spent! Thank you, STM Alumni!!! I did make a bag for our teacher's aide, Miss Thomas, so if your child wants to give her a Valentine, that would be great!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am planning on going home to pick up Mom if the weather cooperates. She seems to be getting more snow than we are here! She will be with me until Spring Break!!!
God Bless, Miss Surma
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Note from the office:
Iowa Energy Game
Iowa Energy Game
Tuesday, February 9th
Buses leave at 8:30 am
Buses will back by 2:45 pm
*Wear St. Malachy Gear
*All students will ride on the bus to the event.
*Students may leave with their parents. Students MUST check in with their teacher prior to leaving.
*School lunch is provided
*We will not be purchasing from the concession stands.
*Students should never be without an adult for any reason.
*If you child is not riding the bus home please contact the office by Monday at 3pm to let the school know their travel arrangements.
Hello Parents,
I hope your week has been going well. We have really been enjoying Catholic Schools Week, even the snow day!
Due to it being CSW and our snow day...the scheduling of things has kind of been off all week.
Reading- This week they read an autobiography called The Dog Newspaper by Peg Kehret. This is the story to show how she got into writing. She started her own newspaper, but it didn't last long. All of her stories were about her dog BJ or the dogs in the neighborhood. She discovered that writing about dogs didn't lead to very exciting stories. I believe the 5th graders did some research on Peg in their library classes last fall. I have also talked to them about some of the books I have read by her. She writes great little mysteries for their age level. This week we also worked on the skill of identifying facts and opinions in the story. Their grammar this week has focused on prepositions and prepositional phrases. They can give you details, or answer questions like: how, when, or where? We did do some more work on adverbs as well. They will test over this story on Friday.
Book Reports-- These are due at the end of the month. I think many of them have already finished their books and have started the work on their project!
Math- They are working on multiplying decimals by decimals this week. I talked to them briefly about this is how we figure out the sales tax we pay on items in the store. The trick is remembering where to put the decimal and that it is different than when they multiplied decimals by whole numbers. On Wednesday they were making up problems for everyone to solve. They soon discovered some of their suggestions led to a lot of multiplying. :) We should be finishing this chapter next week some time.
Religion- They did great on their test over the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Next week Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. We will be working on making our promises for what we plan to give up for Lent this year. It is also important to note that you don't have to give up something...you can make a promise to do more of something... setting time aside to pray each day, write a letter each week, donate time or money to a cause or an organization, read more. I remind them that whatever they do or give up...shouldn't bother the people in their life. They shouldn't be making your life difficult because they give up something. :)
Energy Game-- Please make sure you've turned in your permission slip for the game on Tuesday. We will be wearing our STM colors or gear!!! The school will be providing the kids with their lunches. If you are going to go to the game and plan on taking your kids home with you afterwards, please just let me know! Thanks!!!
Valentine's Day Party- The 5th graders will celebrate on Friday, February 12 in the afternoon. They will trade their Valentines then. Would anyone be able to help donate a snack or a drink to our party? If so, please email me or write it in your child's assignment book. It doesn't have to be big-- a Little Debbie treat or juice boxes??
Auction- Please do what you can to help our class with their auction basket and silent auction item. I will collect any donations and give them to Katie. Thank you!!!
Mass on Friday is at 1:30. If you are taking your child home afterwards, please let me know!
Have a great weekend!!! God Bless,
Miss Surma
I hope your week has been going well. We have really been enjoying Catholic Schools Week, even the snow day!
Due to it being CSW and our snow day...the scheduling of things has kind of been off all week.
Reading- This week they read an autobiography called The Dog Newspaper by Peg Kehret. This is the story to show how she got into writing. She started her own newspaper, but it didn't last long. All of her stories were about her dog BJ or the dogs in the neighborhood. She discovered that writing about dogs didn't lead to very exciting stories. I believe the 5th graders did some research on Peg in their library classes last fall. I have also talked to them about some of the books I have read by her. She writes great little mysteries for their age level. This week we also worked on the skill of identifying facts and opinions in the story. Their grammar this week has focused on prepositions and prepositional phrases. They can give you details, or answer questions like: how, when, or where? We did do some more work on adverbs as well. They will test over this story on Friday.
Book Reports-- These are due at the end of the month. I think many of them have already finished their books and have started the work on their project!
Math- They are working on multiplying decimals by decimals this week. I talked to them briefly about this is how we figure out the sales tax we pay on items in the store. The trick is remembering where to put the decimal and that it is different than when they multiplied decimals by whole numbers. On Wednesday they were making up problems for everyone to solve. They soon discovered some of their suggestions led to a lot of multiplying. :) We should be finishing this chapter next week some time.
Religion- They did great on their test over the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Next week Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. We will be working on making our promises for what we plan to give up for Lent this year. It is also important to note that you don't have to give up something...you can make a promise to do more of something... setting time aside to pray each day, write a letter each week, donate time or money to a cause or an organization, read more. I remind them that whatever they do or give up...shouldn't bother the people in their life. They shouldn't be making your life difficult because they give up something. :)
Energy Game-- Please make sure you've turned in your permission slip for the game on Tuesday. We will be wearing our STM colors or gear!!! The school will be providing the kids with their lunches. If you are going to go to the game and plan on taking your kids home with you afterwards, please just let me know! Thanks!!!
Valentine's Day Party- The 5th graders will celebrate on Friday, February 12 in the afternoon. They will trade their Valentines then. Would anyone be able to help donate a snack or a drink to our party? If so, please email me or write it in your child's assignment book. It doesn't have to be big-- a Little Debbie treat or juice boxes??
Auction- Please do what you can to help our class with their auction basket and silent auction item. I will collect any donations and give them to Katie. Thank you!!!
Mass on Friday is at 1:30. If you are taking your child home afterwards, please let me know!
Have a great weekend!!! God Bless,
Miss Surma
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