Happy Thursday Parents! I hope your week is going well! The humidity is making it feel like summer!
Friday-- Pray for sun! We will plan on Field Day fun around 10:30. The afternoon will most likely be a movie for 3-5. IF it does rain, Mrs. Sickels, Mrs. Burg, and myself have been making a Plan B.
They will need to wear tennis shoes for the field day. No sandals. They will need a sack lunch with drink that day. No soda bottles bigger than 20 oz. No ala carte that day.
I would like to take a moment to just say thank you! Thank you for allowing me to be your child's teacher this year and the past two years as well. Thank you for entrusting them to me each day. They have made me laugh (almost) every day! They are a terrific group of kids and work so well together. I know I will miss them next year-- there is no doubt. I know they will do great things in middle school!!!! Thank you for your continued support. Thank you for choosing STM!!! I love my job and I love these kids!!!! This has been a great year even with the sadness. I hope you have a wonderful summer! I will be back to help with Ragbrai, and I am taking a class. Most of my summer will be in Doon at Mom's. There is a lot of stuff to sort through. Thanks again! God Bless you and your family!
Love, Miss Surma
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Hello Parents! I hope you are having a great week! I can't believe the end is so near for our year together!!
Reading- This week they read a short little mystery story about some missing deer. They had the mystery solved before we even finished reading it! We have been working more with commas in grammar. They will have a spelling test on Friday as well as a test over the story.
Next week we will read the final story in this unit. I will have a spelling test and a test over the story on Thursday, May 26. We will be working right until the end!!!
Math- We have been working on adding and subtracting mixed fractions. With the subtracting of fractions I have shown them two possible ways to come up with their answer. One is much quicker to do, but it does make them stop and think. They still have to borrow from their whole numbers, but now the value of that 1 is based on the denominator of the other mixed number. Some were opting for the other way until they really tried option #1 (as I called it in class). They did realize option #2 did take them longer and wasn't always fun to turn that improper fraction back into a mixed number. The way we are heading we will be testing over this chapter next Thursday. I was hoping it would be sooner, but this subtraction kind of stumped them. I hate to give a test on that day, but I don't have much choice.
Religion- They are taking an ACRE test right now. It is a standardized religion test-- kind of like Iowa Assessments, but not as long. I also read this one aloud because I know some of the words can trip them up. This is basically a test to see what they know in religion. It is taken in 5th and 8th grades. It isn't timed.
The 4th and 5th graders have mass next Wednesday. I believe every 5th grader has a part, but not every 4th grader was able to. Please join us if you can. It will be the last school mass of the year.
Thursday, May 26- They will clean out their desks in the afternoon before going home. They will need their book bag!
Friday, May 27-- Field Day will be in the morning. I will send out a schedule next week. It isn't an early out. We will gather in the gym around 2:30 for our final send off. They will need a sack lunch on that day. They should wear tennis shoes for sure--no sandals! They won't need their book bag that day, just their lunch!
Book Reports-- I am trying to get through grading them, but every night it seems there is something! As I get them done they will be able to take their posters home. Sorry it is taking so long! I get pretty detailed in my note taking!
Thank you so much for coming to the play last week! I hope you enjoyed it! They did an AWESOME job!!!!
Have a great weekend! I have a couple graduation parties to hit on Saturday and my nieces will be in Des Moines on Sunday to play some soccer! God Bless, Miss Surma
Reading- This week they read a short little mystery story about some missing deer. They had the mystery solved before we even finished reading it! We have been working more with commas in grammar. They will have a spelling test on Friday as well as a test over the story.
Next week we will read the final story in this unit. I will have a spelling test and a test over the story on Thursday, May 26. We will be working right until the end!!!
Math- We have been working on adding and subtracting mixed fractions. With the subtracting of fractions I have shown them two possible ways to come up with their answer. One is much quicker to do, but it does make them stop and think. They still have to borrow from their whole numbers, but now the value of that 1 is based on the denominator of the other mixed number. Some were opting for the other way until they really tried option #1 (as I called it in class). They did realize option #2 did take them longer and wasn't always fun to turn that improper fraction back into a mixed number. The way we are heading we will be testing over this chapter next Thursday. I was hoping it would be sooner, but this subtraction kind of stumped them. I hate to give a test on that day, but I don't have much choice.
Religion- They are taking an ACRE test right now. It is a standardized religion test-- kind of like Iowa Assessments, but not as long. I also read this one aloud because I know some of the words can trip them up. This is basically a test to see what they know in religion. It is taken in 5th and 8th grades. It isn't timed.
The 4th and 5th graders have mass next Wednesday. I believe every 5th grader has a part, but not every 4th grader was able to. Please join us if you can. It will be the last school mass of the year.
Thursday, May 26- They will clean out their desks in the afternoon before going home. They will need their book bag!
Friday, May 27-- Field Day will be in the morning. I will send out a schedule next week. It isn't an early out. We will gather in the gym around 2:30 for our final send off. They will need a sack lunch on that day. They should wear tennis shoes for sure--no sandals! They won't need their book bag that day, just their lunch!
Book Reports-- I am trying to get through grading them, but every night it seems there is something! As I get them done they will be able to take their posters home. Sorry it is taking so long! I get pretty detailed in my note taking!
Thank you so much for coming to the play last week! I hope you enjoyed it! They did an AWESOME job!!!!
Have a great weekend! I have a couple graduation parties to hit on Saturday and my nieces will be in Des Moines on Sunday to play some soccer! God Bless, Miss Surma
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Happy Thursday Parents! I hope you are having a great week!
Reading-- We have been running lines and practicing for the play with every spare minute! I think you will enjoy it! It is only about 10 minutes long once it starts! The kids will celebrate afterwards in the room with the pink frosted cake! They will have a spelling posttest on Friday. There is no weekly test! They should bring their costumes to school on Friday morning.
Book Reports-- These are due on Monday! They should have their project and costume with them when they come to school. I believe we will be able to get through all of them on Monday, but if not we will finish them up on Tuesday.
Math- This week they are working on renaming fractions with common denominators and then adding and subtracting them. They will be getting to add and subtract mixed numbers as well. If everything goes as planned, they will finish this chapter and test over it before our year ends.
Library Books-- All library books must be returned by May 19. The 5th graders will still need to have something to read during free time in the classroom. They can get a book off of my shelf or something from home. I don't mind if it is a magazine either.
Middle School Day- I believe the 5th graders will be spending part of a Wednesday with the middle school kids to get a feel of what that will look like next year. I don't have an exact date yet, but I will let you know.
Iowa Assessments-- The scores are back. We will be sending home their scores soon.
I hope you have a great weekend! I can't believe our year is ending soon. Where did it go???
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Reading-- We have been running lines and practicing for the play with every spare minute! I think you will enjoy it! It is only about 10 minutes long once it starts! The kids will celebrate afterwards in the room with the pink frosted cake! They will have a spelling posttest on Friday. There is no weekly test! They should bring their costumes to school on Friday morning.
Book Reports-- These are due on Monday! They should have their project and costume with them when they come to school. I believe we will be able to get through all of them on Monday, but if not we will finish them up on Tuesday.
Math- This week they are working on renaming fractions with common denominators and then adding and subtracting them. They will be getting to add and subtract mixed numbers as well. If everything goes as planned, they will finish this chapter and test over it before our year ends.
Library Books-- All library books must be returned by May 19. The 5th graders will still need to have something to read during free time in the classroom. They can get a book off of my shelf or something from home. I don't mind if it is a magazine either.
Middle School Day- I believe the 5th graders will be spending part of a Wednesday with the middle school kids to get a feel of what that will look like next year. I don't have an exact date yet, but I will let you know.
Iowa Assessments-- The scores are back. We will be sending home their scores soon.
I hope you have a great weekend! I can't believe our year is ending soon. Where did it go???
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Hello Parents, It is so nice to see the sun again!!! I hope you are all having a great week!
Math- We are working on our fractions. This week we focused on estimating fractions to the nearest Benchmark number (0, 1/2, and 1). Once they estimated the fractions they had to add or subtract them. We are also going to start working on finding the common denominator and creating an equivalent fractions.
Reading- This week they read a story called Mysteries at Cliff Palace . This is located in the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Their spelling list this week is dealing with suffixes. The words are more difficult because the suffixes sound similar. I told them they would really need to study for their post test on Friday. In Grammar we are covering the rules for creating abbreviations for places and titles.
On Wednesday, we read our play The Baker's Neighbor aloud together. I wanted them to get a feel for the play and their lines. They are trying out on Thursday with me and possibly Mrs. Mitchell. I will tell them which part they got on Friday. I have to do some switching because I have more kids then parts. They will be practicing with me all week next week. They will perform it for you on Friday, May 13 at 2:15 in the gym. Afterwards we will celebrate with the pink frosted cake and some juice or water. They will also perform for 1st grade. They might be with you or we will do a dress rehearsal on Friday morning with them. They will be needing costumes, but it isn't anything you should have to shop for. IF they get the part of Manuel, Pablo, or the Judge-- mass clothes. Pablo could wear a hat. If they are Carlos or one of his sisters-- their own clothes. They are supposed to look like kids! One of the women or villagers-- be creative! They are to look older! I've had kids dress up as cowboys or wear hats. I have had girls raid their grandma's closet and find a dress. I have seen wigs, mustaches, hats, scarves, canes, or walker
Their book reports will be due on Monday, May 16. I will do as many as we can that day, but we may have to run into Tuesday as well. We will see. They should come to school on Monday with their costume and report or poster.
In their folder is a score sheet of the Unit 5 test they took while I was gone. You will notice that on the revising section I had to adjust the scoring. I guess they didn't copy a page of the test. I am not going to give that to them now. This was a benchmark test which means more stories to read. I believe this was also given the week after Iowa Assessments.
I know these weeks are going to fly by! I keep reminding them we have a lot to cover before it is over!
Have a great weekend! To all the mothers-- I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! From this daughter-- there was no greater gift from God, then my mom. You do more and mean more than you will ever know! I am heading to Waterloo to see my niece Gracelyn get ready for her prom.
God Bless, Miss Surma
Math- We are working on our fractions. This week we focused on estimating fractions to the nearest Benchmark number (0, 1/2, and 1). Once they estimated the fractions they had to add or subtract them. We are also going to start working on finding the common denominator and creating an equivalent fractions.
Reading- This week they read a story called Mysteries at Cliff Palace . This is located in the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Their spelling list this week is dealing with suffixes. The words are more difficult because the suffixes sound similar. I told them they would really need to study for their post test on Friday. In Grammar we are covering the rules for creating abbreviations for places and titles.
On Wednesday, we read our play The Baker's Neighbor aloud together. I wanted them to get a feel for the play and their lines. They are trying out on Thursday with me and possibly Mrs. Mitchell. I will tell them which part they got on Friday. I have to do some switching because I have more kids then parts. They will be practicing with me all week next week. They will perform it for you on Friday, May 13 at 2:15 in the gym. Afterwards we will celebrate with the pink frosted cake and some juice or water. They will also perform for 1st grade. They might be with you or we will do a dress rehearsal on Friday morning with them. They will be needing costumes, but it isn't anything you should have to shop for. IF they get the part of Manuel, Pablo, or the Judge-- mass clothes. Pablo could wear a hat. If they are Carlos or one of his sisters-- their own clothes. They are supposed to look like kids! One of the women or villagers-- be creative! They are to look older! I've had kids dress up as cowboys or wear hats. I have had girls raid their grandma's closet and find a dress. I have seen wigs, mustaches, hats, scarves, canes, or walker
Their book reports will be due on Monday, May 16. I will do as many as we can that day, but we may have to run into Tuesday as well. We will see. They should come to school on Monday with their costume and report or poster.
In their folder is a score sheet of the Unit 5 test they took while I was gone. You will notice that on the revising section I had to adjust the scoring. I guess they didn't copy a page of the test. I am not going to give that to them now. This was a benchmark test which means more stories to read. I believe this was also given the week after Iowa Assessments.
I know these weeks are going to fly by! I keep reminding them we have a lot to cover before it is over!
Have a great weekend! To all the mothers-- I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! From this daughter-- there was no greater gift from God, then my mom. You do more and mean more than you will ever know! I am heading to Waterloo to see my niece Gracelyn get ready for her prom.
God Bless, Miss Surma
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