Hi Parents, Wow! Such a week!
Reading- This week we are reading one of my favorite stories in this unit. We read a story called They Called Her Molly Pitcher. This is a great story to give them details of the harshness the soldiers went through during their battles in 1777 and 1778. Ask your children what life was like for them on the battlefields and in the camps. I would guess you have heard of Molly Pitcher, but I never knew her story. She definitely helped during the war. Ask your kids how she got her name because her real name was Mary Hays. She was definitely a brave woman! They will test over this on Friday along with the spelling test.
When we get back from break, I will be giving them a writing assignment that goes along with our unit. I will also be assigning the next book report project.
Math- We have started our next chapter on decimals. We are starting with learning the place value position and names for them: tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. They have to learn how to write it in expanded form, written form, and standard form. I can tell some have had no experience with this, which is totally fine. I keep referring to it as money and it seems to make more sense.
Religion- I did push getting through the end of our chapter so they could take a test over it before Christmas break. They have a study guide and will test tomorrow. When we get back from break we will do a little with Christmas.
Friday- It is a Spirit Day- they can wear sweats for $1. It is also Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! They can wear one if they have it. Please don't feel you need to go out and buy one! I am wearing a Christmas sweatshirt, but I don't feel it is ugly! :)
They will need a sack lunch as well. They do not need a drink. Milk will be provided. They will eat with their angels around 11:45. Afterwards, they will sing Christmas carols in the gym from 12:15-12:45. You are welcome to join us if you are free! If you want to take your child home afterwards...you can! Just let me know before you leave.
I hope everyone has an AMAZING Christmas and break! I am heading to Waterloo on Sunday. I will be at my brother's house. Two of my sisters and their families will be joining us. My sister Eva is driving in from Pennsylvania on Sunday! I can't wait to see her! Mrs. Sickels and I will be spending New Years in Branson, MO. We have never been there so that will be a fun little trip! Have fun. Enjoy your time with family. Eat a ton.Be safe. Enjoy the break. Remember the real reason for this season: the magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in HIS presence. Merry Christmas!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Hello Parents,
I hope you are having a great week! I can't believe we only have one full week until Christmas. So Crazy!
Reading- This week we read a story about King George. It is a narrative nonfiction piece. There are facts in it about the war and King George, but the author also add some funny information into it. We have had big discussions on how he thought he was in the right and doing only good things as a king for the colonists. He couldn't understand their unhappiness with him. He said they were like children who weren't listening to their parents. When they disobeyed he would punish them. One of the things he did was close the port to Massachusetts to them. We also discussed how he became really ill at the age of 50 and people thought he was basically crazy. He wasn't, but the illness did affect his brain.
I showed them a YouTube video from Hamilton of King George singing his song. It kind of goes along with our story because he sings about he will kill your friends and family because he loves you. I also showed them a video of the original cast singing for President Obama and his wife in the White House. I just wanted them to put a face to the many voices they listen to on my cd. They were excited to realize that one of the singers was also the teacher in the movie Wonder that we saw last year.
In grammar we are focusing on present, past and future tense verbs. We have also spent a lot of time on figurative language. Today we discussed similes, metaphors, alliteration, and idioms. Those can be difficult to remember which is which. They will be tested over those on Friday.
Math- They took their chapter test today! I told them yesterday that checking by multiplying was up to them on the test. I don't know that anyone chose to do that. I also told them that based on their work, I really expect some good scores. They have really caught on much quicker than other classes I have taught in the past. I have a good feeling. Our next chapter will start with learning about the place value names of decimals, but then we will turn it into adding and subtracting them. I think decimals will be in the next 3 chapters. They will learn to multiply and divide them.
Food Pantry- This Friday we will walk down to help out Mark and the others. We will also be bringing him the collection we have of items outside the office. I know the 4th graders took some stuff down last week. We have quite a bit gathered. I may need to have them come along too. Thanks so much for the donations. I know Mark and Mary really appreciate it.
Geography Bee- The 2nd round is next week. I know none of the 5th graders made it to that round, but you are welcome to join us in the gym to watch it if you like.
Friday, December 21- We will get out 2 hours early that day. They need a sack lunch. The milk or water will be provided. They will be eating with their Advent Angels. We will be singing Christmas carols with them from 12:15-12:45. You are more than welcome to join us for the singing! It is one of my favorite things!!! That day they can also dress up in their favorite Christmas sweaters, clothes, antlers, jewelry,etc! I know I have some girls with the onesy Christmas pajamas. They can wear those too. It is not required. I know in the past some kids get their angel a Christmas gift, which is fine, but NOT required or expected. If you do this, please keep it reasonable and small...something they can carry or put in their bag at the end of the day.
Loved the Christmas concert last week! I thought the 4th and 5th graders did an outstanding job! Mrs. Stoner always does a great job. The 5th graders did it again on Thursday when they sang at church!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! The weather is certainly warmer! I am not complaining!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
I hope you are having a great week! I can't believe we only have one full week until Christmas. So Crazy!
Reading- This week we read a story about King George. It is a narrative nonfiction piece. There are facts in it about the war and King George, but the author also add some funny information into it. We have had big discussions on how he thought he was in the right and doing only good things as a king for the colonists. He couldn't understand their unhappiness with him. He said they were like children who weren't listening to their parents. When they disobeyed he would punish them. One of the things he did was close the port to Massachusetts to them. We also discussed how he became really ill at the age of 50 and people thought he was basically crazy. He wasn't, but the illness did affect his brain.
I showed them a YouTube video from Hamilton of King George singing his song. It kind of goes along with our story because he sings about he will kill your friends and family because he loves you. I also showed them a video of the original cast singing for President Obama and his wife in the White House. I just wanted them to put a face to the many voices they listen to on my cd. They were excited to realize that one of the singers was also the teacher in the movie Wonder that we saw last year.
In grammar we are focusing on present, past and future tense verbs. We have also spent a lot of time on figurative language. Today we discussed similes, metaphors, alliteration, and idioms. Those can be difficult to remember which is which. They will be tested over those on Friday.
Math- They took their chapter test today! I told them yesterday that checking by multiplying was up to them on the test. I don't know that anyone chose to do that. I also told them that based on their work, I really expect some good scores. They have really caught on much quicker than other classes I have taught in the past. I have a good feeling. Our next chapter will start with learning about the place value names of decimals, but then we will turn it into adding and subtracting them. I think decimals will be in the next 3 chapters. They will learn to multiply and divide them.
Food Pantry- This Friday we will walk down to help out Mark and the others. We will also be bringing him the collection we have of items outside the office. I know the 4th graders took some stuff down last week. We have quite a bit gathered. I may need to have them come along too. Thanks so much for the donations. I know Mark and Mary really appreciate it.
Geography Bee- The 2nd round is next week. I know none of the 5th graders made it to that round, but you are welcome to join us in the gym to watch it if you like.
Friday, December 21- We will get out 2 hours early that day. They need a sack lunch. The milk or water will be provided. They will be eating with their Advent Angels. We will be singing Christmas carols with them from 12:15-12:45. You are more than welcome to join us for the singing! It is one of my favorite things!!! That day they can also dress up in their favorite Christmas sweaters, clothes, antlers, jewelry,etc! I know I have some girls with the onesy Christmas pajamas. They can wear those too. It is not required. I know in the past some kids get their angel a Christmas gift, which is fine, but NOT required or expected. If you do this, please keep it reasonable and small...something they can carry or put in their bag at the end of the day.
Loved the Christmas concert last week! I thought the 4th and 5th graders did an outstanding job! Mrs. Stoner always does a great job. The 5th graders did it again on Thursday when they sang at church!
I hope everyone has a great weekend! The weather is certainly warmer! I am not complaining!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Dear Parents,
How are you? I am writing this on our CraZY Wednesday! WOW! Such a day! I will see your kids tonight at the concert! They did an awesome job at practice today...to the point that I had goosebumps and teary eyes! I told them that is a sign of success! Make Miss Surma cry! Okay...not really.
Reading- This week we are reading the story called Dangerous Crossing. It is the story of John Adams and his young son Johnny on the ship called the Boston. They are sailing to France to get help during the Revolutionary War. Part of our story has what we call primary sources. This is actual sentences or quotes from John Adams journal.It adds a reality to the story that we wouldn't get if it was just from the author's creativity. We are starting to discuss this war more. They are very interested. We also compared the primary sources to us reading a book that someone wrote about 9-11. If there is someone's actual account from being there, we will get a different perspective of that day. Your kids asked a lot of questions about that day. I forget that they weren't alive yet. It was a good discussion. They also listened to the first song of the Hamilton soundtrack and were shocked when they discovered it was done in a rap! I think I have their curiosity piqued. 😊
In grammar they are working on pronouns. We made an interactive notebook entry on the different kinds of pronouns (subjective and objective are the focus). The difficult part is remembering that objective pronouns come after the verb in their sentences. The job of a pronoun is to replace a noun so it doesn't become too repetitive.
They will test over this story on Friday along with their spelling words.
Math- This week they were given the first number in their quotient to decide if that will work or if they need to adjust it. This is good practice at estimating for them. It does require them to do a lot of work and their eraser gets a lot of use. What I noticed with the kids who asked for help is still the same problem as before: either they forget they have another number to bring down to finish the problem or they are wrong in their multiplication. Some have been right in the multiplying area, but they write the wrong number in their quotient. When it comes time for the test, they will have to find their errors themselves. I won't be able to do that . (I haven't really shared that yet with them). We have one more lesson in this chapter. I am looking at them testing next week.
Religion- We are working on the Beatitudes right now. We have been having long discussions on how we can live them out. They will be creating a booklet to go along with our discussion.
Spirit Day- Friday is a Spirit Day! Wear sweats for $1!!!
Church Singing- Tomorrow we will head to the church around 11:30 to sing for the ladies and have lunch with them. The 5th graders will be very full by the time we return to school!
Food Pantry- The 5th graders will go work next Friday, December 14. Don't forget we are asking for donations. Kids in 3-5 are being asked to donate toilet paper. Please do what you can to help! We are taking donations until Dec. 14.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
How are you? I am writing this on our CraZY Wednesday! WOW! Such a day! I will see your kids tonight at the concert! They did an awesome job at practice today...to the point that I had goosebumps and teary eyes! I told them that is a sign of success! Make Miss Surma cry! Okay...not really.
Reading- This week we are reading the story called Dangerous Crossing. It is the story of John Adams and his young son Johnny on the ship called the Boston. They are sailing to France to get help during the Revolutionary War. Part of our story has what we call primary sources. This is actual sentences or quotes from John Adams journal.It adds a reality to the story that we wouldn't get if it was just from the author's creativity. We are starting to discuss this war more. They are very interested. We also compared the primary sources to us reading a book that someone wrote about 9-11. If there is someone's actual account from being there, we will get a different perspective of that day. Your kids asked a lot of questions about that day. I forget that they weren't alive yet. It was a good discussion. They also listened to the first song of the Hamilton soundtrack and were shocked when they discovered it was done in a rap! I think I have their curiosity piqued. 😊
In grammar they are working on pronouns. We made an interactive notebook entry on the different kinds of pronouns (subjective and objective are the focus). The difficult part is remembering that objective pronouns come after the verb in their sentences. The job of a pronoun is to replace a noun so it doesn't become too repetitive.
They will test over this story on Friday along with their spelling words.
Math- This week they were given the first number in their quotient to decide if that will work or if they need to adjust it. This is good practice at estimating for them. It does require them to do a lot of work and their eraser gets a lot of use. What I noticed with the kids who asked for help is still the same problem as before: either they forget they have another number to bring down to finish the problem or they are wrong in their multiplication. Some have been right in the multiplying area, but they write the wrong number in their quotient. When it comes time for the test, they will have to find their errors themselves. I won't be able to do that . (I haven't really shared that yet with them). We have one more lesson in this chapter. I am looking at them testing next week.
Religion- We are working on the Beatitudes right now. We have been having long discussions on how we can live them out. They will be creating a booklet to go along with our discussion.
Spirit Day- Friday is a Spirit Day! Wear sweats for $1!!!
Church Singing- Tomorrow we will head to the church around 11:30 to sing for the ladies and have lunch with them. The 5th graders will be very full by the time we return to school!
Food Pantry- The 5th graders will go work next Friday, December 14. Don't forget we are asking for donations. Kids in 3-5 are being asked to donate toilet paper. Please do what you can to help! We are taking donations until Dec. 14.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
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