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