Hello Parents, I hope you are having a good week! The temps are certainly much nicer!

Reading- The book reports are done! They did a great job on their projects! This week we are reading our last story in this unit. It is called Cougars. This is a nonfiction informational story. They are learning all kinds of facts about cougars! We are also working on main idea and supporting details. On Tuesday, they worked with a partner to find three details from the story that would support that the mothers care for their young. They also had to prove that cougars have good eyesight. Since this is our last story in the unit, they will do a unit test next. I don't like the idea of doing it next week when we only have two days, but we start it and then finish after break. I will think about this a little more. In grammar we are working on adding quotation marks and commas. I told the kids that the company doesn't make it hard because they leave these gaping holes on their worksheets making it very obvious. It won't be like that on the test. They will need to look to find the one that is written correctly.

Math- This week they are continuing their work with division, but on Monday we had to decide how to use the remainder. Did it become a fraction? Do we just drop it or do we need to bump up the answer by one. On Tuesday, we had to adjust the quotient. They gave them a number to start with in their answer. They had to decide if it would work or not. If it didn't, they had to adjust their answer. This lesson brings out the frustration and I warned them about that possibility. They did pretty well with the 6 problems in their assignment. Wednesday's worksheet maybe more of a challenge. I have also seen some do some of the work and then just give up and fill in an answer when it is multiple choice. We don't want that come test time, or they will have a greater chance of having to correct it with me. They just need to slow down, erase, and try again. I think it will be difficult for some on the test because they don't like having to find where they messed up on homework. They come to me. During the test, I won't do that for them. They will need to figure out where the mistake is in their work. I am planning on testing over this chapter before we leave for break unless something happens that I cannot.

Religion- We are working on our chapter on the Beatitudes now. We focused on getting ready for mass on Monday and Tuesday! They did an awesome job by the way! We also enjoyed a visit from Father Phillip, the new priest in Greenfield. Today we read about a saint named Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. He is known as a "man of the beatitudes". He helped many people. He even accepted money as his graduation gift from his dad instead of a car. That money he gave to other people to help them. He is definitely a good role model.

Spirit Day-- This Friday! 

Geography Bee- The first round will be on Tuesday for the 4-8th graders. The top 10 kids will then move on to round 2, which we usually do in December. If your child makes it to the second round, you are welcome to come and watch. Most times we have it after a mass in the gym.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I won't post a blog next week due to Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. There is much to be thankful for in our lives. My plan is to head to Waterloo and spend it with my brother and his family. I probably should do some baking this weekend!
Happy Thanksgiving!
God Bless,
Miss Surma

Hello Parents, I hope you are enjoying your January weather in November! Me? Not so much! I am not ready for these temps!

Math- This week they are learning the standard algorithm for division. We started on Tuesday with doing some division one problem at a time. So far they are doing well. They remember the steps of division, but I am trying to teach them some easier tricks to estimating to start the problem out. So far the problems haven't been too big so they are able to easily get an estimate. They are also doing well at explaining to me why a larger number wouldn't work.

Reading- This week we read a historical fiction  story called Storm Warriors. It takes place in the 1800s. It is about a group of men whose job it was to rescue people from their ships during storms. I am guessing kind of like the Coast Guard does now. They didn't have the equipment we do today. In this story the ship was 30 yards off the coast and they had to swim out to them to save them. The main character Nathan wants to be a surfman, but thinks he isn't courageous enough to do the job. Through the story he is saving people by helping them once they reach the beach. He has read many medical books, so he knows first aid. He soon realizes he does having the makings for being a surfman. We all enjoyed this story!  In grammar, we are continuing with subordinating conjunctions and complex sentences. I gave them a list of words that can be used as subordinating conjunctions. They can use this list on homework and the test on Friday.  Our spelling list is interesting this week because it is all compound words. Did you know that it can be a compound word even if there is a space between them?  Light bulb is one example. Some of the words have hyphens too.

Religion- We are just starting our new chapter. We are covering the Beatitudes. This will be pretty detailed because they have to come up with ways to live them. The won't have to memorize them.

Spirit Day- We have three spirit days this month! This Friday is one! They can wear sweats for $1!

Artist in Residence- Next week each grade will be helping to create our art project. It will be displayed outside Mrs. Stoner's room. I will be excited to see what they come up with!

This week in our class meeting time I gave each kid a sheet of paper with everyone's name on it, They  had to come up with a positive word to describe each person. Then they cut them into slips and put them in the envelope with the person's name on it. I am taking them and creating a poster of them. I will hang them up in our room once all of them are done. They will get the envelope back to see all the descriptions as well! They were so excited to see what people said about them. I need to get to work on it ,or they will be after me for sure!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am helping with the high school's musical so I will be there all weekend! I hope some of you can come! I have yet to see the entire play, but I will!
God Bless,
Miss Surma