Hello Parents, The days are counting down!!! Christmas break is getting closer! This will be the final letter for 2014!!!! WOW! Time is flying by quickly!

Reading-- We read a story this week on James Forten. He was a free African American who fought during the Revolutionary War.  We helped on a ship. His job was to help load the cannons with the gun powder. Their ship had chosen to surrender instead of the possibility of being sunk. He was then captured. He and other prisoners were held on an old ship that they turned into a prison. James was worried that once he was captured, he would be sent to Africa and be made a slave, which was a real possibility. He didn't. By the end of his life he had become a wealthy businessman and then he fought for the rights of women to vote and the equal rights of all African Americans. His story is pretty remarkable. We had a pretty good discussion on the topic. This unit has created great discussions on how they fought in the Revolutionary War and how much has changed since that time. In grammar we are working on when to use commas and semi-colons as well as quotation marks. We did most of this together in class because I really think that this area of punctuation is difficult. There are so many rules are where these things need to be placed. Now, the worksheets made it pretty easy for us because they left us a gap where the punctuation was to go! I'm afraid that gap won't be there on the test! I did tell the kids that! Our test is going to be today due to the busy schedule we have on Friday.
When we return in January we will have one more story in the unit before we have to take the unit test.

 I will also be assigning the next book report when we return in January. It won't be due until late February.

Math-- I thought they did GREAT on their tests. The most missed questions dealt with estimating. The reason they missed might have been the wrong answer, but most missed them because they didn't show me their estimating. They just chose one of the answers. I told them throughout the chapter and before they took the test, they had to show me their estimating or I would just assume they guessed.  I also told them that it is NOT estimating when we add or subtract a problem and then just round that up.  I taught them to round or use benchmark numbers first and then do the adding and subtracting. Scores would have been even better if they had just taken the time to do that, and they had plenty of time. I am just doing some more decimal work with them before we go on break. When we return we we will work on multiplying decimals. 

Christmas Program-- Don't forget the Christmas program is on Sunday at the YMCA at 2:00. Make sure you let Mrs. Mullin know if your child won't be there. I am excited to see the 5th grade perform. They come in singing after music! We head to the YMCA on Friday to practice. 

December 23, 2014-- The students will need a sack lunch on Tuesday. No drink needed. Remember it is now a 2 hour early out!!!! 

Advent Angels- The students will eat with their Angels on Tuesday. I know some kids like to get their Angels a Christmas present, which is very kind. I do want to suggest that it be reasonable in price and size. These little kids have to be able to get it home on Tuesday and that may mean the bus. I know last year some bought these huge stuffed animals for their little Angel and while it was a sweet gift, it made it hard for them to carry on the bus. Remember you don't have to buy a gift at all.! That is not a requirement, and I don't expect you to. 

January 7-8- I am planning to be gone on these dates. My mom is having 2 teeth removed. With her Alzheimers and being on a blood thinner, I want to be there just in case she needs something..unless the weather stops me from going. I will be back with the kids on the 9th. The 7th is a 3 hour early out day. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!! May you have a wonderful holiday with friends and family. If you are traveling, I pray for a safe trip. I am heading to Doon as soon as we get out on Tuesday.  Merry Christmas! God Bless, Miss Surma