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
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
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
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Hello Parents, I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break! You even got an extra day! I had a great time with my brother's family in Waterloo. I even got up at 5 am to watch my nephew do his live broadcast for KWWL News on Black Friday. While the hour wasn't my fave, it was fun to see him on TV!
Reading-This week we are taking the Unit 2 test. I will get you scores next week. Next week I am excited because I get to start my Revolutionary War unit. All of our stories in the next unit will be in some way dealing with the war. I think there are a lot of great stories and we get to meet some cool people! They will also get to hear my Hamilton soundtrack! They will learn about King George and laugh when they hear him sing!
Math-This week they are just working more on long division. The struggle is real. They are doing fine really, better than I anticipated! They just get frustrated because now I have taught them to check their work by multiplying which is another step, but also it teaches them to slow down. They get frustrated when things don't match up, but usually the errors are in their initial multiplication when dividing or subtracting. Some are forgetting they have more numbers to bring down to finish the problem. We will also be looking at the remainders to see what they could possibly do with them. Could we cut them up so that we have a fraction? Do we just add one more bus so that everyone gets to go on the field trip if the dividing didn't work out evenly? Maybe there is nothing you can do, so it is just a remainder. This chapter will be done in the next couple of weeks.
Religion- We focused on getting ready for mass so far, but now we will be back in the books and focusing on the Beatitudes. Thank you for helping with the noisy change collection. There will be another one next week. I believe our family has 4 kids that want new clothes.
Food Pantry- There is a flyer going home to help with donations for the Food Pantry this month. We are starting the collection on Dec. 3 and it will end on the 14th. If you can help, please do. Thank you!
Spirit Day- They can wear sweats on Friday, Nov. 30 for $1!!
Book It Calendar- The November calendars will be due on Monday because if they want to read anymore at home on Friday, they can add on those minutes. The December calendar will be given to them on Friday. I believe it goes up to 700 minutes. That's about 23 minutes a day, but they need to think about Christmas break. Will they read over break? I hope so, but I know they may be too busy.
Advent - It starts this weekend! They will get to work with their Advent Angels starting next Wednesday.
Music Program- The Christmas program is next Wednesday night, December 5 at 6 pm. It is held at the high school in their auditorium. There is a permission form in your child's folder for you to fill out. We will go over by bus on Wednesday afternoon to practice.
On Dec. 6 the 5th graders will be singing for the ladies in our church. They will also get to eat there! They put out a really nice spread! I believe Mrs. Stoner will be sending home a permission form for that as well. They don't have to dress up for that. They can just dress like a normal school day.
I know there is a weather change coming for when our kids can be outside before school and at recess. Mrs. Simmons will be putting it in her blog. I will get it to you once she has it posted.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. If the weather is cooperative, I am supposed to go to Des Moines on Sunday to meet up with my sister and her daughters and granddaughter. We have tickets to Aladdin!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Reading-This week we are taking the Unit 2 test. I will get you scores next week. Next week I am excited because I get to start my Revolutionary War unit. All of our stories in the next unit will be in some way dealing with the war. I think there are a lot of great stories and we get to meet some cool people! They will also get to hear my Hamilton soundtrack! They will learn about King George and laugh when they hear him sing!
Math-This week they are just working more on long division. The struggle is real. They are doing fine really, better than I anticipated! They just get frustrated because now I have taught them to check their work by multiplying which is another step, but also it teaches them to slow down. They get frustrated when things don't match up, but usually the errors are in their initial multiplication when dividing or subtracting. Some are forgetting they have more numbers to bring down to finish the problem. We will also be looking at the remainders to see what they could possibly do with them. Could we cut them up so that we have a fraction? Do we just add one more bus so that everyone gets to go on the field trip if the dividing didn't work out evenly? Maybe there is nothing you can do, so it is just a remainder. This chapter will be done in the next couple of weeks.
Religion- We focused on getting ready for mass so far, but now we will be back in the books and focusing on the Beatitudes. Thank you for helping with the noisy change collection. There will be another one next week. I believe our family has 4 kids that want new clothes.
Food Pantry- There is a flyer going home to help with donations for the Food Pantry this month. We are starting the collection on Dec. 3 and it will end on the 14th. If you can help, please do. Thank you!
Spirit Day- They can wear sweats on Friday, Nov. 30 for $1!!
Book It Calendar- The November calendars will be due on Monday because if they want to read anymore at home on Friday, they can add on those minutes. The December calendar will be given to them on Friday. I believe it goes up to 700 minutes. That's about 23 minutes a day, but they need to think about Christmas break. Will they read over break? I hope so, but I know they may be too busy.
Advent - It starts this weekend! They will get to work with their Advent Angels starting next Wednesday.
Music Program- The Christmas program is next Wednesday night, December 5 at 6 pm. It is held at the high school in their auditorium. There is a permission form in your child's folder for you to fill out. We will go over by bus on Wednesday afternoon to practice.
On Dec. 6 the 5th graders will be singing for the ladies in our church. They will also get to eat there! They put out a really nice spread! I believe Mrs. Stoner will be sending home a permission form for that as well. They don't have to dress up for that. They can just dress like a normal school day.
I know there is a weather change coming for when our kids can be outside before school and at recess. Mrs. Simmons will be putting it in her blog. I will get it to you once she has it posted.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. If the weather is cooperative, I am supposed to go to Des Moines on Sunday to meet up with my sister and her daughters and granddaughter. We have tickets to Aladdin!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Hello Parents, Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a great week! The temperatures make me think of January. I'm not ready for this!
Religion- We are wrapping up our last mystery of the rosary. They are working on the Sorrowful Mysteries. The sad ones. We will be back in the book and then we are going to focus on the Beatitudes.
Math- This week we have done some review, but also started working on compatible numbers to estimate. The kids don't really round to do this. They have to find compatible numbers so they don't end up with a remainder. So if they are dividing 562 by 23. They would change 23 to 20 and then think what is close to that 5 and it works with 2s. They might choose to divide 400 by 20 or 600 by 20. Either answer will work out perfectly! We just started this today. For some the concept comes easily, for others it does not. We will be working on more of this tomorrow.
Reading- We are in our last story of this unit. This week's story is called Cougars. That is exactly what it is about as well. This one is an informational article that they would find maybe in a science book. They learn different facts about cougars. How there fur helps them. How the mothers take care of them. They say that cougars leave their moms at about 18 months old. I asked them, "Can you imagine leaving your house at that age?" We also learned that their sight is their strongest sense. Cougars also go by different names depending on where they live. Our grammar this week is working with quotation marks. We have done most of that together. Today I gave them some graph paper and they had to create a wordsearch with their spelling words. Tomorrow they will trade papers and have to find the 20 words in someone else's puzzle. They will test on Friday. Next week we will not begin our unit test. I will have them doing other things. When they get back from Thanksgiving break we will do the unit test.
I loved all the book reports! They did a great job on their projects! So many different ones-- that was an extra perk!
Geography Bee- Next week we will do the first round. We do that in the classrooms in the upper wing. The top 10 from that round will go to the next round. We usually do that in December. That is the one you will be invited to come watch. This is for kids in grades 4-8.
Mass- The 5th graders will be in charge of mass on November 28-- the week after Thanksgiving. I will give them their parts next week.
St. Malachy Vendor Fair- This Saturday in the gym! Get some Christmas shopping done early! 😄
I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading back to UNI. They are hosting educators at the football game on Saturday night. I received free tickets in the mail. My sister and sister-in-law are also teachers who graduated from UNI-- we all got tickets! It will be fun to be back in the Dome watching the Panthers!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Religion- We are wrapping up our last mystery of the rosary. They are working on the Sorrowful Mysteries. The sad ones. We will be back in the book and then we are going to focus on the Beatitudes.
Math- This week we have done some review, but also started working on compatible numbers to estimate. The kids don't really round to do this. They have to find compatible numbers so they don't end up with a remainder. So if they are dividing 562 by 23. They would change 23 to 20 and then think what is close to that 5 and it works with 2s. They might choose to divide 400 by 20 or 600 by 20. Either answer will work out perfectly! We just started this today. For some the concept comes easily, for others it does not. We will be working on more of this tomorrow.
Reading- We are in our last story of this unit. This week's story is called Cougars. That is exactly what it is about as well. This one is an informational article that they would find maybe in a science book. They learn different facts about cougars. How there fur helps them. How the mothers take care of them. They say that cougars leave their moms at about 18 months old. I asked them, "Can you imagine leaving your house at that age?" We also learned that their sight is their strongest sense. Cougars also go by different names depending on where they live. Our grammar this week is working with quotation marks. We have done most of that together. Today I gave them some graph paper and they had to create a wordsearch with their spelling words. Tomorrow they will trade papers and have to find the 20 words in someone else's puzzle. They will test on Friday. Next week we will not begin our unit test. I will have them doing other things. When they get back from Thanksgiving break we will do the unit test.
I loved all the book reports! They did a great job on their projects! So many different ones-- that was an extra perk!
Geography Bee- Next week we will do the first round. We do that in the classrooms in the upper wing. The top 10 from that round will go to the next round. We usually do that in December. That is the one you will be invited to come watch. This is for kids in grades 4-8.
Mass- The 5th graders will be in charge of mass on November 28-- the week after Thanksgiving. I will give them their parts next week.
St. Malachy Vendor Fair- This Saturday in the gym! Get some Christmas shopping done early! 😄
I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading back to UNI. They are hosting educators at the football game on Saturday night. I received free tickets in the mail. My sister and sister-in-law are also teachers who graduated from UNI-- we all got tickets! It will be fun to be back in the Dome watching the Panthers!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Hello Parents, I hope you enjoyed the long weekend. I was able to get my house cleaned finally, so I know I did! haha The time change and the weather change has certainly reminded us of the time of year!
Reading- This week we read a historical fiction story called Storm Warriors. It takes place in the 1800s. It is about a young man named Nathan and his desire to be a surfman. That was the job of saving people from shipwrecks, etc. I would imagine..the Coast Guard now. Nathan doesn't think he can do the job until he is really put to the test and is required to his medical knowledge to save some people that were on the boat. This is a good story and I think the kids were really interested in it. Tomorrow we will read a short story about the real men that did this job. Our grammar has continued to work on subordinating conjunctions and how they can be used to connect a dependent and independent clause. The spelling list was fun on Monday because it was compound words. Did you know that those can be written as one word, two words, or connected with hyphens??? Your kids weren't so sure either. Some of their words are: life preserver, homework, up-to-date.
The book reports are due tomorrow. We will probably start to share those, but will finish them up on Friday.
Math- This week we are working on partial quotients. This is the new way of dividing that I told your kids...you won't take this home to Mom and Dad. You might ask them to show you though! It is pretty cool and they figured it out really quickly! The trick seems to be watching the subtraction. We will go into estimation next and finding compatible numbers. We don't round when we estimate in division. When we find compatible numbers, we don't have to worry about a remainder. They all work out evenly.
Religion- We are still working on our mysteries. This time they are drawing out the Glorious Mysteries.
Veteran's Day- You are welcome to join us for the program in the gym at 2:00. We are asking the kids to wear red, white, and blue that day. It is also a Spirit Day-- so they can wear sweats for $1. If they have any in red, white, or blue...that would be cool!
Food Pantry- We will also be walking to the Food Pantry on Friday. We will be back in time for the program. I have already talked to Mark about that.
Book It Calendars-- I got a great return on them for the month of October! Keep it up!!!!
Weather Change-- The weather is getting colder and from what I see in our forecast for Thursday and Friday we may even see some of that white stuff. Please make sure your child has hats and gloves for recess. I am not sure the sweatshirts are going to be warm enough anymore. The winter coats may need to start showing up.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! If you have no plans, the high school is doing Footloose as their musical. I know a lot of STM Alumni will be in it!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Reading- This week we read a historical fiction story called Storm Warriors. It takes place in the 1800s. It is about a young man named Nathan and his desire to be a surfman. That was the job of saving people from shipwrecks, etc. I would imagine..the Coast Guard now. Nathan doesn't think he can do the job until he is really put to the test and is required to his medical knowledge to save some people that were on the boat. This is a good story and I think the kids were really interested in it. Tomorrow we will read a short story about the real men that did this job. Our grammar has continued to work on subordinating conjunctions and how they can be used to connect a dependent and independent clause. The spelling list was fun on Monday because it was compound words. Did you know that those can be written as one word, two words, or connected with hyphens??? Your kids weren't so sure either. Some of their words are: life preserver, homework, up-to-date.
The book reports are due tomorrow. We will probably start to share those, but will finish them up on Friday.
Math- This week we are working on partial quotients. This is the new way of dividing that I told your kids...you won't take this home to Mom and Dad. You might ask them to show you though! It is pretty cool and they figured it out really quickly! The trick seems to be watching the subtraction. We will go into estimation next and finding compatible numbers. We don't round when we estimate in division. When we find compatible numbers, we don't have to worry about a remainder. They all work out evenly.
Religion- We are still working on our mysteries. This time they are drawing out the Glorious Mysteries.
Veteran's Day- You are welcome to join us for the program in the gym at 2:00. We are asking the kids to wear red, white, and blue that day. It is also a Spirit Day-- so they can wear sweats for $1. If they have any in red, white, or blue...that would be cool!
Food Pantry- We will also be walking to the Food Pantry on Friday. We will be back in time for the program. I have already talked to Mark about that.
Book It Calendars-- I got a great return on them for the month of October! Keep it up!!!!
Weather Change-- The weather is getting colder and from what I see in our forecast for Thursday and Friday we may even see some of that white stuff. Please make sure your child has hats and gloves for recess. I am not sure the sweatshirts are going to be warm enough anymore. The winter coats may need to start showing up.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! If you have no plans, the high school is doing Footloose as their musical. I know a lot of STM Alumni will be in it!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Monday, November 5, 2018
Veteran's Day Program- You're invited to join us this Friday, November 9 at 2pm for our school program to thank our veterans. If you know of a veteran, ask them to join you! Students should wear red, white, and blue that day. It is also a Spirit Day so they can wear sweats for $1. We'd love to see you there!
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