Hello Everyone, I hope you had a great week off. I am so sorry the end of our break turned into such a tragedy for our community. We are praying for the Sharps, their family and friends, and the kids at the public school every day.
Reading- This week is a little crazy with Holy Week, so I opted not to do a story this week. I did assign them their final book report. You may be hearing about their person already! I know I am getting little tidbits every day! They are really working hard at learning about their person! It's great! The due date is May 4. They have a packet with the information in it.
The other item they are working on is their Dollars for Scholars Essays. This year they had to choose an attribute from a list about 6-8 words and explain how that is important to their education. Some of the words are: caring, respect, responsibility, and fairness. They are writing and typing those up here. The top 3 will be sent on for the contest.
We will do a story next week and spelling words!
Math- We started our fractions chapter. They are working on making equivalent fractions using multiplication. So far so good. I keep hearing things like, "this is easy." Hopefully it stays that way!
Religion- They are finishing up their chapter on living the Ten Commandments. They will have a test over it next week. They are also watching the old Ten Commandments movie with Charlton Heston. They have noticed that the backgrounds in the scenes don't look real, but I keep reminding them the movie was made in the 50s! The CGI wasn't as good back then! It is still a classic movie.
Seder Meal- Our annual Seder Meal is tomorrow ( Thursday). The 5th graders will help me set it all up. This is another tradition that I love that we do here.
Good Friday- Remember there is no school this Friday.
Iowa Assessments will begin on Monday, April 9. We should be done by the 12th, but we can use the 13th for any kids who miss a day in-between.
I hope you all have a great weekend and a very happy Easter! Enjoy what remains of our Holy Week! I am heading to my brother's house in Waterloo after work on Thursday. I will spend the weekend there.
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Hello Parents,
I hope you are having a good week. It seems winter isn't quite done with us yet. I know that shorts are allowed, but I want to make sure your kids know that the morning temp and recess temp may still be cold. They should have their winter coat with them just in case.
Reading- On Tuesday, they took their test over our last story. On Wednesday, they started our Unit 4 test. I am going to see if we can get it done on Thursday. That would mean on Friday we would start a new story that would wrap up the Thursday before break starts. We will see how things go and I will decide from there.
Religion- We just finished our Lent chapter. We will start working on living the Ten Commandments. We also will go to the chapel on Friday to pray the Rosary.
Food Pantry- We won't be going to work this month. Our week would be over spring break. The next time they will go will be in late April. We are collecting paper towels, kleenex, and toilet paper though to give to them.
Math- We are just about done with this chapter. We are now dividing decimals by decimals. On Wednesday, they learned that they can add 0's to their dividend to continue dividing and get the answer. The key I keep reminding them of is that they won't have any remainders if they are dividing their problems correctly. I think they will test over this chapter before they leave for spring break. I believe our next chapter will be fractions!
Spirit Day- This Friday is another Spirit Day! $1 for sweats!
Movie Night- This Friday the PTO is having a movie night for families here at STM. They are showing the movie Coco. It starts at 6:30 in the gym. There will be concessions for purchase!
Conferences- I think I have most of you signed up for a time. If you haven't yet, please do so! The link is on our classroom Facebook page. I also have it here on another blog I put out earlier this week. Thank you!
I hope you have a great weekend! Hopefully some warmer temps will be heading our way! I am ready for spring! I don't know that I will put out a blog next week since I will see you in person! If you are traveling for spring break, have a safe trip. I hope EVERYONE has a great break!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
I hope you are having a good week. It seems winter isn't quite done with us yet. I know that shorts are allowed, but I want to make sure your kids know that the morning temp and recess temp may still be cold. They should have their winter coat with them just in case.
Reading- On Tuesday, they took their test over our last story. On Wednesday, they started our Unit 4 test. I am going to see if we can get it done on Thursday. That would mean on Friday we would start a new story that would wrap up the Thursday before break starts. We will see how things go and I will decide from there.
Religion- We just finished our Lent chapter. We will start working on living the Ten Commandments. We also will go to the chapel on Friday to pray the Rosary.
Food Pantry- We won't be going to work this month. Our week would be over spring break. The next time they will go will be in late April. We are collecting paper towels, kleenex, and toilet paper though to give to them.
Math- We are just about done with this chapter. We are now dividing decimals by decimals. On Wednesday, they learned that they can add 0's to their dividend to continue dividing and get the answer. The key I keep reminding them of is that they won't have any remainders if they are dividing their problems correctly. I think they will test over this chapter before they leave for spring break. I believe our next chapter will be fractions!
Spirit Day- This Friday is another Spirit Day! $1 for sweats!
Movie Night- This Friday the PTO is having a movie night for families here at STM. They are showing the movie Coco. It starts at 6:30 in the gym. There will be concessions for purchase!
Conferences- I think I have most of you signed up for a time. If you haven't yet, please do so! The link is on our classroom Facebook page. I also have it here on another blog I put out earlier this week. Thank you!
I hope you have a great weekend! Hopefully some warmer temps will be heading our way! I am ready for spring! I don't know that I will put out a blog next week since I will see you in person! If you are traveling for spring break, have a safe trip. I hope EVERYONE has a great break!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Hello Parents,
I have posted on here and our Facebook page a link to sign up for conferences. Please let me know if you can't get it to work.
Reading- So we are off due to the snow. We had our test day on Tuesday. On Wednesday we started the last story in this unit. The story they will be reading is The Black Stallion. I felt pretty old when I said the title and they gave me these looks that said,"What????" I gave them their pretest today. I usually give them some kind of clue about the list. Their clue today was--words from other countries! I love this one! They always think I'm giving them words in other languages until they start to hear the list! We did have some fun words like: dungarees, siesta, tycoon! So, their posttest will be on Tuesday of next week, I think. We are going to just take it day by day!
Religion- As part of our Lenten promise this year, I decided I would add prayer to our list. We were going to start last week, but that didn't work out. So, this week I took each religion class to the chapel and we prayed the rosary. These kids have it down pat! I love saying the rosary, but when I know they know it and they enjoy that quiet time in the chapel...there is nothing like it! We will go once a week throughout the Lenten season. They are also working on a Lent chapter in our book. They have been creating posters that I will be hanging in our hallway. Each poster will tell you a little about Lent or things we celebrate during this time.
Math- They did some division with the Base 10 blocks and on Tuesday they had to do some estimating with decimals. We had to remember how to find compatible numbers from our old division chapter. That just means finding numbers that go together easily and I know there won't be a remainder. Numbers like 7 and 49 or 5 and 25. We will start the standard algorithm this week too.
Scott Boyle- I think the kids really loved listening to him! He was on their level and kept them busy! I am going to church tonight to listen to him speak again. He had the adults a little teary-eyed at times! He just had some really touching and meaningful pictures and videos that he shared. I highly recommend everyone to come and listen!
Auction- Thank you so much!!!!! The gardening basket looks awesome! I hope many of you will be at the dinner and auction to see it! We couldn't do something like that without you! I really like our silent auction poster/picture as well! Thank you, Danielle and the other moms for putting it all together!
I hope you have a great weekend! Maybe I will see you at the auction!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
I have posted on here and our Facebook page a link to sign up for conferences. Please let me know if you can't get it to work.
Reading- So we are off due to the snow. We had our test day on Tuesday. On Wednesday we started the last story in this unit. The story they will be reading is The Black Stallion. I felt pretty old when I said the title and they gave me these looks that said,"What????" I gave them their pretest today. I usually give them some kind of clue about the list. Their clue today was--words from other countries! I love this one! They always think I'm giving them words in other languages until they start to hear the list! We did have some fun words like: dungarees, siesta, tycoon! So, their posttest will be on Tuesday of next week, I think. We are going to just take it day by day!
Religion- As part of our Lenten promise this year, I decided I would add prayer to our list. We were going to start last week, but that didn't work out. So, this week I took each religion class to the chapel and we prayed the rosary. These kids have it down pat! I love saying the rosary, but when I know they know it and they enjoy that quiet time in the chapel...there is nothing like it! We will go once a week throughout the Lenten season. They are also working on a Lent chapter in our book. They have been creating posters that I will be hanging in our hallway. Each poster will tell you a little about Lent or things we celebrate during this time.
Math- They did some division with the Base 10 blocks and on Tuesday they had to do some estimating with decimals. We had to remember how to find compatible numbers from our old division chapter. That just means finding numbers that go together easily and I know there won't be a remainder. Numbers like 7 and 49 or 5 and 25. We will start the standard algorithm this week too.
Scott Boyle- I think the kids really loved listening to him! He was on their level and kept them busy! I am going to church tonight to listen to him speak again. He had the adults a little teary-eyed at times! He just had some really touching and meaningful pictures and videos that he shared. I highly recommend everyone to come and listen!
Auction- Thank you so much!!!!! The gardening basket looks awesome! I hope many of you will be at the dinner and auction to see it! We couldn't do something like that without you! I really like our silent auction poster/picture as well! Thank you, Danielle and the other moms for putting it all together!
I hope you have a great weekend! Maybe I will see you at the auction!
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Hi Parents,
I just wanted to clue you in about the next few weeks in our reading class before we head to spring break. Usually our reading is Monday-Friday with each story, but due to our snow days we are now off. So, that means their spelling posttests and reading tests won't necessarily land on a Friday. The story we were working on this past week will now be tested over on Tuesday. I will start a new story on Wednesday. When I looked ahead, it worked out okay because we would still be able to get a unit test in and possibly a new story from our next unit before we leave for break. So I can't tell you to have them practice their spelling words every Thursday night. I will try and keep you in the loop on when those end of the week tests will happen! I know week 19 will be on Tuesday, February 27.
Thanks for understanding!
Miss Surma
I just wanted to clue you in about the next few weeks in our reading class before we head to spring break. Usually our reading is Monday-Friday with each story, but due to our snow days we are now off. So, that means their spelling posttests and reading tests won't necessarily land on a Friday. The story we were working on this past week will now be tested over on Tuesday. I will start a new story on Wednesday. When I looked ahead, it worked out okay because we would still be able to get a unit test in and possibly a new story from our next unit before we leave for break. So I can't tell you to have them practice their spelling words every Thursday night. I will try and keep you in the loop on when those end of the week tests will happen! I know week 19 will be on Tuesday, February 27.
Thanks for understanding!
Miss Surma
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Hello Parents,
I hope you are enjoying this crazy week of school and weather! We may just have to hold on to see how the rest of the week goes! That forecast isn't looking very good. Hey, all 18 were back to school today!!! Woo hoo!
Reading- This week they read a story about a young boy named Darnell who writes an article for the local newspaper to persuade people to turn the basketball court into a community garden for the homeless. Another girl in his class writes an article as well, but she is wanting it to become a parking lot for the teachers at school. They end up going to the city council to have them vote on it. Darnell loses, but he also gets the opportunity to write another article for the paper because someone in town wants to donate land to follow through with his plan. So in a way, he wins too. We talk a lot about the power of persuasion. We also talked a lot about how people typecast the homeless without really knowing their situation and then treat them as though they are less than. One of the councilmen did that in the story. Our grammar this week is pronouns: indefinite, possessive, and interrogative. There is quite a list again. I will let them refer to their list on the test on Friday.
Math- We just started using the Base 10 blocks to divide whole numbers into decimals. They didn't get to work on it on Wednesday, but we will be back at it on Thursday. This gives them a better idea of what is happening before they do it on paper. The dividing will be the same, but now they will have to put a decimal in their answer.
Religion- We started our unit on Lent. They are working in pairs or small groups on posters. Each poster will teach others some aspect of Lent. I think we will post them outside our room after they are all finished.
Next week Wednesday, Scott Boyle will be here to speak to the kids in grades 3-5. Later he is speaking to the kids in 6-8. He will also be speaking at Holy Spirit that night for anyone interested in listening to him. I believe he is going to talk to our kids about Lent, but also the saints.
Noisy Change Collection- This will now take place at the 3rd grade mass next week.
Auction- Any donations for the basket or silent auction are due this Friday! I have a note in your folder. Thank you to anyone who has already contributed.
With the forecast being what it is... we are just playing things from day to day. I just hope we don't get any more ice!
Book Reports- They are all done now! I will grade them as soon as I can, but it has just been crazy to find a little extra time. Please be patient. 😊😊
Have a good weekend! Stay safe and warm!
God Bless, Miss Surma
I hope you are enjoying this crazy week of school and weather! We may just have to hold on to see how the rest of the week goes! That forecast isn't looking very good. Hey, all 18 were back to school today!!! Woo hoo!
Reading- This week they read a story about a young boy named Darnell who writes an article for the local newspaper to persuade people to turn the basketball court into a community garden for the homeless. Another girl in his class writes an article as well, but she is wanting it to become a parking lot for the teachers at school. They end up going to the city council to have them vote on it. Darnell loses, but he also gets the opportunity to write another article for the paper because someone in town wants to donate land to follow through with his plan. So in a way, he wins too. We talk a lot about the power of persuasion. We also talked a lot about how people typecast the homeless without really knowing their situation and then treat them as though they are less than. One of the councilmen did that in the story. Our grammar this week is pronouns: indefinite, possessive, and interrogative. There is quite a list again. I will let them refer to their list on the test on Friday.
Math- We just started using the Base 10 blocks to divide whole numbers into decimals. They didn't get to work on it on Wednesday, but we will be back at it on Thursday. This gives them a better idea of what is happening before they do it on paper. The dividing will be the same, but now they will have to put a decimal in their answer.
Religion- We started our unit on Lent. They are working in pairs or small groups on posters. Each poster will teach others some aspect of Lent. I think we will post them outside our room after they are all finished.
Next week Wednesday, Scott Boyle will be here to speak to the kids in grades 3-5. Later he is speaking to the kids in 6-8. He will also be speaking at Holy Spirit that night for anyone interested in listening to him. I believe he is going to talk to our kids about Lent, but also the saints.
Noisy Change Collection- This will now take place at the 3rd grade mass next week.
Auction- Any donations for the basket or silent auction are due this Friday! I have a note in your folder. Thank you to anyone who has already contributed.
With the forecast being what it is... we are just playing things from day to day. I just hope we don't get any more ice!
Book Reports- They are all done now! I will grade them as soon as I can, but it has just been crazy to find a little extra time. Please be patient. 😊😊
Have a good weekend! Stay safe and warm!
God Bless, Miss Surma
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Hello Parents, I hope you are having a great week! It is a little bit of a crazy week with Valentine's Day and Fat Tuesday, but then Ash Wednesday to follow.
Reading- This week they are reading a nonfiction story by Peg Kehret. She wrote about the time she attempted to write a newspaper about her dog. Her dog has a special background. He was found as a newborn puppy during WWII by her uncle. He and his buddies took care of the dog and raised him. When the war was over, her uncle took him back to Minnesota with him. They are also working on identifying facts and opinions within the story. Our grammar piece is working on prepositions. We are creating some interactive notebooks. I am allowing them to use them during their tests on Fridays because I know these are hard to pick out. The notebook might not have the answer, but it will hopefully guide them in the right direction.
Math- The test over our chapter took 2 days. Our next chapter is on dividing decimals. It looks like next week they will be doing some of that hands-on with Base 10 blocks.
Religion- They finished this chapter in perfect time. Ash Wednesday is here and that begins our Lenten season. Our next chapter will focus on that.I also told them that during our Lenten season, I was going to take them to the chapel once a week. We will pray the Rosary. They filled out their Lenten promises on Tuesday.
Auction- Danielle Steele is going to take some pictures of the kids on the 20th for our silent auction item. We had 2 other dates, but she has had a sick child. We said we would go with the 20th and whoever is here will be in the pictures. We can't wait for all 18 to be here. Please remember to do what you can to help donate to our 3-5 auction basket and our silent auction item. Many hands make it much easier!!! I appreciate the donations we've received so far. Thank you!!!
Need for a Break- Some of the 5th graders are kind of struggling with appropriate behaviors and responses to behaviors. I see a lot of knit-picking on things that aren't big things, but they are getting frustrated more easily so they act out by pushing or hitting or just doing things that they don't normally do. It isn't everyone. I am not calling anyone out on it. I know they need spring break and our indoor recesses don't help. I am trying to teach them that pushing back (physically or with words) is not going to get the result you were hoping for,but instead it could cause you to have a consequence. There are some things we just need to blow off and there are other things that hurt our feelings or could hurt us physically. We need to use our common sense before doing reacting. This is NOT anything new. It usually starts in February. I am just making everyone aware. Again, nothing so serious that I need to contact you personally. We are just getting into that Spring Fever mode. We need to stop before before we act and think.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I need to head back home. My siblings and I are purchasing a bench as a memorial for our parents in our hometown. I need to go home and help with the design,etc.
God Bless,
Miss Surma
Reading- This week they are reading a nonfiction story by Peg Kehret. She wrote about the time she attempted to write a newspaper about her dog. Her dog has a special background. He was found as a newborn puppy during WWII by her uncle. He and his buddies took care of the dog and raised him. When the war was over, her uncle took him back to Minnesota with him. They are also working on identifying facts and opinions within the story. Our grammar piece is working on prepositions. We are creating some interactive notebooks. I am allowing them to use them during their tests on Fridays because I know these are hard to pick out. The notebook might not have the answer, but it will hopefully guide them in the right direction.
Math- The test over our chapter took 2 days. Our next chapter is on dividing decimals. It looks like next week they will be doing some of that hands-on with Base 10 blocks.
Religion- They finished this chapter in perfect time. Ash Wednesday is here and that begins our Lenten season. Our next chapter will focus on that.I also told them that during our Lenten season, I was going to take them to the chapel once a week. We will pray the Rosary. They filled out their Lenten promises on Tuesday.
Auction- Danielle Steele is going to take some pictures of the kids on the 20th for our silent auction item. We had 2 other dates, but she has had a sick child. We said we would go with the 20th and whoever is here will be in the pictures. We can't wait for all 18 to be here. Please remember to do what you can to help donate to our 3-5 auction basket and our silent auction item. Many hands make it much easier!!! I appreciate the donations we've received so far. Thank you!!!
Need for a Break- Some of the 5th graders are kind of struggling with appropriate behaviors and responses to behaviors. I see a lot of knit-picking on things that aren't big things, but they are getting frustrated more easily so they act out by pushing or hitting or just doing things that they don't normally do. It isn't everyone. I am not calling anyone out on it. I know they need spring break and our indoor recesses don't help. I am trying to teach them that pushing back (physically or with words) is not going to get the result you were hoping for,but instead it could cause you to have a consequence. There are some things we just need to blow off and there are other things that hurt our feelings or could hurt us physically. We need to use our common sense before doing reacting. This is NOT anything new. It usually starts in February. I am just making everyone aware. Again, nothing so serious that I need to contact you personally. We are just getting into that Spring Fever mode. We need to stop before before we act and think.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I need to head back home. My siblings and I are purchasing a bench as a memorial for our parents in our hometown. I need to go home and help with the design,etc.
God Bless,
Miss Surma
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