Happy New Year! We’ll start off the new year with a math test on Friday. Good times!
The World Food Fest was almost a no-go with the surprise half day right before vacation, but the kids pulled it off as a brunch. Thank you to all the parents who helped make the last-minute time change work.
Upcoming Events
April Vacation – April 9-13
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
The World Food Fest is on Friday, December 22 at 11:45 AM. Parents (or even grandparents) are invited to come join us. We will have plenty of food so even if you can only stop by for a few minutes, feel free to pop in to grab some food and go. Students will do almost all of this project in school. The only exception is that each student is required to bring in one dish from the country they chose. Students decided amongst themselves if the dish would be be a main dish, an appetizer, or a dessert. I asked students to give parents A LOT of time to see if the food is doable. If it’s easier to buy the food as opposed to making it, that’s ok, but I just want the student to make the decision (or have a discussion with parents) as to what food will be.
Have a wonderful winter break, and have a Happy New Year!
Upcoming Events
World Food Fest – Friday, December 22 (11:45 AM)
Winter Break (No School) – December 23 – January 1
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
Thank you to everyone who came out for the Parent/Teacher Conferences last week. Although the next conferences aren’t until the spring, please contact me at any time if there are any questions, comments, or concerns.
The World Food Fest is on Friday, December 22 at 11:45 AM. Parents (or even grandparents) are invited to come join us. We will have plenty of food so even if you can only stop by for a few minutes, feel free to pop in to grab some food and go. Students will do almost all of this project in school. The only exception is that each student is required to bring in one dish from the country they chose. Students decided amongst themselves if the dish would be be a main dish, an appetizer, or a dessert. I asked students to give parents A LOT of time to see if the food is doable. If it’s easier to buy the food as opposed to making it, that’s ok, but I just want the student to make the decision (or have a discussion with parents) as to what food will be.
Finally, this is Miss Colgan’s final week with us in the classroom. She has been student teaching with us since the very first day of school so the students really don’t know what the classroom is like without her here. Both myself and the students will greatly miss her, but she is on to bigger things – hopefully getting a classroom of her own in the near future!
Upcoming Events
World Food Fest – Friday, December 22 (11:45 AM)
Winter Break (No School) – December 23 – January 1
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
Students will start Unit 4: Multiply and Divide Decimals in math on Monday.
Thank you to everyone who helped out with the Holiday Bear Project. Our journey to Walmart went very well on Wednesday afternoon, and then we concluded the project with a wrapping fest on Thursday. Two kids will hopefully have a nice surprise this holiday season with their gifts.
Parent/Teacher Conferences are officially on Thursday & Friday this week, although I will be offering conferences all week as well. If you haven’t signed up, make sure to do so. There are a few open spots still available.
Upcoming Events
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
Students will have their Unit 3 Math test on Thursday. An optional, extra review session will be held on Thursday morning as well.
Our Holiday Bear Project is coming to a conclusion this week. Whoever is interested/available will be meeting me at Walmart in Avon on a day this week (the day which is on the Monday Memo). Using the money we collect, we will purchase gifts (also wrapping paper and tape) for these two kids, and then the entire class will wrap them up the next morning (after a lesson on present wrapping).
I understand that not every student will be able to make it to Walmart and that is absolutely fine. You’ll hear more from the room parent later about carpooling opportunities. Either way, all students will be involved in the process both before and after. Let me know if you have any questions about this worthy cause.
Upcoming Events
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
We have a 2.5 dayer this week. Enjoy those turkeys and of course, the infamous Black Friday.
Last week I introduced students to our class business, Bungles. They received a job applications and had the opportunity to apply for a position as either a manager, sales representative, or advertising agent. On Monday they will find out their positions and then we will start inventorying and pricing items; training the sales reps on the cash boxes and receipts; and creating an advertising campaign for our December Grand Opening.
Our Holiday Bear Project is underway, and students worked on their scripts and started to call businesses last week. We are sponsoring an 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy boy (who I don’t think are brother/sister) whose families are having a difficult time and would be hard pressed to provide gifts for their kids during the holidays.
On a future date (which I will send via e-mail), whoever is interested/available will be meeting me at Walmart in Avon. Using the money we collect, we will purchase gifts (also wrapping paper and tape) for these two kids, and then the entire class will wrap them up the next morning (after a lesson on present wrapping). This week, I will discuss with students about asking family (either you or maybe family that lives nearby) if they can do some jobs around the house (or for other extended family members) to earn money. Students usually have many great ideas themselves. Anything is helpful. Another thing we will be doing is using the Chromebooks to look up the names and phone numbers of local businesses. We will work on scripts that students will be using to call businesses to ask for their support in this charitable cause. (I will not have any student make a phone call if he/she is uncomfortable.) We made phone calls for the past few years and this really helps students work on their speaking skills and confidence. I monitor each phone call and we do it right from the classroom. Many businesses will say no thank you (or use some very clever evasive tactics!), but a few will say yes and that is just another reality that students will experience. For the businesses that do say yes, I will ask students if any of them, driven by you, can swing by and pick up the cash, check, or gift card. If you’d be willing to do this just let your child know so if they volunteer they already have an ok from you.
I understand that not every student will be able to make it to Walmart and that is absolutely fine. You’ll hear more from the room parents later about carpooling opportunities. Either way, all students will be involved in the process both before and after. Let me know if you have any questions about this worthy cause.
Upcoming Events
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
Nathan Hale Homestead trip – Friday, May 18
With the cold weather finally here, students should bring a jacket to school. Yes, some of them will refuse to wear anything but shorts and a t-shirt because they are made out of fire or something like that, but they should still wear a t-shirt in case their fire burns out.
Students will be taking a test on Story Mountain on Tuesday. They started to review this on Friday, and will do a practice one on Monday using the book Wonder.
On Monday I will be introducing students to the Holiday Bear Project, which is a charity that sponsors children who need a little holiday boost. We will be sponsoring an 10-year-old girl and a 510-year-old boy boy (who I don’t think are brother/sister) whose families are having a difficult time and would be hard pressed to provide gifts for their kids during the holidays.
What most classes do who are involved in projects like this is to have students bring in wrapped gifts. While this is very effective, I do this a little differently. Along with altruism and empathy, I want students to utilize this opportunity to learn some other lessons, too.
On a future date (which I will send via e-mail), whoever is interested/available will be meeting me at Walmart in Avon. Using the money we collect, we will purchase gifts (also wrapping paper and tape) for these two kids, and then the entire class will wrap them up the next morning (after a lesson on present wrapping). This week, I will discuss with students about asking family (either you or maybe family that lives nearby) if they can do some jobs around the house (or for other extended family members) to earn money. Students usually have many great ideas themselves. Anything is helpful. Another thing we will be doing is using the Chromebooks to look up the names and phone numbers of local businesses. We will work on scripts that students will be using to call businesses to ask for their support in this charitable cause. (I will not have any student make a phone call if he/she is uncomfortable.) We made phone calls for the past few years and this really helps students work on their speaking skills and confidence. I monitor each phone call and we do it right from the classroom. Many businesses will say no thank you (or use some very clever evasive tactics!), but a few will say yes and that is just another reality that students will experience. For the businesses that do say yes, I will ask students if any of them, driven by you, can swing by and pick up the cash, check, or gift card. If you’d be willing to do this just let your child know so if they volunteer they already have an ok from you.
I understand that not every student will be able to make it to Walmart and that is absolutely fine. You’ll hear more from the room parents later about carpooling opportunities. Either way, all students will be involved in the process both before and after. Let me know if you have any questions about this worthy cause.
Upcoming Events
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
The Unit 2 Math Test was last week. We start Unit 3: Add and Subtract Decimals this week.
If you haven’t signed up for a Parent/Teacher Conference yet, refer to the previous e-mail I sent with online sign-up information.
Upcoming Events
Picture Makeup Day – Friday, November 10
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
Last week students had the opportunity to participate in the fifth grade More Than Money Conference at Aetna. This conference focused on financial literacy and used the Junior Achievement curriculum. It was taught by volunteers from Aetna, and students had the chance to meet other fifth grade students from the greater Hartford area.
The Unit 2 Math Test will be on Thursday. An optional, extra math review will take place on Thursday morning at 7:30 AM. Students will also have an in-class review on Wednesday.
We head to Sturbridge Village on Friday. Students will be walking quite a bit so sneakers are a must, as well as a lunch/drink. The class will be split into a few groups and each group will decide for themselves where to eat. Therefore, students will be walking around with lunches for a few hours. Those tiny drawstring backpacks are great on this trip. Regular backpacks are a pain – otherwise, students are better off carrying their lunches in a sturdy disposable bag. Electronics are allowed on the bus, but they cannot make an appearance in Sturbridge itself.
Upcoming Events
Picture Makeup Day – Friday, November 10
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
Students started Junior Achievement last week with Ms. Barcikowski. They will be involved in a five session program over the next few months. This will fit in nicely with both the More Than Money Conference, and the other financial literacy tie-ins we will be doing this year such as our class business (Bungles) and the upcoming Holiday Bear Project (more info to follow on that second one).
Students started Genius Time last week. Genius Time is a modified form of Genius Hour, which originated from the company Google. Engineers at Google were encouraged to spend 20% of their time (one hour) each day on any project that they wanted to work on. Many really cool ideas came out of these special side projects. According to Google, the idea is very simple. Allow people to work on something that interests them, and productivity will go up. For students, it’s not a full hour as it will take place during the second half of Targeted Instruction (TO) time, but the concept is the same. They will choose a project to work on from a list I created (along with their input). All components of this project all housed on Google Classroom so students have access to it at any time, even at home. At first all projects will be individual, but eventually they will be allowed to work with other students, too. If students have a project idea that is not on the list, they could discuss it with me to see if it could be added.
Upcoming Events
Picture Makeup Day – Friday, November 10
Parent Teacher Conferences – Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8 (although I will offer times each morning all week as well)
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