December 9, 2021

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday!! It is our 2nd Thursday of December. The temperatures were more like December temps this week. The kids did not like needing coats, hats and mittens, but most were thankful they had them. Please continue paying attention to the changing temperatures so they are dressed appropriately. I am happy that I had recess duty on the warmest day of the week! I am a very lucky girl. Great job at the concert last night. Everyone looked awesome and sang out nice and loud. It was a very good concert. Thanks to the parents for making sure your kids looked their best and on time. Also thank you for coming and supporting your kids and our school!

Language Arts

This week we are back to reading a story in Unit 3. This unit is full of non fiction stories. Not sure how many will be super thrilled with the stories we are reading. We begin with a story about Hurricanes. They give is facts about how they form and what keeps them going. Also where they begin, the direction of travel and that they are called 3 different names. Typhoons, cyclones and Hurricanes are the same kind of storm it just depends on which ocean they are in on which word is used for them. This week is my favorite week to teach grammar. We deal with the most commonly misused words in the English language. First day we discussed the difference between to, too, and two. Wednesday we talked about there, they're, and their. Today is was its and it's. These are commonly misused all the time. I tried to teach them all the tricks of how to decide which ones to use. Some caught on right away others did not. The spelling this week was over Compound Words. I think this list is hard. When I learned them at this age they were just two separate words put together to make one word. Now, we are throwing some at them that are two words or they have a hyphen in them. This makes it hard. Tomorrow is a normal Friday so make sure they study their vocab packet and spelling words. Also you will find the results to the Unit test in the folder today. I read the test out loud to the entire class. My group of people I read to is bigger than the group that does not need me to read it. So I have just been reading to all. It only benefits all of them. I may give a few a choice to work on it on their own.

Math

We are in the multiplication topic! It is one of my favorite things to teach in math. We are learning two of my favorite strategies this week. We learned Area Box and Partial Product. So far they are doing pretty good with it. I hope it continues. I am still not sure I can predict whether we will be close to finishing this topic by the time Christmas break is here or not. We have so many things that get in the way during this month. Like today we did not have math because we went to the high school for Concert Practice. We will keep plugging away. I am sure you can't give them much help until I get to the standard algorithm. That is okay. They can always come in early in the morning for help or I can keep them after school.

Social Studies

We will definitely be finishing up this chapter and testing before break. I had it all planned out but we have to push it back due to our time to paint on the mural in the gym. I hope to be taking their test next week on Thursday. I plan to do their map test Monday the 20th. I have extra maps in the room if they need them to practice. I would start working on them now, don't wait! This lesson has been a lot of information packed into just a few pages. I feel like we have done a pretty good job of covering them.

Nursing Home Gifts

If you signed up for a nursing home resident to give them a gift, please send the items with your child by the 17th. We hope to have them project all finished up and ready to be delivered. Thank you so much for those who have donated. This really had been a rewarding activity for our school to be a part of. It was all Lesha Clark's idea. We are grateful for people like her that care about others. The students get to decorate a bag for the resident and then we put their gifts inside and staple shut and add a bow. They will now have something to open on Christmas.

Week of December 13th

This week the teachers have been given the go ahead to wear fun Christmas shirts all week. So I want to include the students so here are the dress up days. Pajamas or pajama pants are not an option. We need to still follow dress code but wear all the Christmas stuff that we have.

Monday - Wear Red ( just the color)

Tuesday - Wear Green (Just the color)

Wednesday is Mass so we dress in Mass clothes

Thursday - Wear anything from the Grinch if you have it. NO pajamas

Friday - Any Christmas movie or Christmas themed clothing.

This is not required!! Only if you want to add a little extra Christmas Spirit. I will take pictures of those who participate and post on Facebook.

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas!! I am! I am pretty much done shopping just some odds and ends to pick up. I will not be at school on Friday the 17th. My daughter is having Shoulder reconstruction surgery that day. I plan to be back on Monday as long as everything is going well for her. She has had this surgery all ready on her left one. We know what to expect and since she has not completely ruined this shoulder yet we are hoping less pain and quicker recovery. That is our mindset and we plan to keep it. Friday and Saturday will be rough and we have a Christmas that weekend. She is tough and we will make it through. I have tried to get all my shopping and baking done before this takes place! I am never finished early. I usually am still shopping right up until Christmas. Next week is our last full week of this year!! Hard to believe!! I told you things we super fast after conferences. You believe me yet????

Have a great weekend!

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels