January 20, 2022

Dear Parents,

Well, we have had a rain/snow storm now we are in a cold spell. It's Winter in Iowa for sure. Some kids are fine with the indoor recesses and some are not. I hope we get them outside again soon. This week we are working on FAST testing. One of the tests they have to come to me and read 3 stories and the other assessments are online. We have completed two of the online assessments so far. I plan to do the other two on Friday during Technology time. I have done the one-on-one with 9 of the students so far. I will get it done by Friday. I am seeing improvements so far in everything we have done! It is super exciting!

Auction Basket

It is that time of year all ready!! You will find a letter in today's folder about our Auction Basket. We are joining forces this year, 3rd, 4th, and 5th will be putting together a basket. The Classroom Mothers have talked and decided on the basket theme. All donations are due by Thursday, January 27th. They have listed several ways to donate. You can send cash to school or a check made out to Tiffany Johnson. There is also a Venmo and Paypal option. Please see the flyer for that information.

We will also be doing Silent Auction item in the classroom that we will need smaller donations for. More information on this will come later.

Language Arts

This week we are reading a story called The Life and Times of the Ant. It is a nonfiction article about ants and how they live and what dangers they face. It is an interesting article if you enjoy learning about different animals. The illustrations are cartoon like and add a little fun to the story. I am not sure it is one that the students are liking too much. We will see on Friday. This week we are talking about present and past participles in grammar. The vocabulary strategy was about the suffixes -able and -ible. Remember that tonight is the night to study their vocab packets (yellow) and their spelling words.

Math

We have finished up with Topic 3 and are heading into 4. It was a log haul through the assessment process. I do want to say from here on out it may get quite a bit harder for some. We are moving into double digit multiplication then it will be division and possibly fractions or measurement. We still have a lot we need to do before the end of the year. Lots and lots of solid learning. Some will love it some will hate it but it's all good stuff they need to learn.

Social Studies

We are covering the last lesson in the first chapter about the Southeast Region. They will be getting ready for a test soon. After that I will introduce the Southeast Map to them. They will then need to begin studying those maps for their map tests. I need to have them sing the song more often to remind them of their capitals. I will make that a priority. Again it is very important that they know these maps and where the states are for the end of the year test. Some never did get the Northeast Region. Please, keep working on it with them.

Blue Forms

Last week we sent a blue form home with your child about Grandparents Mass on February 4th. Please be sure to send that form back to us. Since things are being done a little bit differently this information is important to us. If you no longer have yours let us know so we can can send home another one.

I will have a full schedule of Catholic Schools Week on here next week in by blog. We always look forward to this week. We get to have fun dress up days and do some extra fun activities. I think I am prepared for all the dress up days. The hardest one is dress like a letter your name starts with. So my name being Melissa Sickels, I could go with M or S. I chose to go with M. My outfit has been ordered and already arrived! I know some of the students have been excited about this one and already have some ideas or things ordered. We will still work hard when we need to and them play hard when we can. It will be fun rewarding week for everyone.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Looks like this weekend won't be too warm in the 20's. Maybe its a weekend to cuddle up with a book under a blanket, or put a puzzle together. Hey, that is what I am doing for sure! I have a new book for book club to read, a new release from my favorite author and all those puzzles I got for Christmas! Keeping warm is the key!

Have a great weekend!

God Bless,

Mrs Sickels