November 10, 2022

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! It was great to visit with all of you last week. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. In the last month I have seen some turn around for most students. It is like something has clicked and they totally get it! They get the purpose of study hall and getting their work done. They are finally getting the idea of being organized. This makes me extremely happy and excited for them.

Language Arts

This week we are reading a very humorous story called Dear Mr. Winston. It is a funny story about a girl who is writing an apology letter the her librarian. She is suppose to be truly genuinely sorry but in her letter she is so not! Some students were appalled by her words in her letter. That is where the humor comes in. This week we have worked on compound and complex sentences in grammar. The vocabulary strategy was over antonyms. Tomorrow is a normal Friday so there will be a spelling Post test and the end of the week test. Study those yellow packets and spelling words.

Math

The week we are learning my favorite strategy to use for multiplication, partial product. This strategy is one you probably did not learn when you were growing up. This strategy is good for them because the have a better idea of why they are doing what thy are doing. They learned the, what I call, regular partial product method and also the Area Model version which gives them a visual to help them. I love the Area Model strategy when we are learning to multiply two digits times two digits. It is very helpful in helping them to understand.

Social Studies

We are still working on the Northeast states. We have learned about the Narragansett Native Americans in Rhode Island. We learned several things about their way of life. We also learned how that changed when the settlers began to arrive. In lesson 2 we will discuss the beginnings of a new nations and immigration. In lesson 3 we will talk about abolitionists and women fighting for the right to vote.

Spirit Day

Friday, November 11th is a spirit day and what a perfect day to pay the $1.00 to wear sweats!!! Even better if your sweats could be in the red, white, and blue theme!! We are no longer paying $1.00 to wear hats, just sweats.

Veteran's Day

We will be celebrating Veteran's Day by wearing red, white, and blue tomorrow. We also will be holding a Veteran's Day program at 2:00 PM for all to attend. If you have any Veterans that you know please have them attend our program. Our guest speaker tomorrow is Gary Bucklin.

Cold Weather

Folks my favorite time of year is here! They will need winter coats, hats and mittens tomorrow for recess for sure. Sweatshirts will not cover it. Looks like temps next week will only be in the 30's! Welcome to winter. Now it just needs to snow!

Thanksgiving Break

This year Thanksgiving Break is Nov. 23 - Nov 28th. The students have Wednesday - Monday off. I get Wednesday off !! But Monday I have professional development. I hope that time is well spent with family. My kids are all coming home and I am hosting dinner at my house.

I hope all of you enjoyed your long weekend last week. I sure did. This weekend I will be going to Cedar Falls to watch the ADM Tigers play Harlan in Semifinals for football. My best friend's boy plays defense for ADM and my new son-in-law is one of the coaches for ADM. It has been an exciting year for them. It is always fun to go to the Dome to watch them play. We have one full week before our short week for Thanksgiving. Also, if you want our kids to calm down and do work put on instrumental Christmas music. That works in the classroom. It just relaxes them and makes them happy.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels