October 17, 2024

Dear Parents,

Happy Thursday! Here we are at another Thursday! Not having school on Monday has totally thrown me off all week. I have been lost on what day it is the whole week. I wonder how many of the kids have felt that way also. We have been working hard this week in all subjects. I have been giving back quite a few paper for students to make corrections. I have tried to tell them if they take their time the first time, the second time would not have to happen. I am not sure it is sinking in. They really just want to get the work done so they don't get a late slip. They don't care how well the work is completed. This is something they all need to work on.

Language Arts

We have started a new story this week. This module is on the 5 senses. The first story is called The Science Behind Sight. It is honestly not a very interesting story and it is a long one. I had a hard tome keeping them interesting while reading it yesterday. Tomorrow I hope they do a better job reading it with partners. They will also have a graphic organizer to fill out on Content-Area words. This should help them pay more attention because they are actually looking for something specific in the story. The spelling words this week deal with short O and long O. That means that is what our decoding is also about. We look at the 6 different ways the long O can represented. We find a word with an O in it, and we then tell whether it is long O or a short O and then we tell how it is spelled. The grammar this week is focusing on whether a group of words is a complete sentence or a sentence fragment. If it is a fragment, which piece is missing, the subject or predicate? We will be spending 7 days on this story so we will be ending it on Wednesday the 23rd. That is the day they will have their spelling Post test. You will find the results of last week's Module Test in today's folder.

Math

We have been working mainly on Subtraction this week. We started small then moved to bigger numbers. Now we are working specifically on problems that require a lot of regrouping in them. I talked to them about taking their time when working on these problems or they will get them back to make corrections. A lot of them received corrections back today. we will be getting ready for a math test to happen by the end of the week next week.

Social Studies

We have begun talking about the Northeast region. We have talked about Niagara Falls, how it was formed, and why it is not just beautiful but also very important to the state of New York. Today they began working on talking about the Mountain ranges in the Northeast. Wednesday I gave them a map of the Northeast. They made an answer key with the states that make up that region. I also gave them 2 extra blank ones to take their own practice tests. The students have to know all 50 states and be able to label a map by the end of 4th grade. The best way to do that is to learn them by region. It is super important that they learn this region now because we have 4 more regions to go. The first Map test over just the Northeast States will be next Wednesday the 23rd.

Conferences

Conferences are quickly approaching. It looks like I have most of you signed up for a time to come and meet with me. I think there are 3 of you that have not signed up so far. Please check and be sure you are signed up. There are limited times left.

Spirit Day

Friday the 18th is a Spirit day. The students can pay $1.00 to wear sweatpants or a hat. I want to share where some of the money goes. This week St. Augustine school in Des Moines lost a 7th grade student to cancer. We have put together a snack basket for the teachers to have in their teacher's lounge. We want them to know we are thinking of them and care about them. When St. Malachy lost two students to a tragic ice incident we received something like that from Winterset School district. We were so grateful we have been trying to do the same thing for other schools. So keep that Spirit Day money coming because we always put it towards something good.

Lock down/ Evacuate

This morning we had a lock down drill and Evacuate drill. The lock down did not go so well in my room. I had people not following directions and people who wanted to talk the whole time when we were to be quiet. Due to this we will be practicing again tomorrow during recess time. It is only this class that has to do it. All other classes did well. I know it is an uncomfortable time and I tried to talk but I also tried to be quiet so they knew what it was supposed to be like. When it was time to evacuate they did that just fine. Some of the kids tried to make a funny situation. Mrs. Simmons talked to them and will be with us tomorrow as we try again.

Flu Shots

You have a paper in the folder today on flu shots. If you want your child to have one at school you will need to fill out the paper work and return it. We need a count to be able to have shots available for all those wanting it.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the cooler weather this week. I know that I have. I will say I am very ready for the time change. I hate getting up in the dark. I have a hard time getting out of bed. I want to stay snuggled up until it is lighter. You are going to quickly learn I am a lover of winter. I prefer winter. It is the perfect time to just sit inside and read under a blanket with coffee or hot tea and sometimes hot chocolate. Even better when the snow is flying.

The end of the year in a teacher's eye goes quickly once we hit conferences. Because then in 3 weeks it is Thanksgiving then in 3 more it is Christmas. It flies by. Maybe not for you or for the kids but for me it does. There is so much to plan and get accomplished. It is my favorite time of the year. This weekend I am meeting my daughter and granddaughter at a pumpkin patch. This is more for the adults or the baby, but she will be fun to have a long with us. I am all about any Grandma time.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels