October 21, 2021

Hello Parents!

Happy Thursday! Well this is the time of year that goes extremely fast for a teacher. Once conferences hit the rest of the year is literally downhill. Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I have because it will be here before we know it. This time of the year speeds by because of the amount of time we get off. Conference week the kids get Thursday and Friday, plus Monday the next week! That is a 5 day weekend! When they leave next Wednesday I won't see them until November 2nd. Then we have like 3 weeks of school before Thanksgiving Break. The kids get another 5 day weekend to enjoy the holiday. Then we are back again for another 3 and 1/2 weeks before Christmas Break. It seems slow for the kids and maybe for you but in a manner of making sure I am getting things done and also all the extra things, it goes very quickly. We have Halloween activities to participate in and Advent Angel Activities start after Thanksgiving! The best time of year!! All the working and fun we have to do gets mighty stressful. So here we go! The roller coaster ride is here!

Conferences

I just have two families that have not signed up for conferences. I have sent the link to you in your email Please check for that. Thank you all for signing up! If you end up needing a video conference due to illness just let me know and I can do that. I will do whatever we need to so that we meet.

Calendar Days

Here are the days of no School coming up:

Thursday, October 28 NO School Conferences

Friday, October 29 NO School Conferences free day

Monday, November 1 NO School Professional Development

Language Arts

This week the story we are reading is not very interesting past the first time hearing it. It is informational text on Movie-making. It points out things that we should question about movies. The Special Affects used, how in action packed car chase scenes we never truly see the damage left behind or it being cleaned up, how in fight scenes women sometimes wear high heels while doing martial art stunts. It points out how they look at Jolts Per Minute (JPM) to keep you intrigued. It talks about deleted scenes and why they are cut. They were kind of into it the first time but it is hard to want to read it again and again. We are working on verbs again this week. We are talking about verb tenses. Past, present and future tenses and using helping verbs. We also talked about Latin and Greek word parts phon, photo, auto, graph, and tele. We discussed what the meanings of each were and where the words like autograph, telephone, phonograph and telegraph came from. Please remember to have your student study their vocabulary packet (yellow) and spelling words tonight. The end-of-the-week test is tomorrow!

Math

This week in math we have been working on Subtraction with numbers in the hundred thousands. We had to slow down a bit for this. I have some that can do it but make mistakes. I have some that I question they know what they are doing due to many mistakes and I have a group I have been working with to try and reteach regrouping in subtraction. The key is going slow and taking it one place value at a time. Today we moved on to the next lesson but it is also on subtraction. It focuses on subtraction across zeroes. This means your number on top has some zeroes in it where your number on the bottom does not. You have to regroup many times before you can even start to subtract. We will spend two to three days on this lesson. I am really trying to not worry so much about the word problems that go along with the lesson as I am the actual working of the problem. I hope they are better since we have spent some extra days practicing. Maybe you can help out at home by giving them some problems. Don't give the small problems. Make sure they are numbers in the hundred thousands. We are nearing the end of this topic. Two more lessons and we are done. We will begin reviewing the week of Nov. 2nd. So a test will come along shortly after that.

Social Studies

This week we have read the lesson on Chesapeake Bay. We learned that it provides a lot of seafood for people to eat. We also learned it is threatened by pollution and overfishing. They were amazed that people could fish for a living and not just for a hobby. I think I got them to understand if they don't catch anything they don't get paid. How stressful would that be! We will be working on some map skills and starting a study guide by Friday. Monday we will check the study guide and Tuesday they will test. Wednesday I will have them correct them.

Spirit Day

Tomorrow is a Spirit Day and guess what? It is cold so sweats are the option for $1.00. Where your comfy pants for just $1.00.

Next week we only have Monday through Wednesday. I am gone Monday morning with Molly for a Dr. Appointment in Des Moines at 8:00 AM. I will return when finished. On Tuesday, I have to be back in Des Moines for a class on behavior. ( not very convenient timing) I am looking to gain some knowledge and insight on handling behavior issues. I will then be sharing what I learn with the other teachers in the building. Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Dinham are attending also.

So welcome to the beginning of the end. That is what I call this time of the year. I know it is super slow to you, but it really goes quickly for me. The weather is changing, please be sure to dress the kids appropriately. Our room has been cold. I turned the air off. Tomorrow I bet I have to turn the heat on. I did not wear a coat today and I froze on after school duty. So please send jackets. Next week looks to be in the 60's which is perfect Fall weather. Kids don't learn well if they are uncomfortable because they are cold or too hot. Send layers with them so they can add layers or take off layers. Everyone is different. I am cold-blooded so I tend to be on the cold side. I know I have students who tend to be warm. I will dress for winter so they will be comfortable. It is a full moon on top of all this! The kids will be crazy the rest of the week. I will do everything I can to keep my sanity and make sure we are productive!! We may have to find some fun in it all ! That may help all of us. Also, since I am meeting with you next week I will not be posting a blog. Have a great weekend!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels