Holiday Happenings!
We have been super busy these last few weeks. Unfortunately, I am unable to download the photos from my camera but I will try to rectify that problem over Christmas break. We have been keeping the real reason for Christmas in the forefront by celebrating Advent together and reading/writing about Christmas.
This week we wrote about what we would give Jesus for his birthday. Like the Thanksgiving writing that came home, I did not correct the children's writing- it comes straight from their hearts. The children shared their thoughts with the class and I was very moved by what the children wrote. Please have your child read it to you when it comes home this week. Our Christmas party on Thursday will be a birthday party for Jesus. A Room Mother will be contacting people to bring a drink or birthday napkins and cups.
This week has been like Santa's Workshop. The children are busy doing secret little projects and having a lot of fun doing them. I have heard more than once, "It's time to go home already?"
We have been working so hard in Math! With a lot of practice, everyone is doing so well with double digit subtraction. I love seeing the pride on the face of a student who just couldn't understand it at first but is now working through the problems with few mistakes. When working at home remind your child of this alliteration, "If the bottom's bigger, you better borrow!" Thank you for working on this at home- it makes a big difference in how quickly the concepts are learned.
One of the fun units we do at this time of year is our Christmas Around the World unit. Both classes join for lessons on different Christmas traditions in other countries. We have already "visited" Australia and Iceland. Next week we travel to Mexico, Germany, England, and Spain. In each country we learn their traditions, locate the country on a map, color the flag, and make a little craft. I apologize, I failed to have the students bring home their items from this week. We store them in a ziploc bag and the students' assignment notebooks state they should bring back the bag. I will send them home on Monday and the bag can be returned on Tuesday.
We have enjoyed reading books from our Author of the Month, Jan Brett. This week they fit right in with our reading concept; getting information from illustrations. Her illustrations are so detailed and interesting, she tells a whole story just in the borders of the pages.
You may have noticed a blank page on the weekly reading tests. Many of the grammar concepts we teach are higher level concepts and are still being taught in 5th grade (like plural possessives). Dr. Fike agreed that while it is important to model and practice these concepts, assessment can be accomplished by observation and daily practice rather than a formal test. The common core standards place much more emphasis on reading and comprehension skills instead of grammar and we thought our tests should reflect that. Yay!
As you know, we attended the Nutcracker Ballet this week. I want you to know that the students were so well behaved. I was very proud of them. The students were well prepared for the performance. Both Mrs. Rahill (our librarian) and I read and discussed the story prior to the event so the students would understand what was going on. Most of the time the classes sat in rapt attention, taking in the beautiful scenery and dances. Thank you to our wonderful chaperones!
Important Dates:
Dec. 15th - "Sandwich" book reports due
Dec. 17th - Winter concert at 9:40 AM (Students can wear holiday hats and headbands)
Dec. 18th- Class Christmas Party (students are invited to bring in a G rated Christmas movie to show- we will vote on one)
Molinaro pizza lunch in cafeteria with a minimum $3 donation
Dec. 19th- Christmas Mass at 9AM, then early dismissal. If you are coming to the mass and would like to take your child home, please send in a note in the morning.
Enjoy your weekend!
