It's Red Ribbon Week!

We had a productive Friday!  We had our final cafe discussions for our novel and are anxious to begin preparing for our Wax Museum, which will take place on November 1st. 

Monday begins Red Ribbon Week!  During this week, many fun activities take place to promote drug awareness and pledges to be drug free.  We are encouraging all students to participate in the following:

Monday:  "These PAWS Don't Touch Drugs"  We will begin collecting for the Washington Area Humane Society

Tuesday:  "Our School ROCKS, Drug-Free"  We will dress like Rock Stars!  A special rock concert will take place on the 31st!

Wednesday:  "One School - One Goal - Drug-Free"  We will show our support by wearing blue and gold!

Thursday:  "Wear Red Day"

Friday:  "Stay in the Game - Be Drug-Free"  On this day we will wear our favorite team jerseys!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND DON'T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR TEST PACKET WITH YOUR PARENTS!

Homework:

Math - Study 1-1 through 1-15.  Test on Tuesday.

Social Studies - Test on Monday (308) and Tuesday (310)

Wellness - Test next Friday

School for Teachers!

Today, we had a two-hour delay start for the students because the teachers came to learn.  We met to learn more about our new DIBELS reports and the new Common Core Standards.  It's always exciting to learn new things.

Due to the delay, students attended only two classes before lunch.  Miss Albitz collected the brochure project and completed her final review before Monday's test.  Many brochures were quite impressive!

During the afternoon, students were able to choose new books during Library with Mrs. Shuman and then learn more about opera with Mrs.(Music) McIlvaine.  Because of our Thursday schedule, I feel like I barely saw the students today.  We will make up for this tomorrow!

Homework:
Math - Study.  Mrs. Doman has moved the test to Tuesday.
Reading - Be ready for tomorrow's cafe.  Novel should be complete and role ready.
Social Studies - Africa chapter test on Monday (grp. 308) and Tuesday (310).  Country quiz tomorrow for all.

What Do You Remember?

Today, the students enjoyed a review of Africa using a game prepared by Miss Albitz.  Everyone worked in small groups with game boards and question cards.  By answering questions correctly, they were able to move their game pieces around the board and towards the finish line.  With a little further review at home, students should do well. 

Mrs. (Music) McIlvaine was thrilled with our team's chorus rehearsal today.  She couldn't say enough about how hard they worked, while still having fun.  Congratulations to those involved in chorus!

Our DIBELS testing concluded today!  I'm happy with the great effort that everyone put forth.
THERE IS A TWO HOUR DELAY FOR STUDENTS TOMORROW.  THE TEACHERS HAVE AN IN-SERVICE.  DON'T FORGET!
Homework:
Math - Study notes for 1-1 through 1-15.   Chapter test on Monday.
Reading - Cafe takes place on Friday morning!  We will conclude our novel and get ready for our Wax Museum event!  Please be prepared.
Spelling - Trace + 2 is due tomorrow.
Social Studies - Continue to study!  Your countries test is Friday.  Chapter test on Monday for 308 and Tuesday for 310.  Brochures are due tomorrow.

DIBELing!

Today, there were substitutes stepping in for Language Arts teachers who were pulling students individually for DIBELS.  Basically, we are assessing each student's reading fluency.  The students complete three one minute readings.  L. Arts teachers count correct words per minute and supply a median score on the website.  This is combined with a DAZE score, which is a three minute reading where the students choose words to fit the context.  Parents will receive a report with information on how their child performed at a future date.  The DIBELS testing will be completed each nine weeks. 

Homework:
Math - Quiz tomorrow.  Complete your practice sheets this evening.
Reading - Share your Family Times paper.  Finish your novel and complete your role for Friday.
Spelling - Trace +2 is due on Thursday
Writing - Finish summary and sketch about Nelson Mandela
Social Studies - Africa Ch. 1 Test Monday (308) and Tuesday (310).  Countries test on Friday.

What's in a Name?

This morning, we continued our study of Nelson Mandela.  Our class learned more about his teenage years, discovering more about his education, as well as how he and his friend, Justice, ran away to avoid arranged marriages and a more traditional, safer life.  The two men wanted to make a difference.

 In addition, we discussed the meaning of Rolihlahla (Nelson's name given at birth).  The name meant "pulling the branch of a tree" but everyone understood that it really meant "troublemaker."  The students, during a station in Social Studies, found the meanings of their birth names.  They created Wordles of the information they discovered, which are on display in the room.  Many had no idea what their name meant and were excited to learn. 

Several students expressed that they would not have liked their teacher changing their name at school.  Names are usually given some thought by parents.  Children hear their names over and over again, and they take pride in their names.  To have a teacher choose to change it to a name from another culture would have made some students angry.

We took the Daze portion of the DIBELS Testing today.  Individual students will be tested tomorrow to determine fluency levels.

Homework:
Math - practice sheet (multiplication and division side only)
Reading - Finish novel and complete your role
Writing - Finish today's paragraph summary and sketch of our Nelson Mandela reading
Social Studies - Study.  Map test on Friday.  Chapter 1 Test moved to Monday/ Tuesday for group 310