MrHowd.com

Today we focused on our Thanksgiving blessings. We listened and learned a dance to the Shaker song, Simple Gifts:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

We then wrote down all of the things we are thankful for (our Thanksgiving blessings). Some students filled a page and started onto the back.

After listing our blessings, students created a wreath to display some of their blessings.

Hope your family has a happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 1
• Hours with no orange magnets (record: 29): 234

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• Children’s Speller and Dictionary Order due Friday, December 5. Franklin has a sale in December every year. This dictionary, which we have in class, is on sale for $5 off, plus free shipping. Here’s more information and an order form.
• Capitol Field Trip on Tuesday, December 9. Click here for more information or a permission slip. Let me know if you would like to chaperone.
• Donations for sponsored family: our class will be collecting donations for a few families in need this holiday season. A letter went home with students explaining food and gift donations. Our class will be donating items for a 7-year old boy. Several students volunteered to donate one of the gifts from the shopping list provided; others volunteered to donate wrapping paper and tape. We will wrap the gifts on Friday, December 12. Thanks for helping this family have a wonderful Christmas!
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for daily email updates, including activities, homework and important information.
• This week’s juice volunteers: Lauren and Emily

Our first field trip is coming soon; here are the details:

• When: Tuesday, December 9
• Time: Meet at McGrath at 7:15 am for 7:30 departure. Back to McGrath at or before 3:00 pm.
• Where: Michigan Capitol Building and Historical Museum in Lansing
• Cost: No cost for students or parents, except for souvenirs
• Permission Slip: Download the permission slip for this trip here
• Lunch: Bring a sack lunch with disposable containers
• Chaperones: We are looking for chaperones for our field trip. We’ll even throw in a free bus ride! Would you or a family member like to chaperone? Just fill out the form below:

Spelling: None today due to extra time publishing our writing pieces. Students will prepare Words to Learn lists next week.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 48-50 are available and due next Friday.

Reading: Today, students completed a narrative reading test and planned their Literature Circles projects to share their books with the class.

Writing: Today was a publishing day for our class book: If I Were President… Students will be writing final copies of their text and illustrations this week and next.

Each student will write and illustrate one page for our class book, and this page will also be submitted into portfolios on December 1.

Math: Today was a math test assessing these concepts:

• addition
• subtraction
• data landmarks (minimum, maximum, range, mode, median)
• bar graphs
• reading and writing large numbers

Science: Students used lasers to see that light travels in straight lines. Using mirrors, they were challenged to reflect a laser beam around their tables to hit a water bottle.

Social Studies: None due to an extra time with science.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 1
• Hours with no orange magnets (record: 29): 230

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for daily email updates, including activities, homework and important information.

Our class tracks data related to the following goals:

• We will improve our STAR reading scores monthly and grow at least one year by the end of the year:

• All students will pass the multiplication and division “Super Mad Minute” tests by the end of the year:

• We will move our magnets no more than ten times each week (or, less than 40-50 magnets each month):

Spelling: Today was a preview of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 48-50 are available and due next Friday.

Reading: Today was the final discussion day of this cycle of Literature Circles. Groups will soon start working on a project to share their books with the class.

Writing: Today was a publishing day for our class book: If I Were President… Students will be writing final copies of their text and illustrations this week and next.

Each student will write and illustrate one page for our class book, and this page will also be submitted into portfolios on December 1.

Math: We played a game to review for tomorrow’s math test, which will assess these concepts:

• addition
• subtraction
• data landmarks (minimum, maximum, range, mode, median)
• bar graphs
• reading and writing large numbers

Here is a practice test (PDF) and key (PDF) to use to study for the test.

Some students were given an assignment to work on tonight to help them practice bar graphs.

Science: None today due to a double Social Studies time.

Social Studies: We watched some video clips about the three branches of government. Students also completed a district assessment about US Regions.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 1
• Hours with no orange magnets (record: 29): 227

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• Sign up for daily email updates, including activities, homework and important information.