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Today was our Mexican Fiesta! We started by reading a book called The Night of Las Posadas, a story about the Las Posadas procession in Mexico that tells the story of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.

We then started our own Los Posadas. We went to the cafeteria and the office, and they wouldn’t let us in for shelter, but Sra. Dillard finally let us in her Spanish Room, and we started our fiesta! We sang Noche de Paz (Silent Night) and Cascabel (Jingle Bells). We then went outside for sparklers!

We came back in to take a wack at the piñata (thanks, Chandler, for smashing its head off on the first wack!). After tying the rope around its waist, we had a few more swings, pummeling it pretty good! Then we headed back to the room to eat. The menu included:

• Mexican-style tacos on fried corn tostada shells;
• Spicy shredded chicken eaten with torn flour tortillas;
• Nopalitos (prickly pear cactus!);
• Pepinos (cucumbers with lemon juice and salt);
• Mexican hot chocolate (hot chocolate with cinnamon); and,
• Buñelos (fried flour tortillas with cinnamon and sugar).

Later, we played “Toma Todo,” a Mexican top game much like the Jewish dreidel. Students start with ten beans, then take or put in beans as the top says. The winning amount of beans could select a Mexican pop.

We ended with the McGrath Holiday Sing-Along. Our class sang “Joy to the World” and taught the school how to sign it.
A grande-sized thanks to the parents who helped prepare and serve food today at the fiesta, and for all the generous donations–we had more than enough food and everyone had their fill!

Feliz Navidad!

Spelling: Students completed a preview today of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Five cursive sentences of seven or more words will be due after the break.

Reading: Groups presented their Literature Circles projects today.

Writing: A piece of writing will be due into portfolios first thing tomorrow.

Math: None today due to concert by the Neithercut Honors Choir from Flint Schools.

Science: Students presented their Wicked Weather skits today to review weather safety, safe locations and severe weather warnings.

Social Studies: None today due library.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 4
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 42

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

Notes:

• Mexican Christmas Fiesta coming tomorrow! Click here for a volunteer list.
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

Spelling: None today due to wrapping presents for our adopted family. Thank you to all the families that generously donated the over 20 gifts we were able to give today!

Cursive: Five cursive sentences of seven or more words are due Thursday.

Reading: None today due to our bowling field trip.

Writing: None today due to our bowling field trip.The next piece of writing is due tomorrow.

Math: None today due to our bowling field trip.

Science: None today due to wrapping presents for our adopted family.

Social Studies: None today due reviewing our goals. We watched a movie about how just a little more effort can make a big difference.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 2
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 42

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

Notes:

• Mexican Christmas Fiesta coming on Friday, December 21! Click here for a volunteer list.
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

***Grand Blanc Lanes field trip on Wednesday, December 19***
Click here for a permission slip

Spelling: Today was a spelling test and skill test over /s/ spelling patterns. Note that we will begin to quicken the pace of spelling, so we should have a test every 10 days or so.

Cursive: Five cursive sentences of seven or more words are due Thursday.

Reading: Students worked on their Literature Circles projects, which will be presented on Thursday.

Writing: Today was an editing day. We also talked about using details to make the setting come alive. The next piece of writing is due December 20.

Math: We reviewed true and false number sentences and the use of parentheses.

Science: Students finalized their Wicked Weather skits and will perform them tomorrow.

Social Studies: None today due to Gift Factory.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 31

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

Notes:

• Mexican Christmas Fiesta coming on Friday, December 21! Click here for a volunteer list.
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

Here’s our week in 60 seconds:

• Spelling: r following a vowel makes a new sound, hyphenated numbers, /s/ patterns, spelling test on Tuesday.
• Cursive: pp. 47-49
• Reading: Literature Circles projects
• Writing: inner and outer story, revising and editing, portfolio piece due December 20
• Math: true and false number sentences, parentheses, factors
• Science: Electrical safety, weather safety
• Social Studies: land and water of Michigan
• Notes: Bowling field trip on Wednesday, Mexican Fiesta on Friday, volunteers are needed to help with gifts for a family in need, and for food for our fiesta.