It's parent/teacher conference week, and we already have a full quarter of the school year behind us. The year is going by fast. In Communication Arts, we are busy with our weekly spelling, daily language review, and individual reading. In addition, we are practicing cursive. The students are really enjoying learning to write in cursive. In math we are working on money, telling time on clock with a face, and reviewing our multiplication tables. We will be reviewing division in the coming weeks. In Social Studies the students are studying early America. In Science we are looking at the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates. The students are really working hard, and looking forward to the second quarter.

Welcome back! Where did the summer go? This year the WIS theme is "American Road Trip". Each one of the homerooms has a destination they are showcasing. Our class theme is "The Appalachian Trail". It covers 14 states from Maine to Georgia. We will be learning about the AT, as it is known, throughout the year. We have started the year with review in math of multiplication, addition, subtraction, and probability. In communication arts, we are starting our weekly spelling tests, daily language review, and working on our reading levels. This week we are going to review library and dictionary skills. In science and social studies we are reviewing were to find the information we need in the text book. We have many different projects and activities planned to help us this year. We are glad to have Miss Stacee back to our classroom. And we welcome Miss Lynn and Miss Katie. It looks to be a great learning year, and we are all looking forward to it.

Here were are at the end of the school year. It has gone by fast! We have a treasure trove of great memories, and even learned a little along the way. Have a great summer!

Spring break is behind us, and we are in the home stretch now. But first, we will be spending next week MAP testing. As a class we have been preparing for testing. Mid quarter grades will come out the following week, after MAP.
In Communication Arts we are continuing to work on grade level reading, we are still enjoying the book "HOLES", practicing our paragraph skills, and of course, we continue to work on our weekly spelling words.
In math we are reviewing for MAP testing.
After our last snow make up day, it looks like our next break will be Summer vacation. It will be here before we know it!

Our classroom is "Going Bananas" for the next month. We have started reviewing our multiplication facts. Each time a math fact is passed the student will earn something for our banana split party on March 19. Everyone earned a spoon today for conquering their x1's. Tomorrow we'll be working on our x2's to receive a bowl. As each student completes a math fact, they will earn another ingredient for their banana split.

Each student will work at their own pace. We'll be taking one timed multiplication test a day. When that math fact number is passed your student will move on the the next math fact number. Please help your student review his multiplication facts at home so they can earn their complete banana split!

x1 = spoon, x2 =bowl, x3 = napkins, x4 = ice cream, x5 = banana, x6 = choice of syrup, x7 = choice of 2 syrups, x8 = whipped cream, x9 = sprinkles, x10 = cherry!

Mid term third quarter grades have just been posted. Even though the snow is blowing outside, we are marching on to SPRING!
In communication arts, in order to try and complete the "castle" building process, the class held elections for "castle" foreman. Each student wrote a candidate speech. I procured a podium from the classroom next door, and the candidates each gave a speech. It was a great experience for all the students. We recorded each speech of the flip video camera, and reviewed each speech in class. The "castle" is still under construction. However, the class has moved on and is now learning about the Olympics. We are also reading abook about heroes.
In math, we continue to study our multiplication tables, and are working on three digit subtraction.
The year just keeps rolling along, and there are some mornings when the birds seem to be singing the songs of the change of the seasons.

At the start of the second semester, taking into consideration the snow days of the first week back, the class is beginning the get into a working routine. In Communication Arts, we have started reading "The Battle for the Castle", the sequel to "The Castle in the Attic". The class is still working on constructing a cardboard "castle" that, when finished, we plan to use as a reading area. As the construction has seemed to come to a turning point, the class has decided to elect a foreman to oversee the completion of the construction. Each student is creating a candidate speech in order to be able to run for the election of the foreman position. Each student will present their speech for the class before a vote is taken. The potential for a spirited election process is a distinct possibility.
In the weeks to come we will begin a daily lesson relating to the upcoming Winter Olympics.
All in all, we are off to a great start in 2010!