November 8th, 2012

TOMORROW IS WOW DAY.  That means wear  your favorite clothes.  Usually jeans and a favorite shirt or sweatshirt.

TOMORROW IS ALSO OUR VISIT TO THE CRANDALL PRINT MUSEUM IN PROVO.  WE LEAVE AT 11:45 AND RETURN TO SCHOOL BY 1:40.

This morning we sped read level V excerpts.  Global Scholar testing, spelling, vocabulary and phonics review.  TOMORROW IS THE LANGUAGE ARTS TEST (Grammar and Reading) and for 5th Graders the SAT word definitions.

Students who wish to take the 50 States Test or redo Root Word tests will also have that opportunity tomorrow morning.

Students received Johnny Tremain Part II today.  Each student has a specific job for his or her group.  Students are reading together.  They are making specific notes.  Monday they will create a lesson to share with their group on Tuesday morning.  HOMEWORK IS READING JOHNNY TREMAIN OR ANOTHER BOOK FOR 30 MINUTES EACH DAY.

Math's topic was Fractions of a Set.  Example.  Johnny has 20 marbles.  How much is 1/4 of 20.  This was surprisingly difficult for my group, the main challenge being to switch denominators and give the answer as a whole number.  Another example.  There are 10 children.  2/5 of them are girls.  How many are boys?  Please try these problems and others from the home environment with your child.  HOMEWORK WAS EXERCISE 12 AND 13 (MOSTLY DONE IN CLASS) AND A SPECIAL HOMEWORK SHEET FROM OUR EXTRA PRACTICE BOOK).

During afternoon recess Mrs. Penrod instigated a soccer game between her class and ours.  The students were so excited.  The greatest part was the complimenting that happened after the game.  The 4th and 5th Grade boys were vocal in their admiration for the 2nd and 3rd Grader efforts.  Of course, it helped that Mrs. Penrod inadvertently made a goal for our side!

History was the Stamp Act Law.  Mrs. Warnick helped me simulate the colonist experience for our class.  Reactions ranged from stunned to angry to disbelief.  I received distressing mail (in the form of angry notes), threats and complaints.  The next step was open rebellion.  I was surprised, yet pleased, that our students reacted exactly the same way the American colonists did!  "Taxation without representation" took on real meaning for them.  They had to "work" and "pay stamp tax" for the privilege to sit on school chairs, write with school pencils, and use school paper.  Counterfeit stamps appeared, stamp stealing began...  You get the picture!  HOMEWORK WAS CHAPTER 7 QUICK QUESTION SHEET.  It is important that students file these sheets in their Revolutionary War packets for our final test.

Students then used the stamps they had crafted yesterday to make a collage of letters.

It was a good day!