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Week 13 Update

Nov9

Happy Wednesday!

First of all, my apologies for the lack of blog and email updates.  My computer has not been working properly and I’ve had extremely limited internet and server access.  I have a temporary solution for now.  Hopefully I can get quickly caught up and back on track with my communication.

Due to the late notice, there are only 2 IXL assignments this week.  They are posted on the IXL page at the top of the blog and your student should have them written in their planners.  This reduced assignment load should have allowed some time for those students who are behind to get caught up.

4th – We are deep in our studies of Utah History and have finished up talking about early explorers and the Spanish Trail (ask your kiddos about our adventure!).  Utah History Fair topics were due last Friday.  Your students should have brought home their project timeline.  This timeline can also be found at the top of the blog.  Research notes, the first big step in the project, are due November 28.

5th – The invention convention assignments have gotten off to a very slow start.  Out of nine students, only 3 have turned in their first assignment.  The second assignment, “Problem Selection” is due Monday, November 14.  Please check in with your kids to see what help they need.  Partial completion of each assignment will not be accepted.  The more details they include now, the easier their end product will be.  A timeline of due dates can be found at the top of the blog.

6th – Our Expert Project is deep in the second week of note card development.  The project has been carefully designed to break down every step of the research process.  I can provide the instruction and help with questions during class time, but it is up to your children to take the initiative to complete the work.  It is crucial that your kids stay on task.  It is my goal to not give any work related to this project over Thanksgiving Break; however, if your child is missing assignments, they will need to be completed during this time.

Lastly, don’t forget our annual Chili Cook-Off tomorrow, November 10.  It’s not too late to sign up to bring a pot of chili to support this fun community event!

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Welcome Back – Quarter Two

Oct24

I hope you all had an adventurous/restful/productive (insert adjective of your choice) Fall Break!

As we enter into our second quarter of school, I wanted to share some important reminders about classroom policy and expectations.   At the beginning of the school year, each of you signed an agreement to support your student in the classroom.  Please take a moment to review our classroom expectations.

IXL –   This assignment is given orally on Monday morning, is posted in the classroom, and is available on the blog.  IXL is due the Sunday following.  These assignments directly support the lessons your child has in the classroom.  In addition, seeing math in a different format from what it is seen in the classroom will help your child develop problem solving skills.  Please set aside a time for your child to practice nightly.  If your child needs extra help on a section, please have them write a note in their planner and Ms. Kari or I will help them in class.

Planners – This is an important communication tool between school and home.  Please review your student’s planner with them nightly and sign it.  By doing this, you can see what work your child has planned, whether it has been completed, and what you can do to help them at home.

Spelling – Your child records new spelling words on Thursday, and spelling tests take place the following Wednesday.  Students are required to correct any mistakes and return their test with a signature from a parent (or guardian) the next day.  Having a signature on the test is a way to ensure your child is sharing their success, as well as their needs, with you.  Please be sure you are helping your child create a routine for spelling.  Those who study do far better than those who don’t, even when spelling is challenging.

Weekly Work Evaluation – Each Friday your child fills out a work evaluation.  This allows your child to self-reflect on their effort, previous week’s goals and what they have learned throughout the week.  Reviewing and signing your child’s evaluation is another critical communication piece between school and home.

Home Projects – 

  • Level 4 – Utah Studies project – I started out with a bang, and very quickly realized the information I sent home was a bit vague.  As such, I will be re-introducing this project to your children on Thursday, October 27th with a solid timeline and better explanations.  Please watch for this information to come home this week.
  • Level 5 – Invention Convention – Your 5th level student had their first assignment due Wednesday, October 19.  This assignment was to be a problem collector which will help them determine the invention they would like to engineer for their STEM based home project.   Your child will bring home their next assignment this week, as well as a printed timeline for the project.
  • Level 6 – Expert Project – We are well on our way on this project.  The last two weeks your child should have been working on a project proposal.  I am excited to read the first draft of these proposals, as it will give me a much clearer idea of where your child is taking their research.  This has been a great experience so far and I look forward to our presentations in April.
  • All Grades – International Festival/Country Reports – This year’s international festival is Monday, December 19.  Your child will receive his/her country assignment (randomly assigned) Friday, October 28.  Because each of your children are already working on an individual, long-term, home project, we will spend some time in class on Friday, November 4 doing preliminary research.  Please take an opportunity to go to the library with your child and check out books that will support their research.  They should bring these books to school on November 4 in order to make the best use of their time.  We do have limited resources (computers, books, etc) and it will help immensely if your child brings some of their own.

If after your child brings home information about his/her individual long-term home project, or the International Festival, you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Have a wonderful week!

 

 

Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest

Oct13

Good Evening Parents!

I know everyone is really busy with Fall Festival, Parent Teacher Conferences and Fall Break on the horizon.

I wanted to put a call out for any parent (or pair of parents) who would like to help our class design and implement a door decoration for the annual Red Ribbon Week celebrations.  The theme of this year’s Red Ribbon Week is YOLO (You Only Live Once): Be Drug Free.

If you can lead this project, it will count toward your mandatory volunteer hours,  please send me an email no later than Wednesday, October 19.

 

Fall Festival Help Needed and 6th Grade Student Volunteer Opportunity

Oct12

Please read the following message from our MAPA and Fundraising Parent Liason:

We need parents of sixth graders to help with the set up and clean up for the food trucks at the Fall Festival this Friday.

In preparation for the food trucks, we will need 4 or 5 parents to help set up tables right after pick up,  and 4 or 5 parents to help take down tables after the festival is over.  If you can help please contact brianne.mcmullin@gmail.com.

We are also in need 2 sixth graders at 5:00 and 2 sixth graders at 6:00 to help bus tables.  This is an excellent opportunity for your children to get some of their service hours.  Sixth graders are welcome to help more if they would like to.

Also, we are still short quite a few volunteers and have resorted to making closed signs that we will have to put on games/rides if we still have all these holes. That makes us so sad, but we just don’t have another option.   Please sign up to help our class.  You don’t have to be a 6th grade parent to sign up.  All parents are expected to volunteer 40 hrs each year.  Helping out with the ride is an easy way to get an hour of time, while your kiddos are having fun.

Thank you,

Brianne McMullin and Heidi Bradley

Fall Festival Volunteers Needed

Oct3

Good Morning!

Our class is in need of volunteers and a few donations for the Fall Festival coming up on Friday, October 14.  We are looking for parents (all grade levels) to help supervise the fun.

We will need 3 parent volunteers (one hour each) to help run the double wave ride.

We will also need  6 – 6th grade student volunteers (2 students each hour) to run the Guess How Many game.  This will go toward the required volunteer hours.

Use this link to sign up to volunteer.  If you signed up to volunteer for the game through the email, please double check to be sure your name is still here.

We will need 3 parents to donate 2 lbs of Halloween candy each (ie, candy corn, candy pumpkins, gumballs, etc).  When you sign up please list the candy you will be donating.  All donations need to be brought to class no later than Wednesday, October 12th so that Meredith can get the game ready for the festival.  You can sign up at this link to donate candy.  

Thank you for helping us hold a successful Fall Festival!