The Spelling Bee is fast approaching on Feb 27th. The children are coming home today with information concerning its process. Please take a look at it. If you would like a full list, please either email me or ask your student to let me know to print one.

Also, please sign up for a conference spot here. This particular conference will be led by your child, though I will be present for any questions, comments or concerns. They are currently reviewing the progress reports and contemplating where they believe they fit on the  scale of progress. You could converse with them over the next few weeks, leading to conferences about their ideas regarding their progress, too.

In addition, 6th years need to have selected their Science Fair topics and begun their research. 5th years need to be working with parents or older siblings on their JA Biztown booklets. All students are beginning their Word Studies project Thursday, this week.

I have learned of a tech tool to use for more immediate reminders. It will be just like receiving phone text reminders from a place you frequent and receive coupons from. If you would like to be part of it, receiving daily or weekly reminders of work students need to be completing, please follow these instructions. I am eager to be in closer contact with you as parents to allow students better ways to remember their work and duties. Thank you in advance to all those who sign-up!

Announcements:

Monday, Jan 22nd             MMA Alta Ski Night, 3:45 to 10 PM

Tuesday, Jan 30th              MMA Chili Cook-off, 6 PM

Wednesday to Friday, Feb 14-16th     Parent-Teacher Conferences

Monday, Feb 19th               President’s Day – NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Feb 21st          Science Fair – 6th Grade

This past week we delved into nutrition, our body systems, and how fascinating it all is. While discussing proteins, carbs and sugars, we learned how all of these work to provide us energy and ability to learn and have fun. In addition to this, students worked on some beautiful pieces of art portraying the articles of the Human Rights Declaration. They will be hanging in the front hallway through the end of January; come take a look.

This next week, students will have the opportunity to start using some wonderful new materials which myself and a few parents have been preparing. One of these is our new science experiment cards. Students will be able to select a card, review it with a partner, sign-up for a day and time to perform the experiment, go home and find the needed materials, then at their day and time -experiment! The students were very excited to be made aware of this opportunity. I know experimentation is a wonderful way to learn concepts AND ITS FUN!

We also have some new history, language, and math works which students will also be given the opportunity this week to begin working with. It’s an exciting time. Do ask your students about their engagement with these new works!

In speaking about progress, student conferencing has begun again. Due to student suggestion, I have adjusted the pink/green sheet method to a yellow one. The yellow sheet has several questions which the student will answer, we will then discuss it, it will come home for signature, and come back to school for record keeping. The questions are more along the lines of progress and mastery than a checklist version. My hope is that the students will better see their progress and seek greater learning due to a more “big picture” approach to their learning. All subject areas are still expected of course. The sheet will be available to the student every week, though I will meet with them only once every two weeks. Thank you for your support of your student’s work!

Announcements:

Monday, Jan 15th              Civil Rights Day/MLK Day- NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Jan 17th        5th Grade Reaction Time Assembly

Monday, Jan 22nd             MMA Alta Ski Night, 3:45 to 10 PM

Tuesday, Jan 30th              MMA Chili Cook-off, 6 PM

Wednesday to Friday, Feb 14-16th     Parent-Teacher Conferences

Monday, Feb 19th               President’s Day – NO SCHOOL

News:

Our first week back from break was certainly exciting. Our Practical Life Project challenged our students’ math, nutrition, research and writing skills to learn how it would be to live on their own in cities around the country, while simulating making set amounts of money through particular professions. The children really enjoyed this activity; and we all found it eye-opening. Hopefully, your children came home and thanked you for all your hardwork!

This past week, we got back more into our academic groove. Our major classroom lessons were in both the history of Civil Rights and current Human Rights. We discussed what groups experience discrimination and why. We also viewed several videos showing both what historical events led to our country’s current laws, and videos that pointed to current day challenges. Students are currently to be working on an essay discussing (in this order): Three paragraphs about personal civil rights experiences (one each for three experiences,) one about current law, and one about personal opinion of how people “ought” to be treated. They are developing this essay in their Utah Compose accounts. Please talk with them and help them get their thoughts out on these topics. They can be difficult topics for children, and parents can be very helpful in directing the ideas.

In the upcoming weeks, the children will be provided many more materials within our environment related to history, fundamental needs, paragraph building, sentence building and recognition, fundamental math building blocks and much more. Keep them pushing forward in all these areas by reminding them to stay focused and use their time wisely at school AND ask them what their successes were at the end of the day.

REMINDER: Spring is super busy with projects and academic work. All grade levels will have much to complete. Ask your student often what is happening at school and what  is due so you can help them stay on top of it. THANK YOU!

Feb 13th    Simple Machines – Valentine’s Box      ALL

Feb 13th    Portfolios          ALL

Feb 21st     Science Fair     6th Grade

Feb 20th    Word History Project (Rubric to be posted by Jan 22nd)      ALL

Science Fair 2018

Remember that our Pizza and Game Night is tomorrow night at 6:30! Hope to see you there!