Monday, October 29th, 2012

Language Arts:

• 6^th grade shared Small Moment final writing piece.  No homework this evening.
• 5^th Grade turned in their Small Moment writing piece and went to the Battle of the Books presentation. 

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes or more nightly!
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.

Social Studies:  Began lesson 5 today. Worked on vocabulary

Homework:

• Vocab packet is due tomorrow.

             

Election Updates: 

We are in the final stretch. We will be having our final debate/town hall meeting on Monday, November 5^th.  This will held in the Media Center at 1:00.

We meet with the students today and did our BEST to get the kids caught up!!  Hopefully this time has helped them! 

Reminders:

• Piñatas for the Halloween party. These need to be handmade with a partner.

• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!

Friday, October 26th, 2012

Language Arts:

·         Today we went to the media center and  turned in our sticky notes on our reading.  Small moment final, typed piece is due on Monday.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes or more nightly!
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.

Social Studies:  Took unit 4 test today.

Homework:

• No homework

             

Election Updates: 

We are in the final stretch. We will be having our final debate/town hall meeting on Monday, November 5^th.  More info to come next week.

Parents please read the following note from Ross and me. 

Parents,

The start of the school year is always a little hectic. It's takes a little while for the students to settle into a routine and figure out what is due...when.  This is especially difficult for our 5th grade students, who go from a traditional elementary schedule (1 teacher...maybe 2...) to switching 8 different times throughout the day. This year has been exceptionally difficult. (Even for our 6th graders!)

Amy and I have been thinking about what we can do to help our kids out!! A lot...:) Please understand...your son/daughter IS NOT ALONE, if he/she feels a little lost. (i.e missing assignments, losing things etc. etc.) Many kids are feeling this way. The one thing the kids are needing right now...CONSISTENCY,  has been very difficult for us to give them, to say the least. (camp, Cranbrook, NWEA testing, F and P testing, MEAP, multiple fire drills etc. etc. etc.)

So...Amy and I will be having a special homeroom time on Monday. (We simply haven't had any time to meet with our kids as we have in the past...no homeroom time this year...Amy and I will be cutting some science and social studies time to accommodate this NECESSARY homeroom).  We are giving all kids "missing tasks reports" today or tomorrow. They can use the next 3+ days to come see us for missing work etc. Including  Monday's "special" homeroom time. The kids can turn in any missing work for a chance to receive a score up to 85%.  We are walking a fine line between holding the kids accountable and keeping them from drowning! We feel like we need to throw the kids a life-line. So here it is:)

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have concerns. Hopefully this helps as we transition into the rest of the school year and wrap-up the first quarter on a positive (be it hectic) note!

Ross & Amy

Reminders:

• Piñatas for the Halloween party. These need to be handmade with a partner.

• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

Language Arts:

·         Today we began a read aloud and focused on character, setting and connections. I meet with some students to discuss their small moment and suggested ways to revise their paper.  I will meet with the remainder tomorrow. The final, typed piece is due on Monday.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes or more nightly!
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.

Social Studies:  Students completed reviews today in class. Study tonight!!

Homework:

• Reread lesson 4 in your textbook to prepare for the test on Friday

             

Election Updates: 

The campaign is in full effect!  The candidates will be giving speeches on Friday, October 27^th.  This is their third speech and it will be on Homeland Security.

Parents please read the following note from Ross and me. 

Parents,

The start of the school year is always a little hectic. It's takes a little while for the students to settle into a routine and figure out what is due...when.  This is especially difficult for our 5th grade students, who go from a traditional elementary schedule (1 teacher...maybe 2...) to switching 8 different times throughout the day. This year has been exceptionally difficult. (Even for our 6th graders!)

Amy and I have been thinking about what we can do to help our kids out!! A lot...:) Please understand...your son/daughter IS NOT ALONE, if he/she feels a little lost. (i.e missing assignments, losing things etc. etc.) Many kids are feeling this way. The one thing the kids are needing right now...CONSISTENCY,  has been very difficult for us to give them, to say the least. (camp, Cranbrook, NWEA testing, F and P testing, MEAP, multiple fire drills etc. etc. etc.)

So...Amy and I will be having a special homeroom time on Monday. (We simply haven't had any time to meet with our kids as we have in the past...no homeroom time this year...Amy and I will be cutting some science and social studies time to accommodate this NECESSARY homeroom).  We are giving all kids "missing tasks reports" today or tomorrow. They can use the next 3+ days to come see us for missing work etc. Including  Monday's "special" homeroom time. The kids can turn in any missing work for a chance to receive a score up to 85%.  We are walking a fine line between holding the kids accountable and keeping them from drowning! We feel like we need to throw the kids a life-line. So here it is:)

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have concerns. Hopefully this helps as we transition into the rest of the school year and wrap-up the first quarter on a positive (be it hectic) note!

Ross & Amy

Reminders:

• Piñatas for the Halloween party. These need to be handmade with a partner.

• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Language Arts:

·         Today the students worked with a peer to revise their small moment writing piece.

·         I will be meeting with students on Thursday and Friday to discuss their piece. The final, typed piece is due on Monday.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes or more nightly!
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.

Social Studies:  Wrote reviews for lesson 4.  Lesson 4 test will be on Friday, October 27^th.

Homework:

• Reread lesson 4 in your textbook to prepare for the test on Friday
• Complete artifact sheet. It is due tomorrow.

             

Election Updates: 

The campaign is in full effect!  The candidates will be giving speeches on Friday, October 27^th.  This is their third speech and it will be on Homeland Security.

Parents please read the following note from Ross and me. 

Parents,

The start of the school year is always a little hectic. It's takes a little while for the students to settle into a routine and figure out what is due...when.  This is especially difficult for our 5th grade students, who go from a traditional elementary schedule (1 teacher...maybe 2...) to switching 8 different times throughout the day. This year has been exceptionally difficult. (Even for our 6th graders!)

Amy and I have been thinking about what we can do to help our kids out!! A lot...:) Please understand...your son/daughter IS NOT ALONE, if he/she feels a little lost. (i.e missing assignments, losing things etc. etc.) Many kids are feeling this way. The one thing the kids are needing right now...CONSISTENCY,  has been very difficult for us to give them, to say the least. (camp, Cranbrook, NWEA testing, F and P testing, MEAP, multiple fire drills etc. etc. etc.)

So...Amy and I will be having a special homeroom time on Monday. (We simply haven't had any time to meet with our kids as we have in the past...no homeroom time this year...Amy and I will be cutting some science and social studies time to accommodate this NECESSARY homeroom).  We are giving all kids "missing tasks reports" today or tomorrow. They can use the next 3+ days to come see us for missing work etc. Including  Monday's "special" homeroom time. The kids can turn in any missing work for a chance to receive a score up to 85%.  We are walking a fine line between holding the kids accountable and keeping them from drowning! We feel like we need to throw the kids a life-line. So here it is:)

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have concerns. Hopefully this helps as we transition into the rest of the school year and wrap-up the first quarter on a positive (be it hectic) note!

Ross & Amy

Reminders:

• Piñatas for the Halloween party. These need to be handmade with a partner.

• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Language Arts:

• Today we continued to work on our small moment writing piece. Many finished brainstorming and began drafting their piece.
• The majority of this piece will be done in school (drafting, revising and editing.)
• Tomorrow we will be finish drafting our small moment.  We will edit with a peer on Wednesday.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Draft due on Wednesday, October 24^th and Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.

Social Studies:  Today we finished lesson 4. They must have their reading note, processing and vocabulary done by tomorrow.

Homework:

• All of lesson 4 due tomorrow.

• Debate #3 due on Wednesday.

Thursday, October 18th,2012

Language Arts:

• Today we continued to work on our small moment writing piece. Many finished brainstorming and began drafting their piece.
• The majority of this piece will be done in school (drafting, revising and editing.)
• We also went over our first Criterion Writing assignment.  This piece is due on Monday.  Please follow the directions below for using Criterion.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Draft due on Wednesday, October 24^th and Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.
• Criterion Writing Piece:  Please connect to Criterion using the link connected to my blog. Remember your username and password is the same as your school one. This is DUE on Monday, October 22^nd.
• You will have TWO chances for this writing piece. You may resubmit for a better score. 

Social Studies:  Today we began lesson 4. We completed the preview activity and completed the 5 vocabulary words in our vocabulary packet.

Homework: None

Goal Setting:  Please complete your goal at home (if you did not meet with me). Type it up and have mom or dad sign. This sheet is due tomorrow (October 19^th)

             

Election Updates: 

The campaign is in full effect!  The candidates will be giving speeches on Friday, October 19^th.  This is their second speech and it will be on the economy.

The committees are working hard to get their candidates elected! 

Reminders:

• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!

Tuesday, October 16th,2012

Language Arts:

• Today we continued to work on our small moment writing piece. Many finished brainstorming and began drafting their piece.
• The majority of this piece will be done in school (drafting, revising and editing.)
• We also went over our first Criterion Writing assignment.  This piece is due on Monday.  Please follow the directions below for using Criterion.

Homework:

• Read for 20 minutes
• Remember to have a chapter book that you are going to commit to for the next week.
• Small Moment writing piece. Draft due on Wednesday, October 24^th and Final piece due on Monday, October 29^th.
• Criterion Writing Piece:  Please connect to Criterion using the link connected to my blog. Remember your username and password is the same as your school one. This is DUE on Monday, October 22^nd.
• You will have TWO chances for this writing piece. You may resubmit for a better score. 

Social Studies:  No class. MEAP DAY

Homework: None

             

Election Updates: 

The campaign is in full effect!  The candidates will be giving speeches on Friday, October 19^th.  This is their second speech and it will be on the economy.

The committees are working hard to get their candidates elected! 

Reminders:

• Goal setting packets went home today.  I will start meeting with families on Wednesday if you want to do a “face to face conference.”  Otherwise you may email your child’s goal and I will meet with them throughout the school day. Please use the sign up link under Goal Setting on my blog.
• Burns/Burdick Parent Teacher conferences in November are changed. We will be holding them on Thursday, November 8^th and Monday, November 19^th.  Look for sign ups to come soon!!