Week of December 13th

Hello Families!  Here is the agenda for this week:

Math - Adding and Subtracting with Decimals

Reading - Leveled Independent Reading

Spelling - Christmas Words

Social Studies - First of all I wanted to say "WOW"....the kids rocked at their American History Test!  I was so impressed with the majority of their test scores!  They did so well! I could tell most of them studied with test scores like A's, B's, and C's!  Now let's rock the classroom again this week!  We will be finishing up our NE Region Posters this week. (Due Thursday)  We will also take a NE Region Location Test on Wednesday and a NE Region Capitals Test on Thursday.  I will send home a study guide on Monday.  This first location test usually gets some of the kids.  Make sure to spend some time helping your child study for this test.  It can get kindof tricky remembering where all those New England states are.  The test will include the states and they will match them with their correct location.  The capital test will be matching as well, and the children need to study for this too.  I try really hard to teach the children about that BIG word called PROCRASTINATION. They have got to learn how to use their time wisely and to not put off things until the last moment.  This is an important skill necessary for future success!  As a mother of an 8th grader, I'm telling you the truth. :) As my pastor's 8 year old daughter told her daddy.  "School is a lot like Mario Brothers with each level getting harder!"  I thought that was a clever analogy!  We as parents and teachers need to prepare our children for that next level!

***Side note: We will still remember to have fun though and enjoy 4th grade as we stretch and grow!***

English - We will finish up our Owl Reports.  They are due Thursday as well.

We will get back to Spanish in January.

****THINGS TO KNOW AND REMEMBER****

Show and Tell will be Thursday.  (No pets...sorry)

Friday is Polar PJ Day!  Your child may wear their pajamas and slippers.  We will be doing learning stations in the morning that include reading, science, social studies, math, and art.  In the afternoon, we will watch the movie Polar Express and drink hot cocoa and eat s'mores!  This should be a fun day!!

Box Buddy packages are due Tuesday, December 21st. Remember, this is a wrapped gift for a secret friend that includes: 
              1) 5 Thoughtful Compliments
                     2) Acrostic Poem
                     3) Letter of Encouragement
                     4) Drawn and Colored Picture or Collage
                     5) Handmade Gift
We have been working secretly behind homemade tents on our desks :) on the first 3 or 4 items, but the children need to make their handmade gift at home as well as wrapping their package with all 5 things inside it.  Please help me to help your child follow through with this special and worthy project.  It would be awful if your child's secret friend didn't get a special package that day because your child didn't finish it.  I love each and every one of my students and I am putting my trust in them and you to complete this assignment.  I don't want anyone left out.  The children and I talked about how this gift will be probably one of the hardest gifts they will ever make and give, but oh what a lesson in the giving of ourselves!!  Hopefully, they will realize that in blessing others, they will in turn be blessed, probably more. :)

I want to thank all my volunteers that helped on Gingerbread House Making Day!  What a crazy, but fun day!!  Thanks in advance for all who signed up to help on Polar PJ Day this Friday!  Also thanks to those who are donating to our Banana Split Party!  Look for those two information notes to come home on Monday if you signed up.