It's February Already!

Note:  Please remember to have your student read 35 minutes a night (175 min. a week).  Some of them are not getting the credit they need.  Independent reading a a grade.  There are a handful of students that are not regularly not bringing in the notes.  Let's make February reading a 100% month!!!

Personal

I can't believe the long month of January went by so quickly.  This school year is just flying by! For those interested, my leg is doing much better.  The massive bruising is gone, but there is still a large hard lump that is still causing discomfort. I am in physical therapy 2-3 times a week now trying to get the hematoma to dissipate.  My students were darling with all the help and consideration given me.

Calendar of Events

This is a month full of things to remember

5th:   U of U engineering Day - each grade does a different activity

AR Party - our whole class gets to go:-)

13th: Class Valentine's Party - Students to bring their own valentine box that day

16th: No School - President's Day

25th: JA Biztown - The students are excitedly preparing for this rewarding day

27th:  No School - Teacher Professional Day

March 3rd: We are going to the symphony at Symphony Hall

U of U Engineering Day

Today is February 5th and we had a chemical engineer from the U of U come to our class and teach the students how to make GAK.  Each student had to add exact amounts certain ingredients together in a specified way to produce the chemical reaction.  It ends up being rather slimey at first, but turns into a substance similar to silly putty.  They had a great time and got to choose what color to make their GAK.  The biggest problem now is keeping it put away during class.

Language Arts

Reading: We are fully involved in our survival novels.  Students reading one of the following books: Captain Grey, Dogsong, Riding Freedom, or Running Out of Time.  The books are really exciting and the students are enjoying them.  Please ask your child about the novel he/she is reading.  As soon as this one is finished, I have another one for each of them to dig into.

Spelling:  Regular Sitton spelling words with homework on Wednesdays, Skill & Proof Test on Thursdays, and Word Test on Fridays.  I really appreciated all the homework that is done and returned.  Thank you.

Vocabulary:  We will be learning social studies words for vocabulary this month

Writing:  We wrote a Ground Hog Poem, creating some valentine heart sayings, and are doing writing connected with social studies and reading.

Social Studies

We are studying the constitution.  What a great time for these students to be learning all of this, right after such an historical Presidential Election.  We are learning about the branches of our government, how a bill becomes law, and our rights as people of the United States.  We have had some very thought provoking discussions.

Math

We are just finishing division and are heading full blast into fractions and decimals.  We will be learning to perform operations, such as add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, simple fractions, and decimals.

Science

This is our preparation time for JA Biztown.  Students are learning about business and economics. They will also learn to write checks, balance a checkbook, write television and radio ads, create a mission statement for the business for which they are working, and most of all, learn to work together to successfully run a business.  The businesses our class will be involved in are: Select Health, Larry Miller Dealerships, Zion's Bank, JA Television, Smiths Marketplace, and JA City Restaurant.  They are so excited to learn all of the things required of them.  It is a big undertaking and I so appreciate all the parents that are preparing and going to Biztown with us.  It will be a very enjoyable day and one the students will not forget.