What a Wonderful Wacky Day Again (minus music...right...???)

Sorry my posts have been less frequent this week and later!  Just like you and your families, I have a lot of extra little things I'm trying to accomplish at home and with others during this busy Christmas week.  Another compliment goes out to you for your easy-going transitions from goofy schedule to tests to drinking juice to breaking apart rocks, etc.

Tomorrow will be much like today with moving from one activity to another to another.  There's always so much to do before the end of the quarter.  And just think, when we say goodbye on Friday, half of our 5B Family time is over:(  Ahhhh!!  I'm not OKAY with that!!  You have been such an amazing class!  Check with your families to see if I can just not pass each of you, ok?? Heeeehehehe...

If you haven't shot your commercial yet, be READY!  There's no more practice days... Amazing job to those who have done theirs already!  Great models for the rest of us.

Other reminders...
TALENT SHOW - if you need something special, be sure to bring it for tomorrow...I'm so proud of our little surprise!  And everyone's willingness to be "brave".

Also... be sure to share with families about the changes coming up in the near future (after Christmas break we have a 5th special).  Also, share with your families about the bigger changes for next school year - all grade levels being together either in Cresco or Lime Springs!  Wow...change....change...change!

Last but not least.... I'll know you checked the blog if you ask me, "What can I do to help clean up our room, Mrs. Sorenson?"  I'll be happy to give you a job!!!

Tomorrow will be finishing literacy assessments, shooting commercials, reading from Choose Your Own Adventure - in Colonial Times... One last time... and TALENT SHOW!!

Magical Day in 5B! Truly amazing Cadet Pride!

Loving the way 5B deals with goofy changes in schedules, extra activities and the Christmas spirit!  It's going to be sad to say goodbye for our winter vacation!

TOMORROW IS A CRAZY, BUSY DAY

because.....

 Yeah!!!  Time to celebrate the fundraising!!

Time to Shoot our Commercials!

Time for Literacy Assessments and Science Test!

Keep up the amazing behaviors during our less-than-normal schedules!  We will learn, laugh and live it up at the Big Blast!  Anyone ready to take me on?

I'll know you checked the blog if you visit this TodaysMeet link and write which one of the inflatables you'd be willing to take me on in?  I usually do between 4-5 if time allows for it!  If you REALLY want to be chosen, persuade me into why YOU should be one of the few!!

1 Week to Go!!!

Well, 5B!
Last week was so crazy and busy with excitement and extra activities!  It was actually one of our BEST weeks for listening and showing Cadet Pride all year!  I'm so proud of everyone for knowing when it's time to celebrate, be crazy, etc. and when it's time to get down to business and get our jobs done!  Not many students can handle that, so that is a huge compliment to our 5B Family:)

Big Reminders For The Week Before Christmas Break....
#1:  REMEMBER YOUR iPAD if you took it home this weekend. About half of the class chose to...

#2:  Commercial Scripts and Shoots:  Begin recording on Tuesday.  Be ready and memorized with expression!  The recorded voice notes you put in Showbie for me sound fantastic!  I can't wait to see you do it with the actions!  Yippee!

#3:  Big BLAST on Tuesday!  4 of you are allowed to go on the limo rides, but only ONE of you has her permission slip (email) back in.  It would be sad if 3 5B students didn't get to go!!  For the REST of us, BIG BLAST craziness will happen in the afternoon.  I'll take on a few people on some of the activities!  Who's brave enough to battle your teacher?!

#4:  Finishing up Math and Tests, Literacy and Tests, Social Studies and Tests, Science and Tests! - Remember you have a Triangular Trade test on Monday (morning!)

#5:  Talent Show!!  We need to practice a few more times, don't we?  It will be from 1:00 -2:30.  I just LOVE seeing everyone be so creative and just having fun!

Ok.. Here's something NEW.  There are some fun pictures of our Duct Dynasty Day, the visit to the preschool room, and the yummy snacks waiting for us.  Go towards the top of the blog, next the HOME, there will be a Tap that says Photo Fun in 5B. Click Here.  If you click on that tab, you'll see about 18 pics.  I think that's how I'll pictures from now on if there are a lot:)

I'll know you checked the blog if you ask me, right away, "WHERE ARE WE GOING RIGHT AT 8:20 this morning, Mrs. Sorenson?" in an excited voice!

Also, check out the Christmas Countdown TIMER on the side of the blog under the Hour of Code links.  Any time you want a quick reminder of how long it is until Christmas, just take a quick peek!  I get sooooo excited for this time of yo

LOVE My 5B Angels...(Ding...Ahhhhh)

Another great day, 5B....  What I told you today about how much I enjoy our 5B family this year, is true from my heart.  Just remember, YOU ARE AMAZING (Hunter... it's ok to compliment people, right?!). So use the word above the bulletin board - THINK at all times... Lining up, coming into a room, waiting for your turn at something, if you're done with a job, careful to not interrupt a conversation, only chatting when asked/necessary/given that freedom...  You know it all...  Just show me whats-ya-got!!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Mrs. Bodermann for the fantastic bulletin board of our 5B Angels!  You make this year so special!  Thanks from all of us!

Reminders...
Friday - WARM CLOTHES for walking over to Kessel for preschool helping!

Next Week...
Monday - Special Program we get to see right away at 8:20 a.m.! Be ready right away!
Tuesday - BIG BLAST!  Celebrate the fundraising by our students!
***Limo Rides (there are 4 of you who have permission slips sent home - You can't go unless we get those returned??? OK???)
Tuesday - Start shooting commercials for Santa's Workshop!  Get those scripts done and memorized:)
Wednesday - Normal???? What's that?  More shooting of commercials!
Thursday - Talent Show - IF enough sign up... Help encourage other members in 5th grade to just try something for fun!  If you need ideas, I'm sure I can give you a really simple idea.
Friday - Last Day of 2013 as a 5B Family:)

I'll know you checked the blog if you do a little challenge for me:)  Go to this link CLICK HERE.  See if you can find the 7 differences between the 2 pictures.  Write down all 7 that you find.  I could only find 6 the first time.  Then I tried again and found the 7th one!  Hand it to me as you come in!

After you give me the note with the 7 items on it, go straight to your Science Group and finish your streak tests.  Group 3 - come see me:)

Twisted Tuesday... Started Off Fab... Ended Kinda Drab...

Well, it was goofy start to our day, but 5B showed Fantastic Cadet Pride for our morning activities - P.E., Reading/Social Studies and Writing... Lunch and the Band time went fantastic as well... Then math and planners...WHOA, Baby??  What happened??

You all pointed out what qualities made you "naughty" and "nice" today...So let's try to more points in the "nice" column for Santa's list, okey dokey??

Remember, tomorrow is the DUCT DYNASTY celebration!  I saw some of classes totals for the blue tickets and 5B ROCKED it, BABY!  We earned almost DOUBLE than other classrooms!  So, that is something to truly be proud of!  Keep that in mind as you get the urge to blurt or whisper to others in class or start playing on your iPad at the wrong time or not being on task...ok?  Just a friendly reminder!

I'll know you checked the blog if you WEAR BLUE or CADET NATION shirts tomorrow!  During our celebration, there will be some relay races where I have to race WITH one of my 5B students against other teams of teachers/students!  Who will be my partner?  Who can guarantee a WIN for 5B?  I have no idea what the races are so do some exercises tonight to get ready for the unknown!!

I only have 1 photo from today...I thought it was too great to pass up the opportunity to take a snapshot of it while they working so well together, focused, revising and editing writing... Great examples!  I saw a lot of this with people today in writing!  So impressed!  Keep it up!

Trystin, you will have some pictures to take tomorrow of the fun at the celebration and other times in our day! I'm excited for you to get them in the Showbie app so I will have more to share on the blog from our fun-filled time with our 5B Family:)

Robots In 5B - In Honor of Computer Science Education Week!

5B, I'm SOO bummed I didn't take pictures of your coding, programming and robots today!  I was so busy working with you and chatting that I didn't get photos!  Ahhh!!  Shame on me!  I should add the job for our classroom jobs - Photos!  That person can then email me all the pics from the day and I'll have some choices!  Then I'll be sure to get some to put on the blog!  Ok, so that's your proof for checking the blog. Tell me to make someone the "Photos" person for a new class job.  They'll take photos for our special activities, science experiments, hard-workers, field trips, etc. and then EMAIL them to ME at the end of each day:)

Otherwise... Big Reminders for the Week...
All Week - More Coding, Programming and Learning about How to Code
Tuesday - Field trip to Preschool Room in the morning:)
Wednesday - Early out
Thursday - Commercial Scripts are DUE!  Remember - must be written like a 5th grader!
Friday - the 13th! Freaky! Yikes!

AMAZING job in science today, on task, working together, and getting the activity done in record time!  Woo-hoo for 5B!

Also, a HUGE HOOT and HOLLER for earning
1,268 tickets for the Duct Dynasty Challenge!  Watch out Mr. Wiley and Mr. Anderlik, here comes 5B with duct tape!!

Oh, and have you found all of the ornaments hiding??  

Computer Science Education Week Dec. 9 - 15!

Let's do some coding, dudes!!

Check out this 1 minute video to see what we will be doing this week - for sure on Monday for TECH TIME and then those of you in my math class will be really getting into "The HOUR of CODE!"
Click Here for a Sneak Peek to our Coding Activities!  We will NOT be meeting with Connecticut on Monday due to our coding practice.  We'll have to hide Skyper either later this week or one time next week before Christmas break.

I'll know you checked the blog if you ask me, "How can computer coding be done withOUT a computer or iPad?" in a really confused voice:)

For the rest of the blog...
I hope you had a great weekend!  The flu (yuck, yuck and more yuck) hit our house this weekend- specifically Isaiah!  Be sure you are washing hands, using sanitizer and keeping your hands away from your mouth/face.  Tis the season to be "germy" and jolly:)

This week is going to fly by, I think.  We have Coding Activities, a couple new apps to try out, a 3-hour early out on Wednesday (this is DUCT DYNASTY DAY!!), commercial script-writing and practicing , examining more deeply rocks/minerals, practicing for our talent show and maybe a special activity with some preschoolers:)  We will also have an assessment or 2 this week!  Ahhhh, busy, huh?!  Hang in there!

So, be ready and show Cadet Pride each and every minute!  Let's see if we can earn as many blue tickets as possible before the end of Tuesday!

Have a great rest of your Sunday!  I've got some ornament hiding to do, some school work, some laundry, and a short run sounds good, too!

Oh, and the date is set for the TALENT SHOW - Thursday, December 19!  Keep practicing your own acts as well!  I'm excited for you to share your other talents with us:)

Crazy, Hurried End of Day! Sorry!!!!

Hurry, Hurry...Move, Quick, We're Going to Be Late.... Move....Listen...Hurry!!!  Ahhhhhhhh!!!

Yes, I know it was CRAZY at the end of the day for those who were making their rock models today.  The plan Mrs. Halverson and I had planned out did NOT go as smoothly as thought....  The chattiness in the beginning didn't help, but you guys listened and moved fast, so thanks for being so wonderful after a reminder!

And I wanted to say....












to those students who offered to stay after school and help clean up the mess in the art room after all that craziness of goop!  Thanks to Trystin, Carter of 5B and Kierstyn from 5A!  You guys were amazing to do all of that clean up and getting things back to the room for Mrs. Halverson and me!

You guys... ROCK!  Get it??

Ok... So with tomorrow being Friday and you guys working your little tails off this week, feel free to bring a treat or snack for yourselves tomorrow to enjoy sometime during literacy or science time, ok?  If you know someone doesn't check the blog until morning at school because of no Internet at home, go ahead and give them a call or let them know, too?  Ok?  That way they'll know they can bring something before they get to school.

Remember the NEW PRODUCTS are due tomorrow!  I can't wait to see everyone's!  The iPad Free, the Lipstache Straws, the Bunker, etc. are all such creative ideas!  I can't wait to see and hear about the rest!  You'll share them with me, then you'll have time to work on those commercial scripts!

Thanks again for dealing with the rushing at the end of the day:)

Tomorrow is... 

Missed You Today!

Thanks for all of the emails today!  It sounds like you guys were having a pretty great day by recess time.  Some of you said it was the "best day ever"!  Wow, I should be gone more often, I guess???

So glad to see the day went well.  I was quite busy all day learning about different ways to think about math, writing and reading activities and assessments.  My mind is spinning with all sorts of information!
I'd love to know what you ended up doing this morning with the 2 hour late start?  Meaning, what did you actually have for classes this morning?  Did you have reading?  If so, what did you do?  Did you stick in 5B's room and work on the Story Maps for the Choose Your Own Adventure - Colonial America?  Or did you switch for guided reading?  I'm sure you didn't have time for both, right?  Did you get time for your Santa's Workshop - new products and commercial scripts?

I know you had music, and I saw from one of you that you got your last note in MUSIC!  Yippee!!

And how about the afternoon?  Did math go ok with all of the different subs in the rooms?  For science, will I need to see any groups who didn't get done with their Rock and Mineral Properties pages?

See...I missed you!  I just want to know how the day went!  I'll know you checked the blog if you email me and tell me more about the day - like what you did in the different subjects!  OK?  Thanks!

Excited to see you tomorrow!  Be sure to bring in an object (from nature) that is small enough to fit in your closed fist for a science activity, ok?  Also, Thursday is the last day in class to work on your product for writing class, so Santa's little elves need to be moving it along if they are not done:)

Sorry So So Late...

I'll keep it WAY short since it's so late!!!

Great day today!  I forgot to mention that each day we have school in December, there will be an ornament hung/hiding in the classroom.  I had one up today, but no one mentioned seeing it.  So, tomorrow when you come, keep an eye out (that's an idiom) for 2 of them.

I've decided to get a bunch of pegs made, so I'll drew a quick name for tonight, but as soon as I get other ones made (well, as soon as I ask my husband to do this..and he has a few minutes to do so), I'll send them home with anyone who would like to decorate Pegasus - the door holder:)

Our first one to take home Pegasus is......... If you can figure out if this is you or not, then you'll know!

I'll know you checked the blog if you come in right away, and start dancing your "brave" moves to the song that's going!  Of course, do your attendance job as well:)

Again, sorry it's so late!!  Ahhhh!!!

Happy December, Everyone!

I’m going to play a Thanksgiving Break- 20 Questions Style!  See if your answers would be the same to these questions as mine!

1.  Did you get together with family?  Yes

2.  Did you have to travel to someone else’s house?  Yes

3.  Did you eat turkey? No

4.  Did you eat mashed potatoes with/out gravy?  Yes

5.  Did you have spaghetti?  Yes! (weird, I know!)

6.  Did you eat cranberries?  No

7.  Did you watch football?  Yes (well, kinda…it was on)

8.  Did you get full?  YES!

9.  Did you eat some kind of dessert?  Yes

10.  Was it pie?  Yes!

11.  Did you eat 5 baby cucumbers?  YES!  (Needed something healthy)

12.  Did you sit and relax at some point?  Yes

13.  Did you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade?  Yes (some of it!)

14.  If you did watch the parade, did you use your Bingo Board from Mrs. Bodermann?  Yes

15.  Did you play any football with people?  No

16.  Did you play any other games?  Yes

17.  Did you attend the Holiday Parade in Cresco?  Yes

18.  Did go to the free movie on Friday?  Yes

19.  Did your family start to put up any Christmas decorations?  Yes

20.  Are you ready to come back to school????? Hmmm…. Yes and No (happy to see you guys…but sure do enjoy time with my familyJ)

I’ll know you checked the blog if you write down ONE question of your own about your 4-day weekend and answer it!  Share it with us after the pledge and attendance.  Be sure it is a Yes or No type question to be answered.

Heads-Up for This Week:

1)  Remember, in writing class, this week is Santa’s Workshop for your new product.  So bring anything you may think you’ll need.  Any types of materials, decorative supplies, etc. that you think can be used in making your product or the packaging for it.  Think of how packaging grabs YOUR attention!   Of course, anything that requires tools like hammers, nails, etc. will need to be done at home:)

2)  Where’s Skyper?  Our Team #1 gets to choose for this week!  They ‘ll be hiding him and making up clues in the morning on Monday before meeting with Connecticut.  If you’re on that team (I think it’s Brad, Anthony, Carter…and… I know there’s one more…I’m sorry who I forgot!!!)

3)  Also, I’ll be taking a trip to Des Moines this week on Wednesday.  I’ll be leaving my 5B Babies…sniff, sniff..  Let’s start preparing for how A-MAZ-ING 5B will before the subs that will be here!  We’ll talk more on Tuesday about it, ok? 

4)  Last… All Social Studies work must be in by the end of the day MONDAY.  This includes Winter Counts, Totem Poles, missing papers, etc.  See the list on the white board if you are missing anything, ok?  Yes, that means “bye-bye” to recess on Monday if you are not doneL  Sorry… That’s the way the cookie crumbles – (idiom- doy!)