Hope You Had a Happy Halloween!

Hey there, 5B... I'll keep it short since I know tonight is a busy night for most of you. Be safe when trick or treating. I hope to see you. If not, have a great time.

I know Jerry Seinfeld says it's all about the CANDY! Get CANDY, Get CANDY, Get CANDY! So, I'll make checking the blog a tasty one! If you check the blog, you can bring in 3 pieces of candy that you get from your trick or treating. Remember, it cannot be homemade or have any peanuts in it. You'll probably go into a sugar withdrawl if you don't have some candy on Monday, so I'll help you out with it!

If we can get our jobs done quickly in the morning and show we are ready for our busy P.E. and other classes by 8:40, I have something fun to show you on the Smartboard! Hopefully, I'll get a chance to share it with you!

Have fun tonight!!!

Figuring Things Out...

OK, 5B... we're kinda going through a bumpy road right now. All of our blue Cadet Pride slips and yellow Cadet Pride slips and acorn student Cadet Pride slips show that we do know what Cadet Pride looks like, sounds like and acts like. Right?? You all wrote essays today in Mrs. Halverson's class explaining what good classroom behaviors are also. They were filled with perfect ideas and examples of what students should be doing in class. Wonderful! It seems like our problem is that we do not always DO what we KNOW we should do.

You know that I was disappointed and frustrated today by the way I acted during planners and as you left. It made me feel bad to not say goodbye to each of you or have you do something fun/goofy as you left, but I don't know if we should be doing the goofy or silly stuff if we can't act serious first.

I titled this post "Figuring Things Out" because I feel like we are SOOOOOOO capable of having a class that shines with Cadet Pride! But, we still need to figure out things to make it happen most of time instead of some of the time. So, please visit the website to the right of the blog. Play the game and see how far you can get before getting really stuck. I got to level 18 and am stumped. That's what I think is happening to 5B. We know what to do, but they we get stuck.

Let's try to end our week on a better note that we've had the last few days. We have a goofy schedule because of the 1 hour early out and conferences, so check the board in the morning We start off the day with some homeroom time.

Think about your Cadet Pride...and if you are willing to make it shine or choose not to.

Peace Out.... Mrs. Sorenson

Made it Through Monday!

5B, You did a FANTASTIC job today in the morning getting right to our report cards, filling out our conference forms and getting ready for your morning classes! What a great way to start the week!

I've noticed that many of my darling 5B students are NOT checking in with the blog. I've decided to test you out. I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you right down your top score to the game I have set up to the right side of the blog. It's called "Play this Dumb Game." Write your score on a post-it note. Put your name on it and hand it to me when you come in right away in the morning.
It's a REALLY dumb game... there's no educational value to it at all, but it is pretty addicting!

Take some time to go through your report cards and literacy binder with your family tonight. If there are any questions, I can chat with you and your parents at conferences this week.

Reminder, tomorrow is a 1 hour early out. That means there is NO group band. We will be following a Tuesday schedule without band at the end of the day!

Thanks for a good day today, 5B! We'll see you in the morning with your post-it notes proving you checked the blog!

Wacky Week Ahead!!

Hey, there little 5B Angels (ding!),
Hopefully you were able to relax and enjoy your weekend because this week is going to be "Go, Go, Go!" Right away Monday morning we have a busy morning anyway, but on top of that, you have 1st Quarter Report Cards waiting for you on your desks. I want you to have a chance to look through them before I send you off to P.E. and then social studies/science classes. Remember, I don't get to see you until 11:ooish on Mondays. No Fair!! So, do your ABSOLUTE best to come in right away, look through your report card and be ready to listen.

Here's a little reminder why this week will be crazy! We're trying to fit in our learning with this kind of schedule..
Monday - Go over Report Cards right away in the morning before P.E. and band lessons
Tuesday - 1 hour early out - Conferences for some of you!
Wednesday - Library out of Literacy Class this week
Thursday - 1 hour early out - Conferences for some of you! **Picture Retakes Today**
Friday - NO SCHOOL!! Relax and enjoy a 3 day weekend!

Also.. exciting news... Judd may be back this week on Tuesday already! Yeh, we missed him!
Oh, and I have your languages all set up for Rosetta Stone! Get ready to start learning more Spanish, German and French!

OK.. I'll know 5B students checked the blog, if they help out and tell EVERYONE else in 5B to make sure to quickly come in, look through report cards, and finish filling out the yellow conference reflection form we started on Friday of last week. You have 2 parts to fill out once you see your report cards. If we don't get our report cards looked through and reflection forms finished, we'll be late for P.E.!! We know we don't want that!!!

Thanks for your help, you little Munchkins (hehehehe)!

Work, Work, Work...

Wuzz up, 5B Babycakes!
The last few days have been great days for getting work done. I've seen amazing workers during literacy time. Are we still chatting???? Uh, yes... But I do feel like we're being more productive. I like so many of you taking your writers' workshop pieces so seriously. Thursday will be your last day to work on your piece because Friday we SHOW OFF our published pieces - our best work!

We seemed like a smaller class today with Judd, Adam and Collin being gone. We know Judd won't be back tomorrow due to his surgery, but we sure hope Adam and Collin will be. We don't feel complete unless our whole 5B family is here! Everyone, get well soon and get back with us!

Remember Thursday is Red and Purple Day - show you care about others by donating a non-perishable food item! Let's see how much you care, how responsible you are and how much respect you can show towards others by thinking of them first!

Also, 5B students, help remind your families to return your conference slips. Even if the times don't work, that's fine. Write down a time range that DOES work, and I'll do what I can to schedule something that's doable. Thanks again!

5B, I've noticed that students are not always checking the blog as much, so here's a little test for you. If you DO check the blog tonight, write "I checked the blog." on a post-it note and make sure your name is on it. Put it in YOUR mailbox. Don't tell anyone or talk to anyone about it. You'll earn a special something tomorrow, but I'm not telling you what it is.

We'll see who's doing their jobs??!! See you Thursday morning! Good work today, my little munchkins (heehehehee).

What a GORGEOUS Weekend!!!

5B, I sure hope you were able to enjoy this amazing weather we're having in OCTOBER!!! I think last year at this time, there may have been a few snow flurries. So, take advantage of the amazing sunshine and 75 degree temperatures in the middle of October.

Hopefully, you shared with your parents our fall celebration and team building activity from Friday. The students from the video needed a lot of practice and practice to be as strong as they were to exhibit Cadet Pride (well, I guess in their case it was Titan Pride). We saw many mistakes and examples of disrespect as well. Think about how you felt about some of those bad actions. Do you want to be sharing that same way of thinking?? I know that I don't. Let's keep working on our Cadet Pride this week like every week and participate in Character Counts Week activities.

Character Counts Activities - to start off the week...
Monday - Yellow for Respect Hat Day
**Bring in a non-perishable food item any day this week, but Tuesday is the "official" Caring Day.

Our Spanish Skype Buddy has been so impressed with our class. Senorita Rachel said she looks forward to our visits each week. Since some of you seem so excited and interested in learning Spanish, I have a special treat for you. Anyone who is SERIOUSLY interested in learning more Spanish, write your first and last name on a post-it note and hand it to me on Monday morning.

I'll know you checked the blog this weekend, if you can translate a Spanish word into English. Use the website at the left side of the post. Type in the Spanish word in the box. You can even listen to it by clicking on the speaker button below. The English word will show up to the left.
Spanish word: el orgullo
Whisper what this word means in my ear as you enter the classroom tomorrow.

Can't wait to see your hats and yellow tomorrow! Remember, it's a 3-hour early out also!

Miss Grumpy Visited 5B for First Time...

Well, 5B, you got to see me turn into Miss Grumpy today. Unfortunately, seeing Miss Grumpy made everyone better workers. I saw more work and better work done today in our homeroom/band time than most of our days we've had so far this year. I REALLY don't want us to go through each day with Miss Grumpy having to visit, but if we need that to help remind us how to show Cadet Pride, I guess I'll give her a desk and make her a permanent part of our class. (No offense to Miss Grumpy, but I don't need to see her that often... how about you???)

So, 5B, seriously think about taking care of you, your materials, your work and then we'll make sure to get in some chatting and goofy time! OK???

What I LOVED about today is that I got to start the day off with you and hear about the events going on in your life. I know we didn't hear from everyone today, so I'd like to continue hearing more tomorrow before we go to P.E. Let's have Kris start us off right away, Ally will lead a pledge and then we'll meet on the floor again for sharing!

I'll know you checked the blog, if you watch and LISTEN to the video I have at the side of the blog. It's about 6 minutes long, so you don't have to listen to all of it, but about 3 or 4 minutes would get you the point. Be able to tell the class and me what this video has to do with Cadet Pride. That will be your proof that you checked the blog! Think Deep!

Munchkins on Monday!

Hey, 5B,
I've been so impressed with you catching each other show Cadet Pride. It's so great to know I can depend on you and trust you to recognize Cadet Pride all over, not just in our classroom. Fabulous! Keep it up.

It sounds like the areas we need to work on in science class and planner time are listening to the speaker and less chatting during those times, too. I know we are capable of doing our jobs as students better because I've seen you do it many times before. Show off your Cadet Pride by being a leader and role model for your class at all times (even if the teacher is not looking :)).

Check out the homecoming photo at the side of the blog. If you click on it once or twice, it should make it bigger so you can check yourself out a bit more. I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you look closely at the photo and show me the same face that Abbie was doing in the class picture. I will be at the door as you come in watching for those who checked the blog! Hopefully Abbie gets this right, too!!

Have a good night...see you Tuesday! Don't forget about group band some of you!

Kids Catching Kids with Cadet Pride!

Hey, 5B,
It's been a busy week for us with homecoming dress up days and crazy schedules, but I'm so proud of the kids catching each other show Cadet Pride! It's so great to see you guys recognizing when your classmates are being trustworthy, respectful, caring, and responsible. Unfortunately, we've had a number of "mistakes" and careless behaviors from our classmates also this week, so I'm going to have to help out by using our pink slips again. Hopefully, it won't be very often though. Just keep working at taking care of yourself first, then be helpful to your classmates.

Tomorrow is not going to be normal in any way whatsoever. So.... I'm a little concerned that we may not be able to handle all of the excitement with guidance, a homecoming pep rally, art AND a 3-hour early out. Tomorrow will be a true test to see if 5B can show Cadet Pride in and outside of the classroom.

So, do what you can to prove that 5B EARNS the title "5B Angels" like I have called you in the past.

Have a good night and come with school spirit tomorrow! We'll get to see the cheers you created, too!

Chatty McChattersons....

Well... I can definitely say our class is social!! We surely aren't shy. Sharing our thoughts and opinions and questions are strengths for us. I just wish we knew WHEN the right time to share all of these wonderful comments was...

5B had a fantastic working day today. In all classes we did so well doing our "jobs" of learning. It was the transition times that really brought us down. So, let's see if this can be worked on even more. Tomorrow morning, there will be a new bulletin board at the front of the room. Make sure to check it out as you come in. I will explain how it works to everyone in the morning! I'm hoping this will help us with self-control and chatting.

I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you write down the amount of items you have sold for our fundraiser! Write it in your planner. I'll meet people at the door in the morning. Don't come in until you show me your planner. This way I will know for sure that you DID check the blog!!:)

Remember, tomorrow is Fitness Day, so where your athletic, workout clothes. We'll be doing some exercise tomorrow to celebrate such a healthy day! Also, it's library, so bring any books you want to return or renew.

It's Been A While....

Hey, 5B,
I hope you had a good weekend. It definitely felt like fall, but I heard this upcoming week is supposed to be a bit warmer. We'll take any decent weather we can get! It would be great for homecoming week to have the weather cooperate with us, wouldn't it?

Please make sure to thank your families for coming in on Friday for our Book-It Kick-Off. Hopefully, you enjoyed yourselves, relaxed, were entertained with a good book, and filled your tummies! Remember, the October goal to earn a personal pan pizza is to read 620 minutes this month. It can be 20 minutes each night, or it can just be a total of 620 (or more, of course) by the end of the month.

On Monday I'll be sending home another little incentive to earn something more for your family just by taking time to read with your family! I can't wait to see families give this a try!

With Friday being kind of crazy at the end of the day, I forgot to remind kids to think about the auditions for "Oliver" at the high school. I would love to come see my little Babycakes do a performance!

OK... crazy stuff this week... Fasten your seat belts 'cuz it's gonna be busy again...
All Week - selling for fundraiser until October 14, if you have sold 1 item since last Friday, I'll be handing out Silly Bandz again - bring in your order forms for proof, or have a parent write a note in your planner
Monday - Hat Day, FIRST BAND LESSONS TODAY, MISIC make-up testing
Tuesday - Jersey/Sports Day, First Group Band
Wednesday - Workout Clothes Day, Goofy Schedule due to Fall Fitness Day, Library
Thursday - Twin Day
Friday - 3-hour early out, Cadet/Blue&White Day, Guidance

I'll know you checked the blog today/tonight if you write down an idea for us to do to celebrate our 200 blue slips we earned by September 30th. We never got to talk about this, so I'd love to hear some ideas. Have it written on a piece of paper that I can keep. Make sure your name is on your paper. Hand it to me as you come in the room! I'm excited for your ideas!