Great Start to the Week!

What a great day we had today, 5B. Aside from chatting (which we ALWAYS need work on), we had a productive, organized day! Thanks for making things go so smoothly!

I'll keep it short tonight. Reminders....
Book Club Reading or Timed Sheets for Mrs. H. for tomorrow
Book-It Calendars due tomorrow - remembered to have them signed!
Cold weather is on it's way, so wear hats, gloves, coats, etc. Be ready for the wind!

Here's the way I'll know you checked the blog. Since you'll probably be indoors in the morning because of yucky weather, I'd like you to come in and work on your pen pal letters instead of sitting by your lockers. I'll have the publishing paper ready for those who are ready. I'd like to send these out by the end of the week, so that means you'd better get crackin'!

Later Gators!

Back to Work...

Hey there, 5B,
It seems like it's been FOREVER since I've seen you guys! I hope everyone got a chance to relax, sleep in, see family, eat yummy food, watch some football (if you're in to that), and just be thankful for all of the good things that are in your life. I was able to do all of those things and more! I even got to see Senorita Rachel! She said she misses you guys and plans to Skype with us on Friday of this week! Maybe she'll teach us some holiday greetings for the season!

I can't believe this week will be the start of December! We've got a busy month ahead of us! We have book clubs, more Think Fights and a huge computer project in literacy. I'm sure you'll have science, social studies and math tests coming up over the next few weeks. On top of all of that, we have your music concert, the Big Blast and Hummer rides, and don't forget our 5th Grade Winter Talent Show! To make us even busier bees, we need to send out our 1st set of pen pal letters and the Cresco Cares Cards we started at our last Team Building meetings!!!! My goodness, this month will fly by us like Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve! Oh, and we also have our blue slips to earn for the holiday movie at the high school!

With all of the craziness upon us, it's important to stay responsible with homework and all other jobs we have. Let's finish off 2010 with a CADET PRIDE EXPLOSION!

I'll know you checked the blog over the weekend if you vote for your possible talent for the 5th Grade Winter Talent Show to the right of this post. All you have to do is click on the one you would rather do as your talent. (No, you don't really have to do one of these options! I was just having a little fun!)

See you in the morning! Remember, Monday's are a mess. You need to have everything out and ready to go as soon as you come in. P.E. is right away, then off to Soc. St. and Science classes until I see you for literacy around 11:0o!

Marvelous Monday...

5B,
You did a wonderful job today in literacy class with many confusions of reading class and the patience you had in writing time. I really appreciate how much you've all seemed to mature and be able to handle that kind of situation. Earlier in the year, I think many of you would not have been able to handle that craziness that happened today. Wow... my little 5B Babycakes are growing up... (sniff, sniff, tear drop).

I'll keep it short tonight. Don't forget any pages you need to read for your book club. Also, the extra credit for literacy is due Wednesday if you are going to do it.

I put the Mike Tompkins video on the side of the blog so you can watch it if you like. I'll know you checked the blog if you come up with your own sound that we hear tomorrow in class. I'll be planning to record it. So, make sure it's something you can do clearly and well.

Can't wait to hear your beat boxing!!

Short Week Ahead!

5B,
I know you are probably excited for a short week of school with a holiday break coming, but keep in mind that we still do have a lot to accomplish from now until our longer break at Christmas time. So, be thinking about how you can keep your focus and continue to take your work seriously.

I'm happy to announce that we have shown off our best efforts to prove what we have learned for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Thanks to everyone for showing how much you care about your learning and our whole school. On Wednesday, we'll have a little mini-celebration for all of your efforts. When we get the results in January, we'll have you look specifically at the Reading and Math scores to see if you met your individual goals that you set. Can't wait to see!!!!

A couple of reminders for this week...
Monday -Band people - don't forget lessons...
Tuesday - Group Band
Wednesday - 1 hour early out and mini-celebration for ITBS efforts

Also, I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you listen to song #110 on my playlist. It's called "Dynamite". I'm guessing most of you have heard it before. Write this down on a post-it note, "So, what's the big deal with this song?" Make sure your name is on it. Please put it on my desk in the morning. I found the ABSOLUTE COOLEST thing to share with you on Monday morning about this song. I've been thinking about it ALL WEEKEND!!!

So, make sure you help get the class ready for their morning subjects so that I have time to share this TOTALLY AWESOME thing!!! Have a good rest of your weekend!

We SURVIVED our Show-Off Challenge!!!

Way to go, 5B! You did it! You made it through 2 weeks of showing off your knowledge, safety tips and stamina during the ITBS!! So, proud of YOU! The 5th grade teachers have planned a little "pre-celebration" for all of the 5th graders for next Wednesday before we head out for Thanksgiving break. We wanted to make sure you knew how proud of you we truly are! You'll get more details next week!

Don't forget that we have a special Team Building activity tomorrow, so if you have any type of scrapbook paper, scissors, glitter, yarn, punch outs, etc., and you're willing to share them, please bring them. You will be going to the 3rd room (or teacher) this time.

Also, tomorrow, we will get to see Senorita Rachel FINALLY since about 4 weeks ago. She said she's excited to see/chat, but forgive her for being tired. She is seeing the midnight showing of Harry Potter's Seventh Book: The Deathly Hallows. She's a MAJOR Harry Potter fan!

Oh, and don't forget to share all that new learning we found out today about food and nursery rhymes.... boy, can learning be weird, fun, and gross!!??


This week just flew by for me. It must be all the hard workers! I'll know you checked the blog if you write a short caption for the picture of Isaiah in this post. Write what you think he would say if he could say something to 5B. Write it on a post-it note, and be ready to share it when I show the picture of Isaiah to the rest of the class.

Thankful....for My 5B Babycakes!!

Great job sharing your "Thankful" pieces today in class. I was very impressed with the effort put into publishing, the expression used in class when reading them and the audience that was respectful and interactive! Thanks for all that hard work!

I also was impressed with your ITBS cheers today. So many of you are checking the blog more regularly now which is AWESOME! Quite a responsible bunch of students I have with me! Keep it up! I'm guessing the class would have to agree that Adam's cheer surprised us all with his enthusiasm! But everyone did a great job for being so brave! Look for a little something on your desk tomorrow morning as a little reward for being so courageous with your cheers!

Hopefully everyone remembered to pick up their Chipshoppe items tonight after school. I look forward to getting my items from the student who sold to me...even though it WASN'T a 5B-er:{

Keep up your stamina and positive attitude with the rest of our ITBS tests this week...
Remember:
Tues. - Math
Wed. - Vocabulary (Reading)
Thurs. - Language (Wrtiting)
Fri. - RELAX!!!

I'll know you checked the blog this time if find someone else who checked the blog (for real, not by you telling them about it) and sing "Ring Around the Rosie" in front of the class. After you do this, I'll share an interesting and weird story about that song! Can't wait to see who's up for the singing and dancing challenge!!

Doin' My Happy Dance!

Hey there my little 5B Munchkins (heeehehehe),
I missed you guys on Friday. It was my first time being gone, so it was tough to be away from my 5B family. I'm sure you had a nice break from me though!!

I chatted with your substitute teacher a couple of times on Friday. She said there were extremely helpful students in 5B. I was soooooo thrilled to hear the news that I did a little happy dance. I'm so glad she felt she wanted to come back to 5th grade again sometime. We want anyone who visits us to feel welcomed, respected and comfortable.

I heard you got to enjoy your snacks/drinks if you wanted to. Lucky ducks! Just remember to bring it again for Monday. This time you'll get to have it for real. Don't forget your Thankful for Your Voice piece will be shared Monday, so if we weren't quite responsible enough to have it done on Friday, then you lucked out. Know that I will be expecting amazingly published pieces for Monday in writing!

You made it through 1 week of showing off your KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS with the ITBS (yeehaw!!!). Can you keep up your stamina?? Week 2 will REALLY be the test to see if you can keep the "Bring it On" attitude or if you will let the "lazies" take over you. Here's this week's schedule for tests....
Monday - Science (30 minutes)
Tuesday - Math Problem Solving and Data (30 minutes)
Wednesday - (3 hour early out) Literacy (15 minutes)
Thursday - Literacy (30 minutes)
Friday - NADA!!!! Unless you have some make-ups to do...

With the continuation of the busy testing week, don't forget your THINK FIGHTS this week. It sounds like everyone had a chance to meet with their groups and get fired up for this week! Great! I can't wait to see you in action! Bring on the THINKING!!

Have a great rest of the weekend. I'll know you checked the blog this weekend if you come up with a cheer to keep up the awesome attitude for ITBS this week! Write it down, but also be ready to share it with the class. I may just have an extra treat for you for being brave enough to perform it!

Super Serious about ITBS!!

5B, I have to admit.... you have been putting forth fantastic effort every single day we've taken the different tests. Now, just keep in mind we have 1 each day throughout this week and most of next week. So, keep up the effort each day, get good rest the night before, and remember what we get to keep doing if we show improvement and progress on these tests!!!!

Also, share with your families the special event we have tomorrow to celebrate our local Veterans. Mrs. Halverson has given you a list of appropriate questions to use when given the chance to ask the men and women who will visit. Have a few in mind, so it doesn't seem like you're just reading off any random question. OK? I'm hoping 5B wouldn't mind singing a part of God Bless America if there is time. Of course, I'd have the music in the background, so it wouldn't be all by yourselves. I think the Veterans would feel impressed to know that 5th graders know that song and take it seriously.

Lastly, I'll know you checked the blog if you write a special birthday message to MR. Sorenson on a POST-IT note. It's his birthday on Thursday. If you hand it in to me in the morning, I'll be sure to stick it on his classroom door or window, so he knows that he is special, too! Don't forget your name so he knows who to thank if he sees you!

Teeny Weeny Post Tonight....

Great job on your 1st ITBS (yeh...hooray...) today, 5B. Everyone had super attitudes and showed serious effort towards the Capitalization and Punctuation tests today.

I'll know you checked the blog this time if you write down one thing you'll try to do to show you're taking your test seriously during Tuesday's ITBS in math class. Write it on a piece of paper like you did for today. Make sure your name is on it. Hand it to me right away in the morning!

Toodles...
Mrs. Sorenson

P.S. Don't forget that your draft for writing class (Thankful for your Voice) is due tomorrow. :)

Get a Good Night's Rest... Another Safety Tip!

Hey there my little pooches!!! You'll have to explain to your parents why I'm referring to you as dogs:) I hope you had a good weekend and were able to get an extra hour of sleep or fun at some point on Sunday. Do your best to get a good night's rest this evening so your up and ready for your first I....T....B....S! (YEH!!!!) With Daylight Savings happening this weekend, it will mess up your sleeping schedule a little bit, so get in bed at a decent time tonight.

To give you a little heads up about your ITBS schedule this week, I've listed which specific tests you'll be taking each day...


Monday - 2 short tests (Capitalization and Punctuation)
Tuesday - 1 longer test (Math Concepts and Estimation)
Wednesday - 1 longer test (Reading Comprehension Part 1)
Thursday - 1 longer test (Reading Comprehension Part 2)
Friday - 1 short test (Spelling)

Remember, 5B, you'll be taking these tests in the classrooms that you usually have literacy or math or word study/spelling this week. There are more next week, but let's not worry about that right now.

I think Mrs. Sovereign was impressed with how well 5th graders understand how important these tests are to each student, each teacher, each grade and our whole school. You should feel quite sophisticated (huuh, rub, rub) that you understand all this.

I'll know you checked the blog this weekend if you write down this message on a piece of paper to hand in to me: I'm ready to do my best on the Capitalization and Punctuation ITBS today! Make sure your name is on it!

See you in the morning!

Loving Jib Jab...

Well, 5B,
Because of the popular demand, I have included the 3 different jib jab videos to the blog. Remember, if you and/or your family makes one, please send it to my school email. I'd love to share it with the class! So, check the right side of the blog under the title "Jib Jab Videos".

It was a good day in class again. Our classroom behaviors seem to continue to be showing Cadet Pride, but I don't know if the hallway and line behaviors are following the same actions. We will be practice some of these things tomorrow as reminder lessons.

Be sure to tell your families about your new pen pal from the Virginia! We'll have some time on Friday to actually start writing the letters. Remember to brainstorm some ideas to write to them.

Also, IF you check the blog tonight, you will prove it by bringing in 5 pieces of candy from Halloween (that is, if you haven't eaten it all by now???). Bring it in and set it on your desk or table. Do NOT eat it until I give you permission. (No homemade or peanut/peanut butter)

Have a great night... I'm off to eat some pancakes!!