Backward Schedule Tomorrow (Thursday)!

Yep, you read that correctly!  Thursday will be a backward schedule with literacy in the morning and your switching after recess.  We have some special events planned for tomorrow morning, so we needed to rearrange things!  Sorry...

Here's what's up for Thursday...
1)  Of course, handing in your November Book-Its...
2)  Changing Desks!  Right away... Check out the board right away and start moving!
2)  Special Visitors - they are bringing us information on nutrition and some snacks, I believe:) Yum!
3)  A special performance by some talented local citizens!  Lucky, lucky day!
4)  Finally, back to Skyping with Senorita Rachel! Because of our new schedule, we'll be Skyping with her during lunch!  Yep, that means we'll be bringing our trays back to the classroom!

What a busy day, huh?!  I'm sure you have a few questions about some of these events, but I guess you'll just have to wait and see!  That doesn't even include all the learning we have in store for you!  Whoa, baby!

I'll know you checked the blog if you tell me BEFORE coming in the room, "So, where's my new spot?"  Then, of course, you'll check as soon as you walk in!  Thanks for another great day!  We definitely mellowed out on the chatting.  Thanks for the improvement!

Smooth As Can Be With Our New Schedule....

Hey, there 5B,
You guys are making this "big change" we threw at you a piece of cake!  You guys can handle anything, can't you?!  Well, maybe a little chatty today, but always working hard!  Keep it up!

Here are the words to the social studies song that I promised you...

5B, What is Social Studies?
(whisper) It's in the past...
Stomp, Stomp, Clap
Stomp, Stomp, Clap
Stomp, Stomp, Clap
Stomp, Stomp, Clap
We will, we will learn from you.
We will, we will learn from you.
Little by little we're going back in time,
Checkin' out the dudes and the divas down the line.
Seein' what they did and how they changed the world,
Making it a better place for all us boys and girls,
Singing, We will, we will learn from you.
We will, we will learn from you.
(whisper) It's part of ussssssss......

Also, here's a little heads up for December... I'll remind you more as we get closer to some of the other dates.
Tomorrow, Wed., Nov. 30 - Library - don't forget any books you've had at home.
This Thursday, Dec. 1 - November Book-Its are due!  Let's see if 5B continues to conquer!
This Thursday, Dec. 1 - Special Visitors Come to 5B - Have to wait and see!
Next Wed., Dec. 7 - 3-hour early out

Much Later...
Tuesday, Dec. 13 - Limo Rides, Pudding Tug-o-War and BIG BLAST PARTY!!!!!  I'm looking for some parent volunteers who would be interested in helping out that afternoon. It would be for about 1 1/2 hours, I think.  So, see if any moms or dads would want to be a part of this fun day!

I'll know you checked the blog tonight, if you can come up with a "Christmas Wish List" for our classroom. If you could choose 3 things that would be nice to have in our classroom (have to be a reasonable price), what would you want?  It could be books, special paints, a bean bag, playground balls, special pens/markers, carpet squares, extra flash drives, etc.  Think about things that everyone could enjoy, not just you:)  I can't wait to see your ideas!

Be Thankful....

5B,

I sure hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  To make sure you know how thankful we are for our 5B Family, here's a list of reasons for each person in our class.

I'm thankful for Joe because he is really friendly and can make really, really good jokes!

I'm thankful for Destiny because she is a good listener when Mrs. Sorenson is talking and at recess, she let's everyone join into the talking and games.

I'm thankful for Konner because he is respectful to all people.

I'm thankful for Sam because she is friendly and is always giving out warm fuzzies to everyone.

I'm thankful for Kyra because she always shares everything and she thinks about others before herself.

I'm thankful for Grace because she helps a lot with the classroom, she likes to get things done, and she likes to help other people.

I'm thankful for Kirsten because she always has a nice smile when she is in the classroom.

I'm thankful for Brooklyn because she is a helpful person around our class and respects people and things around her.

I'm thankful for Alison because she is very fun to have in the class and is very smart.

I'm thankful for Kim because she is quiet when the teacher is talking.

I'm thankful for Luis because he is a nice friend at recess and he works well with everyone.

I'm thankful for Marisa because she is great at sharpening pencils.. No one even has to ask her to do it!

I'm thankful for Jon because his is smart, helps out anyone if they need it and is awesome at sports.

I'm thankful for Kayden because he helps us get a good laugh when we need it and is a good help to Mrs. Sorenson and the class!!

I'm thankful for Colter because he maximizes fun and he is a good football player.

I'm thankful for Brendan because he doesn't care if somebody does something or not.  

I'm thankful for Nathan because he helps people when they are needing help, he's caring, respectful and funny.  He also helps clean up the classroom.

I'm thankful for Jordan because he is really great at football and other sports, is really caring in class and he listens really well.  He has lots of sportsmanship.

I'm thankful for Ashley because she is a good friend, cares about people's feelings, is fun to be around and she helps out a lot.

I'm thankful for Payton because she helps when she can, likes to help and is not talking when the teacher is.

I'm thankful for Jarrett because he is funny, he is really fast at math, and he is smart.

I'm thankful for Trista because she listens very well and offers to help when needed.  She does not complain, is a high energy person.  5B would definitely not be the same without her.

Wow!!  It is obvious that 5B cares for each other and sees what unique qualities each student has!  That's why I just love my 5B babies!!  I'm thankful to be able to spend a year with such an amazing class!

Have a great last day of relaxation!  I'll know you checked the blog if you play this Line and Dot Game. Just click on the words that are in red and underlined.  It will take you to a game.  Read the directions and scroll down for the game.  Tell me on Monday if you won or lost.  

Mrs. Sorenson Takes on Social Studies!!!

Yep, so you know the news now.  I'm sure it will be different for everyone, especially the students since you are so used to Mrs. Halverson's way of teaching social studies.  But after Thanksgiving break, be ready for something new!  Who knows what you'll be doing! Ya know, I don't get called weird, strange, crazy or goofy for nothing!  So be prepared for what is to come!

Other than that big news, I just wanted to compliment 5B and the rest of 5th grade for their AMAZING efforts and attitude toward their technology projects.  I feel like I'm working with high school and college students with all of your independence and expertise!  VERY IMPRESSED!  I've got a few new ones for you to explore tomorrow since may of your are getting done:)

Ok.. don't forget these items...
1) Math S.L. 3.8 is due to me tomorrow...or plan on recess with me... (even a note from your parents won't work because you've known about this for a week)
2)  Big Change Note should be signed and returned by Wednesday.  We want to make sure your families know all about this and understand what will be happening next Monday.
3) Book-It!  Let's keep the winning streak!  It would be great to chew, chew, chew our way through December!

Since we're getting closer to Thanksgiving, I'll know you checked the blog if you tell me your favorite food during Thanksgiving meals.  If you don't have one, then tell me what you'd love to have on Thanksgiving.  For example, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE warm, buttery, homemade rolls.  YUM!!!

Changes Are Getting Closer....

5B,
With the HUGE changes that are coming to you, there has to be some planning for it.  So, the 5th grade teachers will need to be gone on Thursday from class.  We will be in the building, but you will have substitute teachers in all of the classes:  Soc.St./Science, Literacy and Math/WS.  The last 2 subs thought 5th grade and 5B was a blast, and they were overly impressed.  I'm SURE this will be the same feeling from the subs that see you on Thursday.  RIGHT????

I'll leave instructions for the sub to be watching for extra respectful, responsible and trustworthy behaviors.  In fact, I will be leaving 10 yellow slips out for her to use with ONLY 5B students.  She can award them to anyone she feels earns them.  If that means somebody gets 2 or 3 or even 4 of them in one day, that's a pretty amazing and lucky student!  Remember, they will be picking up yellow slips at the end of the day Thursday, so be sure to get yours in there!

The Smartboard won't be running tomorrow because I'll be needing my computer for planning the big changes!  So, Trista will have to do attendance from the whiteboard.  Joe, make it a good pledge tomorrow!

Your homework should be done (small blue packet - "Camping" and large blue packet - Subjects (Who or What?) & Predicates (What's it doin'?)  Have these with you and DONE for tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be more time for Technology Projects, so you'll need to use your time wisely and be patient.  Sometimes a substitute teacher is not as comfortable with all these projects.  Please show her that you can be helpful, use time wisely and be independent.

I can't wait to see what progress you make with your projects.  Your last day to work on them will be next Tuesday.   (That means you have Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday) We'll be sharing them with the class on Wednesday before Thanksgiving break!

Have a great day.  I'll be checking in from time to time to see how things are going, but I'll miss seeing my 5B babies again.  Be good, make me proud!

It's Been a Great Start to the Week!

I've been so impressed with the excitement and effort with our new technology projects!  You guys will become experts before your very own eyes!  Also, I am feeling quite proud of the hard workers with the editing page we did today, along with the Subject (Who or What, Who or What, Who or What) and Predicate (What's it doin'?) assignment!  Keep up the super responsibility, effort and respect!

With tomorrow being a 3 hour early out, we'll have another goofy schedule with library right before lunch. Some of you have been forgetting your library books, so this is a reminder for you!  Don't forget your book bins! And, I'll let you start checking out new books from the book order!  Yippee!

I'll keep it short tonight. Here's a challenge for you to prove you've checked the blog.  Come in right away and begin doing jumping jacks.  Don't count out loud or chat with anyone.  Just do as many as you can until I tell you to stop.  I'll have a little something for you if you can handle the challenge!

See you for a short, but productive day Wednesday!

Big Changes Coming in 5th Grade Land...

5B,

I've got HUGE news for you and your families coming soon.  I can't tell you the details yet, but you'll find out within the next week or so.  I'm excited and nervous for this big change.  There are all sorts of details I'd love to share with you, but because the teachers don't have everything completely figured out yet, we don't want to share anything.   But it will for sure make your jaws drop!!!  So stay tuned for upcoming news!!!!!!  Did I grab your attention????  Now, that's a good introduction, eh?!

Onto another topic...  I just got done seeing the high school's musical performance starring our very own 5B student, Trista!  What a great job!  I even cried because I was so proud of her!  So glad to see students doing what makes them happy!  Yeh!  Maybe if we sweet-talk her a little, she'll give us our own special mini performance :)  Or not....

Another MAJOR announcement to remind your parents about is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (that's tomorrow!) is the fundraiser pick-up day!  A note will be coming home with you tomorrow after school, but I thought it would help to tell parents tonight.  It goes from 3 pm to 6 pm.  You'll need to have your pink sales sheets to give your items to your customers!  Remember to thank them so much for their help! We couldn't take field trips, have breadsticks, go to plays or a Big Blast without their help!  Be sure they get a huge thanks from you!

Last of all, we made a pinky swear last Friday that we would make time for Swear to Howdy on Monday. So, I'll know you checked the blog this weekend if you remind me in the morning with these words "Don't forget our pinky swear about Swear to Howdy."  We'll do attendance and get jobs done and get comfy on the floor.  Senorita Rachel and I are trying to find a different time to do our Spanish Skype lessons.

One more thing... Don't forget you're mentoring again this week.  We have an early out, so the Wednesday people will not get to see their mentees unless they go chat with their mentees' teacher and work out another day this week.  Sounds like everyone who chose to mentor had a great first visit!

See you soon,
Mrs. Sorenson

Great to Be Back!

Man, it seems crazy that tomorrow is already Friday!  It's good to be back after such crazy days of being away from you guys.  Isaiah is definitely on the mend!  He's up to his normal nonsense of temper tantrums, running around the house and putting strange things in the fridge!  I opened the refrigerator door after supper tonight and found the wheel to one of Isaiah's toy tractors in there?!!!!  What a weirdo!  Well, I guess he is my son, huh?!

Just wanted to remind you of a few things for Friday...
1) It's Veteran's  Day!!  Our assembly is at 9:30.  I always look forward to hearing from the local men and women who volunteer their time to share their personal stories with us.  Remember to have a question in mind so you don't read it from a sheet.
2)  Last day for Inquiry Projects!  They are turning out better than I could have even imagined!  You guys should go into advertising.  You are all making a difference.
3)  Crossword Puzzle Homework and Possible Quiz!  Make sure you continue this great responsibility by getting this work done and being prepared for your quiz.  It's been on the planner for over a week!

Of course, you should always be working on your November Book-It Goal.  I heard that 5C not only has everyone working on it, but one kid read about 2 hours last night!!!!  So, we definitely have sparked the competition between 5A and 5C!!  Yikes... I'm kinda nervous!  So, to prove you checked the blog, have your mom/dad/grandma/step mom/dad, or even your aunt Bertha (if you have one), write a note to me saying how much you've been reading AND recording on the November Book-It slip.  Show me the note in the morning.  This will be a great way to make sure we don't let the whole month go by without checking in with our class!  Let's keep the 5B Cadet Pride by chewing gum next month!!

See you in the morning!
~Peace Out, Mrs. Sorenson

Missing You Oodles and Oodles!

Hey, 5B,
I hope your first day of snow was a good one!  I'm sorry this week has been a messed up one.  Isaiah seems to be better today.  Either way, I'll be back tomorrow.  Hopefully, you left Mrs. Norby with a good impression of 5B and 5th graders.

I'm hoping you got to get some work time on your inquiry projects.  You had a great start yesterday, so I was thinking today should be quite productive.  I'll check in with you tomorrow to see if we need more time or if we can start presenting on Friday!  Yeah!

I'm thinking all of our snowflake making yesterday was the cause of this big snowy mess we had that created our late start today!!! So, no more Make a Flake for you guys!  Just Kidding...  In fact, that's what I want you to do to prove you checked the blog.  Go to Make a Flake and create a fabulous snowflake!  You have 3 ways to prove to me you did this:  1) You can print off your flake from home or school OR 2) You can email at ksorenson@howard-winn.k12.ia.us so I can see your genius snowflake-making!  OR 3) If you can't print it or email it, you could simply write down the # for me, so I can check it out in the Gallery myself.

Tomorrow SHOULD be a normal day, but, who knows!!  Hopefully, you got a chance to work on your grocery bags for Mrs. McCabe today, too!  I know she wants these by the end of the week, so keep
a-coloring!

Have a good night!  See you Thursday morning:)

Daylight Savings is My Friend!

Greetings, 5B!
Wasn't it nice to have an extra hour of sleep this weekend?  I feel like it was exactly what I needed!  Hopefully,  you'll come to school Monday refreshed and ready for a jammed-packed week of learning!  


You have quite a bit to be working on this week.  Here are some reminders and some events going on:
All Week Long:
Mentoring starts!  We'll take a quick tour in the morning so you know where to meet your Mentee for your first visit!  Yeah!
All Week Long: 
Inquiry Project:  Remember, you have 4 steps to complete with your Inquiry Groups.  You each have jogs to complete.  The slogans and mottos I heard on Friday were so creative and definitely memorable.  You guys really are making a difference in the lives of other people.  
Monday:
Extended date for Book Orders.  Kayden....remember, I'm doing this for you!  Make sure to remember your order:)
Tuesday:  
Family Homework Due!  You should have your home-chosen selection read, 2 worksheets and had a discussion about the 4 focus questions to wrap up Unit 1.  Thank you to families for helping out and modeling reading and thinking skills with your child.  Look for more Family Homework assignments in the future:)

Friday:  

Veterans Day Assembly for 5th Grade ONLY!  5th graders should feel honored that they have the opportunity to meet and visit with War Veterans from the Cresco area.  Mrs. Halverson will be chatting with you this week about what a Veteran is, what they stand for and brainstorming questions you may want to know from them.  This will be a special assembly in the Discovery Center, just for 5th grade students!  Isn't that awesome?  

Wowser, what a busy week, huh?!  To show you checked the blog, visit this link by clicking on it  Make a Medal for a Veteran .  Design a medal and print it off.  Bring it in on Monday morning with your name on it.  We will be making more and cutting them out to make a thank you card for our special guests on Friday.  I made one.  It's pretty fun and really easy!  

Thanks for helping out last week with the suggestions for Group Leaders.  Remember, they will be doing their jobs through Thursday... So, Alison, Colter, Nathan, Jarrett and Brooklyn, be ready to take charge Monday morning if it's needed:) 

See you soon!

Mrs. Sorenson

Time for a Change!

Yep, you guessed it at the end of the day! Remember, as soon as you come in Thursday morning, start clearing out and re-organizing your materials to move them to your new home. I tried to look at your 1st quarter reflections to put you near "helpful" friends. Of course, I couldn't make it work for everyone this time. Don't worry, we've got several months of school still:)

I also can't believe the change in the weather from yesterday to today! Yikes! This is a definite reminder about appropriate clothing for the time of year. You'll be outside for recess unless it gets below freezing, so if you are at all cold now, make sure you are bringing warmer coats,

gloves, hats, etc. Also, think about extra shoes with the wet and mushy ground from rainy and sleety weather.

Don't forget your family homework for reading class! Remind your parents to call, email, send me a message or something if they are

feeling confused at all. Thanks for those students who forgot your passwords at school, but called or emailed to get them! I think that is VERY RESPONSIBLE. Payton and Brenda, grab a yellow ticket in the morning! Glad to see you are doing your work!

You did a great job as Research Police today, but I would love to hear the sirens showing you've found your evidence! I'll be rewarding groups tomorrow for their enthusiasm and ability to make progress in reading class tomorrow! Great work, Detectives!

Lastly, I need your help with our transition times. 5B works so well, can be so respectful and caring, is so much fun to joke around with, but seems to have a tough time getting straight to planners at end of the day. Your proof for checking the blog will be to come up with 2 suggestions to help improve this. You could come up with a fun phrase to get everybody ready or you could suggest the class loses 5 minutes at recess for every reminder needed to get back on track. Whatever you think will help the class would be great! Write down your 2 suggestions and hand them to me in the morning. I'll share them with the class and we'll vote on one to try!

Sorry it got so long! But I missed you all afternoon....my little 5B Babies...

November Weather???? I don't think so!

Hey, 5B! I think we better feel pretty fortunate to be enjoying THIS kind of weather on the first day of November... I don't think we'll be this lucky too much longer though based on the weather reports I've seen:( Oh, well, I guess it's been a pretty great fall!

Great job dealing with such a goofy schedule around P.E. again today. You guys rock!

Don't forget about these events though...

1) Wednesday (tomorrow): 3-hour early out

2) Family Homework: If you have Internet, just use the LEAD 21 website on the side of hte blog! You should show your families the blue note and work on your 4 assignments throughout the week, due 1 week from today:) Let's see how responsible 5B can be!

3) Friday: Book Orders Due! Thanks for some of the online orders! The class will love the free books!

Other than that, I just thought I'd let you know how PROUD I am of 5B winning the October Book-It Challenge! It's great to see so many responsible students working on their stamina! Look for your Personal Pan Pizza coupons on your desks in the morning! If you forgot to bring in your calendar today, you can still bring it in tomorrow to get a Personal Pan Pizza! Yum... you can take your family out for dinner and save them a little cash!

I'll know you checked the blog if you check out the game I have added to the right side of the blog. It's called "Moving Puzzles". It took me a little while to figure it out at first! Write down what the finished puzzle is and show it to me in the morning when you come in!