2 Days in A Row! Woo-Hoo!!!

Wowser!  2 whole days??  Can you believe it?  Sorry I missed posting the blog last night, but as you know the meeting for Lime Springs grade level decisions went long.  Be sure to pass along the news to your families and if they are interested in the final answer, the February board meeting will be the way to find out:)

I'll keep it short tonight....More compliments to 5B... working like crazy, giving it your best as we get back into a routine!  Keep it up!

A few reminders...
Lawson - Vault
Hunter - book club meeting with me on Friday - can't wait!
Math homework for some...
iPads - getting back and forth, being charged
January Book-it (for Friday or Monday is fine)
Conference Note for Sign-Ups - 5B student must be available:)

Blog Proof!  I'll know you checked the blog if you ask me "WHOSE SONG TITLE did Kalvin choose" for the song he wrote and sang to us? Also, ask me "When are we Skyping him to find out the answer?"

Kalvin has chosen and is ready to Skype!  But when?  And what's the title??  Can't wait to find out!

Missing YOU!!!!!

Well, I'm thinking the absolutely crazy weather is going to take a break, so we ACTUALLY might be seeing each other tomorrow (Wednesday)!  Hooray!  I can tell that our 5B misses each other because the great conversations I was a part of!  See some random comments from yesterday and today by your 5B classmates!  Thanks for those who joined in the conversations.  And if you were lucky enough yesterday, you know even Mr. Carver joined our chat!


I had a great day with my family today!  As some of you know, I was at the LaCrosse Children's Museum.  We had a blast!  Here are a few pics from our day:)  Remember that amazing video of the college student who played all those awesome songs on pvc pipes?  Well, the museum had those instruments!  I tried, but had NO CLUE how to sound like that!  Oh, well!  At least I tried, right?!

So, even though I missed my 5B family the past few days, I have enjoyed doing activities with my Sorenson family:) Did any of you do anything fun with fam?

Ok.. Now, that we'll be getting back into a "routine"....again... I'm complimenting 5B for your amazing behaviors that deal with this goofy weather so well!  We have a lot to get caught up with - especially book club reading! 

I plan to meet with these 3 groups on Wednesday... So please be ready with all pages read and your response pages completed!

Scorch Trials!  (Finally, poor Hunter)

Voyage of the Frog - crazy stuff happened!

Island - I can't BELIEVE the part we had to stop at!!!

If you have a way to contact anyone in your group, can you try to let them know?  Thanks!  Also, remember you have news articles that should be written!  I know some major news about our school days and weather if you forgot to do your work!  

If you have math for Mrs. W. or Mrs. H., please be sure you have this done.  You have had 4 DAYS to complete homework.  If we can't get regular homework done, I'd have to say iPads will no longer be sent home with those students:(  So, be sure you are responsible with these extra days to complete work.  

So... enjoy your last evening of your 4 day weekend, and be ready for 3 days of school!  I'll know you checked the blog IF you come in and CHARGE your iPads right when you get to school  Don't use them in the hallway.  As you come in, take a quick photo of yourself on my iPad.  I'll show you an AWESOME app later on in the morning if you take a picture of yourself, ok?

Thanks again for checking the blog and having TodaysMeet while we were NOT in school!  Such over-achieving, impressive students!  

Well?? Thoughts? Will We See Each Other on Monday?

I have NO clue!  I guess just keep your text alerts on, watch for late-starts and cancellations on the TV, Twitter, the school website, etc.  I know I'll watch closer this time if school does close on Monday.  I don't want to end up at school and realize that again like I did on Thursday!  I did get some work done though:)

I hope everyone's weekends went well.  It seems like whatever day of the week that we are actually at school, it seems like it's a Monday because we are constantly starting over after a late-start, no school or early out.  I brag about 5B all of the time and how well you adjust to the crazy schedules and just picking up right where we leave off with the weather interruptions.  That is a huge compliment!  Keep it up!

Morgan and I saw each other today and thought it would be fun to get a TodaysMeet set up for Monday IF we do not have school.  If 5B students are free, they could all chat with each other to see how life if going?!  I'd jump on as well.  I was thinking at about 11:00 a.m.  If that works for you, visit THIS TODAYSMEET LINK and see who's on!

Of course, if we have a normal day (that's funny.... what's that again?), we will just SEE each other:)

Homework to be thinking of/completing:
Comparative/Superlative Sheet
Math Homework from Mrs. H and Mrs. W
Book Club Reading and iPad Pages Sheets
Bring Back iPads (if you used them this weekend)


I'll know you checked the blog if you watch the video I have below and tell me what it is of?  My family got a little bored on Saturday night and tried this out.  Isaiah is a natural!

See??? I Just Can't Predict (think ahead!) What Normal Means Anymore!!!

Ok.. Well, I hope 5B had another relaxing day off.  I am starting to feel a bit stressed about how our May/June will be feeling still sitting in our classrooms.  Oh, well!  There's nothing we can do about it because...The FORCE is with... NATURE...Right?!

I didn't post last night because I got home late, but I also thought we'd have some goofy weather possibly.  Now, I'm feeling pretty sure we'll be on time or at least at school tomorrow!

Since we've had SO LITTLE CLASS in all areas, PLEASE be sure you are being responsible and getting these assignments taken care of and ready for Friday...
1) Book Club reading that was due either Thursday or Friday - be ready Rescue on Ruapehu, Tsnuami of 2011and Scorch Trials
2) Any homework from Mrs. Wilson or Mrs. Halverson for Math
3) VAULT - Git Er Done...
4) Book Trailers  for Library - will show in class on Friday at 10:50
5) Grand Canyon Video - for those who missed it - Carter, Taylor, Connor, Trystin??
6) 2 News Article Events - I got MINE done!  You should have been able to find at LEAST 2 events to write notes about.  If you forgot the paper, that's no excuse!  You know the song VERY WELL, so write it down somewhere else if you can't find your paper.
7) Finally, I sent home the picture of you doing something in the cold (those who weren't done yet).  So, please have that finished for the bulletin board as well!

See?? Being gone so much is not all that great!  It just means more and more to keep track of and be responsible for!
8)  MOST IMPORTANT!!! Get your iPads back to school.  I'm guessing they need some charging.  Please bring them in RIGHT away when you come on Friday morning, charge them up.  Don't use them out in the hallway, ok?  

Now, I'm going to add another job for you tonight or in the morning.  We need to get moving on our "professional" movie trailers for the American Revolution.  I'm attaching a link that gives some tips and pointers for iMovie - videos, editing, trimming, etc.  It's about 20 minutes long.  I want everyone to watch it before social studies class on Friday.  So, if you know someone doesn't check the blog until morning, give them a call/text/email/etc. and warn them.  It will have to be a recess job if it's not watched before then, ok? Click Here for iMovie Tips

I'll know you checked the blog if you can tell me ONE NEW part to iMovie from the link.  I learned about 50 new tips!  Very helpful video!

Have a great night and tomorrow is FRIDAY already!  Goodness!

Short and Sweet...Can't Be Beat!

I'll keep it simple tonight, 5B!

Another 2 amazing days back into our regular routine!  Always so proud of 5B!  With iPads going home more often, I'm hoping to see the same responsibility and respect as I have already seen.  Prove you can handle it, ok?!

Those of us who got to go back for Day 2 in 1st grade to help with movie trailers got a lot of work done!  Some of you were on double-duty with 2 1st graders to help.  As you can see, the bonds have already started and everyone seems comfortable.  Cute picture of Hailey and Bella:)

We will see if we can get a bit of time tomorrow to finish up the trailers and air drop them to Mrs. Kuhn's laptop!  She is quite impressed with our help!  Again...Proud, Proud, Proud AM I!

I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you review the song I had people listen to in writing class today.  Click Here.  Then, the real proof is if you can get the WHOLE CLASS together RIGHT after we do the PLEDGE!  I won't even remind anyone.  I'll just see if you can get it all going without me.  If I'M WAY IMPRESSED with the WHOLE CLASS participating, I may have a little reward:)

Reminders:

3 hour early out Wednesday

iPads come back and book clubs meet (Island for Wed.)

Make up Vault and iMovie for Book Trailers

Fun with first grade!!!!!! (Blog written by Hailey and Emmalee)

5B, 

(This is the first chance for 5B students to be in charge of the 5B Blog.  Read below as normal, and be sure to read all of the way through, so you don't miss anything.) 

So we all had a blast with first grade today. They had community topics that were farms,cities and towns.  We will go back there again tomorrow to keep working on their movie trailers.

It was also Martin Luther King Jr. day. Everybody check your emails and tell parents to check their emails too.  What a great video to watch!

Other reminders:

Tomorrow is a band day so recess will be late as always.Also book clubs due this week. iMovie and Vault should be worked on tomorrow at recess.Early out on Wednesday.







We will know if you come in and give Hailey or Emmalie an air high 5 because it's germ season.

Oh, and just watch the weather and the news in the morning.  We may be looking at a late start!  Who knows?  UGH!! Will we EVER be having a REGULAR WEEK?  Will the group that is supposed to see Mrs. Shekleton EVER meet?  Will we have a normal P.E. AGAIN?  

Well, What Kind of Week Will We Have This Time?

Hey, 5B,

Last Sunday I titled the blog post "Ready for a Full Week?"  Well, that was a joke, wasn't it?!  I don't know what to expect this week.  I KNOW we will be getting out of school early on Wednesday, but that's because of teacher working time - not weather:)  Remember....May the Force be with .....  ________!

I hope your weekends went well.  It sounds like many of you had things going on with HOMEWORK (or at least some reading and work on the iPads), wrestling meets, basketball games, birthday parties, riding horses, hanging out with friends, or just relaxing at home.  

Well, rest up for a full day on Monday.  Not only we will have to get back into the swing of things with a full day and new math groups for fractions, but 5B will be TEACHERS to our 1st grade buddies!  Yep, we are heading down to Mrs. Kuhn's class to help them complete a movie trailer for their reading theme, Communities.  I have each of you paired up with a buddy.  A few of you have 2 5th graders together because they have less students than we do.  I'm excited to share with you your partners and explain your job and how to get back down in "1st grade mode".  

With tomorrow being such a busy, full day, we still can't forget to celebrate someone very special.  Click on the picture I have below.  

It should take you to a list of interesting facts (That's a fact, Jack!) about him.  To prove you checked the blog, read through the list with your family (or alone if you're family isn't around).  Choose 1 from the list you think is interesting.  Add it to the TodaysMeet Link HERE.  I'd like to see what most people think is most interesting about this historic man.  

I want to give a GINORMOUS HOOT and HOLLER to Shane Burke (a former 5B Baby and cousin to Justin) who reads the blog still after he has moved on and saw that 5B has been hungry lately, so he brought a big bag of cereal for us to snack on.  HOW SWEET?!!!  See, that's why our 5B Family is so special.  Even when kiddos move on and get older, they still remember 5B!  Please be sure to thank Shane any chance you get - in person, a note, email, etc.  

Get rested up for a BIG, BUSY day on Monday!

Great and Gracious Guests in 5B!

What a fantastic surprise to actually see our guests today even with the goofy weather schedules the past 2 days!  We are so grateful that Rachel and Kalvin could come join us and share how writing is a part of their lives!  5B had some super ideas for thanking them and letting them know how much we appreciate their time and effort for coming to our room.

Rachel entertains us with her semi-true story
of events from an Alzheimer's center.
It was called "Was Grandma at School Today?" 

Kalvin shares his writing through music and singing.
His first song was "Fraction of Fiction".  His second song
was not titled yet!  He let 5B help him choose!  We are patiently
waiting to see what he decides.  He plans to Skype us next week!

Guest authors signing autographs for their fans!

5B definitely enjoyed their experience with
the guest speakers today, learning a lot about how writing
comes from YOU!

I'll know you checked the blog and thought about how to thank our guests today by filling in at least 3 of the blanks in the poem/song I've started below.  I'll number the spaces, so you'll need to write down on a piece of paper which "number/space"you are trying to help finish.

Thank You Song/Poem

Rachel and Kalvin, you are the best.

 #1______________________________.

Our class is lucky that you came.

 #2 _______________________________.

You shared how you used writing in your life.

#3 ________________________________

We laughed and enjoyed all that you shared.

#4 ______________________________________.

We'd love to have you come back some day.

#5________________________________.

We'll remember our time with you for many years.

#6 ________________________________.

Hopefully, I'll see you for a regular start to our day tomorrow.  It's best if we don't have to make up too many snow days.  It seems fun now, but we'll all be a bit depressed in June if we are still here:(

Stay warm and we'll see you tomorrow:)

Another Snow Day???

Will we ever get a full week in together again in 2014??  I missed you guys today.  Well, hopefully, those who were feeling sick had an extra day to feel better.  We missed our guest speakers for today though.  Their schedules wouldn't allow them to make it up the rest of the week.  One of them is leaving the country on Friday, so it just won't work:(  Maybe another time later in the year??

I'll keep it short!  Go back and check yesterday's blog to see what you should do when you come in on Wednesday morning, ok?  Hopefully, we'll have a normal start to our day, but who knows??

Stay warm, ok?!  Be sure you are bringing snow pants, warm coats, hats, mittens/gloves, BOOTS!!!

GERM CITY!!!!

Well, the second round of the flu may have hit 5B's class!  We had 5 people gone in the morning, with one returning after lunch.  Big REMINDER:  WASH HANDS, WASH HANDS, WASH HANDS!!

This is just one of those life skills we need to remember to do.  Isaiah often forgets to scrub his little fingers long enough to get the soap and water all over.  The best way to make sure you've washed/scrubbed long enough is to sing the "Happy Birthday" song.  I know I often do it too quickly, too, so let's all help remind each other, ok?  Let's hope we get our 4 sick students back tomorrow, without losing more to Germ City!

Today's activity with Connecticut went great, and we seemed to learn about each other even more by playing the games! I think it was 5B students who got "Global Classroom Bingo" every time, right?  Awesome!  Here's a few pics from the Tic Tac Toe game over Skype.

Hunter's Favorite TV Shows!

Connecticut Student Sharing Her Favorite App!

Remember, tomorrow is a busy day with P.E., 2 guest authors, and Band.  Don't forget shoes for P.E. and instruments if you're in band.

Look through your book orders and see if there's anything exciting.  Remember, each of you have a coupon for spending a few dollars which then gives you a free book pick, too!  Just wanted you to know you could use it from now until May.

I'll know you checked the blog if you come in and show me how to wash your hands properly by scrubbing and singing the birthday song:)

Have a great night... Hopefully, we'll see you all tomorrow....Watch the weather and have your parents have their phones/websites up.  It sounds like some goofy stuff coming our way tonight!

Peace out!

Will It Be a Full Week?? I guess we'll see!

Hey, 5B,
Even though it was short, it was a great week of getting back into our school routines.  I hope you enjoyed our guest speaker on Friday before our early dismissal.  Amanda is a true leader and has always stayed true to herself.  I'm so proud to claim her as a 5B Baby:)!!   I have 2 more guest authors coming in this week:  1 is a girl, 1 is a boy.  Neither of them have been in our school or in 5B's family.  They'll be coming on Tuesday to share their own writing and methods of how they get their thoughts down!  I'm excited for you to meet them both!

Oh, and I showed just about EVERYONE I ran into the video of our "Harlem Shake."  It just makes me smile, laugh and feel good altogether!  I know you all have it on your iPads, but I thought you'd like to share it with your parents!  I've watched it like 50 times!
Here's the link to YouTube!  (It just keeps loading for me... send me an email if you can get it to load, ok?)

This week has all sorts of fun little extras...
Monday, tomorrow, we get to meet with Connecticut again! This is Mrs. Petroski's last week in her homeroom class of Room 4, so she wanted to be sure to meet with us.  She thinks she'll still be able to keep our same Monday time with Room 4 by coming in that room each week as the "Tech Teacher"!  Isn't that awesome?!!  Also, this will be our 1st official day of our Technology Class with Ms. Klenke!  We missed it last week due to NO SCHOOL!!  So, I think you'll enjoy this addition to our schedule!

Tuesday, like I mentioned, we have 2 more guest authors sharing with us!

Wednesday doesn't have anything too wild planned, but I was thinking we bring up to Mrs. Holstrom our "Brave" act that we did for the Talent Show.  You guys said the music program would be about anti-bullying, right?  Well, wouldn't that be a great song to promote standing up for yourself??  So, remind me to see if that's something Mrs. Holstrom would be up for?  Maybe even we could record ourselves and it could be on big screen for the music program?  Let's chat more:)

Thursday may be our last day for Vault in class or it might even be our first day of getting back into switching classes for math again.  We have to get through our pretest first though:)

Friday is always a great day, isn't it?!

Also, I noticed that many of your tummies were grumbling this week about mid-morning.  I brought snacks for some of the days, but if you're feeling like you'd like to continue munching from time to time because 12:15 is a LONGGGG time until lunch, we'll always take class donations of snacks:)

I"ll know you checked the blog if you tell me which event on any of the days of the weeks (Monday - Friday) that you are looking forward to?  I've underlined the major events for each day:)  Rest up.... 5 full days may tire you out by the end of the week!

Amazing Week in 2014!

5B, the way you've adjusted back into school just reminds me over and over how wonderful you are!  It was great having ALL of us back today!  Fabulous working and sharing and thinking!

Events I'm Proud of from Today:
**Working time in literacy was SOOOO ON TASK!!!  Wowser!
**Focused listening and writing in writing time!  (Thanks to my sister's Christmas letter!) Crazy!
**Crazy work-aholics in math class with Vault!  Some of you are really becoming financial wizards!
**Excellent understanding of Act 2 in "The French and Indian War"!

So proud of some many parts of our day!  You guys just shine!

Tomorrow, I'll be showing you another cool app that has to do with dancing!!!!  So, I'll know you checked the blog if you come up with a unique (your own) dance move that can be repeating by others! As a reminder of how simple the moves can be, review this youtube video we checked out earlier this year. (Click Here)  You have to come up with your own though:)  No copying from the video!

Keeping it short, like our week:)  Have a great night and tomorrow is already.....

Sorry It's Late!!!

Hey, 5B,
Sorry it got late tonight.  I left school right after you guys did to go to Lime Springs for the committee I'm on.  We toured the building to see if that would help us make some decisions.  So, I'm just getting to the blog now, as you can see!

Another compliment to 5B for an amazing transition back into the school mode.  You are TOP-NOTCH!  Hopefully, you are ready for another full day back into the "normal" routines!  Be sure to tell your families about the new Cadet Time and Vault from math class.  If you work on Vault at home, it will save whatever you do, and you can just continue as you start back up in math class on Thursday!  Oh, and don't forget to share with them about our French and Indian War play:) Too bad La Salle (Rodney's character) led the French to their deaths, huh?!  I guess we'll find out more about how the Native Americans were involved in this!

Loved seeing you experiment with Cause and Effect (what goes up, must come down) today.  Some actions you did were funny, clever, creative and painful (ouch!)!  We'll keep up the new strategy in literacy class tomorrow:)

I better keep it short and get Isaiah to bed!  I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you do ONE Cause and Effect experiment to share with the class.  Write it down like this:
Cause:
Effect:
(Just like we did in class on our sticky notes app).

Show it to me as we come in, and we'll be ready to go to Cadet Time right away!

Sweet dreams, 5B!

We're BACK!!!!

5B, 

You WELCOMED the new year fabulously today!  It usually takes several days to remind students the difference between "school" behaviors and "home" behaviors, but you guys got it down!  So glad to see you again!

Hopefully all 20 of us will be here tomorrow!  It's not perfect unless we're all back as a 5B Family:)

It was fun to hear about the different events that happened to people over the break (even though they seemed weird because it actually happened to someone else), and I'll have us share more in the morning.  

The only homework you had tonight was to do some Read to Self to retrain your brains to build your stamina back up if you took a break from reading during vacation. We'll also talk about the Movie Trailers we'll get to do if a book was finished:)  

On Wednesday, we'll get back into a REAL routine of classes.  In fact, we will be doing some SWITCHING of classrooms right away in the morning from the 8:30 - 9:00 time.  That's been our RTI (or now the school is calling it Cadet Time) and it still will be, but we're changing it up.  Also, for math, we won't be switching at all this week.  We'll be doing something a bit different for a week or so on laptops:)

So, I will know you checked the blog (and are back in the routine of keeping up with 5B updates) if you ask me, "Which classroom will I be in today for RTI/Cadet Time?" in the morning.  I'll be happy to share with you and more about this switching after attendance and pledge:)

For now, have a great night and we'll see you in the morning!