Last Day for a Dear Friend Tomorrow....

I think our blog proof tonight should be set aside to let Quinzey know how much we'll miss him!  We probably won't have a lot of time tomorrow to chat with Quinzey before he leaves our 5B Family (We are family)....

So, please, on the TodaysMeet Link (click here), to write Quinzey a nice note!  Quinzey, if you check this, then you can just read this notes on TodaysMeet. Quinzey, can come see in the morning, and tell me how you feel about the messages that were written about you or to you:)

Don't forget Report Card envelopes.  Don't forget homework.  Don't forget your Cadet Pride!

Just a Quick Blog Check...

Which one do you think you are most of the time?

Tell me as you walk in on Thursday morning...

Great Day Back After 5 DAYS OFF!

5B really has made some MAJOR improvements since the beginning of the year with transitions and Cadet Pride being shown throughout our day!  My little babies are growing up too fast!  I'm getting a little sentimental about our year because tomorrow you get your 3rd quarter report cards!
This means we are on the LAST quarter of our year together!  That may be exciting for some of you, but for me, UGH!!  It goes by WAY TOO QUICKLY!  AHHHHH!!!  You know I think of you truly as my family, so watch out, 'cuz this mama is going to have a VERY TOUGH TIME saying goodbye...

Ok, I'll try to toughen up a bit longer before I get all mushy on you all!  Again, today was a great example of Cadet Pride!  It made me think about what we want to work toward for our next Fun Pass Celebration.  I saw that Aidan L. counted up our Fun Passes, and we are already at 17 (I thought we were at more, but that's ok, 17 is super!)  Let's start brainstorming ideas that are special and you've never done before, ya know, like the sledding party?!   So here's a TodaysMeet link to get ideas going!  Click here! 

Reminders for tomorrow...
Art candy:)
Everest Book Club  - Finish book for Coffee Talk
Wonderful Wackos - Finish Social Studies work
Egg Cartons:)  If possible!

Also, tomorrow, we start VAULT!  Thanks to Kody's mom, Shannon, from Cresco Bank & Trust for coming in and explaining our new financial program, Vault!  The treats Shannon gave out were awfully nice (a WANT, not a NEED).  There are also pencils and water bottles for all of you!  How generous!  We'll be sure to work our hardest and do our best on the Vault program to make Cresco Bank & Trust proud!

Blog Proof!  Add to the TodaysMeet link!  See you all already for WEDNESDAY - HUMP DAY!

Long Weekend! Nice Surprise!

Well, it's a good thing we met with Dr. Bohach on that Wednesday of last week to get our books done, huh?!!  What crazy Easter weather we have!  Goodness me!

Long time, no see, 5B!  I have to admit that no school on Thursday was ok with me.  I ended up sleeping in a little bit, making snacks for Easter (yummy ones!), going to the fitness center, and watching some tv:)  It was a pretty relaxing day!  I hope you guys had the same experience!

Isaiah and I had some fun with that Quiver app using an Easter page.  You can make a video now with it!  I'll share the one we made from it!  I think if you click HERE it will show you the video!  If it doesn't work, I can show you tomorrow at school!

Although we've completed a couple big projects with our class book and the Luther partner books, we will continue to have busy weeks ahead!  What's coming this way, you ask??

Excitement #1:  Woo - Hoo!  Yeah, baby!  Ready or not, here it comes!  Oh, you'll live!

Excitement #2:  Vault!  Huh?  What's that, you ask?  We have a special guest speaker coming on Tuesday to tell the whole 5th grade about it!  But if it says, "Play Now," doesn't that mean a GAME?!!! Nice...

Excitement #3:  More plans for Kindergarten Buddies!  We have a special project planned to work on with our buddies coming up.  We are looking for EMPTY egg cartons!  If you have any at your house, we'd LOVE them for this project!  So, if you have any, start bringing them to school already tomorrow!

REMINDERS for THIS WEEK...

1)  Tomorrow is TUESDAY... TECH CLASS... You need a little object for an I SPY project.  DON'T FORGET!

2)  Book Club Reading - If you missed your Coffee Talk Thursday, we'll have it tomorrow!  You had 5 EXTRA DAYs...  be ready:)

3)  D.A.R.E. is back this week!  We are starting to plan for a graduation date.  Be thinking about how well you're answering your journal pages.

4)  Gum Chewing - We will keep the same gum chewing plan that we've had the past 2 weeks.  We are welcome to chew gum in our classroom and in Mrs. Knobloch's room, but that's all.  We've done a pretty superb job of remembering that and not taking it outside to recess or other classrooms!  Keep it up!

5)  Skeleton Man!!  We NEED TO GET BACK to Molly and her creepy uncle!  I want to know what's going on!

6) Finally... we need to set up a NEW FUN PASS Celebration Plan!  Let's share about weekends on Tuesday, but plan to make a new goal!

Blog Proof....  Which of the 3 different Excitement #'s are you most interested in?  Whisper which one you are most looking forward to as you come in Tuesday morning:)  I bet I know which one is will be the MOST POPULAR #!  NOT!  :)

More Work, Work, Work!

It's been WORK CENTRAL in 5B and 5th grade!  It seems like we go from one project to another to another!  Whoo-wee! Our books are ALMOST DONE for sending off to PUBLISH!  Professor Bohach and I chatted today.  She is ready for work time in the afternoon!  She'll be here around 1:00 p.m.!  Thanks for all of the EXTRA help that the rest of the class has done to help make a 5B Memory Book!  What a special way to remember my last 5B Babies (mama, mama)!

Tomorrow, as you come in, we'll do a little something to get us in more of a Team-Work Mode.  Please be sure to remind everyone else in class to do this, too!

Blog Proof Part 1:  When you come in, please grab a post-it note from the guided reading table. It will have a number on it.  We will be doing a "Team Work" activity using these #'s after Attendance and the Pledge are done!

So, after Daniel, Elyse and Alex get us going....

Blog Proof Part 2:  As SOON as we are done with the Pledge, raise your hand up high.  When I say, "WHAT DO YOU ALL WANT?"

You ANSWER with, "TEAMWORK!"

Other reminders...
Book Clubs - Harry Houdini and Everest!
Dream Team - Social Studies homework
LUTHER ILLUSTRATIONS!!
Field Trip Volunteer Note - return EVEN if your parents are NOT able to help

Weawwy Wittwe Bwog...

I'll know you checked the blog if you ask me what is different about the schedule on Wednesday afternoon?  Whisper it in my ear... Do NOT share the question OUT LOUD, please!

Chat soon!

We're Needing a Break.....Don't You Agree?

5B,

I sure hope people got some time to relax, chill and just rest up.  We've been working like crazy the past few weeks with Iowa testing, writing projects, book clubs, Luther projects, classroom tests, etc. As we all get a little overwhelmed with work and stress, our patience seems to get a little shorter.  We kind of saw that with some football issues at recess and some friendship problems happening this week.  We also have had more chattiness happening the past 2 weeks or so, than most of the year.  So... just remember this....

4 Days... I know we can hold it together for 4 days... OK?  

Let's work as a team!

Help each other be patient!

Model great Cadet Pride!

Chat at the RIGHT times!

On Friday people worked together to help OTHERS who are not as fortunate as we are.  The green wall was FILLED with grains of rice from LEARNING for you and then EARNING for others! After I added up the total grains of rice reported on the green wall, your grand total of rice grains is....

A BIG NUMBER... 

(You'll have to wait until Monday! Ha!)

However, it IS an amazing amount!  Look at the wonderful things that can be done when people work together towards a common goal or cause!  Keep it up on your own now!

This weekend went by quickly, but I was able to "hang" with a few 5th graders!  I ran in the 5K this weekend - a big Irish celebration in Cresco.  Look who else ran in it?  It was VERY VERY VERY COLD!  I was impressed to see people out and about!  If you ALSO ran in it, and I missed you, I'm sorry!  I just happened to see Landen and Tristan as they crossed the finish line!  Great job, guys!

I also got to see another 5B Family member (we are family) at church playing his saxophone for the service!  You go, Spencer!  Great job all of you who get out there and are so busy over your weekends!

Oh, BIG, BIG NOTICE!  Our book orders were NOT even processed when I put in the order last month!  THAT'S what's been taking so long!  I'll be sending home a note to families explaining what happened, but NOW they are confirmed to be processed and should be shipped this week!  Goodness me!  So sorry for how long they taken!

Finally, blog proof!  Well, what should we do for a Monday morning of a 4 day week?  Hmmm.. I'd like you help out a bit by erasing a section of the green wall and adding a simple Easter or Spring drawing to it.  That will help us remember that it is NOT far away, and we can make it 4 days!  

Can We Finish Off the Week STRONG?

It's been UP.  It's been DOWN.  It's been SIDEWAYS.  It's been RIGHT ON.  So, I feel like it will say A LOT about our 5B Family (We are family...), if we finish off this week the way we KNOW we can!  Strong...  Respectful.... Fun.....  Helpful...... and as Role Models for ourselves and others!  

Thanks for all of the focus and hard work on the Luther stories.  Your OWN writing pieces have also been very time consuming!  Also, those who have book clubs, I'm proud that we have not had ONE SINGLE student forget his/her reading assignment or not have it done!  That is TOO COOL!!  Even though some of our behaviors have been a little chatty and off-task, we are DEFINITELY getting things ACCOMPLISHED!

Remember, we have D.A.R.E. tomorrow!  If you aren't done with your work for D.A.R.E. for Lessons 3 and 4, please start that as SOON as you get your materials out, please!  Remember to put on your SHIRTS, too!

Blog Proof...  Hmmm...  Come in the morning, and grab my phone.  Take a selfie with my camera/phone.  It should be ALONE, not with others.  Please be respectful with my PHONE:)

Yep! Back to OUR AWESOME SAUCE SELVES!

The morning was TOP NOTCH!  All writing classes were such hard workers!  I think we will get these writing pieces PUBLISHED by Friday!!  Let's keep it UP!

In reading class with my bunch of students, it was time for a BREAK!  We've been working so hard EVERY DAY on Luther stories, illustrations, book club reading, and own writing pieces.  Sometimes, we just need to get away from it all and take a day off!  Well, we spent our day "at the beach!"  

The beach drawings on the green wall were excellent!  The mini sand castle building seemed to be a MESSY, tasty (eww) but favorite center!  The beach towel reading/writing worked pretty well!  The beach mysteries with case files definitely worked your thinking skills!  Finally the mad libs made were extremely goofy!  All in all, it was a great break from our busy, busy afternoons!  Thanks for having fun with it and cleaning up the room!  (Oops! There were definitely some items left out - like iPads and books)

Everyone went home with a set of "shades" and 3 lucky winners got summer cups with lids and straws!  I hope everyone enjoyed the special day.  I'm not sure I heard from anyone whether they liked it or not.  It seemed to bring out smiles and excitement, but I am not sure:) So, your blog proof is to share 2 things on a TodaysMeet - KEEP IT ALL on ONE POST, please!

1)  Yes, thanks, Mrs. Sorenson!    OR   Not really my cup of tea, but thanks!

2)  Then tell your favorite activity!  

TodaysMeet

Last topic!  After some checking on school cameras, we have found the culprit (guilty person) who is responsible for writing on our Anti-Bullying posters.  I'm so glad that 5B students reported it and could tell me WHEN it must have happened.  That gave us PERFECT way proof for the person breaking our Cadet Pride Expectations.  Thank you, thank you, and thank you for being such wonderful students modeling respect to our school at all times!  Upstanders stick together and don't give up after an oops like this! Stay strong and we'll get those posters replaced with even BETTER, STRONGER ones!  

Rollercoaster of a Week So Far...

Well... yesterday proved to be VERY productive, but today seems to be taken over by some off-task, chatty behaviors:(  Our Fun Pass is looking kind of lower today - ended with 2 in the container, 1 locked in.  Remember, it's OK to have rough days because that happens to all of us.  However, it's NOT OK if we don't fix our mistakes and make them better, right?  

Let's keep that our focus:  Fixing...and Improving...  And maybe even remembering a TEAM attitude.  We need to stay connected (fist bump, fist bump - Beat ya!) with each other to know we are ALL working together, learning together and in it together!  We are ALL FINALLY BACK!  That should be something to CELEBRATE, not something that causes us problems!  

So, let's get our heads on straight!

To keep it simple for the busy band people, please show blog proof by coming in Wednesday morning, ready for the day of switches and get "centered" with a meditation pose. 

Only when I say the magic words, "Lemon Juice" should you get up and head to your "home spot."   

Tired... but PRODUCTIVE!

I'd say YES... that most of us walked in our doors today feeling... like this!









That is expected after a super wonderful weekend of fresh air and nice weather (at least Saturday).

What was UNexpected was how very PRODUCTIVE everyone was in the many, many tasks we were trying to accomplish in both writing and reading classes!  Man, oh, man!  It was like a the model class for anyone to walk in and learn from how to be independent and get focused!  Wowsa!

We also need to celebrate our GUM CHEWING GOAL officially! Here is our agreement.  The other classes need to see it as well.  Mrs. Suckow will be gone this week, so we need to make a few adjustments just this week, and then we can follow it all of the way!

We can chat specifically about what needs to hold off for now, but YES, you can be bringing gum for our classroom this week!

Today really WAS an amazingly focused, hard-working day!  We had ALMOST our family back together!  I'm looking forward to tomorrow for the same or even BETTER!  What do you think?

I'll know you checked the blog tonight if you come in and tell me, "Mrs. Sorenson, I won't BLOW IT (meaning ruin it) with the knew gum privilege."  

Have a great rest of your evening!  Man, it's nice out!  I think I'm headed to Kessel Park for a walk and play time with Isaiah!   

Welcome Spring Weather!

Rain Rain Go Away... Wait, that's probably not right.  We do need a little something to help the grass green up, don't we?!   So, I'd better not complain, right?!

I hope 5B had a good weekend!  Friday and Saturday were simply GORGEOUS days outside, and today, well... that's not TOO bad if it rains once in awhile!  I enjoyed seeing my family in the LeRoy area, sat outside by a fire, and played ball with Isaiah, my nieces and nephews!  It was great day!  I'm heading to Zootopia today with Isaiah and his friend!  So, I can't complain about a fun, relaxing weekend, can I?

Last week was AMAZING effort by everyone on the Iowa Assessments!  I can't wait to get those scores back!  Since we've moved to new spots, my brain has not remembered where you all sit, so instead of me having Cadet Dollars at your homes, this will be your BLOG PROOF.  When you come in on Monday morning, please ask me politely if you earned any Cadet Dollars for Friday's science test!  I'll be happy to give those to you!

Also, this week should be KIND OF NORMAL!?!?!?   So, we will have normal switches all week long, but for the LUTHER people, we'll meet with them TWICE this week - Tuesday AND Thursday!  Then next week, we won't see them at all (they'll be on a spring break vacation)

One thing that is NOT NORMAL this week is that there may just be people bringing GUM to school and it will be completely OK!

CONGRATULATIONS!

HOWEVER.... we will need to come up with GRADE LEVEL RULES about what is EXPECTED and NOT EXPECTED for gum chewing in 5th grade!  So, Monday morning, after we get NEW JOBS, do attendance and pledge, we'll start making a list of Do's and Don'ts and OR ELSE's....  You know what I mean by that, right?

Great job, 5B!  You really were patient and accomplished the goal we set out to make!  

Proud Mama!  

ABSOLUTE ANGELS for Mrs. Russell on THURSDAY!!!

Hey, 5B,
I'm like a first time mama here, leaving my babies for the first time, hoping everything goes ok!  I'm most excited about 5B giving an AMAZING, CADET PRIDE IMPRESSION to Mrs. Russell.  I love seeing the notes from a substitute teacher after being gone.  I love reading the compliments of how respectful, mature, and hard working my 5B Family (we are family) has been while I was away.

The BIGGEST compliment you could get is a note from Mrs. Russell stating that she'd....

LOVE 

to 

COME 

BACK 

to this 

CLASS 

AGAIN!  

That's like the COMPLIMENT OF ALL COMPLIMENTS you can get!  So, let's see whatch' ya' got!

Thursday is the ONLY normal (whatever that means?!) day this whole week! So, get out your switching materials all right away so Mrs. Russell sees how 5B can work even WITHOUT being told what to do!  That will show responsible and mature you all are!

You'll have ST Math time, so you can bring your snacks if you like.  You have library, so if you need to return books, bring those.

You will STILL meet with Luther partners using Appear.in and Slides, so prove that this is something you can do indendently!  Mrs. Russell won't have any background on this, so help stay focused and use ALL of your time wisely!  Remember...  our deadline for books being done is...

Work, work, work!

Blog Proof for Thursday.... Get your materials ready when you come in.  Grab your iPads and send me an email about how ON TASK and READY you are for a SUPER DAY of CADET PRIDE!  I'm going to be looking forward to getting them during the day while I'm gone!  I'll miss you guys!  I may have some fun plans for Friday if we have a PERFECT report about the day!  

PARENT NOTES WERE AWESOME!!!

5B,
You need to give your families some hugs and thank you's for the sweet and inspiring messages I saw written to you today for your Iowa Assessments for math!  Support from home is so important!  For those of you who didn't have any, as your 5B Mama, I was honored to give you some extra support!  However, ask Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, etc. to fill out your cards for your surprise to read for Wednesday's Iowa Assessment for reading!

Remember...

Getting some good rest tonight, eating a healthy breakfast tomorrow and coming in with a super attitude like you did today will be MOST of what you need! 

Today was ABSOLUTE PROOF that we know what "Good Days" look like!  Everyone was back on track with respect, cleaning up the room, etc.!  So, so, impressed!  I looked in the golden bucket after school to lock in today's Fun Passes!  I think we are getting VERY close to our Gum Chewing Goal!   

Kelly, can you come in and check the Fun Passes right away in the morning during Attendance time?  I'd like to see if we have met our goal!  It would be awesome to celebrate!  I'll even bring our first piece of gum for everyone in honor of meeting the goal!  Then we won't have anyone having THIS thought anymore!!!

There will be no "breaking the rules" because it will be ALLOWED and APPROVED!

Blog Proof Tonight!  

When you come in the morning, ask me "Who should I inspire today?"  I'll give you a name of one of your classmates and an index card.  

Please write a positive message or nice words for their day!  We want to stick together as our

5B Family (we are family) and be HAPPY!  

Here's the link to our 5B singers and dancers on the "Happy" JibJab!

Click Here

Last Week Was...Filled with Some Rough Days....

BUT... 

this quote below made me realize that bad days happen!  And that's perfectly normal!

Now, that doesn't mean I want a bunch more like last week, but it really does make me (and hopefully all of us in our 5B Family -we are family) appreciate what a great thing we have going most of the time!  

So, what a great way to start the week off...  Ready to show how much we look forward to our super days of focus, learning, respect, caring, on-task, manners, dedicated thinking, organization and so much more!

That will be even EXTRA important with this week and the...

You all have been showing an AMAZING amount of growth with the FAST and MAPs tests!  This is just one more opportunity to show all that you know!  We'll take them seriously, but you already are my 5B Rock Stars!!

Remember, we want everyone to have some extra support from home, so be sure to bring the envelope with notes from your family!  These notes can be sweet little reminders or good luck comments or funny little messages to remind you that you have all kinds of love coming your way!  

Also, we want to have a confident, positive attitude toward this week of tests! So, no complaints, no grumpy looks, no rolling of eyes, no whining, no rushing through....

Just a fierce attitude of "It's ON..."

So... blog proof... is a definite TEAM type job this time...  Your job is to get EVERYONE in class to know this response... Chat before school at recess, in the hallway, at your lockers, at breakfast, anywhere!  Touch base with EVERYONE in 5B (ok, not Ayden E. because he's on his way to North Carolina!)

I'll say to the class at SOME POINT in the morning during the attendance and pledge time, "So is everyone ready for the Iowa Assessments?"

I want the WHOLE CLASS to respond "IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG" but with a TOUGH, STRONG, CONFIDENT voice and standing up with a FIERCE STANCE! Add your own little actions, but I'd love to see if we can come together for something special like this!  

Umm.... This Week Has Been....

Hmmm.... what are some descriptive words to explain what this week has been like?

Chatty?

Talkative?

Blurty?

Impulsive?

Hyper?

Rude?

Selfish?

Hurtful?

Messy?

Unkind?

What are some descriptive words to explain what 5B TRULY is ABOUT NORMALLY?

Caring...

Thoughtful...

Hard-workers...

Determined...

Helpful....

Funny....

Focused....

Respectful...

Trustworthy....

Capable....

Responsible....

FAMILY....

So....  It is clear that 5B has a WONDERFUL reputation for being a class to look up to.  However, it is NOT something that is easily done.  We need to work hard, put in effort and have positive attitude every single day to make that reputation stick.

This week.... has been a definite learning experience for us that letting ourselves FORGET, does not work.  Nothing that is worth being proud of is easy to achieve...  Be PROUD and earn that reputation.

Onto a much more happy topic... Our Cadet Spirit was really up there again today!  We had 9 students that got nominated for the most or best green today!  I'm so impressed how much you are looking at each other and supporting each other's spirit!

Here are your Thursday - Green Eggs and Ham Spirit Award Winners!

Daniel!

Ben!

Spencer!

Kairi!

Tara!

Kelsey!

Joey!

Kody!

Kaydence!

Congrats!

Blog Proof...

Be PERFECT when you walk in on FRIDAY!  Let's see what that looks like!  

Short But Sweet Can't Be Beat!

Sorry, Ladies and Gents.... I'm cutting it kind of close to our 6:30 deadline for when I'll have the blog posted!  Oops!

Today was a crazy day with a schedule all over the places.  You could tell that our brains and bodies were a bit "off" with the chattiness and tough transitions.  However, we REALLY pulled it together by the end of the day.  The Novel Engineering Presentations were fabulous!  Mrs. Knobloch's class was EXTREMELY responsible to come find us in the Discovery Center also!  I put in a Fun Pass for each of those situations!  So, let's start off Wednesday with the same effort and focus and as ENDED TODAY!

I had meetings after school so I didn't get a chance to check the Dr. Seuss backpack for your votes!  I'll have them for you in the morning!  I saw A LOT of yellow and some great mustache designs!  I even saw one of you with an actual Lorax shirt!  Awesome Sauce, Everyone!

Let's see if Wacky Wednesday is going to beat the last 2 dress up days!

Also, tomorrow is the ENTIRE REASON for us celebrating this week of goofy dress up days!  It's a special day we celebrate to honor a particular author who has inspired more people than we'll ever know!  

Click on this link to read about the first book of Dr. Seuss!  Your blog proof will be to find out how many times this author was REJECTED (or turned down) by companies when he wanted to publish his first book!  I know I would have probably given up way before this!  What a determined man!  

Click Here for the Link

Also, special EXTRA blog proof is to ask me "WHO are the special guests coming today to read to us?"  I'll whisper to YOU the answer!