2 Days in a Row of Snow Days!

Wowza!  I kinda thought this would happen, but you just never know!  Yesterday's "connections" with the class totaled up to this:

15 people on TodaysMeet
12 people voted/got on Dotstorming
6 people read a Choose Your Own Adventure with TodaysMeet
7 people added to Padlet
and
4 people tried or got on the Appear.in video link-didn't work very well :(

You can count that up and see how many FUN PASSES were earned on Tuesday's Snow Day!

Now... Can we get MORE today?  I'd love EVEN MORE of our 5B classmates to participate!  If there is anyway to get ahold of your friends/classmates to jump on any of the online connections, PLEASE TRY!

Here are Wednesday's Options!

Option #1:
Need to get on TodaysMeet at 2 Different Times during the day!  Each time it needs to be about SOMETHING you READ!  So, it could be an ad in the Cresco Shopper, read to self book, a recipe, that Choose Your Own Adventure link from yesterday's post, etc. ANYTHING you read!  Then chat about it briefly!

Option #2:
Another Dotstorming Vote Page.  This time YOU need to offer a suggestion on your FAVORITE BOOK of ALL TIME.  It CAN NOT be the same as somebody else's!  (even if you love that book)
(Not seem to be working as I set it up, but you can check back throughout the day to see if I've gotten it fixed)

Option #3:
Padlet for pictures!  Don't forget your NAME!  Somebody wrote about forgetting eggs, but I don't know WHO you were!

Option #4:
Padlet for short stories!  On THIS Padlet, I'd love to see a short story using THESE story elements:

Protagonist (boy or girl)
Antagonist (weather or person)
Setting - Snow Day, Blizzard, near Cresco, Iowa

Write it in a Padlet!  I can't wait to see how creative you get!

REALLY hope to see you THURSDAY!!!!  Miss you!

Happy Tuesday Snow Day!

Hey, 5B!

Well, here's our way to connect and show we are learning EVEN when we are NOT in school!

As many of the options you do, you can earn 1 Fun Pass for the class! (My favorite is #5!)

Connected Learning #1
Join this TodaysMeet.  Keep checking it throughout the day and see if people keep chatting!  Just share what you're up to!

Connected Learning #2
Go to this DotStorming Link to VOTE on the best ways to spend a snow day!  You can add your own ideas or "like" one that is already there!  Be sure to "Join" so I can give you credit for your Fun Pass!

Connected Learning #3
Check out these cool online "Choose Your Own Adventure" stories!  Choose 1 or more and then respond on the TodaysMeet link DOWN BELOW THIS...

Click Here for "Embarrassing Monday"
Click Here for Many Different Options

There's a special TodaysMeet link (JUST FOR THIS activity) to share what you thought of the adventure or if it ended in a way that you liked.  Explain why!

Connected Learning #4
Picture or Video of how you are spending your day!  You can either email me with a photo or video.  If you're not sure how to get your email going with this, then try posting a picture to THIS PADLET - Click Here!

FINALLY... Connected Learning #5  - Most excited about this one!
Try out this link to connect Face to Face like Skype with anyone else who is free to get on!  The link will open you up to a video chat with anyone who is on!  I'd LOVE to see how many of us could get on a video chat together!  Maybe even text your buds to get them to check the blog and go to this link!

I'll keep it on to see who all will join in.  Click HERE for the link!  (I hope it works!)

I hope to hear/see from any/all of you!  LOTS of FUN PASSES could be EARNED!

I'm thinking that WEDNESDAY will also be a snow day!  If so, I'll post another blog like this one!

Are You Ready for THIS WEEK??????

YIKES!!  Do you know all of what we have PLANNED for this week????  Check out this CRAZY schedule!

Monday:  Global School Play Day -

 Bring all sorts of games and activities that do NOT require batteries!  Board games, building materials, fort-making supplies, cars, crafts, etc. This should be SUCH a great day of social interaction!

Tuesday:  MAPs Testing (Reading part)

Wednesday:  MAPs Testing (Math part) 

These pictures were from the Fall's MAPs testing!  

You can bring a dry snack to have before or during testing to keep yourself awake and working 100% through it!  Your FAST testing was EXCELLENT!  Let's see the same amount of effort and progress! 

Thursday: 

Um... Normal??  Um???  What is THAT?!

Friday:  First D.A.R.E. class

You'll be in writing class this week when Deputy Hollenbeck leads the class.  This is a class you're in for about 10 weeks, and when you pass, there is a graduation ceremony!

Oh, and don't forget about THIS...

Click HERE to learn about WINTER STORM KAYLA's plans! HOLY GUACAMOLE!  

So.. as you can SEE, everything is UP IN the AIR as far as what may ACTUALLY happen this week!  Be ready for ANYTHING!

I'll know you checked the blog and are ready for the WACKY schedule, if you check out the picture below.  Which one of our 5B classmates did Isaiah hang out with on Sunday sledding, snowboarding and getting drenched in the snow?  Show me you know that answer by giving that student a gentle pat on the back on Monday morning!  I'll be watching to see who gives this 5B family member the greeting:)

First Full Day... It showed! Tired in the afternoon!

We ACTUALLY had a normal day today of switching, specials classes, band, and reading!  Whoa!  So WEIRD!

Fantastic 5 got the special opportunity of meeting their digital pen pals!  Their buddies are from ALL the way ACROSS TOWN!  Yep!  Mrs. Rogne and the 5th graders at Notre Dame met with us using Appear.in (like Skype) today!  Everyone seemed a little shy on the first meet and greet!

But by the end, Fantastic 5 was a bit more comfortable!

In reading class, some 5B darlings seemed to struggle with attention, focus and energy!  Please get some sleep tonight, everyone.  Today was our FIRST full day of school, and you could tell it was like a Monday for us!  

Hostage!  We are SOOOOOOO CLOSE!!  I think we have 3-4 pages left!  Could there be ANY possible way that something scary/nasty happens?  Or are we in the clear from Cal, Buddy and Bo?  Let's find out tomorrow morning!  

Book Club Groups - Remember your assigned pages and think page!  Avalanche finished today!  It was a great discussion about how the book could have/should have ended and how the protagonist overcame the antagonist!

Hmm.. Blog proof... We haven't had a weird one in a while!  So, as you come in Thursday morning, act like you are having a very serious conversation with your hand.  Your hand can move it's "mouth" to act like it's talking and you can be having a SILENT conversation.  Keep the conversation going until I tell you and your hand to "break it up!"   

Short but Productive Day!

I am SOOOOO PROUD of all of the 5B kiddos dealing with all of the testing, goofy schedules and change in routines since we've been back from Christmas break.  Your test scores are showing how much you've GROWN and learned!  So happy and proud of each and everyone of you!

We have more goofy schedules for next week.  MAPs testing will be next week!  Keep up the amazing effort and focus!

Then on Friday of NEXT week (not in 3 days), 5th graders are lucky to be participating in the D.A.R.E. program again.  This has not been offered in our district for many, many years!  Deputy Hollenbeck will be coming to 5th grade every Friday for about 10 weeks to discuss the importance of smart choices when offered something not healthy or inappropriate for you.

Today was Twitter Tuesday in the district, so of the many suggestions that 5B gave on the TodaysMeet list, Kalob and Kaydence chose to share about Tech Class and the Tagxedo Word Cloud you made.  See the Tweet I shared below.

Thanks for all of your suggestions, 5B!  I love that you are the ones
determining WHAT we should share about our days!

Don't forget BOOK CLUB READING!  Some of you looked a little bit nervous when I reminded you about the pages agreed to read for this week.  We give each other a full week to do our reading!  Don't let us down!  

Today's lesson on protagonist vs antagonist went super based on what you handed in from the video.  Let's try out the new Dotstorming Site we tried out today with voting.  To prove you checked the blog, visit this Dotstorming Voting Link to place a vote on the topic I have included.  All you should do is LIKE one of the options I give.  Don't ADD an IDEA this time.  

Dotstorming Voting Link (Click on it)

Have great nights!  We JUST might have a NORMAL day tomorrow!  Um??  

Another 3 Day Weekend For You...

How did you spend it?  We'll have to find out from Ashton what the Battle of the Barn was really like since we were all so curious about it last Friday.  I know some of you had fun at the ice rink!  I saw Brian, Landen, and Elyse there one day.  I'm guessing there were some wrestling tournaments somewhere this weekend.  Also, the group of basketball girls were headed to Waterloo!  I hope that went well!  And I'm sure many of you had all sorts of other events and activities that kept you busy!

And I'm NOT trying to get your hopes up, but I'm curious if I'll see you on time tomorrow morning with this new, fresh, and slippery snow!  HOPEFULLY, we'll get a chance to have a NORMAL day, but if not, I guess I'll wish you get some extra sleep IF there's a 2-hour late start.

What's up for this week?
More FAST Testing - the Fluency part will happen TUESDAY.  So that means you can bring a SNACK and a DRINK if you want to for the afternoon activity!  You know what that is, right?!

Book Club Reading - Be sure you are keeping up with your assigned pages.  Everest Book Club, we will meet on Tuesday during ST Math time so we can touch base about your book.

Miss Cooper's Last Week - January has flown by, and Miss Cooper's last day is on Wednesday (as well as any other teachers in music and band).  We're lucky to share our learning with them!  Be sure to thank them for their time here at Crestwood and wish them well!

Fantastic 5 - You guys get a special activity on WEDNESDAY of this week!  Get ready to meet some virtual pen pals!

Blog Proof!  I'm curious how you spent your weekends! So, go to this TodaysMeet Link, and share the BEST or WORST or MOST EVENTFUL part of your weekends!  If nothing exciting happened, then just share one thing you did!  Your 5B Family (we are family) likes to know and cares about you!

Well.... I've Got the Final Answer about Sledding... Um...

Um.... Here's the answer Mrs. Grimm gave me.  I need some help translating the answer to, "Can we go sledding for our celebration?"

Here's her answer...

This is a French word that means either Yes or No.  

I'll explain WHY this was the decision on Friday in class.  

Use the Google Translator below to type in this word to get the answer. 

Google Translator - If it doesn't do anything, be sure to click FRENCH above it.  

Your blog proof will be how to PRONOUNCE this word.  In the bottom left corner, there is a speaker icon.  It will speak it out loud to you.  WHISPER how you say it to me as you come in. 

Elice was lucky enough to walk into the room after school to see a familiar face from Luther!  

Yep!  Mrs. Bohach stopped by our classroom so we could plan more for the next group of students she has starting in 1 1/2 weeks!  We will continue again with our connection to Luther during our reading class in the afternoon (Sorry to Mrs. Knobloch's students...)  Mrs. Bohach wants to come visit YOU GUYS in reading class next week!  She's excited to just be in our classroom, even during writing class!  We have a SUPER plan for the rest of the school year for kiddos in my reading class!  

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!  

Writing Boot Camp... Started Today!

Ok, so it wasn't as scary and as bad as I may have made it sound.  HOWEVER, those of you who were in it will need to show some major effort and participation skills to prove you are making progress on CORRECTLY WRITTEN SENTENCES:)

Here's blog proof for tonight...  REWRITE this incorrect sentence the CORRECT way.  This is worth DOUBLE proof 1) for doing the work 2) getting it correct!  I will tell you there are 6 mistakes to fix and correct when you rewrite it!

in december of 1955 rosa parks got on a buss to go home

Other reminders...
1) Can bring a snack AND drink for a reading activity on FRIDAY.  Yes, I said both a snack AND a drink :)

2)  No School next Monday, January 25

3)  HOMEWORK:  Book Club Reading - ALL groups except Avalanche should be ready to meet THURSDAY!

4)  Report Card Envelopes RETURNED please!  If we get them all back by FRIDAY, that's grounds for a Fun Pass... or more even!   Also, those of you who returned the envelopes on WEDNESDAY (today), stop by my table in the morning for a Cadet Dollar!  That shows great responsibility!

And this video link is just for fun!  I think we have seen it before (I can't remember if I've shared it or not).  It's just a funny video to make you laugh!

Click Here...  It's contagious!  I was laughing out loud myself!!

"I Have A Dream..."

These paper doll cut-outs are great examples of how we can live our lives in a way that shows we care about anyone, no matter the color of their skin, hair, eyes, height, weight, interests or anything else!  Those of you who chose this activity today gave us super samples to look at!  Thanks!  I'll have the activities for the rest of the week in reading class, so you are welcome to visit the sites, watch the videos or take on the History Mystery Games Wed. or Thurs. this week.

Today's FAST testing was AMAZING!  Ok, it was ridiculously LONG, but the effort and scores that came from today's testing was the AMAZING part!  So many of you showed growth of more than a FULL YEAR!  Wowsa!!!  I'm REALLY proud of all of you!

Report Cards also should have gotten to parents today, so be doing your "Mind Blowing" or "Just EXACTLY what a 5th Grader Should Be Doing" or "Well, I sometimes show this, but sometimes I don't" and/or "I'm really having a tough time with this.  I need more help or I need to try harder" comments to your families!  Be sure to have the report card envelopes signed and returned with NO REPORT CARDS in them!  

Indoor recess also seemed to go well with controlled voices and great socializing!  I'm kinda like the "No iPads" for indoor recess once in awhile!  Hanging with friends is a super way to spend recess!

We have ART tomorrow, so be sure to bring your object that can be pressed into clay.  That has been reminded to us since LAST Wednesday.  Also, we have GUIDANCE class with Mrs. Halverson.  It will be her last class with you before Mrs. McCabe returns!  

Finally, blog proof!  Today was really a pretty spectacular day for control, respect and Cadet Pride! Bravo, Baby Cakes!  Tomorrow will be the same or better, HOPEFULLY!  Here's your proof!  Read the words below, and whisper them into my ear as you come in Wednesday morning.  Be sure you say the exact NUMBER of them as shown below. Notice how many times you need to say it!  

Oh, also... do some hand exercises tonight to prepare for 

WRITING BOOT CAMP! (some of you.....)     :)  and  :(

Well... I Missed You...

Check the blog from Sunday and that will be your blog proof!

It just might be another late start tomorrow, so have your eyes and ears open to the school website, news or radio for late-starts!  I hope to see you soon!  Again, check yesterday's blog and do the blog proof for that one.  If you did it already, be sure to review it so you know what the "proof" is for tomorrow!

Stay warm!