December Reading Chain

For December we decided to see how many books we could we read. We decided to make a link on a Christmas chain for each book we finished. We predicted that we would reach 54 books read before our last day of school for Christmas break. We were very excited to discover that we read 80 books in December!!

This is a close up of our chain so you can try to see some of the book titles. We wrapped up one of the students with it. 

A Great Day!

We had our book party today. We enjoyed some good books by the fire with some hot chocolate. It was a great morning!

Cozy Up With a Good Book!

Tomorrow morning we are going to "Cozy Up With a Good Book"! You can wear pajamas, slippers or other comfy clothes and bring a pillow or blanket. We are going to have hot chocolate and read books by our "fire". We will be having book talks, recommending books, watching book trailers and reading, of course!!!

Our Christmas Story

We adapted "The Night Before Christmas" for Mrs. Blankvoort at the uptown library. We rewrote our own version of it where everything took place in the library. Yesterday we walked uptown and gave it to her. She was very excited about it.

Gift exchange

Students can start bringing in their gifts (books) for the gift exchange anytime now. If you need help finding a book, please let me know and I will arrange one for you. We just want to make sure everyone has something to trade!

Tuesday we are walking to the uptown library to check out some books to read over the Christmas holidays. 

Our Christmas book tree

The skeletal system

We are studying the body systems in science right now. Today we started learning about the skeletal system. 

We are building our own people. 

Christmas Book Exchange

For the Christmas book exchange, we will ask you to buy one book whether it is from home, the MCC store, or from a book store, just don't go over $15. We will be picking numbers and the first number will go up and pick a book. The second number can choose to take the book that the first person has. Afterwards, we can trade with people if we want to.

Riley

Mom's Pantry Pick Up

Mom's Pantry Products will be delivered Monday December 9. You can come pick up your orders anytime after 10:30.

Perfect Weather to Read A Book!

Brrr it's cold out there! It is the perfect weather to enjoy a book. Here are a couple of recommendations from a couple of kids in our class.

 http://instagram.com/p/hggIg_DJgc/

1. 
   

http://instagram.com/p/hggIg_DJgc/

If you have any recommendations  please let us know!

Week at a Glance

- Thursday day 1: yearbook orders due
-Friday day 2: band, spelling test and questions.



next week
- Monday day 3: nothing.
-Tuesday day 4: skating.

Fraction Games

Skating Dates

December 10 9:00 - 10:30
December 11 12:40 - 2:00
December 13 9:00 - 10:30
December 18 10:30- 12:00

These are the dates will be skating in December. We will not be able to be in the gym because the stage will be set up, so our gym times will be rescheduled into our skating times.

Week at a Glance

Mon. Nov. 25 Day 5
Subway orders due
Band

Tues. Nov. 26 Day 6
Town Library Visit @ 10:00
Pizza Day

Wed. Nov. 27 Day 1
Point of View rough copies

Thurs. Nov. 28 Day 2
Subway Lunch
Book orders due
Point of View Good Copy due (typed)
Band

Fri. Nov. 29 Day 3
Spelling test\questions due
Hot Dog day

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a tough skill and a lot of parents asked what they could do to help with this at home. I found this website that offers some very good suggestions. If you have any other ideas or find a website that helps, please let me know so I can share it with others!

http://www.askaparentorteacher.com/archives/77

Thank You!!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our student led conferences on Wed night and Fri morning. We had 110% turnout! We had everyone come plus a couple of kids came and presented on both days! Thank you parents for fitting time in your busy schedules. The students did an excellent job of presenting and talking about their learning and have set some excellent second term goals. If you ever have questions or concerns or would like to set up a time to meet one on one, please call or email me.
Thanks again for such a successful couple of days!

Subway Lunch

Our PAC is organizing a Subway lunch day for students and staff next week. Order forms went home today and are due back on MONDAY, NOV 25th. They will not be accepting any late orders so please send them back as soon as possible. Subway Day is planned for the Nov. 28th. The cost is $5.

Our Science Projects

This week we were presenting our Science projects. We all made a weather instrument, like thermometers, wind vanes, barometers, anemometers,  and rain gauges. I think every one had fun designing a weather instrument that could be of use, and that works exceptionally. By Danita  

Student Led Conferences

We have been busy preparing for our student led conferences. Everyone will be bringing home report cards tomorrow, along with a blue paper that will explain how our student led conferences will run. Your time is written on the bottom of this blue sheet. You and your child have approximately 20 minutes to go through the pieces of work they have chosen to show you, look at a couple of their projects, tour the classroom and do an activity or two. We have tried to schedule approximate times in order to spread out the number of people in the classroom at one time. There are 3 families scheduled per half hour. Your child will get started to presenting to you as soon as you arrive, and I will circulate around the room to answer questions and to help your child with their presentation. Please encourage your child to take their time and explain their ideas clearly.
We look forward to you visiting our classroom and sharing in our learning!

Student Led Conferences

Here are some links we want to show you at student led conferences.

http://www.factmonster.com/math/knowledgebox/

Our Learning Goals

Here is a list of a few of the things we are currently working on. This will give you some ideas of things you can talk about at home with your child and things to work on if they need a little extra practice.

Science - Weather
- designing and understanding weather instruments
- properties of air
- the water cycle
- weather forecasts
- cloud formations
- difference between weather and climate

Math
- Mental math strategies ( front end addition and finding compatibles have already been taught)
- break up and bridge mental math strategy is next
- Multiplication and related division facts
- factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers
- multiplication and division of multiple digits
- compare and order decimals and fractions
- ratio and percent (gr. 6)
- integers (gr.6)
- multiplication and division of decimals (gr. 6)
- using all the above knowledge to complete a word problem

Upcoming Dates

Monday November 11

- No School
- Read a Book!

Tuesday November 12

- No School for kids
- Read a Book or Write a story!!

Wednesday November 13  Day 4

- Present our weather instrument projects

Thursday November 14 Day 5

- Grade 6 Band

Friday November 15 Day 6

- Hot dog day
- United Way Wear a Hat if you bring a donation

Saturday November 16 - Band/Craft Sale
Wednesday November 20 - Vegetable pick up
                                          - Parent/ teacher evening 5:00-8:00
Friday November 22 - Parent/teacher 9:00-12:00
                                 

Book Talks

We are on Instagram! We are using it to post our book talks! You can follow us if you want. Our name is 56zanderclass but you will have to wait for us to approve you before you can follow us! Send an email if you are waiting awhile to be approved because if we don't know the person, we don't approve them. Thanks! 

"Out Of My Mind" is a book that has been very popular in our class. We think even some of our parents would enjoy it! http://instagram.com/p/gauHgNDJm0/ 

"The Mouse With the Question Mark Tail" is a new book that we just got in our classroom. Only one person has read it so far. We are anxious to see if it will be as popular! http://instagram.com/p/gas9SCjJla/

Week At A Glance

Monday November 4 Day 5

- band

- school library

- descriptive paragraphs on kidblog

Tuesday November 5 Day 6

- pizza day $2

- bring in supplies for science projects 

Wednesday November 6 Day 1

- donations for operation Christmas child 

Thursday November 7 Day 2

- reading response due

- band

Friday November 8 Day 3

- spelling test and questions due

- hot dog day

- 9:45 Remembrance Day service. Dress nice and bring donation for a poppy

Pumpkin Fun

We did some math with our pumpkins the other day. We estimated their weight and circumference. After we found their real weights and circumferences, we found the average weight and circumference for all of the pumpkins. 

Then some people painted their pumpkins while others carved them. 

Farm 2 School Fundraiser

The Farm 2 school order forms are going home tomorrow with all students from grades 3-8.  It is a great healthy school fundraiser and all money is kept to purchase future school programs and equipment.

Week At A Glance

Monday October 28 day 6

- picture retakes

- Manitoba school library day 

Tuesday October 29 day 1

- pizza day $2

Wednesday October 30 day 2

- band

- reading responses due

Thursday October 31 day 3

- Halloween parade 1:00
- Farm 2 School forms sent home

Friday November 1 day 4

- spelling test and questions due

- hot dog day
- bring in items for Operation Christmas Child

Thursday

Thursday October 24 there are a few things going on. 

- spelling test and questions are due

- multiplication double digits sheet due

- band

- grade 6 trip to volleyball games in Winnipeg. Leave right at 3:30 and probably won't return till about 11:00. Bring money for supper at McDonalds. 

- book orders are due

- we go to school library

Week at a Glance

Monday October 21 Day 2

- choir workshop leave school at 7:20 am

- band

- discovery time

- healthy Monday

Tuesday October 22 Day 3

- pizza day $2 a slice

Wednesday October 23 Day 4

Thursday October 24 Day 5

- book orders due

- Wesman volleyball game. Leave school at 3:30

- band

Friday October 25

- no school 

High school Soccer Game

We went to watch some of the high school soccer game. It was 3-0 for MacGregor after the first half.

Visit to the Uptown Library

Today was a perfect day for reading a book! We also went to the uptown library and checked out some books for the weekend!

We hope you enjoy a great book this weekend!

Soccer Game

The Manitoba high school provincials are being held in MacGregor this year. The boys team plays tomorrow at 1:30 and we will be walking over to watch a little bit of it. We are asking the kids to wear red and black and to dress warm so we can go over and show our Mustang pride!

David Bouchard

Today we met the author David Bouchard and presented him with the book we made called "If You're Not From MacGregor".

Hot Air Balloon of Science

Mr Marriott lit a small propane torch and put it in the balloon to fill the balloon up with hot air. We did this because air expands and rises. Air expands to fill a space too. These are some of the properties of air that we learned about. 

Thanks Mr Marriott and Kendall for bringing in the lantern!

Upcoming Dates

Monday October 14
- No School
- Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday October 15 Day 4
- Kindergarten helpers
- Pizza Day $2

Wednesday October 16 Day 5
- David Bouchard Visits at 1:00

Thursday October 17 Day 6


Friday October 18 Day 1
- spelling test and questions

Hot Dog Day Tomorrow!

Monday Oct. 7

Picture orders are due this Monday.

Cross Country Run will take place at Jackson's Lake Monday Oct. 7. Students will leave at 3:30. Make sure to bring water, running shoes, backpacks, sweaters etc.

100th book read today!

Today on October 3, 2013, our class has read... 100 books! 

Last year our class would only be at around 25 books because it is very early into the year. 

Some of the popular and favourited books in our class are... The "Gregor the Overlander" series by Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games" Series also by Suzanne Collins, and the "Hip" Books that we have in our class which are written by miscellaneous authors.

Our class goal is to read 20 books per person for this year. If there is 20 kids in our class... thats 400 books! Only 300 more! Keep Reading!!! :)

-By Emily Street

This is the scroll of the books that we have read up to this point.

This is the 100th book read in our class!!!!

Upcoming Events

Wed. Oct. 2 Day 2

- soccer divisionals in Langruth. Leave at 1:00

Thurs. Oct. 3 Day 3

- paper practice math sheets due
- reading response
- return picture orders
- return magazine and discovery time forms

Fri. Oct. 4 Day 4

- hot dog day
- spelling test #4 and questions due
- Kindergarten helpers

Mon. Oct. 7 Day 5

- Cross country run at Jackson's Lake
- Picture orders are due

Last day of book fair

Tomorrow is the last day of the book fair. It will officially close at noon so if you are wanting to purchase books, you will have to do so in the morning.

Book orders are also due tomorrow. 

LIVE Presentation

 

Ice-cream Pails Needed!

Looking for ice-cream pails for Healthy Monday! If you have some you would like to donate, send them to school with your child.

Remind 101

Sign up to receive quick reminders!

Terry Fox BBQ Orders Due Tomorrow!!

A lunch order form for the Terry Fox BBQ has gone home today. These are due back tomorrow. Lunch is $5 for a hamburger, drink and a cookie. Sorry for the short notice!

MES Spirit Week Sept.23 - Sept.27

Monday- Pajama Day and Teddy Bear Relay.

Tuesday- Neon Bright Color Day and 5 Item Prize.

Wednesday- Twin Day and Three Legged Race.
                   - Book Fair Begins

Thursday- Sports Day/ Favorite Sports Team Logo.
               - Terry Fox Run/ BBQ

Friday- Wear Pink
           - School Dance, Grade 6-8, 7-10pm. Wear pink $3. No pink $5
           - Dance Proceeds go to Cancer Care.

We Love Literacy!

This year we are creating book recommendations that will be posted in the library. Here are a couple that are currently being displayed. Look for a purple literacy survey in your child's agenda tonight. Please fill it out and return as soon as possible. Thanks!

Upcoming Events

Thursday September 12 is our back to school BBQ from 4:30-6:00.

Friday September 13 is our spelling test and questions are due. Our book orders are also due that day. 

Picture day is Tuesday September 17.

Milk orders are due on Thursday September 19.

No school on Friday September 20.

Terry Fox run is Thursday September 26.

First hot dog day is Friday September 27.

The author David Bouchard will be visiting our school on Wednesday October 16.

Welcome Back

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. I would like to welcome you back to grade 5&6 and I look forward to another great year! We try to keep our blog updated so you can check back regularly to see what's happening in our room. Once we go through one whole cycle and make sure there are no glitches, we will send home a timetable for you to have. 

Remind 101

I'm going to try a new app this year. It's called remind101. Once we get set up I can send a quick text to everyone in the group to remind them of tests, or upcoming events. It works for anyone with an iPod or cell phone and it doesn't cost a thing. Parents can join too if they want to receive the reminders. The message goes straight to their device!

Rapid Readers Book Chat

We had our first book chat on Monday July 22. Thanks to those of you who came and shared with us. It was interesting to hear what you've been reading and doing this summer. We decided to have another book chat on Tuesday August 13 from 10 am - 11 am at my house. Mrs  Smith will bring donuts again and I'll supply ice tea! Bring your books with you or bring your reading journal so we can see what you've been reading and maybe add some more to our "to read next" list! Pass the word along to anyone you see! Looking forward to seeing you on the 13th!

Sprucedale Recyling Centre Trip

Today, we got to help out our friends at the Sprucedale Recyling Centre in Austin. We learned part of the process that leads to recyling. Some of the items that appear in the bags were very disgusting like unwashed milk containers and pop cans. We hope that after today's trip we may be able to help the people out there a little more! Just a reminder to wash out all containers to help the smell and mold that sometimes ends up in them. Just a few minutes of puting soap and water into the container can do alot for the people at Sprucedale. By Rhett 

Dedication of our greenspace

Introducing the Kim Hofer Memorial Gardens!!! We had our grand opening today and had a great day for it! After the dedication everyone enjoyed a BBQ together including ice cream. 

Welcome Gr. 5's!

We would like to welcome the new Gr.5's to our room, and hope they will have a great year!

HIP books are here!

Our HIP books arrived today! We wrote out a proposal explaining a summer reading program we are going to run. For our hard work, HIP books awarded us with 20 free books to support our summer reading program! We were excited when they arrived today! More information about summer reading program will be coming soon.