Birthday Treats

Please remember not to send birthday treats to school with your child.  If they really want to bring a healthy snack to share with the class, they can bring it to the monthly ticket party.  In the handbook it says, "When student birthdays and class parties are celebrated in classrooms, celebrations will be limited to one birthday celebration a month.  Foods used to celebrate will be healthier choices such as popcorn or fresh fruit."  Thank you for being understanding of the district guidelines. 

Report Cards

Report cards for Trimester 1 will be coming home with the kids on Friday.  Take a few minutes to read through and discuss the report card with your student.  Congratulate them on what went well.  Are there any areas that they need to work on for the second trimester?  Are there any goals that they would like to or need to set? 

Second Trimester

Monday was the first day of our second trimester.  Yesterday we talked about how this is an opportunity for a fresh start.  At the beginning of the trimester one assignment can have a huge impact on grades.  For example, a missing reading record might drop a student's reading grade a full letter or more.  On the flip side, one or two great assignments can raise the grade just as quickly.  Please check your student's planner to see if they have a note for a missing reading record yesterday or today.  Are there notes for any other missing work so far this week?  Encourage them to turn the missing work in as soon as possible.  Let's get the new trimester off to a wonderful start!   

China Presentation

This week our reading story is called Ancient China.   Thursday afternoon we will have a presentation about China from a special guest.  : )  I can hardly wait!

Colder Weather

Brrrrr...our Minnesota winter has finally arrived these last few weeks!  Please help your sixth grader remember to wear warm clothes to school everyday.  It gets very windy and cold out on the playground.  Also, students need to wear boots if they are going to leave the sidewalk or blacktop when they go outside after lunch for recess.     

The Answer Sandwich

We use a strategy called The Answer Sandwich to help students do a thorough job of answering questions in class.  We have been practicing using The Answer Sandwich when the kids answer questions related to their weekly reading story.  However, The Answer Sandwich can be used across all subject areas.  Please take a look and ask your child how it works.

The Answer Sandwich

1.       Restate the question and write the simple answer.

2.      Provide at least 2 pieces of evidence to support your simple answer.

·       To begin with                  

·       Then

·       Next

·       For example

·       For instance

·       Furthermore

·       However

·       Finally

·       As a result of

·       Therefore

·       Consequently

·       Additionally

·       Another example is

·       Also

3.     Refer to the question again for a concluding statement.  Bring it all together at the end using your simple answer from number 1. 

·       That is how

·       That is why

·       As a result

·       For this reason

·       Therefore

·       In conclusion

Critters and Co.

On Tuesday afternoon we had a wonderful presentation in the gym.  Critters and Co. brought in six different animals and used each of them to help teach important lessons about teasing.  Hedgehogs were used to help illustrate that a person's perspective determines when something is teasing.  An African Gray Parrot helped prove that teasing is no fun.  An iguana, a chicken, a porcupine, and a red-tailed hawk were also part of the afternoon line up.  A yellow sheet went home with our class on Tuesday afternoon that gives more detailed information.  Please ask your child about it.  I posted pictures of the animals on our blog as well.  Thank you Mrs. Bennett for sharing your photos.