Dear Parents,
     Happy Thursday and Merry Christmas!   What a fun week we have had.  We have completed some pretty important things this week and also had some fun.  I hope all of you have a great Christmas break.  I am looking forward to having all of my children under the same roof for a while.  Also, I will be attending ISU Graduation ceremonies tomorrow.  My daughter Josie will graduate tomorrow with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences.  She has her application in at two places right now. One being Habitat for Humanity where she did her internship and loved it there.  The other is a Learning Consultant with Alpha Gamma Delta.  She has made it to the 3rd step in the process (whew). She will be flown to Indianapolis, Indiana for a face to face interview.  She all ready passed the Skype interview process.  This is super exciting.  This job would require her to travel.  She will be super happy with either position so of course we have been praying about it.  So again I will enjoy having all three in my house at once for a while.  Kids really do grow up very quickly.  Enjoy these days!!

Language Arts -  This week the students got into partners, we rolled dice to pick a character, conflict, and setting.  They then had to wright a story using these elements.  They had some fun doing this.  I hope to get to share those stories at some point today.  If not we will definitely share the first of the year when we return.  We had Cuddle-Up and Read day also.  It was successful. I hope they all remembered to add 60 min to their Book It Calendars for that day.  It is always refreshing to see the kids just read a good book.  I read with them.  My book got so good I read right through my prep period.  This is my favorite event of the year and most of the students love this day also. 

Math -  We finished up chapter 2.  We did a dress rehearsal on the test. I gave them back with scores.  We then went over each problem on the test and how to work it.  I talked to them about the need to show their work.  They took the test on Tuesday, corrected on Wednesday and they will see their scores today.  I will pass out they dress rehearsal and final test so they can compare their scores and we can talk about what they could do differently.  In all honestly the dress rehearsal was very beneficial to all of them.  I plan to do this again!!  We will begin chapter 3 when we get back from break. This will be over double-digit multiplication.

Social Studies -  This week they put Maryland into their notebooks and took their first Map test over the Northeast Region.  This test was not very good.  There were several students that chose not to study.  This is very important that they learn the regions one at a time.  At the end of the year we will take a test over the entire 50 states and capitals.  I try to get them to learn a region at a time to make this process easier for them.  This is a required standard that they will be graded over.  We will take another Map test when we return. I will give the kids a week to study for it.  There were some students that did very well.  You will find the test in their folders today.  The students also watched the Geography Bee finals in the gym on Wednesday.  This is always a fun event. Denton Lane was our winner this year. He will take a test and see if he makes it to the state competition. We have had student in the past make it to the next level which is very exciting.

Christmas Gifts - I am have been overwhelmed with the generosity of the students.  They have gotten me such sweet and thoughtful gifts.  I love all of them.  I give the students a written thank you but not sure the parents always see those.  So, thank you so very much for your thoughtful gifts.  The smiles on your children's faces when I open the gifts is my favorite part.  I received 3 different Harry Potter items this year.  I also can't wait to go book shopping at Barnes and Noble.  Shopping for a good book is great fun.

Christmas Break -  This break starts tomorrow December 20th and ends January 2nd.  The students will resume classes on Thursday, January 2, 2020.  I look forward to seeing them after the long break.  I will miss each and every one of them. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels

Dear Parents,
     Happy Thursday!! We have been working very hard this week.  Monday was not a very good day.  Kids were very talkative that day.  Tuesday morning before class started we talked about how we have to still work hard all day.  I talked about even though we are excited about Christmas coming we still have to do our jobs.  Since that conversation the kids have been great!!  We have had great lessons and have held some very interesting discussions.  This all makes me super proud of the kids.  I pointed out to the kids that when they are listening we have great lessons and great conversations.  They smile pretty wide when I tell them what a great day we are having.  Next week will be harder to reign them in.  We have so many little extra things that we are doing!  There are a lot of things going on next week.  Continue reading to find out about all the happenings here at St. Malachy next week!

Language Arts -  You will find the results to the Unit 2 test in the folders today.  I would like to share that the scores are not fabulous.  This class as a whole does not want to give me much effort in taking these tests.  They read the story very quickly and then they do not want to go back in the story and reread to locate answers.  I require them to highlight answers in the packet I give them but some just highlight the first thing they come to.  We have talked about reading the story slower to soak up the information and rereading from the beginning until we find what we are looking for.  The students have an unlimited amount of time to do the test.  A lot of them are done so quickly there is no way they could have read to understand.  They have not seen their actual scores so you can share with them what how they did.  
This week we are reading a non fiction story called Hurricanes: Earth's Mightiest Storms.  It is interesting to some and not to others. It gets pretty technical about how a hurricane forms.  What it needs to strengthen it and when it weakens.  It has lots of diagrams for the kids to look at.  It is definitely full of information.  They enjoyed the short story which focused on Hurricane Katrina. It talked about the destruction that happened and how many people were displaced from their homes. They were very interested and when I talked about the schools and I wondered how they were affected then they were very intrigued.  This week in grammar we worked on my favorite homonyms: to, too, two, there, their, they're, its, and it's.  These are the words you see on Facebook misused by many people.  I love teaching these to help the students understand each and what to look for when deciding which one to use.  They have done very well on their homework with these.  The vocabulary strategy this week was on suffixes: -ful, -less, -ness, and -ment.  We talked about how these suffixes change the meaning of the words.  Tomorrow will be our end of the week test and spelling post test. Please be sure your child is looking over their yellow packet and studying their spelling words.   
Next week I will not be doing a story with the students.  It boils down to really only have 3 teaching days for language arts and I do not want to cover a story in just 3 days and have them take a test.  On Monday we are going to do a writing activity in partners.  So we are going to have a fun reading day on Tuesday.  I call it Cuddle-Up and read. See below...

Cuddle-Up and Read - This is a day that I normally have the Tuesday before Thanksgiving but it didn't really work out this year, so I am having it Tuesday, December 17th.  This is where the students may bring to school a blanket, pillow, and stuffed animal.  They may bring one items or all three items.  There is no rules to what you bring.  We will spread out around the room, get comfortable and just read. I plan on the students reading for a solid hour.  This is one of the kids favorite days in my room.  I will model and read for this hour also.  Soooo it is one of my favorite days too.  I will tell the kids about it tomorrow so they have no idea yet.

Math -  We are finishing up Chapter 2. I did something different with the kids this chapter.  I had them do a "Dress Rehearsal" on their test.  I learned this at the PLC Conference Ms. Surma and I attended this fall.  We both are adding this to our classroom.  We all know that a dress rehearsal is a "practice" in costume, make-up, ect.  I had them take the test instead of doing a review.  They could ask questions while taking it.  This is a practice run. I have a few that need to finish up today.  Tomorrow I intend on going over all the problems on the test with the class.  On Monday they will take the test as a test. If we don't make it through all the problems tomorrow we will finish on Monday and take the test on Tuesday.  After they are finished with the test next week, I plan on them doing some fun Christmas Math.

Social Studies - This week I introduced the kids to a map of the Northeast. I gave them 4 copies.  They were to make an answer key with one and then they had 3 practice maps.  This is to help them learn and study the states and capitals of the Northeast Region.  By the end of the year they need to be able to label a map of all 50 states/capitals.  I help them get there by learning a region at a time.  They will have their first map test on Tuesday.  This will be over the same map I just gave them to study.  Please be sure they are studying. You can copy that map at home on a copier as many times as you want. I told the kids is they wanted more practice maps to just ask me and I would get more for them  I really want them to be successful.  We have been singing our song daily so they are memorizing it and can use that to learn those capitals.  On Wednesday, the kids will be watching the Geography Bee finals in the gym after Mass.  We had 3 kids make it to the tie breaker round and almost get to be in the finals. That is super exciting!  Next year maybe they will make it in!

Food Pantry - Again, we have been collecting health and beauty items for the pantry.  Tomorrow is our last day of collection.  The 4th grade will be going to the pantry to unload and will take all the items to the pantry tomorrow afternoon.  If you want to help donate please send with your child tomorrow.

Reconciliation -  The students will be given the sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday.  Father plans to be with 3-5 students from 9:45 - 11:45.  We will most likely be towards the end of that.  The 3rd grade is going to start then 5th grade will go so we can still have PE.  We may need to finish after lunch.

December 19th - This is our last day before break. I am tentatively planning these things at these times.  They will have Science as normal from 8:20-8:50.  We will come back and do prayer. I hope to show them a Christmas movie or just an old Disney movie off Disney plus this morning.  They will still have PE from 10:10-10:40.  We will then come back and finish up the movie.  At 11:15 they will go to Religion like normal.  At 11:40 the kids will pair up with their Advent Angels and have lunch in the gym together.  We will have our sing-a-long from 12:5-12:45. Anyone is welcome to come join our sing-a-long.  We will then come back to the room and again finish any of the movie that is left.  We may do some Christmas Math for a bit and at 1:30 we will start our Christmas Party! Anyone is welcome to join us for our Christmas Party.  We will have a snack and drink and them play board games.  I love to enjoy everyone's company just playing games for fun.  The kids can bring in their favorite games from home if they would like.  We do not always play all of them.  This is what we did at my house when I was young and so I like to celebrate Christmas this way with the students.  Then I will send them home to you all for Christmas Break!

Please join us in Dress up days next week!  

Monday -  Wear Red

Tuesday-  Wear Green

Wed. Mass day dress up

Thursday - Ugly Sweater Day

I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend.  I have a family Christmas all ready.  We have company coming to stay with us tomorrow night.  Same family I was with over Thanksgiving! We are looking forward to our time together.  Hope everyone's shopping is done!

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels

Dear Parents,
     Happy Thursday!  We are back in the swing of things after a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  Mine was spent with family in Chicago!  We had a great time and did some fun shopping.  We played a lot of games, mainly Bananagrams.  We have been working hard when we can this week.  The kids had mass this week, their first Advent Angel activity, and the Christmas Program.  I think the rest of the week will be pretty calm now!  I am not at school today.  I am in Des Moines at the State Drill Team Competition. My daughter Molly is on the Peppers Team and they will compete twice.  Both are around the noon hour so I had to take a whole day off!  I left them in good hands.  The day will go along as if I were there.  By the way, our kids did a great job at Mass today.  I had to leave the room to take the "Body of Christ" to the tabernacle and the Sanctuary singers took charge and went up and began singing when they were suppose to without being told!  It was great!!!  To me that was huge and showed great maturity.  I was super proud and was sure to let them know.

Language Arts - This week we did not read a story.  This was a Unit test week.  We have been working on it for 2 days and will finish today.  They have the editing and revising section yet to complete.  I will get those scores out to you next week.  I also have not gotten the last story score to you  because I have 2 that were gone and we have yet to have the time to make it up. Once they have taken it, I can pull the scores and get the sheets filled out and to you. Please expect those next week also.  If you are curious and can't wait, shoot me an email and I can give you a total score for now.  I will be assigning the students their next book report on Friday.  Please pay attention to whether the last book was a good choice for you child.  Help them to know what they might choose better next time.  Let me know if the book was too long or too hard for them.  I have heard from a couple parents all ready, so I know to guide them differently this time.  This book needs to have a strong character in it.  They will be doing a Character Sketch so need to good character to work with.  This is one of my favorite book reports and I am the only one that does something like this one.  This will cause them to be very artistic.  I look forward to these each year.  These reports will be due February 3, 2020.  Please get the instructions out of their folder and put in a safe place, or leave them in the folders if that is a safe place.  I would like them to have a book picked and turned in to me by Christmas break. (which is only like 10 more school days away)!  Isn't that crazy.

Math - This week we have finished up learning about the standard algorithm in multiplication.  It is called the Regrouping Strategy.  The kids can multiply 4 digit number times a single digit and do it well.  They will work on flash cards and a basic fact test today.  Tomorrow I will begin talking to them about equations.  Yes, a little dip into algebra for them.  They think they are "big" stuff when I say "Algebra" to them.  We will spend a couple days on that and then be ready to review.  After we take a test, we will do some fun Christmas math and then begin chapter 3, which is double digit multiplication.  Things are going to get a bit harder!!  I love teaching multiplication to the students.  The strategies are so cool and has helped me to better understand the concept of multiplication.  They have several strategies in under their belt to choose from to work problems and not just one like we had.

Social Studies -  We have begun the 2nd chapter on the Northeast.  We have been singing our States and Capitals song.  We will get some map work soon, so they can take their first map test of the Northeast!  They worked on putting 2 states into their notebooks today.  We will be working very hard to get those finished up and move on out of the Northeast into the Southeast.  It is super hard to get everything we want to do done in our short class periods.  I could use an hour a day with social studies.  

Spirit Day - Friday is a Spirit Day!!  Kids can wear sweats for $1.00.  

Christmas Program - The kids looked AWESOME!  They sang fabulously!  It was a great night!  Super proud of our school and it's kiddos. Now we can relax until Christmas break! Which is approaching fast I might add! (again)

Prayer - I just wanted to share what we have been doing in 4th grade during prayer.  For the month of November the students told one thing each day that they were thankful for.  Boy, you would be proud of your kids and the things they are thankful for!  I didn't have anyone be thankful for anything materialistic!  The month of December I have asked them to think of someone they can pray for everyday.  So in are petitions each one tells me someone they want to pray for.  They can repeat their choice on a daily basis or pick someone new everyday.  This is going very well.  It is amazing who they think of besides family.  I am super happy I have done this.    I found out what amazing caring kids they are. If you question that in your child, don't!  They got it right!!

If I have forgotten something, I apologize!  It is 9:30 and I am tired.  I will send you a message if I have left anything out.  If you think of something email and remind me. I can be forgetful. Especially this time of year.  Have a great weekend.  I will see the kids on Friday.

God Bless,
Mrs. Sickels