Dear Parents,

     Happy Thursday!!  I am not sure what happened I went to bed last night and everything was just fine.  I wake up to a Blizzard Warning!  What the heck!!  Crazy!   I guess we wait and see but I warning is usually a sure sign.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas Break!  I know I did.  I was not really ready to come back but now that I am here with kids, I am glad to be back!  Honestly, my favorite months are January and February because we get a lot done in these months.  We really don't have any interruptions so we can just work hard.  Catholic Schools Week is a great break in between the months though.  I know not many like this time of year because of the Winter but it is one of my favorite times of  the year.  I will keep them moving academically and hopefully a positive attitude!

Language Arts -  We are back to a normal week of Language Arts this week.  We are reading a story called Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the World.  The author of this story actually researched her topic.  She went and stayed in Antarctica for four months to experience it before she wrote about it.  The students found it very interesting.  They learned a little about Whales eating Krill and that it has no taste and penguins and how they build their nests.  In grammar we are talking about Modal Auxilaries which are words like can, may, might, could, would, should, and must.  We were trying to pay attention on their purpose and how to use them correctly.  These words can be tricky and they are struggling with them.  I will try to make the grammar part of the test a little easier for them.  The vocabulary strategy was on Greek and Latin word parts.  We talked about "spect", "struct", "tele" and "vis".  We talked about their meanings and how they fit into the words they are a part of.    Tomorrow will be a normal Friday with a spelling Post test and end of week test.  If for some reason the blizzard changes that it will all happen on Monday.

Math -  We have learned 2 strategies so far for double-digit multiplication.  We have learned using Area box  and partial product.  These are my favorite strategies to use.  I am a visual person so the Area box strategy is very helpful to me.  I also like partial product because it gives the students a better understanding of exactly what they are doing.  When I teach them the standard algorithm it tends to confuse them.  The other strategies are much easier for them.  I have taught the Partial Product strategy for most of my years teaching.  I have showed many adults how to do this strategy also.  They like it once they see it.  We finished the week with a Mid-Chapter Checkpoint.  I plan on starting a new lesson tomorrow weather depending.

Social Studies -  Tomorrow the students have their 2nd Map Test over the Northeast Region.  They will need to be able to label a map of the Northeast with the state and its capital.  They have taken this test once.  This will be the last time they take it.  They were given a study guide today.  This study guide is due on Monday.  They worked in partners and did a good job.  They may have a little bit to finish.  We will be taking a test next week over chapter 5.  After that we will move on to the Southeast Region.  That means new states to enter into our interactive notebooks and new set of states to practice for map tests.  If we do not have school tomorrow the map test will be on Monday AND the study guide still must be done on Monday.

Thank You -  I would like to say thank you for all the wonderful gifts that were given to me for Christmas.  I sent notes with the kids for thank you's but I am not sure they made it home to you.  I appreciate all the things we purchased for the classroom!  I also really appreciate those personal gifts.  It was very thoughtful of all of you.

Catholic Schools week is coming up starting January 31st.  More details will come later about what is happening that week to celebrate Catholic Schools.

Auction Basket - Yes!  The Auction will be taking place this year.  It will be very different. It will be online.  We will be doing baskets!  The 4th and 5th grade are joining together to do a basket.  Ms. Surma and I have decided to do a Pampered Chef basket.  We will either focus on pizza making or a baking basket.  It will depend on our donations we receive.  The value of the basket is not to exceed $300.  We are just asking for monetary donations and we will take care of purchasing the items and putting the basket together.  We need the donations by February 5th so we can get the items ordered and to us in time for the auction.     We will also need to do a silent auction item.  If anyone is interesting in working on that  with me please let me know.  I feel like we are running out of ideas for this one.  They all need to be more personal and include the kids in them.  I like to have others to help put this together.  Again just let me know if you are interested.

Well, be sure to watch the weather and the news.  If Creston Schools cancel that will include St. Malachy.  There will not be a separate notification for St. Malachy.  I did not think this would amount to much but now I am hearing the wind in our area will be the worst and we are looking at 6 + inches.  Crazy weather.  Everyone stay safe!!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels