Hello. Happy Thursday! You know what that means...tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! I was just thinking the other day that we are a little over two months of your child becoming a 5th grader. OMG!!! When did that happen????
It sure was nice to have our regular day and routine back. We started our new book, Balto and the Great Race in reading class. We will be doing many activities with it for the next few weeks. Then we are onto Riding Freedom. That one will have an awesome field trip attached for all kids. :0) Speaking of field trips Mrs. Hankins and I will be sitting down soon to finalize all that, and the end of the year celebrations!
In spelling today we talked about how 4th quarter spelling differs from what we are used to. In my class, we put the books aside and do a program called Sitton Spelling. It is a program designed around every day words in the English language that kids need to know, but often don't. The tests are very different. The kids will take ten tests in the 4th quarter. They do not know the words in advance. The only way to pass is to get 100% or minus one. If they get more than one wrong, they have to retake the test. The tests are given back each afternoon to take home and study that night. I write the correct spelling above their spelling. The words on test one will show up again on the future tests, so it is not a one time memorization! Which I LOVE!!!! Kids must pass all ten tests in the 4th quarter to get an A in spelling. Tests that are not taken before the end of the 4th quarter cut off will be counted against the spelling grade. Now, if kids actually take the time to study the words there is NO reason to take each test more than twice. But, in the past it has taken kids multiple, multiple times to pass a test. The reason, they don't study at home. So, kids can be done with spelling in ten days or they can take all quarter. It is their choice. Kids also have to have capital letters, spaces, and apostrophes in the right places. If kids have been learning from their language and spelling lessons all year long, then they will know where these go. If not, they will have to learn them now the hard way. So, there will be no more book work in spelling starting Monday. We will however have our last spelling test on Unit 26 tomorrow as usual. Questions? Don't hesitate to ask. We took our practice test today so they could see what the process was like. Ask to see theirs. :0) If they show you, write SITTON in the planner for $20 bonus.
Tomorrow is Camo Day. Kids are encouraged to show their school spirit. See yesterday's post for the do's and don'ts.
Tomorrow night is our Classroom Carnivals. Please bring in your baked goods for the cake walk tomorrow morning or afterschool. Remember, kids may earn $100 for each plate/batch they bring in. Thanks so much for your help. :0) Kids that attend the Carnival also earn $500.
Have a super spring weathered night!
