"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas....."

  It is almost December, and our classroom is ready!   We have Christmas lights, snowmen, a small Christmas tree, and WE WRAPPED OUR DESKS!!  Shout out to Molly's Mom who has this AWESOME idea that she did with her 4th graders.  It was a great Math lesson where we had to measure the width and length of our desk tops.  We talked about perimeter and area.  The wrapping paper had 1 inch squares, so the students were able to count the specific number squares for the length and the width.  It was so fun and the students love the festive environment!  Pictures are below!
    We are wrapping up our Canned Food Drive, but WE STILL NEED LOTS OF CANS!!  Mrs. Vinson has extended the date to Monday, December 3.  Our school goal is 1,000 cans.  Our classroom goal is 200 cans.  If we reach our school goal, we will receive a week of jeans and t-shirts!  Students will also get to slime Mrs. Vinson!  Bring in those cans!
    In Science this week, we have been discussing Animal Adaptations.  Today, we did a Penguin Egg Race where students had to keep the egg between their feet and not let it drop down.  We also experimented with Blubber Gloves, where students had to put their hands in ice cold water and then put on the "blubber glove" and feel the difference.  Pictures are below.
    The Scholastic Book Fair is this next week.  It will begin on Monday, December 3 and end early in the day on Friday, December 7.  Students will be allowed to go to the Book Fair as long as they have money to buy something.  We will be having a Book Buddy Christmas Party and BOOK EXCHANGE on Thursday, December 13!  The Book Fair is a great place for your child to buy his/her book buddy's book.  You do not need to get an expensive one.  Just a fun paperback that your Book Buddy would enjoy!  Remember, your book buddy is a 4 or 5 year old!
    We have a field trip to Traveller's Rest on Friday, December 7.  I will be sending an e-mail asking who wants to join us as a chaperone.  Please respond to the e-mail no later than Tuesday night.  This  is the first of our many Tennessee field trips!
   December is a BUSY month!  Here are so important dates in December:

• December 3-7: Scholastic Book Fair (Get your Book Buddy a book here!)
• December 7: Field Trip to Traveller's Rest
• December 13: Book Buddy Christmas Party.  Half Day (Dismissal at 11:00)
• December 14:  Half Day (Dismissal at 11:00)
• December 17: Class Christmas Party.  Half Day (Dismissal at 11:00)
• December 18: Movie and Pajamas.  Half Day (Dismissal at 11:00)
• December 19-January 2: Christmas Break

Thanksgiving Break!

  It's Thanksgiving Break!  Hooray!!  I hope that your week is filled with friends, family, and cherished memories.  I pray that you are constantly reminded of the tremendous blessings God has given each of us.  I want to thank you all for sharing your sweet children with me.  My day is constantly filled with joyous times because of your children.  I am thankful for my 15 blessings and their parents!  Happy Thanksgiving!
   We had a  great week.  We are in the middle of division and are beginning to discuss animals and their adaptations.  We had a small Thanksgiving celebration with our Book Buddies where we played a few games and a snack of "acorn cookies".  Later that day, we went to see "The Little Mermaid" at The Nashville Children's Theatre.  It was AMAZING! Pictures are below!
   We will be beginning Grow Your Vocabulary when we return to school.  This is a book where students learn various Greek and Latin roots and word that go with them.  This will be a weekly part of our study for the rest of the year.  The grade will go in the English part of your child's grades.  Here is how our weekly schedule normally will occur:

• Monday- Introduce the words, highlight the definitions, write the definitions on index cards, and do Exercises 1-2 (Match It and Select It).
• Tuesday-  Review Exercises 1-2 and do Exercises 3-5 (Connect It, Personalize It, and Complete It)
• Wednesday- Review Exercises 3-5 and do Lessons 6-8 (Finish It, Decode It, and Build It)
• Thursday- Review Exercises 6-8 and do Exercises 9-10 (Solve It and Write About It) and review for the test!
• Friday- Test

   Have a restful and wonderful holiday week!

November Fun

   We have had a great start to November!  The students are working hard on new concepts while still reviewing past ones.  We have started on Division.  The students are totally rocking it!  One student said to me, " I see why multiplication facts are so important!"  I love those "light bulb" moments!  We also started diagramming sentences.  The students looked at the diagramming and said"What is that?".  Now, they want to diagram more than just the subject and predicate.  Haha!
   This upcoming week, we have LOTS of tests and assignments!  Progress Reports were sent home yesterday.  I told the students they have 4 weeks to either keep those great grades up or improve grades they are not pleased about.  Please make note of all the tests.
   We have a field trip to the Nashville children's Theater this Friday.  We are going to see "The Little Mermaid".  I saw it at an Educator Preview, and the students will love it.  We have even learned a little of the dance to "Under the Sea".  It is so fun!
   Don't forget that this is the last weekend to sell Little Lambs Cookie dough and food!  So... SELL, SELL, SELL!  Thank you for all you do to give back to Ezell-Harding!

Our Fall Celebration!

  It is finally starting to feel like Fall! Hooray!  As the seasons change, unfortunately some sicknesses come with it.  Please remind your student to wash his/her hands frequently, cover their cough and sneeze, and be mindful personal space of their classmates.  We do our best to not spread germs, but we know that sometimes it happens.  Also, many students are coming to school with cough drops.  That is fine, but please discuss with your child that the cough drops are not candy, not to be shared with others, and only used when needed.
    We had our Fall Celebration on Wednesday!  The students had a great time handing out candy to their friends, eating delicious food, and watching Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Wolfman!  Thank you to all the parents who sent in food for our celebration!  It was WONDERFUL!  Below are some pictures!
    November is here and we have some important dates coming up!  They are:

• Monday, November 5- NO SCHOOL because of Christian School In-Service
• Friday, November 9- Progress Reports will be sent home
• Friday, November 16-  Field Trip to The Nashville Children's Theater to see The Little Mermaid
• Monday, November 19- Friday, November 23- THANKSGIVING BREAK

   Please take note of these days!  December is a CRAZY BUSY month, so be mindful of upcoming assignments, tests, and activities!

    Have a FANTASTIC week!