5th Grade: Mark the date!

5^th grade parents:

Our Montessori 5th graders will soon be leaving us and moving on to new challenges and new adventures!  A few years ago, the building principal and I started a tradition of taking the graduating 5th graders out for a special dinner with the Montessori teachers.

We would like to continue the tradition!  Please allow your 5^th grader the opportunity to have dinner with us on Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m.  We will be taking them to the Curragh Irish Pub.  

We will send more information when the date is closer.  In the meantime, please mark this date on your calendar.  Thanks! 

Thank you!

I want to express my thanks to all the parents that donated items for the celebration of learning, or let us borrow props and supplies.

We had an amazing night and the children were fantastic!

So far, I've been able to upload photos from Tuesday night.  I hope to have videos put up over the weekend.

Thanks again!

Mrs. Perrien

Dads and Doughnuts tomorrow!

Dads-

Just a reminder that we are hoping you'll be able to join us tomorrow for Dads and Doughnuts.  Please join us from 9-10 a.m. for doughnuts, coffee, and classroom time with your child.

Thanks!  :)

Mrs. Perrien

Celebration of Learning 2011 Photos

Timeline Reminder

Parents-

My own child got after me tonight about the timeline being due on Friday.  Apparently, some of the kids are confused.  THE TIMELINE IS NOT DUE ON FRIDAY.  The timeline is due on MONDAY.  Based on what was shared in class today, we are in for a treat!  I'm excited to learn more about several famous women in history. 

March is Women's History Month; be proud of the many wonderful women who've played a role in the history of our nation and of the world.  I am uniquely inspired by a few women in history:  Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Maria Montessori, Maya Angelou, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Rosa Parks.  I continue to be inspired by others:  Lucy Calkins, Stephanie Harvey, Sister Mary Motz, and my grandmother, Marion Croel.

Sites to learn more:

Library of Congress, Women's History Month

National Women's History Project

Please help!

Items needed for our Celebration of Learning:

1.  Spinning Wheel (or something like it)
2.  Blacksmith-type tools
3.  gray or white sheets (only if you don't need them back!)
4.  Kiddie pool
5.  Cornhusks
6.  Thin rope (about 5 feet)
7.  Small wooden cradle
8.  Long black socks (2 pair)
9.  2 Metal Pails
10.  Old-fashioned wash tub
11. 3 bags of sand
12.  Burlap bags

These things are the hardest for us to make, if you have any of them we would appreciate borrowing your things.  The kids have PROMISED they would take good care of anything loaned to us.  We would appreciate having whatever you are able to donate by this Friday.  Thanks so much!

Mrs Perrien

Figurative Language Links

Parents,

I'm very excited about the booklets we are creating about figurative language! Today we talked about 3 of the 10 types we'll be covering this week.  Students already have quite a bit of practice with "onomatopoeia" from our writing workshop lessons.  We will continue talking about figurative language all week in class.  Students may work on their booklet as class work or as homework.

Helpful websites for the student's work on literary devices:

Figurative Devices:  http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/20-language-arts/343-figurative-language.html

Figurative Language:  http://languagearts.mrdonn.org/figurative.html


Personification:  http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/personification.html

Conferences

I am looking forward to meeting with you and your child at conferences this week. Please help me by being on time for your conference; I do my best to start and end conferences on time. It is important that I do this so that I don't impact other teachers' times! (Feel free to knock or walk into the room if the conference before yours runs over into your time.) If you will be more than ten minutes late for your conference please call me to reschedule, unless you feel that we can cover everything in the remaining 10 minutes.

Thank you again, I'm looking forward to a wonderful week!

Conference Schedule Attachment

Celebration of Learning

Parents-

We have our celebration of learning coming up very quickly!  Some of the students will need some costume pieces if they are available.  Specifically, if the girls have Dutch costumes we might ask them to use some of the pieces in our activities.  Please watch the blog this week for more specifics about what is coming up for our celebration of learning activities!

Coats

I know it's beautiful outside, absolutely beautiful and sunny!  However, it's not warm!

According to the National Weather Service, the high for the next few days is predicted to be 27/33/39 degrees Fahrenheit.  (In fact, the projected wind chill for Thursday is -1 degree.) That is not high enough for kids to be outside for 30 minutes without a coat, and a hoodie is not enough protection.

Please continue to check for a winter jacket as your children are heading out the door.  Feel free to blame me; if students aren't wearing jackets I won't be letting them outside for recess.

Stay warm!