Adverbs!

Please click on the link below for the video

http://www.screencast.com/t/AIx7L05KVO16

After you have watched the video please click on the link for the quiz. Remember to write your name and block number. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Klp8m610ST_MjcmsrK4dL4gaycNUtLf-2u-rZm8-cVI/viewform

Preposition Video!

Here is the link for the second video in the Parts of Speech series. Your child has until Wednesday morning to view and quiz. We will be discussing the materials learned in the video on Wednesday. We've challenged the kids to get 100% of the video viewed by class on Wednesday. :)

http://www.screencast.com/t/q60ywtNNf9

There is a quiz, but it is a separate link which is below. The link in the video isn't working, so please use this link. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CmYKIgUKHsTpDN1Oq5Q6-aHQAHApm9PgUCrfNZfNohI/viewform

Conjunctions!

We are going to be trying something new to teach some of our grammar concepts in language arts. 

Please click on the link below to view a video about conjunctions.

Please put your first AND last name in the space for first name. In the space for your last name put your block number, so if you are in block 1 put a 1, block 7 put a 7, and block 8 put 8. You don't need to provide an email address. You can put your name and @ms.com instead. 

http://www.screencast.com/t/oaQSVrCqCaMg

Enjoy the Video and be sure to answer the quiz questions at the end of the video. You MUST watch the video from beginning to end. :) 

40 Book Challenge

This is just a quick post, but I am excited about how hard the kids are working on their 40 Book Challenge activities. They are doing an amazing job! I am seeing plays, posters, PowerPoints, video interviews, read alouds, and so much more! I am attaching a picture of some of our completed book posters. They are hanging in the hallway by the library. I will do my best to share some more of our finished projects throughout the year. 

My Kids DO Love to Read!

This year we decided to try something new with AR...Ms. Likens and I took the plunge and we have already noticed the kids reading MORE! I am so excited to see my kids excited about books. They are having conversations about books, they are carrying books with them everywhere, and most of all they are reading AT HOME! I am really enjoying the 40 Book Challenge. I think the kids are too. If you aren't sure what it is, ask your child. They should be able to tell you all about it. I am attaching the 40 Book Challenge Activity sheet to this blog post. Upcoming posts will have some of our completed projects so you can see what we are working on in class! 

A New Year is Well Underway

We are into the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. So far, I feel like we have accomplished SO much. We are already working on our Personal Narratives and the Parts of Speech. I gave all students a pretest about the parts of speech, we have some areas to work on over the next few weeks. I am sharing the results with students as we work on a new part of speech in class. Today I shared that 91% of 5th grade students knew the definition of a noun and could provide an example! That is wonderful! I am eager to see how we do on the same test at the end of all lessons. I am hoping we ace it. 

This Friday we will have our first student readers for our read aloud days. I think the kids are getting excited to read their books. Some kids are already looking for their books, which is great! That tells me they are getting anxious and they want to be prepared. I read my favorite children's book to all blocks on Friday and today Mrs. Ayres read to my blocks 7 & 8. Her book was SO funny! I couldn't stop chuckling. I know the kids enjoyed it, too. 

I can't for Friday! Good luck to our first readers! You will all do a fantastic job. 

This post is to help my students learn how to access their Gmail accounts. We will be using our email over the next few months. I am eager to get them started on this project! :)

January is almost history!

I feel like I could say this with every post, but where has the time gone? January is almost behind us and our plans for February are ready to go! We will be really busy for the next few months. 

During the month of February and March we will be participating in The Slice of Life writing challenge. The actual challenge takes place through the entire month of March, but we are going to start practicing in February to build our writing stamina. I love participating in this challenge and the kids do too. There will be more details about Slice of Life in the upcoming weeks. 

Also, in February and March we will be working on poetry. We will have some really fun lessons planned for this, and I can't wait to share them with the kids. We will also being reading two books in class: Love that Dog & Hate that Cat. These are really great books, and definitely a quick read. 

I am looking forward to reading the poems the kids will write over the next several weeks! I have a feeling this group is going to be really creative. :)