Hectic Times

Trying to button up all the crazy details that come with teaching...

Things coming up:
Tuesday June 2nd: Beach Day End of the Year Party
Wednesday June 3rd: Promotion Ceremony
Friday June 5th: Last day of school, last day of trimester, report cards

Thanks soooo much to those parents that came through last minute last week to make the International Games field trip a success.

Home work this week:
Reading logs due Friday.
SPEECHES are the next three days:
WEDNESDAY: Breanna, Liza, Maria, Eric, Jacob K, Jake, Logan, Tana, Adam, Jade K, Patrick
THURSDAY: Jacob W, Rachel, Jack, Marcus, Jaxon, Sarah S, Sarah R, Mollie, Jacob P, Forest, Zenia
FRIDAY: Nemo, Gabrielle, Shante, Michaela, Giselle, Scott, Jasmine, Ian, Hayley, Nathaniel, Mitchel, Jade Y
Vocab this week:
hospitable
humongous
hybrid
hoarse
habitable
hearty
haywire
hydraulic
humiliated
hectic

Have a great week.

Exciting Week!

We are winding up for winding down. Thanks to those of you who gave the kids time to do their Social Studies projects over the weekend.

This week is crazy busy!

The bullying assessment is tomorrow so if you don't want your student to participate, make sure you get those green forms back to me by tomorrow.

Open House is this Wednesday. Come check out some completed projects and hang out with me from 6:30 to 8:00. You can bring the kids.

The kids are going to the Junior High this Thurs for the tour. It was fun to anticipate next year when the counselor came to visit us here.

International Games field trip is still cancelled at this point. I now only need 2 more drivers to make it work. Let me know if you can do it.

No School on Monday!

Homework this week:
Reading Logs on Friday
Science: on Thursday, students need to show me evidence that they have done some research on their endangered species
Vocab every night:
Dappled
Defiant
Deliberate
Delirious
Destitute
Disoriented
Detrimental
Diverse
Devine
Dramatic

Have a great week!

Happy Elevensees!

Things are starting to wind down in our room. We are finishing testing this week. Thanks for the perfect attendance today. We have to submit the tests on Wednesday so having everyone here today and tomorrow is key.

Call for prizes: We have decided on a new positive discipline system that is working really well but... we are pretty much out of classroom funds and I need to give out prizes at the end of the year. I would love to reuse any toys that you have at home that you don't need anymore. Bring them in! Nothing worth over $5.

Couple of really important things coming up:

Field Trips: We have 2 big field trips coming up next week on Thurs and Friday. I need drivers for Friday for the trip to International Games but not on Thurs. Please let me know if you can drive.
I need the PERMISSION FORMS back as soon as possible. They came home in the Friday Folders.

The volunteer tea is this wednesday . Come and get appreciation if you volunteer or express appreciation to those that do. It will be a fun afternoon.

Open House is next Wednesday the 20th at 6:30.

Still waiting on a lot of the Junior High Registration packets. They need to be in to me by tomorrow or else you will be responsible for going to the Junior High yourself to register for next year.

We have a big project due on Monday, a week from today. The students were given a choice on art projects for Social studies. They have to complete 3 by Monday. I have encouraged them to work on them over a long period of time but they seem to have procrastination fever with the spring. They don't have much homework this week because of testing so you should encourage them to do them all this week.

Homework this week:
Math: Thurs: Ch 7 review. Ch 7 test on Friday.
Reading Log: Due Friday
Scholastic News: Due Friday
Social Studies: Choice Boards (3 projects) due Monday, the 18th
Trimester 3 Speeches: Endangered species power points May 27, 28, 29

Have a great week!

Change to homework this week... and Junior High forms

Two things:
The math homework has changed a bit... Tues homework is 7.2.5 and 7.4.1 and Tonights homework (Thurs) is only 7.4.2

I sent home reg packets for Junior High. These are very important and need to be completed by Tues. I dont have any extras so make sure you get them from the students before they lose them.

Ms M

Week 35

Greetings all. So much is comin up the pike!

Important dates to remember:
May 6 12:30: Planning Meeting (parents) for end of year trip and Promotion:
Thurs May 7 7-9: Jr High Parent Night:
Testing We still have math to do May 11 and 12th
Wednesday May 13th: Volunteer Tea
Wednesday May 20th : 6:30-8:00: Open House
Thurs May 21st : Jr High Field Trip
Friday May 22nd : International Games Field Trip
Monday May 25th: No School Memorial Day Weekend
Tuesday June 2nd: Beach Day End of the Year Party
Wednesday June 3rd: Promotion Ceremony
Friday June 5th: Last day of school, last day of trimester, report cards

The Planning Meeting for the end of year trip and Promotion Ceremony is this Wed @12:30. If you can't come but you have good ideas, send them with a buddy. We would appreciate all the help you can give this time of year. Things are busy!

The Jr Hugh Parent info night is this Thurs @7pm. Come if you have questions regarding next year for your student. We are also doing the math placement test for JH on Friday morning.

I sent home a Registration packet for Junior High today. I apologize for not doing the usual Friday Folder for it but it needs to be back to the JH next Wed. They didn't give us much time.

Look for Permission forms for the International Games and Junior High field trips. They will be in this weeks Friday folders. Those need to get back to my ASAP too. Please indicate if you can drive for the International Games.

Homework this week:
Math (lots this week!): Monday: 7.2.2, 7.2.3; Tuesday: 7.2.4, 7.4.1; Wednesday: 7.3.2; Thursday: 7.3.3, 7.4.2
Reading Log due Friday
Scholastic news due Friday
Vocab every night:
1. Patriotic
2. Pessimistic
3. Optimistic
4. Naïve
5. Resilient
6. Sassy
7. Vivacious
8. Assertive
9. Modest
10. Zany

Have a great week!

Homework change.

No math homework tonight! I decided to review some tricky stuff from the past.
Scholastic news and reading log due tomorrow.
Have a great night.
Ms M

Testing! Yikes!

Lots of news and updates:

We are doing our Language Arts Testing this week (hopefully Tues and Wed). I say hopefully because we had A LOT of kids out sick today so I may postpone if a lot are out tomorrow. I wanted to give a couple tips for testing. Make sure your students get enough rest the night before, a protein filled breakfast and are hydrated. No sugary foods or drinks right before. We will be taking it easy right after the tests and homework is very light this week. We are going to take a week off of testing next week and then do the Math on Monday the 11th and Tues the 12th.

We have couple important dates coming up:
*Wednesday May 6 at 12:30 (next wednesday) we are having a Planning meeting for the end of the year beach day and the promotion ceremony. We are encouraging all parents to help out with these.
*Thursday May 7 at 7pm is the Junior High parent information night.
*Wednesday May 13th is the Volunteer tea. Gives us a chance to honour all the wonderful parents that help out in our rooms.
*Wednesday May 20 6:30 is Open House.
*Thurs May 21 is the field trip to the Junior High
*Friday May 22 is International Games Field trip. Please let me know if you can drive for it and have your paperwork in the office for driving.
*Tuesday June 2 is the end of year Beach day celebration.
*Wednesday June 3 is the Promotion Ceremony. Not sure on the time.
*June 6 is last day of school.

Homework this week is very light:
Math: Monday 7.2.1, Thurs 7.2.2
No Vocabulary
Reading Logs: read every night, Reading logs on Friday
Scholastic News due Friday.

Wow. That was a lot. Hope the next month isn't too overwhelming. Happy May Day.
Fir

The case of the missing parent volunteers!

Has anyone seen my volunteers?

Wow. Having no one show up to volunteer really makes me appreciate how much help they are. I love you guys! Please come back. I apologize if I don't express my gratitude enough. Let me take this opportunity! Thank you so much for volunteering in my classroom. Please come back! I know we are all having the springitis disease but I neeeeed you. Love to you all and hope you had a great spring break.

Ms M

Welcome back!

I hope you all had lovely adventures on your break, even if that meant just relaxing at home.

*Lots of updates:

No Friday folders went home before spring break. Thought I would lessen the chance they would get forgotten or lost over break.

The Recognition Ceremony went very well on the last day of school. It felt very good to recognize more than just academic achievement. The winners in our room were:
Principals List: Maria, Breanna, Rachel, Hayley, Tana, Sarah R., Scott, Liza, Jacob W and Jasmine
Honour Roll: Giselle, Michaela, Jack, Adam, Ian, Jade Y, and Jake
Perfect Attendance: Ian
Citizenship: Mitchel, Zenia
Honorary Achievement: Jacob P
AR points: Liza and Breanna (Breanna wasn't recognized at the ceremony because of a mix up. Sorry, Breanna)

Testing starts next week. Make sure the kids get lots of rest this weekend and come on Monday well fed and watered.

There will be a letter this Friday regarding the end of the year field trip.

Homework:
Math: 6.3.3 and 6.4.2 Monday, 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 Tuesday, 7.1.3 Wednesday, Ch 6 review Thursday, Ch 6 test Friday
Social Studies Study Guide Ch 10 (India) due Thurs, Test Friday.
Reading Log due Friday
Scholastic News due Friday
Vocab:
Fallacy
Revolution
Circumference
Diameter
Radius
Expository
Combine
Independent
Acute
Obtuse

Have a great week!

Yay Spring Break next week!

We made it! Last week before spring break. What a marathon the last 2 months have been. I really appreciate the hard work of my students. Their work ethic and behavior have improved greatly since the end of the trimester. We don't have school this Friday and all next week.

We are having an appreciation ceremony this Thurs to honor the academic and effort of 4th, 5th and 6th grade. See last blog for details.

There have been a lot of questions regarding the final week of school and how the 6th grade plans to celebrate and say goodbye. There will be a letter drafted this week so look for it in the Friday folders.

I have found a lot of mistakes being made in my homework check in system. The system seems to be having SringBreakitis as well. I have changed the system so that every piece of homework is seen by my eyes. Hopefully, this will remedy the situation.

Speaking of Homework... This week:

Math: Mon 6.2.4, Tues 6.2.6, Wed 6.3.1
Writing: CREATIVE WRITING FINAL DRAFT due Wednesday
Social Studies: Mon read Pg 388/389 review questions 1-4, Tues read Pg 394/395 review question 2
Reading Log: due Friday
Scholastic News: due Friday
Vocab every night:
Disparity
Boycott
Assassination
Divergent
Convergent
Probability
Outcome
Obstacle
Civil
Boundary

Have a great week!

Hey Everyone

I just wanted to communicate about this week's friday folders. There is an invitation in there for the golf tournament/tennis/dance/dinner fundraiser, Boots and Buckles. Also, I was going to send home a progress report but had the students give it back to me because I found some mistakes on them (unfortunately, after I had handed them out). I will remedy the situation and have another report to you either next week or right after spring break. Unfortunately, the mistakes are on homework that was handed in and then sent home so I am not sure how to fix it. I will figure it out, though.

Also, we are going to have a ceremony honoring the honor roll and principal's list on Thurs right before Spring Break. We will also be handing out awards for perfect attendance, honorary achievement, citizenship and AR points.

Thanks, Ms McKusick

Week 31

Spring break comin up! Yay!

This week we are starting a new unit and theme of Hardship: Making a difference. We will be watching and reading stories about people who have made a difference in the face of tough times.

We also have Shakespeare on the go starting this week.


We are bumping up the homework in response to the low level of responsibility and accountability shown since the report card. I have noticed a contagious case of Spring Fever running rampant in our room. Time to buckle down for our last trimester of elementary school.
Homework:
Viva la Causa: Monday: 2 paragraphs, Tuesday: Artwork
Lit Group packet due Wed
Science: Wed: Read pg 92/93 and answer q 2,3 4 Pg 94
Social Studies: Read pg 384/5 Question Pg 385
Math: Monday 6.1.1, wed 6.1.2, Thurs 6.1.3
Reading Log due Friday
Scholastic News due Friday
Vocabulary every night:
Articulate
Addled
Strike
Hardship
Undermine
Protest
Irritation
Resounding
Insignificant
Empowerment

Have a great week!

Week 30

We are poundin our way through the weeks. Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I was out sick.

We are setting our goals for AR. I was really pleased with students last trimester. Let's get going on reading for this trimester too!

Homework this week:
Math: Big test on Friday for chapter four so this week is a lot of review. We are also assessing multiplication facts this week. So... Mon: 4.4.5, Tues: none, Wed: hundred's table and multiplication practice, Thurs: Ch 4 review
Lit Groups: Monday Tues and Friday
Reading Log: Friday
Scholastic News: Friday
**Social Studies: Research paper due Friday***
Vocab this week (focus on words borrowed from French)
Chic
Cliche
Rendezvous
Coup d'etat
Coup de grace
Creche
Decor
Deja vu
Faux pas
Gauche

Have a great week!

Math Homework Change

Math homework has changed: Wed is 4.4.3 and Thurs is 4.4.4
Thanks!

What's with all the tardiness?

Welcome back to the week after report cards! It was a pleasure hand out those reports. I saw growth and improvement in every one. Please make sure you send back the envelopes signed as soon as possible.

I am becoming increasingly concerned with the amount of students that come in late or are absent. Almost every morning there are at least 8 students missing from their desks. Can we work on this as a team. It is so disruptive to other students and your student's progress when they are absent or late for class. It is so hard to get caught up in something when there are so many missing. I may have to have some sort of consequence soon for students who are regularly late absent without excuse.

Homework this week:
Math: Mon 4.3.4, Tues 4.4.1, Wed 4.4.2, Thurs 4.4.3
Lit Groups Mon, Tues and Fri
Reading logs every night due Friday
Scholastic News due Fri
Vocab every night:
Monotony
Willingly
Embark
Inherit
Linger
Frantic
Precision
Nonchalant
Ferocious
Encounter

Have a great week!

Report Cards this week!

Yes, the time as come... REPORT CARDS! dun du daaah.

I think everyone will be pleased this trimester. These kids have been working their little tails off, especially in the AR realm.

This week is pretty chill except for the big Edible Earth project due this wednesday. Be prepared to help put together a strange food concoction on Tue night and somehow get it to school. Please have them bring it on a durable pie tin and bring a serving utensil (I will provide plates and such).

Homework:
Math: 4.3.1 Monday, 4.3.2 Tues, 4.3.3 Wed, 4.3.4 Thurs
Edible Earth due Wednesday
Reading logs due Friday
Lit Groups Tues and Friday.
Scholastic News due Friday
Vocab every night:
Ponder
Prowl
Purify
Preserve
Praise
Propagate
Persecute
Plunder
Hypothetical
Salubrious
We're still practicing multiplication!

Have a great week.
Ms McKusick

Change to homework this week...

I canceled tonight's math homework (4.3.1). I felt we needed to revisit what we did earlier in the week. So the only homework tonight is vocab, reading, practicing multiplication and starting work on their edible earths (due next Wed).

Also... We are doing our social studies skits on Monday. Students can get together supplemental costumes and bring them on Monday. We have made some in class but if they want to add to it they can.

Best wishes
MsM

Last week in the trimester! Report cards next week.

Welcome back to another full week at Rio. We are focusing and buckling down for the end of the trimester. The kids have been working so hard and I am really pleased with their progress. On a personal note, I moved into Santa Cruz this past weekend and we love our new place!

This week we are buttoning things up for the end of the trimester. This week is the student's last chance to get AR points, do any missed assignments, redo any poorly done assignments or do any extra credit that I have approved. Remind your students that anything they hand in now has to be perfect because they will have no chance to make up for it.

I am hoping to finish the Social Studies skits we have been creating and making costumes for this week and do the performance on Friday. I will be video taping it, they will edit it in technology and then show it for open house. Fun!

Make sure you take the 'Parent Budget Survey' on www.pvusd.net if you are concerned about the budget crisis in the district.

Multiplication Practice: The whole school is setting grade level goals for multiplication automaticity and fact skills. We have noticed that a lot of the kids in 6th grade still don't know their facts. We have set individual goals for each student to improve this one step at a time. I encourage you help student's to practice math facts at least 10 minutes a night.

Homework this week:
Math: 4.2.1 Monday, 4.2.2 Tuesday, 4.2.3 Wednesday, 4.3.1 Thursday
Reading Logs: Get those AR points!
Literature Groups Monday, Tuesday and Friday
Scholastic News Friday
Multiplication Practice: See above
Vocab: All vocab homework needs to be handwritten now
Proportion
Proportional
Ratio
Equivalent
Painstaking
Parched
Peculiar
Prestigious
Prosperous
Perishable

Thanks everyone for checking the blog. Have a great week!

Week 26 - a full week finally!

Yay. My blog is letting me log on Monday.

This week is pretty routine. We are just working hard to get things done so that report cards are the best they can be. Keep encouraging the AR points!

I was really impressed with the results of the Chapter 3 math tests! The new approach with math centers really seems to be helping. Either that or the students are more motivated to do well. Either way I am happy.

Progress reports went home on Friday in prep for the end of the trimester on Mar 6th. Look closely for where your student can make up work to improve their grade. They need to be signed and returned to my by tomorrow or students will start to get detention.

Homework this week:
Math: Monday: 4.1.1, Tuesday: 4.1.2, Wednesday: 4.1.3, Thursday: 4.1.4
Literature Groups: Students need to have their assigned reading and pages done for Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
Writing: Mystery Object final draft due Thursday.
Science: Earthquake maps due Thurs
Scholastic News and Reading Log due Friday.
Vocab everyday:
Principal (math definition)
Interest (math definition)
pungence
barter
omnivore
occupation
obesity
oblivious
official
offshore

Thanks for having such sweet kids and have a great week!
Ms M.

Short week.

Wow. We are already half way through the week! I apologize again for the late blog. It never seems to let me log on on the first day of the week.

Progress reports go home this Friday. This is your last chance to look at your students grades before the end of the trimester. They have 2 weeks to get any missing work in or improve anything. I need the attached sheet signed and returned by Monday.

Thanks to everyone for the successful Valentine's Day party!

I am making another call for volunteers in the class room. I have changed our format for Math and am trying a centers approach. We have to fit them in according to my aide schedule and could use any help available. I mostly need someone to monitor for students who need individual help, making sure all students are on task and perhaps running a simple math game every once in a while. The times are a little wierd but all in the morning during the week... 10:20 on Mondays, 9 on Tues, 8 on Wed, 8 on Thurs and possibly 10:20 on Fridays. Email me if you are interested.

Homework this week. There is quite a bit.
Reading and reading log.
Math: 3.5.6 (1-6) on Tuesday, 3.5.7 (1-6) on Wednesday, Ch 3 review on Thurs Big test on Ch 3 on Friday.
Literature Group packets are due Thurs
Rough draft of Mystery Object due Thurs
Scholastic News due Friday
Vocab:
1. fracture
2. adoption
3. declaration
4. delta (in a river0
5. cataract (in a river)
6. witty
7. worthless
8. withdrawn
9. warily
10. willingly

Have a great rest of your week!

Yay, my blog's working!

Hello everyone.
Sorry I didnt update my blog last week. Still having problems with it.

We are having a good week. Busy with getting ready for the science fair tomorrow.
The presentations went so well. I am so proud of everyone. They all put so much effort into it. Remember... you can come view the science fair and the winners tomorrow night (Thurs) at 7:30.

We are also having our Valentines Day party on Friday. After recess we are doing craft stations and a potluck after lunch. Come on by to donate time or food or just to party with us.

Homework this week:
Math on Tues only 3.5.5
Vocab every night back to usual:
1. express (both meanings)
2. ruinous
3. proceed
4. initial (as in first)
5. license
6. denial
7. contradiction
8. profound
9. haven
10. gross (both meanings)
Reading logs due this Friday.

Have a great rest of your week! Come on by Thurs night to see all the kid's hard work.

Ms McKusick

Frustrated with my blog!

For some reason, I haven't been able to log onto my blog for the last 2 Mondays. Very frustrating. Sorry if you feel like i have been a flake about it!

Lots to update:

I want to thank everyone for my lovely Christmas/Birthday gifts. I went to REI last weekend and bought a beautiful new sleeping bag. Spring Break Desert camping here I come! Thanks so much everyone! You couldn't have chosen a better gift for me.

MUY MUY importante: SCIENCE FAIR PRESENTATIONS START NEXT WEEK! We have been working on them in class this week but they should be mostly done at home. There are three parts that are due on the day that your student does their presentation. 1. Written report, 2. Display, 3. Presentation. See the packet for exact layout of these. The students have been divided by lottery into 4 groups to determine when they do their presentations. Please ask them when. (Feb 5, 6, 10 or 11). The actual science fair judging occurs the morning of the 12th and parents can come view how their student did on the evening of the 12th.

T-shirt orders were in the Friday Folder last week if you want to order t-shirts.

There is a Free Parent Conference being put on by PVUSD. They will provide an opportunity for parents to receive in for on how the can strengthen the connection with their children and home, school and community. Flyer in last Friday folder.

Homework this week:
**WORK ON SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
*PERSUASIVE ESSAY DUE FRIDAY!!
NO VOCAB THIS WEEK
Math: Monday: 3.4.2, Tuesday: 3.4.3, Wednesday: 3.4.4, Thursday: 3.4.5
Lit Groups: Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Have a great week everybody!

Happy Inauguration Day!

(I started writing this yesterday and my blog quit on me and I haven't been able to get back on it til now. Sorry... thanks for your patience. Sometimes computers and I don't get along)

We had a viewing today of some of the inauguration. Unfortunately, we missed a lot of Obama's speech so I encourage you to watch it with them again on youtube. I know I will. What a historic day.

Not many announcements today. (I am sure I will think of more as soon as I am done)

Spelling bee this week. We will send the two best from this class to compete for Rio best on Friday.

Make sure those science fair projects are getting done! The presentations, written report, display board are all due on Feb 5-11. Full instructions for these are included in the red packet. We will go over the instructions in class too. Comin up soon!

Homework this week:
Math: 3.3.1 (#1 and 7) and ch 5 review for Tues. Ch 5 test Wed. 3.4.1 on Thursday.
Writing: rough draft of persuasive essay due Thurs.
Vocab:
gruff
reciprocal
sarcophagus
fabulous
sufficient
overwhelming
lacking
literature
cascade
pare
Lit groups are Tues and Friday (they need to be up to date on reading and worksheets)

Have a great week!

Sorry this is a day late!

I am having a hard time getting back in the swing of things again but it is so much fun to hang out with my little angels again :)

This week:

Progress Reports in Friday Folders: Yep, here they come. I will include AR points this time. My goal is that everyone have at least 20 points by now. Let me know if you would like a conference about your student. I have made conference requests of some of you and will keep in touch. Please sign the letter attached and return by Monday.

Dismissal Policy: We sent home a form today that is due, signed, by Friday. We have changed the dismissal policy a bit to keep a closer eye on student safety. Make sure you review it carefully and return it by Friday. There will be detentions Mon for those who have not returned forms.

We have no school on Monday!

Homework this week:
Math only tonight: Lesson 3.2.3 #1-7
30 minutes reading every night with reading log. Log is due Friday.
Scholastic News due Friday.
Vocab everynight. The list:
statistics
straight
strait
limited
biography
assistant
fashionable
quartet
quart
quantity

Science Fair Progress report is due next Tues.

Hope you all had a great break. Thanks for all the wonderful gifts!
Ms. McKusick