Blog Archives

Week 12

11/28/2017

2 Comments

News & Notes:

Biography Project - Students will have about 15 minutes each day after lunch to work on their biography projects in class. This may be enough time for them to complete the project at Bennie - some may need additional time at home.
Congressional Hearing - We have begun to prepare for our "Simulated Congressional Hearing" on Friday, December 8th at 1:30. This event is a great way for the kids to share their thoughts about what they have learned. Families are welcome to join us. There will be a short reception to celebrate after the presentations.
Smencils - Holiday smencils will be on sale next week (Tues/Thurs) for $1.

Upcoming Dates:

Wed 11/29 - Sports & Fitness Club after school
Thurs 11/30 - Cooking Chase H's Great Great Grandma's Shortening Bread Cookies
Fri 12/1 - First trimester ends
Fri 12/1 - Mr. Amezcua guest speaker
Wed 12/6 - Sports & Fitness Club after school
Wed 12/6 - Cooking Dylan's Oreo Cheesecake
Fri 12/8 - Simulated Congressional Hearing 1:30, families welcome

What we are Learning:

Reading - Students have the opportunity to work on their Biography Projects every day right after lunch for 15 minutes. Graphic organizers are due on Friday, December 8th. Click here for more information on the Biography Project.Biography Report
Word Study - I will be reassessing word study levels this week. Word Study groups may change.
Writing - We are focusing on "being precise" in our writing language
Math - We are working on double digit multiplication. Check out a video on one of the multiplication methods we have been using (you may need to create a free account to do so).
Studies - We have begun to prepare for our simulated Congressional Hearing on December 8th. We hope you can join us!!
Science - We have begun to study how animals use their external and internal structures to promote growth and survival by exploring the phenomenon of a grizzly bear catching fish. Check out a video of this phenomenon and wonder with us.
Cooking - We will be making Chase's Great Great Grandma's Shortening Bread Cookies on Thursday and Dylan's Oreo Cheesecake next week.

Wishlist:

clipboards
56 oreos
8 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
16 oz cream cheese

Weekly Highlight:

Our Common Good Thanksgiving Field Trip was a huge success!

Ask Me:

What is your reading strategy learning target? Hint - what did you write on your Daily 5 self-checklist?

2 Comments

Week 11

11/14/2017

4 Comments

News & Notes:

Thank you #1 - Thank you to all the family chaperones who were able to join us for our field trip to Lansing. The weather was perfect! The kids were fantastic! We learned so much!!
Thank you #2 - Thank you to all the families who came to our Parent/Student/Teacher conferences last week. Your children worked really hard to prepare for your conference and were proud to share what they have been learning!
Thank you #3 - Bennie exceeded our Coins for Cause donation goal for week one! Thank you to everyone who sent in coins. We'll be collecting change for this worthy cause until the end of the month so keep sending those coins in!
Common Good Field Trip - In this season of Thanksgiving, as we learn about our constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship, we will put our cooking skills to work and make muffins for those who serve our community. On Monday, November 20 we will make 12 dozen muffins. On Tuesday, November 21 we will go visit the police station, fire station and nursing home with baskets of muffins to share. The cost of this field trip will be covered by my "room 107 field trip fund".
Parent Academic Support Page - As many of you know from our conferences, I have added a "parent academic support page" to the class website. You can find ways to provide learning support for your child at home as well as a better understanding of what we are working on in math. This is a work in progress, please let me know what I can do to help you support your child's learning at home. Click here to go to the page.

Upcoming Dates:

Wed. Nov 15 - Sports & Fitness Club
Fri. Nov 17 - Bennie Garden Clean Up 3:30-4:30
Tues. Nov 21 - Common Good Field Trip to Police Station, Nursing Home and Fire Station
Tues. Nov 21 - 1/2 day for students, dismissal at 11:40
Wed - Sun, Nov 22-26 - Thanksgiving Break

What we are Learning:

Reading - Students have weekly "book club" assignments at their level and individual reading targets to help them become better readers.
Word Study - Each day your child should write what "day" they are on in word study. Day 1 they get new words. Day 5 they take a spelling test.
Writing - We continue to build writing stamina and following the "friendly letter format".
Math - We are working on factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers.
Studies - We will be learning about civics, specifically the Bill of Rights this week.
Science - We have been studying how plants use their external and internal structures to promote growth and survival.
Cooking - We will be making Rebecca's family Spaghetti on Thursday and muffins, muffins, muffins on Monday.

Wishlist:

2 jars Prego heart smart original sauce
2 lbs turkey meat
2 packages Brilla protein plus angel noodles
4 tablespoons Italian seasoning
2 dozen eggs
1 bottle vegetable oil
1/2 gallon milk
muffin mix assorted flavors
cupcake holders

Weekly Highlight:

Our trip to Lansing was a huge highlight!

Ask Me:

What are the four freedoms of expression found in the Bill of Rights?
(Answer - Freedom of speech, press, petition, and assembly)

4 Comments

Week 10

11/5/2017

2 Comments

News & Notes:

Book Fair - We will be previewing the Book Fair on Monday. Thursday will be our buying day. The Book Fair is open during conferences. Come on out and support our PTA and Bobcat readers!
Bennie Spirit Week - This week is our fall Spirit Week. Click here for each day's theme.
Cold Weather Gear - As the weather is turning chilly, please take note (click here) of Bennie's cold weather gear guidelines. We will be heading outside every day weather permits!
Conferences - Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences take place this week on Wednesday and Thursday. Use this sign up link to schedule your conference. Please note, the fall conference is student led! If you would like to schedule an additional conference without your student, please email me.
Coins for Cause - In keeping with our month's theme of Kindness, we are once again participating in "Coins for Cause" to raise money to help provide clean drinking water to children in Africa. For more information, check out the video about our efforts last year!
Lansing Field Trip - We are so excited about our Field Trip to our state capitol on Wednesday. Permission slips are due tomorrow. Click here for details about the trip. Please note - we are leaving at 7:15 to ensure we arrive on time for our first tour at 9:00am. We will be studying the history of our state capitol as we prepare for our trip. Check out this video about the capitol and virtual tour!

Upcoming Dates:

Wed 11/8 - Lansing Field Trip
Wed 11/8 - Student-led Conferences in the evening
Thurs 11/9 - 1/2 day dismissal at 11:40
Thurs 11/9 - Student-led Conferences

2 Comments