Late Monday Update

Hello Families,

Here is an update of what we have been up lately, and a preview of some upcoming events.

Math: This week we have started to skip around a little in our math units in preparation for the upcoming MCA and MAP Tests. This is designed to more effectively spend our time to cover material that will be on those tests at the fifth grade level. We have taken a break from Unit 7, and started a section of Unit 9 today that centers around graphing coordinates. Students have been told to hang on to their Unit 7 Study Links, and that we will be returning to this unit in the future.

Social Studies: Students have learned some of the basics of European exploration from 1000 A.D. to 1900, and later this week will conduct their own research of explorers past and present. Please ask them what they have learned.

Emotions and Growing Up Units:  We will begin our conversations about 'Those Crazy Mixed-Up Emotions today.' Students will receive some parent-child homework assignments during these upcoming units.  These are meant to open the door to some very important conversations between you and your child.  I hope you will embrace them as an opportunity to help your children build some life-long skills, as well as to open up conversations for them to learn what you value and expect of them.  Look for an invitation to view curriculum materials for the Growing Up Unit in next week's Brimhall Folders.  

•Field Trip to Northwest Fur Trading Post: On April 20, fifth graders will be taking a bus to the Northwest Fur Trading Post in Pine City.  We need as many volunteers as possible to make this field trip a success.  It's a well-led tour where kids will experience a living history museum and be invited to participate outside and inside, getting to experience what it was like for the early Minnesota Native Americans who lived and traded with the European fur traders along the Snake River.   With our current weather, this promises to be a great end to a week of testing.  Please consider joining us.  You should receive information in this weeks Wednesday's (March 28) Brimhall Folder.  

Math Extravaganza Volunteers Needed: One of our fifth grade celebrations is fast approaching! On Thursday, April 5th, fifth graders will gather in classrooms and the multi-purpose room to play a variety of math games from our curriculum. We need parent volunteers who would be willing to learn one of the games and be a host at one of our stations. I'll send a game packet home with your child ahead of time, so that you can play the game together and become familiar with materials, rules, etc. Then, on April 5th, we'll have everything you need packaged in baggies for you to hand out to those who have signed up for your sessions. Kids will have signed up ahead of time for all three sessions, so all you need to do is start them off and monitor. Treats will be served during the second session. I was told this was a big hit last year, and a great time for kids to review lots of skills before the testing season starts.

•MCA testing and MAP testing:  Our class will be taking the MCA Math Tests on April 23 and 24, which is a Monday and Tuesday.  When final days are assigned for science and reading, I will be emailing you our class testing times.  Please keep your children on healthy sleep schedules at all times, but especially during the next few months.  Lots of sleep, exercise, and healthy breakfasts are the best preparation for these days. MAP tests will be administered in May.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I hope you can join us for the Math Extravaganza, the NorthWest Fur Post field trip, or even both.

Thanks,
Mr. Norman

Spring Break Update

Hello Families,

Just a few quick notes for the week off of school....

Math: Your students took their Unit 6 test this past week, and will get them back for corrections and a parent signature after break.

Writing: I was impressed by the class' work on their Descriptive Essays. After break, I will sit down with each student and go through their writing with them, and they will be able to bring home their work. Please have them read their essays to you.

On Wednesday, your 5th grader brought home the Parent Bulletins for our next two Health Units. After spring break, we will be teaching the Units entitled "Those Crazy Mixed-Up Emotions" and "Growing Up." Both are excellent introductions to puberty and the changes kids go through as they reach adolescence. You will receive an additional letter after Spring Break about our "Growing Up" unit, and are always invited to view curriculum in our school library.

As we are getting toward the end of the year, our classroom supply of certain items has been diminished. If any of you are looking for a way to support your students in school in a very basic way, our class could use some donations.
 Things we are out of or running low on: boxes of kleenex, and 'Clorox' wipes...(also check with your students about their personal supplies like whiteboard markers, pencils, etc.)

Thanks again for all of your support, and I hope you have a great Spring Break!

Mr. Norman

FONTS and fonts

I am really not sure why some of these paragraphs below are smaller than others. They sure didn't look like that when I made the post. Oh well....hopefully you can still read it.

Update

Hello Families,

Thank you to all of you for attending your child's conference within the past two weeks!  It is always a pleasure to meet with kids and their families.  My hope is that you find these conferences helpful and positive, and that your child can celebrate with you all of the ways they've grown and set goals for the rest of the year.

We are almost to Spring Break! It is amazing how this year has flown by already. I am really looking forward to a great spring. Thank you for all you do to support your students. As I have seen your children grow as students and individuals, I really feel lucky to have such a great group this year.

Here are a few updates....

Math: Students will take their Unit 6 Test on Tuesday. Over the weekend, students had a vocabulary sheet to complete for Monday, as a part of our unit review. We will likely wait to start a Unit 7 until after spring break.

Title 1 Survey: We would still appreciate if you could complete our school's Title 1 survey if you didn't get a chance to at conferences. It takes less than five minutes.  You can get to it by going to the Brimhall main page and clicking on the School Wide Title One Survey. This survey will be active until spring break. If you have specific questions about the survey, I will be happy to connect you with Ms. Melanie Groth.

Social Studies: We have started our "Explorers Unit," where we will examine some of the first explorers of the world up to some explorers of more recent times. Your students have been first gaining a spatial and relational understanding of where the continents and oceans are in the world. I think this has been very valuable as I have noticed most young people do not have much previous knowledge of where things are in the world.

Writing: We have come to end of a long process for our "Descriptive Writing Essay." I have been impressed with the level of quality that I have seen students' writing so far. While much of this has been conducted in class, we are the point now where we need to move to the next writing project. Some of your students who are not finished with writing or typing will need to find time outside of class to complete it.  

College Week: Throughout the next four days, we will take a look at the 'places' a college education can take you. We will have a few in-class activities and students will be asked to conduct a very short interview with someone (family member, family friend, or teacher)  who has attended or is attending college. Students will get this assignment on Monday, and it will be due on Thursday, March 8, before Spring Break.  

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks again,

Mr. Norman