The Adventures in Mrs. Ripp's Class

Math – We are almost done with unit 5, my favorite unit, and will have the test on Friday.  If your child will be absent please let me know so that they can take the test before the break.  We will also celebrate the end of the unit with a pizza lunch on Friday.  Please send in $3 with your child to cover lunch.  The next unit is about collecting and processing data.

Science – We are trying to figure out lifeboat capacities and will be inspecting each other’s boats today.  Next week, we will have our first challenge of the year; the super tube challenge.  Thank you for sending in all of the paper tubes.

Social Studies – I continue to push the students in their expectations for work and projects.  We have started presenting our mini-explorer projects and have discussed how we could make them better.  Students are evaluating their peers along with me, which leads them to think about what makes a great product.

Reading – fairy tales are wrapping up with a final focus on Hans Christian Andersen.  Being Danish, we were raised with his fairytales so I am thrilled to share them with the students.  My mother, Nete, happens to be a professor at UW who teaches a very popular class on Hans Christian Andersen, so she will be coming out to do a guest presentation for us on Wednesday.

Writing – The essay unit is winding down and we are looking forward to starting our next big unit; writing fiction!  I love how quickly the students have become adept at using Google Docs as this will certainly serve them well in the future.  This week’s blogging challenge has been a great read, please do take a moment to read them and leave us a comment.

Special Notes –

* We are working hard in 5^th grade and I love seeing how the kids are banding together to form their community.  I have the best job in the world and it is because of these kids!

* Winter party will take place Friday, December 21^st at 1:00 PM.  It does not look like there will be any snow for sledding so we will figure out other choices for the kids. 

* Geography bee starts next week during resource time, I keep track of the scores and pass them onto Ms. Weber who will let me know after break whether any kids made it in.

* There will be no homework over break, I hope the students will blog and read but that is it.  This is their chance to gear up for the second half of 5^th grade.

*  We are reading so many great books in 5^th, I have been passing on all books I am reading to students and will update reviews on our website as well.

* Congratulations to all of our students in the spelling bee.  3 of our students made it in to the district spelling!

* We have our mystery guest coming today, I hope the kids like his story.

* MAP testing starts after break on the afternoons of January 7^th and January 8^th.

* There will be a sub in the afternoon on Tuesday as I meet with Mr. Getz and Mr. Wichser to plan literacy.

* Thea is actively pointing at every single toy she sees and asking Santa to get it for her, particular anything pink and sparkly.  We love the holidays and cannot wait to see her face on Christmas. 

* I have some dates for you to put on your calendars: Sub in the afternoon Tuesday, December 18^th, Guest lecturer Wednesday, December 19^th at 1 PM, Winter Party is December 21^st at 1:00 PM, winter break is from December 22^nd through January 2^nd, new math groups Wednesday, January 2nd, Yahara final versions are due to me Friday, January 4^th,   MAP testing January 7^th and 8^th at 1:00 PM, No school Monday, January 21st and Monday, January 28th.