The Adventures in Mrs. Ripp's Class

Thank you Cece for writing about math and social studies!

Math – In math we are so excited to end our learning about fractions. We also are learning about multiplying fractions so please ask your kids if they need help. In advanced math they are learning about pre algebra. Take note math test is on March 8^th. Be sure to prepare your kids and study.

Social Studies – In social studies we just started are simulation about setting the stage for the Revolutionary war.  Students are taking notes and we are discussing the rising tension in the colonies.  We will be creating some sort of a project for our actual Revolutionary war chapter.

Reading –  Literacy week is next week and we cannot wait to celebrate all things reading.  We will be welcoming secret guest red alouders, create our very own Harlem Shake book video, create radio podcasts about books, do riddle scavenger hunts with our buddies, and just read!  We will also be starting our author study with more information to come.  Genre study was a blast and if your child did fantasy their book trailer can be found on our website.

Writing –  Something about the word essays seems to scare some of the kids.  We are therefore figuring out how to write about our connections with stories without it seeming overwhelming.  We are hoping to finish this unit next week.

Science – We created models and maps of the playground and got acquainted with our stream tables, which means lots of sand in the classroom.  Next week we set up models for flood plains in the streamtables and learn a lot of new vocabulary.

Special Notes –

*  An amazing moment at the ICE conference I went to yesterday.  During the keynote, attended by 1,200 people, Wes Fryer, the speaker, showcased our Kidblog site as a reason to integrate digital media into the classroom.  I had no idea this would happen and let out a woo!  when it did.  I am so proud of what the students do every day in this classroom and thrilled that others see that as well.

*  We have a virtual guest from Canada who will be helping out for a few weeks.  Kendra Baraniski is a 4^th year education student at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan and needs to be embedded with a class that uses digital tools.  She was therefore paired with us and will be looking at the students’ blogs and so forth.  We look forward to having her help us the next few weeks.

*  Please send in gently used books for the book swap!  So far no books have been set in, which is fine, if we have few books we will just skip it.

*  Report cards will go home the week before spring break.

*Literacy week is all next week, we are excited to focus even more on reading.  Book character day is Friday.

*  Congratulations to Buddy and Noah E who both are winners in the Yahara River Writers contest, what an absolute honor for both of them.  

*Just a reminder that conferences are student led, so please bring your child!  They are all very excited to share their successes and goals with you.  Conferences will be 20 minutes long but if you need more time we can schedule a follow up. 

* Monday is absolute last day for either Read to Succeed (free Six Flags ticket) or Doodle for Google submissions.

* I have some dates for you to put on your calendars: Literacy week March 4^th – March 8^th, World Maths Day March 6^th,   Conferences March 7^th and 12^th, 2^nd Trimester ends March 8^th,  Third Trimester begins March 11^th,  Spring break March 23^rd through March 31^st.