Happy New Year!

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a wonderful break. I know I am feeling refreshed after the time spent with my family, but I am also excited to be back. The students also had a very good first week back, but I have a couple of quick notes before getting into our plans for the coming week: please review school expectations with your students at home. Remember, we have weekly writing homework (assigned Monday and due on Fridays), along with the expectation that students are reading at least 30 minutes each night. 

Also, I have noticed a lot of students not eating lunch. We have a very long afternoon, without any breaks. Many kids are complaining of headaches at this time. Please make sure your kids are coming to school with lunch or lunch money. I know I would not be able to function without a good lunch!

An Ode to Yo-Yo's

Don't get me wrong, I love Yo-Yo's. I can also appreciate the students' new found passion for Yo-Yo tricks.  However, there have been times that Yo-Yo's have been out during class. These are fairly isolated incidences, but I would like if families could talk with their students about keeping toys at home. I have given permission for the kids to use Yo-Yo's at morning recess, but they should be put in backpacks for the rest of the day. Yo-Yo's seen in class will be held until the end of the school year. Thank you for your help.

What Are We Working on in Class?

This week we will be finishing up a persuasive writing piece on the issues surrounding keeping pit bulls as pets. The students have done a excellent job of researching, note taking, and writing about whether or not pit bulls should be kept as pets in Scappoose. Their analysis of this complex issue has been very impressive; I am excited to see their finished works.

In language arts we have started unit three. Our first selection is about the Great Chicago fire, and focuses on arguments and claims made by the author and figurative language. On Wednesday we will begin "Airborn", an exciting science fiction story about a hot air balloon rescue. Our students will be looking at plot development and point of view. 

Next week, we will be starting a new social studies unit and research project on Ancient China. The students will be placed into "Tsings", or clans, and will complete a variety of projects to learn about the longest organized civilization on Earth. It is a fascinating unit, which culminates into a multi-media project on one of the dynasties in China's history.

In addition to all this, the class is now with Mr. Jeremiah for their physical science unit. He sends home some homework. Please check planners for updates. We are also continuing our health work with Chapter 2: Mental and Emotional Wellness.

Have an excellent week,

Ms. Kinsman