Last week, we ended our week with a school wide spirit assembly. Each grade level team had to introduce themselves to the rest of the school using a skit, song, cheer, etc. Our fifth graders helped Mr. Baldwin, Mrs. Porter, and myself rock it out to our version of "Ice, Ice, Baby" called "5th Grade Baby!" Control your laughter, as you view our YouTube Video of our part of the assembly. :) Click HERE to see the video.
Bullying has been a main theme within our classroom this week. We, as a fifth grade, are standing up against bullying. We have focused on the types of bullying and how to not be a bystander. We can and should stand up for one another. Listen as AD 5th grade takes a stand against bullying. Click HERE to see the video.
Along with learning about Bullying, the students also created our door decorations for the school wide door decorating contest. A lot of patience, teamwork, and creativity was involved in the process of creating four different door covers. They did such a great job!
We are working on building up our repertoire of digital tools. This is a process that must be taken slowly, so we become experts on the tools that we are going to use during our studies throughout the days. Our fifth graders, this week, increased their knowledge with Symbaloo, Edmodo, and Kidblog.
Symbaloo is a computer "Home" or "Start" page. It allows us to all have access to the same websites with just a click, without searching for sites or typing in URLs.
Edmodo is the digital tool we will be using for our classroom planners, collaboration, and for finding most of their homework. Not all homework will be on here, but most will.
Kidblog is a classroom blog. Each of our students has their own personal blog page. It is connected to a teacher blog page to keep their writings private from the rest of the world. Kidblog will be used primarily during our ELA (Reading, Writing, Spelling) Block, but will also be utilized in our other subject areas as well throughout the year. Students showed such excitement as they set up their blog pages and published their first blog today on "Bullying."
Sometime this weekend, ask your child to share with you the ends and outs of these new digital tools.
In your child's Friday Folder this week, you will find permission slips for our first field trip coming up on September 6th. We will be going to Radical Challenge to work on team-building. This is such an amazing trip that our fifth graders enjoy every year. We are in need of 16 parent volunteers (We can only take the first 16) who would be willing to help and be group leaders on our trip. Find the handouts in their Friday Folder and return it to us next week.
Today, we had the opportunity to work with our Kindergarten Buddies for the first time. All AD Kindergartners came down to our classroom. We got to know one another, talked about the parts of a book, and read to our kindergarten friends.
Next week, we will continue dressing in colors to help our kindergarten friends review their colors. Here are the colors to wear next week.
Monday: Purple
Tuesday: Pink
Wednesday: Black
Thursday: Brown
Friday: White
Because this is a Pilot Classroom, our team of teachers created a Professional Blog for reflection and sharing of the progress of the program for other teachers, administrators, or anyone who wants to follow our journey. If ever you would like to read the professional blog, you may do so at http://behindthescencesatad.blogspot.com/.
Finally, here are some upcoming dates to put in your calendars for the next few weeks.
August 26: Skate Night at Northland Rolladium Skate Center - 6-8pm.
August 27: Parent Information Night - 6-8pm K,1,2 6-7pm and 3,4,5 7-8pm
August 30: August 5th Grade Birthday Celebration
August 30: Club's Choice Fundraiser Begins
September 2: No School - Labor Day
September 6: Running Club 8am
September 6: Field Trip - Radical Challenge
Thanks for all you do at home! We appreciate you!
~Mrs. Rhea
Thank you for sharing your classroom! It is really fun to see students so engaged in learning. Can't wait to hear more about student blogging and working within Edmodo - you have an outstanding list of digital tools you are exploring!
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