Surprise!

We had a little surprise earlier this week and our little peanut came a few weeks earlier than expected.

Arvella Karst Simmons, "Vella", was born Tuesday, 9/17/13 at 6:18pm.

She was 7 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long.

We are all doing well and getting used to our new family.  Here are a few pictures of our sweet baby girl:

Wide awake at the hospital

Big brother Alton already looking after his little sister 

Headed home from the hospital 

Our first outing to the doctor, I think purple is her color

I hope you all have a relaxing track out, I will do my best to continue weekly updates as to what is being taught in the classroom.

Report cards will be going home one week later than previously expected.  

Week 9 9/3-9/6

I am so sorry I missed last week. But here is a synopsis of this past week and a sneak peak into next week.

As we near the end of the quarter there is always time to make sure all the class work gets completed and turned in. And there is everyone's favorite....testing....

This week we took a Case 21 test in math and language arts. These are county wide tests we take at the end of each quarter.  We also took a math quiz earlier in the week and short test today.  In math we wrapped up multiplication and next week we will begin division (with the area model).  That will also be where we pick up in the second quarter.

In social studies we learned more about why/how the early settlers moved throughout the different regions in the state. We learned care and usage of iPads and worked in small groups to read various articles.  Next week we will be studying the revolutionary war.  

Second quarter the focus will be on government.  This will be integrated throughout reading and writing as the focus there is non fiction.

In reading we focused more on making inferences.  Students read several different newspapers (nc weekly) to learn about the lost colony at Roanoke. As they read the various articles, they had to for, their own theory as to what happened to the colony and write a brief essay explaining what their theory was.  They also had to use evidence from the articles to support their theory. 

Next quarter we will be learning about non fiction text features and focus on reading non fiction in class.

In writing we wrapped up conferences and finished up the narratives we started earlier in the quarter.  Students also had time to revise and edit the work they did with Mr. Peacock last week.  Some students finalized the paragraph they wrote, others used the paragraph as a starting point to create an entire story.

Next quarter we will be focused on non fiction writing and researching.

Second quarter in science students will be learning about landforms.

**No specials on Monday, Tuesday we will be in the computer lab doing a other Sri test to show growth from the first quarter.

**reminder that I am having conferences on Wednesday next week.  I will be at school the entire week, but after Friday will not be checking emails until we track back in.

Have a wonderful weekend!