HAPPY PAJAMA, SLEEPING BAG, HOT CHOCOLATE, GRANDPARENTS' BREAKFAST FRIDAY

You got that right...total chaos in my room today...but fun and still full of learning...I'm just not quite as FULL of patience :-)...but hey, it's Friday, right?

LANGUAGE ARTS
We ventured into folk tales this week...we've listened to stories about Anansi the Spider, read various other folk tales, discussed their characteristics, compared stories, and analyzed characters...next week we're headed into the land of FABLES...some of my personal favorites!

The kids shared their projects this week...what a great job they did...and their oral communication continues to improve! I know I've said this before...but each oral presentation is practice for a BIG FUN project I like to call The Wills' Wax Museum later this year...so loud, clear voices and eye contact are VERY IMPORTANT!!

Everyone is continuing on their "Ella" stories...some are drafting, some are revising, some are proofreading, and a few have finished. By next Friday all students will have completed their rough drafts. We will work on final drafts in the computer lab the first week of November. These published pieces are true works of art!

MATH
We finished out our multiplication unit with a quiz and we will work on algebra indicators over the next few days. Did you know...these kids LOVE function tables!! Ask your son or daughter what a function table is and have them make one for you to try to figure out. We started out by defining a function table, solving some function tables, being STUMPED by a function table (I LOVE stumping these kids...you should see them all squirm when they can't figure something out!:-)), and then creating their own function tables for each other. Today we are going to have "Function Tables Around the Room"...their creations hung up for each other to solve! REMINDER...your child should continue to work on multiplication facts at home!!

SCIENCE
What a bunch of scientists you've sent to me! They can't get enough...they come into the classroom and immediately look to see if Science is on the schedule! We are working on a unit titled Chemical Tests. We have been discussing properties of matter...observable properties and measurable properties. We have been reading about chemical properties and physical properties. The kids got to experience observing both this week during an experiment. We observed the physical properties of water and a white powder. Then we mixed the two substances together to observe the chemical properties of the new substance. We will be conducting many experiments next week and continue focusing on the science indicators.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
I realize that the next statement may make me incredibly unpopular...I will take that risk. EVERY STUDENT IN MY CLASS IS REQUIRED TO DO A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT. Ok, there, I said it. The kids are coming home today with some information about the science fair. I have put together a packet that will help the kids step by step with the science fair project process. Please look over the packet with your child and begin brainstorming ideas for their own project. More details to follow.

TUESDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK
We are headed to the ESSL this Tuesday...we are all very excited to see the new ESSL building! I will try to remember to take pictures while we're there.

FRIDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK
It's Pumpkin Math Day, it's Fall Festival Day, and it's an early release day...tell me that won't be another chaotic one! :-) Thank you to all of the parents who have remembered to send Mrs. Gallo the $3 to help with the needs of our party...I met with her yesterday and she has a fun party planned for your kids! Our Pumpkin Math activities might get a little messy, so keep that in mind when your child is getting dressed on Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend...I am off to the beach with my sister, Mom, and Dad, for an annual rest and shop weekend!!