Weekly Memo (October 21-25)
Conferences & Feedback
Trust makes conflict the pursuit of truth.
-Patrick Lencioni
When I was a kid, I didn’t necessarily look forward to parent/teacher conference day. I did like having the day off, but I remember sweating a little wondering what my mom would possibly talk to my teachers about. A few times, I had the privilege of sitting just outside the classroom door as they discussed my academic progress, my classroom behavior, and my social well-being. My mom would nod and smile while listening to my teacher share something about me, but from where I sat, I had no idea what was being said.
Being able to see conferences from a teachers’ perspective and from a parents’ perspective has helped me re-shape my view on them completely. Now, both as a teacher and a parent, I look forward to them because it’s a great opportunity to pause midway through the first semester and make sure we’re all on the same page.
Sometimes I’ve had to share some tough feedback and sometimes I’ve had to hear it, but when that feedback comes from a place of love for the child, it’s easier to give and to receive. Ultimately, what’s best for this child is all that matters— even when it might be tough to hear.
Most times when my mom would return from conferences, we’d talk about what the teacher had said, then we’d talk about areas I needed to work on (usually being organized and not talking so much). That was typically about it. I don’t think my mom ever really learned anything about me, but I know she appreciated meeting with my teachers and reaffirming they loved me and wanted me to be successful. I hope that’s the message I communicate to students and parents every day.
What We’re Learning This Week (if all goes as planned)
I’ll mark each thing we get finished, and you can check back each day to see what we were able to get accomplished (and what we didn’t quite make it to).
Monday (No School— Conference Day)
Tuesday (Computers; Music)
- Bible
- Journal ✓
- Memory Verse Practice ✓
- Moses’s Life ✓
- English
- Pronoun Review ✓
- Math
- Grade Lesson 31 ✓
- Lesson 32— Polygons ✓
- Science
- Introduction to FOSS Science ✓
- Identifying a System ✓
- Spelling
- List 11 Practice (p. 56) ✓
- Reading
- Journeys vocab ✓
- Independent Reading ✓
Wednesday (Computers; Music)
- Bible
- Journal ✓
- Memory Verse Practice ✓
- Moses’s Life
- English
- Review Nouns, Pronouns, Subjects, and Verbs (Test Tomorrow)-- NO TEST THIS WEEK;
- Math
- Grade Lesson 32 ✓
- Lesson 33— Rounding Numbers and Estimates ✓
- Science
- The Biosphere, Living Systems & the Food Chain (FRIDAY)
- Spelling
- List 11 (pp 57-58) ✓
- Reading
- Journeys— read "The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo" ✓
- Focus: Cause & Effect
- Synonyms & Antonyms
Thursday (Computers; PE/Taekwonastics)
- Bible
- Journal ✓
- Practice Memory Verse ✓
- Moses’s Life Test Review-- NO. WE'RE NOT READY FOR A TEST.
- Plagues (1-3) ✓
- English
- Test over Nouns, Pronouns, Subjects & Verbs- POSTPONED
- Math
- Grade Lesson 33 ✓
- Lesson 34— Division with Zeros in the Quotient ✓
- Science
- The Biosphere, Living Systems & the Food Chain
- Spelling
- Pre-Test ✓
- Reading
- Journeys— Cause & Effect Activity
- Independent Reading
Friday (Book Buddies; Library)
- Bible
- Journal ✓
- Memory Verse Test ✓
- Moses’s Life Test— NO
- English
- Practice Parts of Speech— NO
- Math
- Grade Lesson 34 ✓
- Lesson 35— Word Problems About Comparing and Elapsed Time ✓
- Science
- Kelp Forest Food Web Activity— NO; Will do Monday
- Spelling
- Test (if necessary) ✓
- Reading
- Cause & Effect Activities ✓
- Journeys Comprehension & Vocabulary Quiz ✓
- Independent Reading ✓
This Week’s Memory Verse
The Lord said, "I have seen how my people are suffering in Egypt. I have heard them cry out because of their slave drivers. I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to save them from the Egyptians."
Exodus 3: 7-8
This Week’s Spelling List
Printable version—
Spelling List— Lesson Eleven (pp. 56-59)
- choose
- school
- threw
- crew
- drew
- future
- music
- usually
- taught
- laundry
- broom
- scoop
- booth
- jewel
- humor
- Utah
- naughty
- daughter
- sausage
- launch
This Week’s Tests & Quizzes
- Thursday
- Spelling Pre-Test
- English Test— Nouns & Pronouns; Subjects & Verbs
- Friday
- Spelling Test (if necessary)
- Memory Verse Test
- Journeys Comprehension & Vocab Test
Upcoming Projects
- Fall Fest (next Monday)
Chapel This Week
Friday, October 25
- Song— Hayden Gregory
- Scripture— Connor Mann
- Prayer— Carson Collier
Safety Patrol Rotation
Important Dates & Upcoming Events
- Monday, October 28
- Family Fall Fest (5:00-6:30 PM)
- Students will sign up tomorrow for face-painting booth time slots.
- Be on the lookout for more information!
- Tuesday, October 29
- Yearbook Picture Retakes (at the HS campus)
- Wednesday, October 30
- Photographer on campus (CAC PR)
- Friday, November 1
- 5th Grade will NOT lead chapel (field trip)
- 5th Grade Field Trip (with NLR 5th grade) to Wyldewood
- Departure Time: 8:05 AM
- Transportation: Bus
- Lunch: Students bring a sack lunch/drink
- Return Time: 2:45
- What to Wear: Spirit Wear (shirts and shorts— we’ll be outside playing games, so dress appropriately) 🙂
- Cost: None 🙂
- Emotional Mode: Child (for 90% of the day) 🙂
Resource of the Week
Helpful Links
Classroom Resource Page (for class schedule, safety patrol rotation, textbooks, etc.)
Google Classroom (students may access this from their Google drive account)
Class ShowMe Page (video tutorials)