5th Grade News.....

It's been an awesome week for the Apes & Heroes. The Apes won the Golden Spoon for best attendance at Cici's. Wish I could have been there.....

In Reading, our skill this week is Cause & Effect... the "Why" & the "What". As a result of the Apes having the most students at Cici's, they won the Golden Spoon. (Now that's a Cause & Effect sentence! Mr. G gave a great Treasure Hunt today to practice our skill.

Can you believe it???? We are half way through "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". Today was a turning point in our novel. Bruno meets Shmuel.... the boys bond instantly. They find out that even though they live on opposite sides of the fence, they really have a lot in common. Mr. G shared that Shmuel is one of his all time favorite characters. I have to admit that he does steal your heart. We will find out even more about him next week as we "travel" with these two 9 year boys through their friendship.

Have a great weekend...... stay dry!!!

Love you..... Mrs. P

The Apes took home the "Golden Spoon" for best attendance at Beauclerc's Night at Cici's.....


Seems we have a new "Ape/Hero"..... he makes you want to SHOUT!



Partner Reading .....


















Mrs. P like to read with the partners, too.....


So does Mr. G.....


A "Treasure Hunt" practicing this week's skill.....


Mrs. H likes to teach Science using "Gizmo".....

5th Grade News.....

FINALLY! we started "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". This is our last novel in our Holocaust Study and it is the "deepest" food for thought! This week we met Bruno and his family who have had to move to "Out With" because his father has been made the commandant. Bruno is a complex character... even though he seems to be naive about what's going on, he surprised us today by standing up to his father about wanting to move back to Berlin. My guided reading group did a lot of inferring about the characters in the chapters we read today, and the situations that were going on.

This week we are working on the skill of Author's Viewpoint and the strategy of Synthesizing. The Apes and Heroes are really building their reading ability.....

Try to stay warm this weekend.... it is a good weekend to snuggle up with a good book!

Love you..... Mrs. P

Our Reading Skill for this week.....


Yes, Jordan...... we finally started "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"!


Irina and Hiba are "really" into the story......


Nice glasses, Mr. G.....


Nothing like "relaxing" with a good book! The Heroes love it......


Kyle has just blended right in with the "Apes".....


Doesn't Alex look a little like we visualize Gretel would look.....


The Apes like to relax with a good book, too.....


Mr. G with his guided reading group.....


Trent and Alanya make great partners.....


Ikrom, Cory, and Bradley are a threesome partner group.....


Tyran and Aysa like to partner read in a "relaxing" way.....


Carly and Jose take turns reading.....


Hiba, Emmanuel, Camilla, Nikayla, and Spencer were my guided reading group... where's Mrs. P... taking the picture, of course.....


Is Jordan and Abrejanna reading or taking a bath.....

4th Grade News.....

The Ry/Ro's jumped right back into our routine after the holidays.

In Reading, we are working on the Reading Strategy, Inference. We are like "detectives" looking for the writer's clues so we can figure out (Infer) what characters are like or what situations are going on. Mrs. Ross found an awesome "game" to help us understand how to infer. It was the "BOYS" against the "GIRLS! Luckily it ended in a tie.

In Writing, we are in our last 30 days before the FCAT. This week we worked on Narrative Prompts. I am soooooo proud of how you all are doing. Next week we work on Expository Prompts, and then start writing to mixed prompts. We KNOW we'll be ready for the test.

Have a good weekend..... stay warm......

Love you...... Mrs. P

Our "new" strategy.....


Reinforcing our strategy with "Inference" Bingo.....


Girls putting their heads together.....


We've got it!!!!!


Boys putting their heads together.....


No, we've got it!!!!!


Plan...Write...Close...


What can we put in our writing.....


Checking our notebooks for some craft ideas.....


Practicing for the FCAT with a Narrative Prompt.....

What a GREAT way to start the New Year.....

I spent today with Mr. P, my son Ed, and daughter-in-law Kelly at the Gator Bowl Game. What an awesome ending to Bobby Bowden's career at FSU. The players played their hearts out and the fans were beyond description. Having gone to FSU and lived in Tallahassee several years... FSU football has been a big part of our lives for more than 30 years. Today was the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for FSU Football. Our new head coach has BIG shoes to fill....

Here are some pictures and videos of our exciting day.......

This photo was given to a Peck family member and then given to us several years ago...


The team arrives.....


Mr. P and I met at FSU... 42 years ago...


Is that Kelly (the Gator) in an FSU vest...


Inside dry and warm waiting for the game to start...


Enjoying the Brunch...


Bowden throws Osceola's spear...


Thanks, Kelly and Ed.... what a great way to start 2010...


Is it Halloween or New Years.....

Happy New Year.....

Well, it's 2010.....

We brought in the New Year with our wonderful group of friends from church. We had dinner, played Bunko, and then welcomed in the New Year. Here are some pictures from our evening.

Happy New Year to all of you and your families.......

Love you..... Mrs. P

New Years Eve with our wonderful friends.....

Where's the rest of the group.....


Here's some.....


Here's the rest.... I actually got in a picture.....


These guys look like they can't wait for 2010.....


Bringing in the New Year with great Friends.....


Happy New Year!!!!!!!