Calendar Math on the Docucam...


"Pick me...I know the answer!!!"

Just checked JT's blog and saw this picture and caption... why didn't you tell me today? Could it be you wanted me to visit your Blog?

Congratulations JT...You're "awesome"!

Miami was my 2nd tournament. Man was it fun!!
I walked home with 1st place Weapons, 1st place
Forms, and 2nd place in Sparring. I am so ecstatic!!!
Hope I do this well at my next tournament.

History and "Life" Lesson

History was made today as we watched our new president take the Oath of Office. One observation I made today was that this generation of children didn't see why we made such a big deal about inaugurating our first African -American President. At first this took me by surprise... but then I came to realize that Beauclerc... and our own class... is very culturally diverse. To our students this just seemed like a natural event. It is "our" generations that wondered if we would ever see this day. Our children see it as just another inauguration. This is exactly the life lesson that Mr. G and I want to come from the Holocaust unit.

Today was a special day for me... but not for the reason I thought it would be. I'm proud to be your teacher!

Our New President

5th Grade News...

Mr. Peck and I went to see "Defiance" this weekend. It is rated "R" for graphic violence and probably not appropriate for 5th graders to see. It is the story of some very brave Jews (the Bielski brothers) who led a group of Jews into a forest where they lived for 2 years. Some 1200 Jews successfully hid from the Nazis and survived. Here are some pictures from the National Holocaust Museum... 

The Bielski Partisan Group

Operating in Western Belorussia (Belarus) between 1942 and 1944, the Bielski partisan group was one of the most significant Jewish resistance efforts against Nazi Germany during World War II.

While its members did fight against the Germans and their Collaborators, the Bielski group leaders emphasized providing a safe haven for Jews, particularly women, children, and elderly persons who managed to flee into the forest. Under the protection of the Bielski group, more than 1200 Jews survived the war, one of the most successful rescue efforts during the Holocaut.

The Bielski Brothers

Portrait of Tuvia Bielski after the war.

Post war portrait of Alexander Bielski,

a founding member of the Bielski partisan

group. 1945-1948

Portrait of Asael Bielski, a founder of the

Bielski brothers' Jewish partisan unit in

Naliboki forest. He was killed on the 

Soviet front in 1944.

Group portrait of former Bielski partisans from

Nowogrodek taken in the Foehrenwald displaced

persons camp. Germany, April 3, 1948.

5th Grade News Bulletin...

Just checked Mr. G's blog... Mrs. P can't wait till Friday to taste his world renowned "Kool Aid Pickles"... At least I think I can't...


Been "Pickle Surfing"... Check out my pickle collection...

These pickles are dancing....
they can't wait till Friday when they
can taste the Kool Aid Pickles!!!!!

Administrators & Teachers enjoy
the "DANCE"!


Everyone loves to dance with Mrs. Ryan!!


"Where's John Travolta when you need him?"


"Can you Macarena?"


"Ms. West can dance!"


"Go for it, Mrs. Hartless..."

5th Graders enjoy the "dance"...

4th Graders at the "Dance"...

5th Grade News...

What an "awesome" week... even Mr. G said that it was a great week. Most all students have finished their World War I Reports and have them on display on the bulletin board, cork strip, or in the classroom.

Best of all, in reading we are really getting into the "meat" of our novel, "Mildweed"! Things are really going down fast in the Ghetto. Life is getting so difficult for Janina and Misha. Nevertheless, they still seem to be able to bounce back. I think having each other and their "special" relationship is what keeps them going. Both characters have begun to "see the light". They are not as naive as they were in the beginning of the novel. Jerry Spinelli is such a fantastic author. His characters are so "alive" and truly develop and change over the course of his novels.

Today, we finally see the significance of the "Angel" and "Milkweed". We had an awesome discussion of the symbolism of these two items in Spinelli's novel. It seems hard to believe that we will probably finish "Milkweed" this next week. Don't you wish it could go on forever? I really don't want to say "Goodbye" to Misha and Janina...

I love sharing this novel with you...

Have a great weekend... Love you... Mrs. P

"Milkweed" is really starting to
"touch" our hearts...

4th Grade News...

We had another grrrreat week.

In reading we finished our selection "Boss of the Plains" and the skill of Generalization. It was quite an interesting selection about the man who invented the "Stetson" hat. He was quite an awesome character.

In writing we are continuing to improve our "Expository" writing. We are becoming quite adept at peer conferencing. Mrs. Peck/Ryan/and Ross cannot conference with everyone every day... but we CAN help each other with our writing... We had a special treat on Wednesday... Mrs. Kornblum came in with a special visitor to conference with some of us.

Thank you, Mrs. Kornblum...

Let's kick our Expository Writing
up a "notch".....

BAM!

Conferencing with our "Teachers"
and our "Principal"...


"Cameron, how about trying some sensory
details?"


"Mario, how about putting in a simile?"


"Mackenzie, have you thought about this
transition word?"


"Mekhi, let's think of another reason..."

Peer Conferencing on our "Expository"
Writing...
What's Positive/Some Suggestions...

CONGRATULATIONS GATORS



Go Gators...Mrs. Costiloe "proudly" wears
her orange and blue... what's on your feet???

Mrs. Peck spent Saturday participating
in a "Chili Cook-Off" at her Church...

The "Chili Cuties" didn't win... but we
sure had FUN!!!

5th Grade News...

We had a great week! Like my 4th graders... the Apes came back from break ready to hit the ground running. Everyone is working on publishing their World War I reports. They are wonderful! All of you have managed to put your "voice" in the report. I'm so proud of you. I know you have worked "long" and "hard" on these reports and they show it.

In reading our skill this week was "Author's Viewpoint". I think everyone now understands the difference between viewpoint and purpose... Mr. G gave us a great example using the viewpoint of how World War I started from the "perspective" of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Black Hand. This week in reading our selection is "Katie's Trunk"... our skill is Cause & Effect.

I know we will have another great week...

Love you... Mrs. P

What do you get when you plant
potatoes in Mr. G's backyard for
6 months?????


"What did we just eat???"


"I haven't got a clue..."


"I think I've seen these before..."


"It's not bad..."

"
"Mine turned to DIRT!"