First week of school
Hello, hello and welcome back! I am excited to get his year started. I have an awesome group of 5th graders who are ready to learn and have fun!
Our first week consisted of routine reminders, Performance Series testing, classroom community building and consequence learning.
One of the activities we did to help build community in our classroom was our Graffiti Norms posters. Students had the chance to determine what they thought was most important about each poster. On each one they wrote their thoughts and explained them to a friend. Students also decided on 4 norms for our classroom this year.
- We are kind to everyone.
- We are a team.
- We encourage each other.
- It’s ok to ask for help.
They did such a great job determining their norms and explaining why they are important to our classroom culture.
Later in the week we discussed the importance of consequences, both positive and negative, using M&M’s and 7up!
Students pulled out as many M&Ms from the bag as they wanted, and also received a small can of 7up. I explained that now they are in 5th grade and I expect 7up sentences (sentences with 7 words or more) and that can of 7up will help remind them of this new expectation for the next part of the activity. Students then counted their M&Ms and I explained their consequence. Students had to write 1 7up sentences about themselves for EACH M&M they choose! (26 M&Ms= 26 7up sentences!) Be sure to read their reactions to this activity in the comments section!
Once again, I am so thankful for another great first week and am excited to spend the year with this great group of kids! What was something you remember about the first week of school?
Dear Miss Holmquist,
I liked that activity because the things we ate had a lot
of sugar. M&Ms are really good because they have chocolate.
From, Elliot
Dear Miss. Holmquist,
I remember the 7up sentences and I got 50 m&ms.I did not finish all my sentences.I really like that project and I hope we can do more projects like that.
The norms project I like a lot to because it will help are class.
from. Emaline
Dear Miss.Holmquist,
It was when we had m&m’s and 7up. It was so fun I cant what till we do it again! If I was a teacher I would do it with my class every week!
your student,
Jody
DEAR MISS HOLMQUIST
I liked the 7up activity because of the consequences it made me want too do more.
I’ve been exited for the new year ahead of us.
YOUR STUDENT,
WYATT
Dear Miss Holmquist
I remember grabbing 40 M&M’s exact. I was so exited to eat them, and then you said we had to write a 7up sentence for each M&M! I was wishing I could of put them all back. I thought that it was going to be terrible having to write all of that, but then once I started to write I started to have fun talking with every one. So over all I had a lot of fun and I want to say thank you to Miss Holmquist!
Your Student,
Ashlyn
Dear Miss Holmquist
Somthing I remember about the first day of shcool was we did
a treasure hunt and we got to collect a bunch of prizes!
What was your favorite thing about the first day of school?
Your dearst student
Willow
Dear Mrs.Holmquist,
One thing that I remember is, doing the M&M project. I remember it because I grabbed 86 M&M’s. I only got 16 done the fist day! I still have 70 to go, but even though I have to write 86 sentences it was still fun.
Your Student,
Camilla
Dear Mrs.Holmquist,
The thing i remember about last week is that we learned about “multiple intelligence’s” and how we learned that we are all smart in diffrent ways.And also, the quiz that told you what smart you are. (I am music smart.) Anyway, I do also remember the M&M and the 7up project we did. That was fun! Anyways, thats all i remember really.
Your student,
Makenna
Dear Mrs.Holmquist, I think the 7up activity is cool. The m&m thing was very unexpecting to every one. I remember squiggle writing. From your student, Joshua
Dear miss Holmguist,
I loved the 7up project because you gave me seventeen minims.
So thank you and the minims are vary good but the 7up was not that cold.
from,Landon
Dear Mrs. Holmquist,
What I remember of the first day of school is Post Its when we had to promise something for the school year. Another thing I remember from last week is the of course 7UP and M&M sentence thing
Your Student
Vanessa
Dear Mrs.Holmquist, I remember making a growth mindset flip-book. I also remember the candy and soda activity. It was all super super fun!!!
Your student,
Lily
Dear Miss Holmquist, The 7up activity was fun and boring. The hardest part was writing the sentences because it was one m&m sentence. The fun part was eating m&ms. On my way home I ate the rest of the m&ms. Your student, Koby Anderson
Dear Ms. Holmquist,
I miss being in 5th grade! Right now im in 9th period keyboading class. I rememeber doing this activity, everyone wanted to grab the most, but i knew their was a twist!
Anyway i got to go have a nice day!
Sincerly your old student,
Talia Tepp
Hello Talia,
I’m so glad to hear you’re working on your keyboarding skills. I am sure you are getting faster everyday! We had a great time with this activity again this year. My students all chose large handfuls. It was great to see their reaction when I told them the twist!
Hope you have a great school year! You’re an amazing student and young lady!
Your former teacher,
Miss Holmquist