Fabulous 5th Grade

Welcome to February!

2012-01-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

Another month has come and gone, and here in Room 18 we are working hard and making a lot of progress! Last month I was able to go to two trainings and to observe a STEM school is Las Vegas. I can't wait to use some of the fun things I've learned!

Math
    The students have done wonderfully with the basic fraction concepts. We will be working on adding and subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping, multiplying fractions, and ratios this month. The students have all of the skills they need to be successful, it's just a matter of learning the steps to use what they know.

Reading
    Intervention groups have started again. The students are working on a weekly story out of the Harcourt Trophies book. They practice comprehension strategies and learn about different genres. In small groups, they are either working with a Title 1 aid or are in a guided reading group with me. Ask your child to tell you about the book he/she is reading!

Writing
     Writing persuasive letters will be the focus of our writing lessons this month as we prepare to take to the Direct Writing Assessment. This is a writing test that all fifth graders will be participating in. Your child will be given a writing prompt and be expected to write a well-organized essay in the computer lab. The assessment will be graded by professionals at the state level. There will be several areas that will be graded. These include ideas, organization, word choice, voice, sentence structure, and spelling and punctuation.

Science
     Give your child a high five! The entire class did an excellent job on their magnetism tests! Our average score was 19/20!   Nowadays, there is electricity in the air! We will be focusing on both static and current electricity this month. Towards the end of the month we will begin our final unit on heredity.

Social Studies
   Lewis and Clark, The War of 1812, The Texas Revolution, The Trail of Tears, and wagon trains were all covered in January. This month we will be learning about The War with Mexico, the California Gold Rush, the Homestead Act, the Pony Express, and the events leading up to the Civil War. We are covering a lot of information and the students are meeting the challenge with excitement and success! I love teaching US history!

SEP meetings
SEP meetings will be held the first week in March. Look for your appointment notice to come home during the second week of February. Also, if your child is on an IEP, your child's spring conference will be held at the middle school with the teacher that will be over him/her. If you still would like a regular SEP with me, just email me and let me know. Spring SEPs are very important for 5th graders!!! We will be filling out middle school registration as well as holding a progress conference. Your child will have to choose between band, orchestra, and an arts rotation. If your child is going to choose to play an instrument, we will need to put down which instrument he/she wants to play at that time.

State Reports
     Hopefully you have heard by now that we are working on state reports in class. We will spend a large amount of time in the coming weeks on these reports. There will be ample time and instruction given on researching, how to put facts in your own words, how to organize a multi-page report, and to work on the maps and poetry that are required. The final draft will need to be completed at home, and it may be typed or neatly written. This will be the large project for 3rd quarter. It is due on Wednesday, February 29th.

*Please remind your child to read each night!

Welcome to 2012!

2012-01-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a refreshing break and is ready to come back full steam ahead! The next few months are critical as we really push into new academic territory.

Math --We will be spending a couple of days reviewing and refreshing material we have covered. Then we will begin our unit study on fractions. We will be learning about equivalent fractions, reducing/simplifying fractions, and comparing and ordering fractions. We will also be learning how fractions, decimals, and percents are connected.

Reading --We will be working out of the Harcourt text books for the first two weeks back. After the assessments given during the first two weeks, we will then be breaking up into guided reading groups again, and delving into some really exciting novels.

Spelling--Our lists for the coming month are going to be as follows:
                 Week 1-repeat of I before E list. The scores in December on this list were mediocre. It is an important rule to learn. The complete rule is: I before E, except after C and in words that say "ay" or "I"
               Week 2--working on suffixes again ful, ness, ly

               Week 3-- Working on science words

               Week 4-- Compound words

Writing--The kids will be writing the summary for their Matter chapter in their science book, as well as be turning in their chapter on the American Revolution in their time travel book. We will also be learning more about how to use the 4-square organizer to help with our writing. This is a really useful tool. My son is a senior in college, and still uses the basic organizer for his writing. We will be using it to help us do our best in our Direct Writing Assessment. This is a test every 5th grader in the district will take in February.    *Last month's focus was on descriptive writing. Hopefully your child brought home his/her Christmas Is poem so that you could see how descriptive your young author is. Several of the poems were published in Iron County Today just before Christmas. Let me know if you did not see it, and I will make copy of my issue.

Science--We are finishing up our Matter unit and will begin our study of magnetism and static electricity.

Social Studies--We are beginning our longest unit of the year. It covers Westward Expansion and is very fun. We will begin with Lewis and Clark and finish up with the Pony Express. We will be covering The War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, the Trail of Tears, wagon trains, and the War with Mexico. 5th graders usually love this unit, so ask your child what he/she is learning about!

Please be aware I will be out of the classroom twice this month for training. The first will be for a first-responder class. Since we only have a nurse in the building once a week, we try to have several staff members certified as first-responders for student safety.    The second training I will be attending is an arts conference that also focuses on recycling and engineering. In light of North's transition to a STEM school, and my belief that the arts are important to a well rounded student, I volunteered to attend the conference.

Best wishes for a fantastic new year!

It's the Best Time of the Year!

2011-11-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year! The excitement, the traditions, the sound of little ones singing Christmas carols in music filling the halls. Of course, there is also a huge amount of stress and scheduling overload, as well.

Thanks to all of the parents and grandparents who helped make our Legacy Fair a success. I know that this project is one that took some assistance on your parts, but I think it is such a worthwhile one I keep doing it each year. I am hopeful that you and your child had a good time discussing what makes your family unique and special.

There are a few things going on during this month you will want to be aware of. First, is that our class is working hard with Mrs. Mel putting together a few scenes from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. As soon as I get the date and time of the school performance, I will let you know. You won't want to miss it. Our class has some amazing actors and actresses in it! Also, the last day of school before Christmas Vacation is December 16th. Please enjoy your holiday and have safe travels and many wonderful memories.

Math: We have finished our basic Geometry unit and will spend the next three weeks working on area, perimeter, volume, and surface area. Your child will need to design a "gingerbread" house to bring in on the 16th. Please don't feel the need to make a homemade one. In fact, cardboard ones work wonderfully! We will be decorating these on the 16th. After the decorating has had a chance to set, we will be finding the area, perimeter, and volume of the houses. I will be asking that each child bring in frosting and something to decorate with (cereal works great and is relatively inexpensive). We'll share everything that is brought in. It's such a fun day. I will also welcome any and all volunteers that are willing to come in and help supervising our decorating. I will send home a flyer as it gets closer with the time.

Reading: Many of our groups are finishing up their novels. I hesitate to begin a new novel that will be not be finished before the holiday break, so we will be working on some non-fiction as well as short stories in the Harcourt set. Please encourage your child to read over the holidays!

Spelling: This week's list is a Christmas themed list. There are many longer words on it, but they should be fairly easy for the students to break apart by this point in the year as they use spelling rules we've already covered. Next week's list is one that focuses on the "I before E, except after C" rule. There will be no spelling list the week before Christmas. The annual spelling bee is approaching. Please let me know if your child is interested in participating! I will get a list of the words and rules to the parents who respond.

Social Studies: We are wrapping up our unit on the American Revolution, and will be working on understand how the federal government works next.

Science: The kids have been having a fun time with our Matter unit. We will be finishing this unit up during the next three weeks, as well. After the holiday we will begin our study of magnetism and electricity.

Writing: We have been doing a lot of writing! Not only have we been working on narrative writing (writing that tells a story), we have been doing a lot of poetry writing as well. Some of the poetry written by these students is absolutely amazing. We will continue to do at least one big poetry piece each month, in addition to the weekly poetry assignments they have. We are also beginning to focus on persuasive writing. Later this year, your child will be required to take a writing assessment that focuses on persuasive writing.

As the holiday season gets into full swing, I want to let you know how grateful I am to be a part of your students' lives. They are a remarkable batch of young people who continue to teach me. I also want to thank you for the kind thoughts and concern shown to me while my father was in the hospital, and then when I became so ill the following week. I appreciate it more than words can express. May your holidays be merry and bright!

Mrs. Bunker

October

2011-10-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

The year is just flying by! A big thank you to all of the parents who came to SEP conferences! It makes such a difference when your student knows you care about education.

Math
We have finished Topics 1,2, and 3, and are now working on division. Many of the students have a high anxiety level about division. I am working hard to make it non-threatening and fun. Please make sure your student is feeling comfortable with the homework assignment. If your child is having a lot of anxiety or difficulty, please write a note on the homework paper, so that I am aware!

Reading
   Workshop time is going really well! Several students are getting ready to begin their second novels. Reading progress is being made by each and every one of the 5th graders in room 18. Give your child a pat on the back.
   Please remember to ask to see your child's planner each night!!!!

Spelling
   The first week of October will be our Halloween Themed spelling list. We will be doing a lot of writing in October, so it will be especially useful to know how to spell these! The second week in October will be a regular list. The general list will focus on when able/ible words. (You use able at the end of a word when there is a base word that can stand alone). There will be no spelling list the week of the 19th since it is a three day week. When we return from vacation, we will have a week of reviewing all of the spelling patterns we have covered so far.

Writing
   Chapter 2 in our Time Travel chapter books is underway! We will be spending time in class working on the rough draft, editing, and revising. Please feel free to help your child with the typing, if he or she would prefer to have it typed. My goal is to have this be a fun way to integrate social studies and writing, for the kids to use their imaginations, and share what they have learned.
   Quotation marks and dialogue will be one of our main topics this month, as will word choice. We will be doing some fun activities to help the kids learn these good author's skills and encourage their use in their writing.
Poetry is often intimidating for 5th graders, but we are starting to spend some time writing poetry, as well. After our amazing field trip, we brainstormed about autumn on the mountain, and wrote three different kinds of poetry. The kids then picked their favorite, and created some landscape art, and glued their poem onto it. They are looking amazing! I will be laminating these and putting them up in the hall. You should stop by and check out these projects. I've got a batch of really gifted students this year!

Science

Our field trip was a huge success! As we end our unit on geology, we will move on to Matter. It is a really fun unit. We will be learning about the three phases of matter, chemical changes, physical changes, elements, atoms, and all kinds of fun things.

Social Studies
   We have finished with our first major unit in Social Studies, as well. Most of the kids loved learning about the different explorers and did very well on the end of unit test. We will be learning about the events leading up to the American Revolution and the Revolution itself in our next unit. I am thrilled that most of the students are really enjoying learning about US history this year. It is such fun to teach them!

Reminders of Important Events

* Maturation Program will be held November 11th at 2:00. Please make sure there is a responsible adult with your child if at all possible!

*No school October 20th-24th. The last day of class will be Wed. the 19th. We will return to class on Tuesday, the 25th. Have a great vacation with your family, and be safe!

Thanks so much for all of your support!

Mrs. Bunker

Happy September!

2011-09-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Labor Day holiday is over, and that means that school is in full swing now. We have been working hard and have accomplished a lot already! Thank you for having your students here on time and ready to go! This year's class has the best attendance and punctuality that I have seen in quite a few years. Kudos to my students and their parents!
Math
      We have finished Topic 1 with great results! We started Topic 2 this week, and it will continue next week. Topic 2 focuses on rounding, adding, and subtracting whole numbers and decimals. Each day as part of the lesson the students write steps used to solve the problems in their math notes, so they should have access to step by step instructions at home if they need them.

Reading
Finishing the class novel The Homework Machine was bittersweet for most of the students. They enjoyed the novel and writing style of the author, Dan Gutman. We will be starting literature circles and guided reading groups later this week. I truly believe that my students need to not just know how to read, but to develop a love for it, as well. As a result, I immerse them in as many good books as possible throughout the year. Your child will be reading a wide variety of books during our literacy time. Be sure to ask about what's going on in the group reading!

Writing
Writer's Workshop is getting underway as well in Room 18. Writer's Workshop is a time devoted to practice and improvement of our writing. Each of the students has met with me and set a specific writing goal to work on. There will be mini-lessons, but mostly lots of time to practice writing. I will continue to have mini-conferences with each student to check on individual progress, as well as instruct the students on how to effectively run an Author's Support Circle, in order to get feedback from each other.
      We will be writing a chapter book in 5th grade. Your child is the main character, and has started the introduction this week. As we learn about US history this year, your child will be writing chapters about traveling through time in order to be a participant, or meet a historical figure who was a participant in some of the important events we learn about. It is a lot of fun. If your child wishes to have his/her stories typed, and then glue the pages into the book, I am fine with that. My goal in this activity is to have your child blend writing with social studies and use his/her imagination. Your child will need to have a rough draft, and go through the editing process, but you can help with the typing.

Spelling
     We are working on Week 3. Hopefully you are seeing a copy of the list brought home on the first day of each week. Last week, the kids did amazingly well. Keep up the good work!

Science
Plate tectonics are cool! The kids have been having a lot of fun learning about how mountains and volcanoes are created, what causes earthquakes, and mapping recent eruptions and earthquakes on our map. Next week we will learn about erosion and weathering, and how they effect the surface of our planet. We are tentatively planning a field trip for Tuesday, September 27. We will be heading up to Cedar Mountain where we will venture into Mammoth Caves (which are old lava tubes) and go to Cedar Breaks in order to observe weathering and erosion up close. More information will be included on the permission slip which will go home as soon as we've gotten the bus arrangements confirmed.

August 25, 2011

2011-08-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

     The school year is off to a great start in Room 18. I hope your child is feeling excited about fifth grade and is looking forward to coming to school each day!

   I will be sending home book orders on Friday, the 26th. Book orders are a great way to support a love of reading at a low cost. I will be sending home multiple book orders, but you can write just one check for all of them. You may also order online and pay with a credit/debit card. If you order online you will need to enter the code GYLY7. This will let you into my account.    I do send home a "little kids" book order for those of you who may have small children or grandchildren. At anytime throughout the year if you would like to order something for a surprise or gift for your child, just send me a note. I will be happy to keep your secret and will let you know when you can pick it up in the office.

Math
   We are reviewing place value and how to compare, order, and round numbers this week. The kids are doing a great job! We are also doing multiplication fact timings in order to get the kids ready for more advanced math. Your child has 5 minutes to complete 110 facts. Many of them are well on their way to becoming Math Fact Masters! If your child is still struggling with his/her basic facts, please spend some time practicing them. It will make a world of difference as we get into our units on multiplication, division, fractions, and geometry.

Reading
     First, let me start by saying that that I do not only want children to learn strategies on how to read, but I want them to develop a love of reading. In my opinion, that is difficult to achieve by simply following a basal textbook where they read a short selection and answer the questions at the end. We will be reading a variety of books, some in a whole class setting, many in small groups, often in a variety of subjects, and each child will be provided 20 minutes several times a week in order to read a book of personal choice. Your child will also complete different activities and projects designed to improve comprehension and critical thinking. This year your child will be expected to read several different genres of books. Many times a child who claims to not like reading takes off and soars when exposed to different genres.
    This week your child was given a quick word recognition screening in the classroom, and took a reading level assessment with one of our Title One aides. This gives us a good benchmark on where the students are at. We will use this information to put together intervention groups for any students who need a little extra support, as well as determining appropriate books for each child in our guided reading groups.
     In the classroom we have begun reading a class novel called The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman. As we read the students will be doing journal writing, comparisons and contrasts, predicting, and using critical thinking skills.
     Our read aloud book is Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice. It is set in 1839 and is action packed with some very intense scenes. It offers the kids a great springboard for discussions on prejudice, attitudes, optimism vs. pessimism, and the effect of one person on a community. Ask your child to tell you about it!

Spelling
   This week's list is a school themed list, meaning all of the words have to do with school.   I have also given the students a spelling assessment that will let me know where each child is at with spelling. Depending on the results, I will probably be offering a minimum of two different spelling lists. I am observing a wide range of spelling abilities in this group of students, and want to assure that each child has access to a list that will be both challenging and within their capabilities. In order for multiple lists to be used effectively, though, the students will need to take a greater responsibility in their spelling activities and studying at home.

Language Arts/Writing
   We have been reviewing parts of a letter, as well as writing in our journals during class. Many of the students have said that punctuation, spelling, and coming up with ideas are very difficult for them. I will continue assessing during these early weeks in order to provide lessons that are tailored to this particular group.
   Be prepared this year for A LOT of writing, across the curriculum. We are using the new common core curriculum this year, and it calls for a major increase in the amount and quality of writing done by fifth graders across the nation. I am excited. Your child will receive specific writing strategy lessons about three times a week during our Writer's Workshop, and will have uninterrupted writing time each day to practice those strategies.

Social Studies
Maps are magnificent! We are learning about maps and the different regions, waterways, and mountain ranges located in the United States. Your child will navigate around the globe using latitude and longitude lines to find specific locations.

Science
   I just love it when I can show real-life applications to science, and boy, has this week cooperated! We are learning about the layers of the earth and plate tectonics. As earthquakes occur and volcanoes erupt, we will be mapping them on our wall map this year (We've already got three earthquakes up!). If you happen to catch news of an eruption or earthquake on the news, discuss it with your child. It's fun to see the ring of fire appear on our map.

February 22, 2011

2011-02-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that February is almost gone! We have made really good use of the month, though! The students have done an AMAZING job on their fractions, we are moving along on our reading novels, and social studies and science are both whizzing right along!

Math-We are learning about ratio and percent this week. This is a short, fast-paced and fun unit for the kids.

Reading-Our groups are continuing to read great novels. We are making a Book Tapestry instead of doing a traditional book report with the novels we are reading in guided reading.

Spelling-Our list this week focuses on three word roots: tele (meaning from a distance), geo (meaning earth), and therm (meaning heat). Learning to spell and understand the meanings behind these common roots will help your students as they run across a myriad of words in middle school and beyond.

Social Studies- Your student should have brought home a map, a blank file folder, and a sheet of instructions to make a Wagon Train game last week. The game is due this Friday. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to stop by the room! An example is in the display case, and, of course, I am available to answer questions.

Science-We have learned about traits being passed from parent organism to offspring, learned vs. instinctive behavior, variations, and now we are on to the fascinating world of Specialized Structures. These are body parts that give an organism a survival advantage in its environment. We are going to be having a lot of fun with this topic in the coming weeks. We should be finished with this unit during SEP week.

February 14, 2011

2011-02-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Week!

We have had a great time so far this February. We've covered a lot of material and had a lot of fun doing it!

Math-We are learning how to find a fraction of a number, how to multiply and divide fractions, and will be working on the relationships between decimals, fractions, and percents. We have had a lot of fun playing math bingo. Rather than just calling out a number, the kids have to solve a problem like, "take the square root of 81 and multiply it by 2 to the third power." (That would be 9 x 8) Each and every child is making progress in math. We have a class full of marvelous mathmeticians!

Reading- We are continuing to work in our guided reading groups. Each of the groups is now working on their second novel since coming back from the Christmas holiday. Be sure to have your child tell you about the books they are reading!

Spelling- Our list this week will continue our study of prefixes and suffixes.

Language Arts-Last week we reviewed the rules of capitalization. This week we will be reviewing the rules of using commas.

Science-Your child should have brought home the science fair packet last week. Please make sure you fill out the form that needs to be returned with your child's name and the name of the experiment! In class we are continuing our study of heredity. We are learning about inherited traits, variations, and instinctive versus learned behaviors.

Social Studies- We are learning about life on wagon trains! This week we will be making maps of the journey, seeing pictures of landmarks the pioneers would have seen, and learning about the hazards these brave men and women faced. Your child will be bringing home a file folder and instructions for a board game he/she will be creating about traveling in a wagon train. The "start" must be St. Louis, MO, since that is where the wagons left from, and must end in either Salt Lake, Oregon, or California. There will be an example in our display case at the end of the week in case you have any questions.

*Just a reminder- We are participating in SUU's Food Fight. The student athletes at SUU have organized a "food fight" contest among the elementary schools for the purpose of collecting food for the Iron County Care and Share. The reward for the class that collects the most food is a pizza party, but the real winners will be the people in our community who are fighting hunger.

*Also, keep documenting the time spent reading on the blue "kite" papers! Last year North had the most participants, and we were the recipients of a cash award as a result. Those funds helped to pay for our new playground equipment.

*Spring SEPs will be March 7 through the 11th. We will be getting your child registered for middle school during the conference. I will be sending home a schedule on Wednesday.

Thank you so much for your support!

February 7, 2011

2011-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Important information:

Valentine's Day - Next Monday is Valentine's day. I try to keep it pretty low key in the classroom. We will have some Valentine-themed math, and in the afternoon we will set aside some time to pass out cards and treats. If your child brings one valentine, please make sure he/she brings enough for all. We currently have 26 students. Your child will bring home an alphabetized list of names this week.

Direct Writing Assessment- The Direct Writing Assessment will be the last full week of February. Please make sure that your child is here if at all possible that week!

Math- Your students are doing amazingly well as they navigate adding and subtracting fractions! I am very pleased with their progress. Give your child a pat on the back for the extra effort I have seen from every single child during this unit!

Reading- We are continuing our guided reading groups, our classroom Harcourt story and comprehension activities, and we are currently working on reading non-fiction text.

Spelling- Our spelling words this week continue to focus on prefixes and suffixes. Being able to correctly spell and identify the meanings of these prefixes and suffixes really helps the students navigate through the higher level text they will be experiencing from this point forward in their schooling.
*Also, please look for a note to come home this week regarding the spelling bee information. We are so lucky to have a PTA willing to go through the extra effort required to ensure our students have this opportunity!

Social Studies- Our Westward Movement unit continues to move forward. Your student can now tell you about the Trail of Tears and the Texas Revolution. We will be focusing in the next two weeks on the California Gold Rush, and on the great migration west in wagon trains. There will be an at-home project that goes along with the wagon train section. Your student should be able to complete the project with little to no help. I will post more information on the project next week.

Science- Our electricity unit has been completed, and most of the students did extremely well on the end of unit test. We are currently beginning our last unit for fifth grade science. It is on heredity. We will be focusing on inherited traits, as well as adaptations that allow organisms to survive in specific environments.

Science Fair- One of the ILOs (Intended Learning Outcomes) for fifth grade science is that the students will be able to come up with a question, then be able to design and perform an experiment to answer that question, using the scientific method. Because this is one of the key things the state expects fifth graders to be able to do, your child will be participating in the science fair this year. Boards will be available to purchase at the school office for a nominal fee. Please look for the science fair packet to come home this week. The date of the science fair is currently set for March 18th. This is one week prior to the end of third quarter. I am so excited to see what the students decide to do! The science fair really does turn out to be one of the most fun days of fifth grade.

Welcome to February!

2011-01-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

     It's hard to believe that we are into February already! We will be having a busy month. There are a few things you will want to put on your calendar or make note of.
     First, your student needs to continue to read daily at home. You should have seen a blue paper come home last week where you can keep track of your child's reading minutes in order to receive a free kite. We're really grateful for the support from the community in encouraging your child to read at home!
    The next item you will want to be aware of is our Direct Writing Assessment. The test will be given during the last week of February. Please make sure your child is here if at all possible! We have been working hard in class on preparing for it. Ask your child to explain the 4-square writing method. It really makes organizing a persuasive paper much easier! It's one of those things that I wish my teachers had taught me when I was in school!
    Finally, I am already having students asking about Valentine's Day in fifth grade. I try to keep the holiday really low-key. We will be doing Valentine themed math, but other than that it will be school as usual, until the last part of the day. At that time, the students can pass out valentines and any treats they wish to share. We will just kick back, relax, and enjoy each other's company during the last half hour. The one request I have is that if your child brings one valentine, he brings enough for everybody. We have twenty six students and three aides. Your student will be asked to alphabetize everyone in the classroom. This assignment can be used as the class list.

Math--We are ready to begin adding and subtracting fractions! Please have your child explain the process of solving these types of fractions to you each night. That one simple thing will really help cement the process for your child.

Reading- We are continuing to work on our guided reading groups. From eleven thirty until twelve, we are also enjoying working through some reading magazines from Scholastic. These magazines are geared toward fifth and sixth grade students, and include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and a reader's theater selection. The kids really enjoyed last week's issue.

Science-The students will be working in small groups to make electrical circuits this week. It is always a blast to see their excitement as they put together a circuit and see the lightbulb glow. We will be experimenting with switches and adding more than one battery and lightbulb.

Social Studies-The students have learned about the War of 1812, all about our national anthem, and about the Battle of New Orleans. This week we will be learning about the Trail of Tears, and we will begin to learn about the Texas Revolution.

Writing-We are continuing to work on writing persuasive letters. The students will need to type their writing for the Direct Writing Assessment, so any chance you can give your student to practice typing would be of great benefit!

Thank you so much for all of your support!

Wrapping Up January

2011-01-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

Math-We are finishing up our unit on basic fractions and decimals. Our topic test will be either Thursday or Friday, depending on how confident the kids are feeling. Next week we will begin our unit on adding and subtracting fractions.

Reading- Our guided reading groups are continuing to run smoothly. Two of the groups are almost finished and will be getting started on another novel! Please make sure your child is reading at home each night.

Spelling-Our spelling list this week is focusing on the rules for changing singular nouns to their plural form. We are focusing on when to use "es" vs. "s", and when you change the "y" to "i" and add "es", and when you just add an "s." (It comes down to phonics rules--you change the "Y" if a consonant comes before it, you simply add an "s" if it is a vowel+y at the end.)

Social Studies- We have learned an awful lot about Lewis and Clark, and are now learning about The War of 1812. Westward Expansion is such a fun unit!

Science-We are really focusing on the vocabulary for current electricity this week. We will be doing some great activities with circuits next week!

Writing- Most of the students are doing well with the organization and ideas in their writing. At the beginning of the year, many struggled with getting ideas down on paper. We are now going to be working on punctuation and spelling in our writing. These are proving to be two areas that many of the students are really struggling with. Please help your child proofread his/her writing. Also, be looking for a few editing/proofreading assignments to come home as homework next week.

Officially Half-Way

2011-01-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

As of Friday afternoon, we are officially half way through the school year. We have covered a lot of material, and, I hope, have succeeded in creating an environment that is comfortable for both you and your child. We will continue to work hard and cover the fifth grade core curriculum, but will also be readying your student for the transition to middle school. Please look for progress reports to come home on Wednesdays from this point on. Encourage your child to keep up on assignments as late assignments will now be worth half credit. Developing and strengthening a sense of accountability and initiative will go a long way in helping your student be successful in the middle school environment! I want to do everything possible to have them ready academically, socially, and emotionally.

Math--We will be continuing our unit on fractions. Our focus this week will be on the relationship between decimals and fractions, and on reducing fractions to their simplest form.

Reading--We will continue our guided reading groups. One of the strategies we will focus on this week is how good descriptions will help the reader create a mental picture. We will be drawing a setting from our guided reading book, as well as using good descriptions in our writing.

Spelling-- Our list this week has to do with words ending in "ible" and "able." One rule of thumb to go by is that words that end in "able" have a root word that can stand alone. Ex: understandable
Words that end in "ible" do not have a stand-alone root. Ex: terrible

Social Studies-- We ended last week by learning about the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Ask your student about it--they have lots of interesting facts to share. Later this week we will begin studying The War of 1812.

Science-- Electricity is exciting! Now that we have learned about static electricity, it is time to move on to current electricity and electrical circuits.

Book Orders--I sent book orders home last week. They are due Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Remember that you can post-date your check for the 29th, if needed! You may order online using your credit/debit card, or you can send the order form and check with your student. There are several amazing books in the History book order that correspond to our Social Studies curriculum. I read Chains, by Laurie Anderson, over Christmas vacation. It is one of the best books I have read in many years. I will be ordering one for the classroom, but it is one I highly recommend!

Thank you once again for your support! Your students are amazing young people, and I look forward to working with them each day. I also regularly receive comments from other adults in the school about what a fun and well behaved group of students they are. Give your student a pat on the back, and give yourself one as well!

January 10, 2011

2011-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

I hope your holidays were filled with fun and relaxation. It is now time for the "long haul" until Spring Break. We will be working really hard and covering a lot of new material in the next months.

Math--We are beginning our units on fractions. The first unit will mostly work on basic fractions and vocabulary. Our second fraction unit will deal with working with fractions as we add and subtract. Your child's confidence and success will go up dramatically once those basic multiplication facts are mastered!

Spelling--Our spelling rule for this week is: To make the soft sound of C and G, they must be followed by I or E. Please practice!

Reading--We are getting back into literature groups and rolling forward. Also, during this week and next, the students will be evaluated with the DIBELS timings. If your child does not meet the benchmark score, you will get a letter informing you of that. I will also send home a list of suggestions for extra practice if your child does not meet the benchmark.

Social Studies--Our test on the US Government will be on Tuesday, January 11. We will then move into the unit on Westward Expansion. It is filled with stories of amazing courage, and several different conflicts.

Science--Science is electrifying! Especially when you're learning about static and current electricity! We will be doing several hands on experiments while we learn about static electricity and electrical circuits.

Book Orders-- I will be sending home more book orders this week. Look for them to come home with your child on Wednesday. Remember that you can order online with a credit or debit card, as well as sending in a check or money order with your child. Your check can be postdated for 10 days after the book orders need to be turned in. The orders will be due on January 19th.

Gearing Up for the Holidays

2010-11-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

   It is that time of year again when the rush of everyday life turns into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I know that time is precious this time of year. While the students will continue to have their regular math and reading homework, there will not be any surprise large projects due before our break. Our last day of school before the holiday vacation is Friday, December 17th.



Math
The kids are doing really well with finding the area and perimeter of polygons! We will begin exploring surface area and volume (and those concepts tie in quite nicely to presents--how much a box can hold, and how much paper it will take to wrap a particular gift).

    *On the 17th of December your child needs to bring a house (made out of cardboard is fine!) on a sturdy surface. I am also asking that your child bring frosting (canned or made of egg whites and powdered sugar mixed to the consistency of toothpaste) and something to decorate with (candy, cereal, etc). We will be decorating our houses and then finding the area and perimeter of each. Feel free to send in whatever you have, I don't want this to create a hardship on anyone. Likewise, if you happen to see a 1/2 finished bag of Fruit Loops that you are about to throw out, please send it in for us to use instead.

Spelling
     This week our list involves words that end with the "l" sound. I have told the kids that if they do well, we will skip a new list next week, however, if they need to repeat this week's list, then we will do it again next week.

Social Studies
     We are wrapping up our American Revolution unit. The kids know many interesting facts about the birth of our country. Ask your child to tell you about a couple of their favorite historical figures from that era!

Science
     Now that your child has learned all about Matter and Changes to the Earth's Surface it is time to move on to Magnetism! It is a short, fun unit that we should have finished before we go on our Christmas break.

Thank You
     A huge thank you for helping your child with the Legacy Fair project. I know that it was a large project, but I truly believe it is a very worthwhile one.   I believe it strengthens our society as the kids learn to celebrate, not fear, the differences between us, see the commonalities that we all share, and strengthen the pride and respect for their individual families. These students truly are the leaders of tomorrow, and they will be better leaders if they learn from their heritage.

Thank You Part II
     I just want to let you know that as I count the things I am grateful for this season, your children are high on my list. They are amazing people, each with his or her own unique personality that brings a richness to our classroom. When I wake up each morning, I look forward to coming to school and working with them. Thank you for your support in the classroom, and thank you for raising such wonderful kids. As I watch them in assemblies and on the playground I am filled with pride. They are kind, caring, and respectful. People in the community notice, too! I had three separate Veterans come up to me while we were at the Veteran's Memorial Park who mentioned what well behaved students we had. One expressed surprise that we were there--nobody who was at the dedication of the WWI memorial had heard our class as we toured the rest of the park. Congratulations, Moms and Dads, and thank you again!

What We're Up To Nov. 16

2010-11-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

Math - We have finished up Topic 7 with decimals and are now starting Topic 8. This week we're learning about geometry. Specifically, we are working with lines, rays, angles, and basic shapes.

Social Studies - We are continuing to learn about the Revolutionary War. This week students will be doing reports on important people and events during that time.

Science - We just finished our matter unit today and the kids did well. We will be starting our magnetism unit after the break.

Language Arts - The kids are working hard on their Thanksgiving stories. These stories will double as chapter 3 in their Time Travel Journal and will be due on Tuesday Nov. 19.

REMINDER - The Legacy Fair Project is due on Monday Nov. 29th.

What We're Doing

2010-11-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

Math-- We have just finished our introduction to algebra unit, and are beginning Topic #7. Topic 7 involves multiplying and dividing with decimals. This topic should go fairly quickly and smoothly. Please make sure you are checking over your student's homework, and drop me a line if there are difficulties with it! If your child is still struggling with his or her multiplication facts, please continue to work on memorizing them at home. Math will be so much easier for them once those facts are mastered.

Science-- We are continuing our study of Matter. The kids know what matter is, the phases it comes in, and can determine if a change is a chemical change or a physical change. They have also done some really fun hands-on science involving those changes.

Language Arts-In addition to our reading groups, we are working on writing quite a bit. We are writing thank you letters to our veterans and their families for Veteran's Day. Chapter 2 in their time travel journals is due this Friday, November 5th.

Social Studies--The events leading up to the American Revolution are really interesting to learn about! Your student should be able to tell you many different facts about why the revolution occurred. We are going to continue our studies about the American Revolution through November, and in December we will be learning about the Constitution and our government. History is AWESEOME!