Attention: I have just linked some great websites on the blog. See the links to the left. Spelling City has this week's spelling words entered where students can play fun games, do a crossword puzzle, and even test themselves on their words! Just click on the appropriate list, and off they go! Please note...at times Spelling City does not recognize certain words, because they are not in their data base. This was the case with 3 of the B list words. This is why they do not appear in the games. Have fun!
Volunteer help needed! I could really use some volunteer help for the following:
1. Class Photographer: A parent who can take pictures (or arrange for pictures to be taken) at all major school events, parties, etc... for use in Pembroke Picture and the Yearbook.
2. Spelling City Manager: A parent who will enter both spelling lists A & B each week into the Spelling City website. (It's really easy!)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mrs. Ivey has asked me to forward the following information:
Dear Parents,
If you have not turned in your PTA Membership and Directory form yet, you have until Monday, September 28, 2009 to do so. Please return them into the office with your designated level of support as soon as you can. Even if you choose NOT to be a member of the PTA, we still need the forms turned in to complete the Directory.
ABOUT THE PTA: Your membership in the PTA is voluntary and you can choose to participate in whatever capacity fits your life and schedule. Being a member of the PTA does NOT require you to attend the monthly meetings or volunteer your time at school or PTA sponsored events. By becoming a member, your membership dollars are going towards supporting all of the wonderful programs and events that the PTA sponsors for your child. Pembroke PTA appreciates everyone’s membership, whether or not the member volunteers, because each member increases the PTA’s ability to advocate for children.
If you have any questions regarding the directory or you did not receive your form, please contact Dawn Vitale at 248-643-6528 or ynotcontactme@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your participation and your cooperation.
IMPORTANT DATES:
9/29 Guest Teacher (Mrs. Hart will be out for Writers’ Workshop Training)
9/30 1st Scholastic Book Orders are due (if you choose to purchase).
10/2 Tentative date for Unit 1 Math Test
MATH
**Student Reference Books went home this week!! Please keep them at home in an easily accessible spot to be used for help on Study Links or when studying for quizzes and tests.
Math quizzes will be assessed over the weekend and come home with students at the beginning of next week. Please review the math quiz with your child, sign it, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
Next week, we will complete Unit 2. Lessons will include the following:
· Prime & Composite Numbers
· Square Numbers
· Unsquaring Numbers
· Factor Strings & Prime Factorizations
· A Review On Place Value
The Unit 1 Test is still scheduled tentatively for October 2. Please refer to the same study guide that was used to study the quiz. All of the information on the study guide will be included on the unit test.
Please continue to ensure that students are reviewing all of their math facts for at least 15 minutes a night. They can use any method they choose including flash cards or computer programs. Mathfactscafe.com is a great resource for this. I will be giving you more great websites for practicing math facts as we move through the school year.
READING
This week, students were all given a book bag to be kept at school. This book bag will hold a collection of books for your child to read during Readers’ Workshop. Students are allowed to check out 3 books from the Media Center. (We visit the Media Center every Tuesday. Please make sure your child brings back to school any books that are due on that day, so that he/she will be allowed to check out more books.) They can also choose up to 3 books from our classroom library and/or bring books from home to keep in their book bag. Students are required to keep at least 3 books in their book bag so that they are always prepared for Readers’ Workshop time. Books from either the Media Center or the classroom library are allowed to come home with the students for home reading-as long as they always have a minimum of 3 books in their book bag at school.
Next week, we will really start getting into the “meat” of our Readers’ Workshop. The focus will be on the following:
· Meeting with a discussion partner to talk about their reading
· Analyzing the meaning of the text
· Creating Images to get inside the text
As you monitor your child’s home reading, continue to ask them questions about what they are reading especially ones that practice the strategies they are learning in class that particular week. The more children read, and the more they practice these strategies, the better readers they will become.
WRITING
We already have an incredible group of writers in this class! I am very excited to see where this year will take them as writers! This week, students have been busy writing “seed” stories in their writing notebooks. Soon, students will have a good collection of these “seed” stories that they can pull from when it’s time to revise and publish a final piece.
Next week, while continuing to add to our “seed” story collection, students will learn about procedures and expectations during my conferencing with individual students about their writing. We will also start practicing writing good leads.
How can you help your child be a successful writer next week? At home, continue to brainstorm with your child possible “seed topics” they could write about during writing workshop. Topics to consider are small but special stories that have really happened to them.
SCIENCE
This week, students were placed into their science groups. We focused on how to work well in a group and discussed the materials they will be using in the following investigation. We also completed one investigation: Making & Separating Mixtures.
Next week, we will continue with the following investigations:
· Separating a Salt Solution
· Observing Crystals
· Separating a Dry Mixture
· Salt Saturation
SPELLING
The first spelling test will be assessed over the weekend and be sent home at the beginning of next week. Please sign the spelling test and return it to school with your child to be placed in your child’s file.
Mrs. Ivey has asked me to forward the following information:
Dear Parents,
If you have not turned in your PTA Membership and Directory form yet, you have until Monday, September 28, 2009 to do so. Please return them into the office with your designated level of support as soon as you can. Even if you choose NOT to be a member of the PTA, we still need the forms turned in to complete the Directory.
ABOUT THE PTA: Your membership in the PTA is voluntary and you can choose to participate in whatever capacity fits your life and schedule. Being a member of the PTA does NOT require you to attend the monthly meetings or volunteer your time at school or PTA sponsored events. By becoming a member, your membership dollars are going towards supporting all of the wonderful programs and events that the PTA sponsors for your child. Pembroke PTA appreciates everyone’s membership, whether or not the member volunteers, because each member increases the PTA’s ability to advocate for children.
If you have any questions regarding the directory or you did not receive your form, please contact Dawn Vitale at 248-643-6528 or ynotcontactme@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your participation and your cooperation.
IMPORTANT DATES:
9/29 Guest Teacher (Mrs. Hart will be out for Writers’ Workshop Training)
9/30 1st Scholastic Book Orders are due (if you choose to purchase).
10/2 Tentative date for Unit 1 Math Test
MATH
**Student Reference Books went home this week!! Please keep them at home in an easily accessible spot to be used for help on Study Links or when studying for quizzes and tests.
Math quizzes will be assessed over the weekend and come home with students at the beginning of next week. Please review the math quiz with your child, sign it, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
Next week, we will complete Unit 2. Lessons will include the following:
· Prime & Composite Numbers
· Square Numbers
· Unsquaring Numbers
· Factor Strings & Prime Factorizations
· A Review On Place Value
The Unit 1 Test is still scheduled tentatively for October 2. Please refer to the same study guide that was used to study the quiz. All of the information on the study guide will be included on the unit test.
Please continue to ensure that students are reviewing all of their math facts for at least 15 minutes a night. They can use any method they choose including flash cards or computer programs. Mathfactscafe.com is a great resource for this. I will be giving you more great websites for practicing math facts as we move through the school year.
READING
This week, students were all given a book bag to be kept at school. This book bag will hold a collection of books for your child to read during Readers’ Workshop. Students are allowed to check out 3 books from the Media Center. (We visit the Media Center every Tuesday. Please make sure your child brings back to school any books that are due on that day, so that he/she will be allowed to check out more books.) They can also choose up to 3 books from our classroom library and/or bring books from home to keep in their book bag. Students are required to keep at least 3 books in their book bag so that they are always prepared for Readers’ Workshop time. Books from either the Media Center or the classroom library are allowed to come home with the students for home reading-as long as they always have a minimum of 3 books in their book bag at school.
Next week, we will really start getting into the “meat” of our Readers’ Workshop. The focus will be on the following:
· Meeting with a discussion partner to talk about their reading
· Analyzing the meaning of the text
· Creating Images to get inside the text
As you monitor your child’s home reading, continue to ask them questions about what they are reading especially ones that practice the strategies they are learning in class that particular week. The more children read, and the more they practice these strategies, the better readers they will become.
WRITING
We already have an incredible group of writers in this class! I am very excited to see where this year will take them as writers! This week, students have been busy writing “seed” stories in their writing notebooks. Soon, students will have a good collection of these “seed” stories that they can pull from when it’s time to revise and publish a final piece.
Next week, while continuing to add to our “seed” story collection, students will learn about procedures and expectations during my conferencing with individual students about their writing. We will also start practicing writing good leads.
How can you help your child be a successful writer next week? At home, continue to brainstorm with your child possible “seed topics” they could write about during writing workshop. Topics to consider are small but special stories that have really happened to them.
SCIENCE
This week, students were placed into their science groups. We focused on how to work well in a group and discussed the materials they will be using in the following investigation. We also completed one investigation: Making & Separating Mixtures.
Next week, we will continue with the following investigations:
· Separating a Salt Solution
· Observing Crystals
· Separating a Dry Mixture
· Salt Saturation
SPELLING
The first spelling test will be assessed over the weekend and be sent home at the beginning of next week. Please sign the spelling test and return it to school with your child to be placed in your child’s file.
Friday, September 18, 2009
September 18, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
It was great to have the opportunity to meet many of you at Curriculum Night this week. We now have our first full week of school under our belts, and things are starting to move smoothly. Exciting things are going to happen in our class next week. Please read on...
IMPORTANT DATES:
9/22 School Picture Day (Please remember to send in order forms with children.)
9/23 Sensitivity Training (Students will participate in a workshop to be made aware/sensitive
to students with disabilities.)
9/24 First Spelling Test
9/30 1st Scholastic Book Orders are due (if you choose to purchase).
10/2 Tentative date for Unit 1 Math Test
MATH
This week, students began the first unit of 5th grade math. They learned about rectangular arrays, what a factor and a product are, and how to write a number model. A study guide was sent home with them today for Unit One.
Next week, students will learn how to find the factors of a number, what a prime number is, and what it means to be a square number. The tentative date for the Unit 1 test is Friday, October 2.
Please ensure that students are reviewing all of their math facts for at least 15 minutes a night. They can use any method they choose including flash cards or computer programs. Mathfactscafe.com is a great resource for this. I will be giving you more great websites for practicing math facts as we move through the school year.
WRITING
This week, students have embarked on an incredible writing journey during our Writing Workshop! I have heard some great stories about their lives. Strategies they learned are: how to generate a topic to write about and how to narrow the focus of your topic. Be sure to ask your child what the difference is between a Watermelon Topic and a Seed Topic.
How can you help your child be a successful writer next week? At home, brainstorm with your child possible “seed topics” they could write about during writing workshop. Topics to consider are small but special stories that have really happened to them.
SCIENCE
Next week, students will become young chemists as we begin our mixtures and solutions unit. To start, we will especially focus on how to work well in a group during our experiments.
READING
Next week, we will officially kick off our Reading Workshop. The focus will be on the procedures and expectations of the workshop (so that it can run smoothly) and strategies for choosing a book that is “just-right” for them. Ask your child to tell you about the “5-finger rule”.
As you monitor your child’s home reading, continue to ask them questions about what they are reading, especially questions that practice the strategies they are learning in class that particular week. The more children read, and the more they practice these strategies, the better readers they will become.
SPELLING
Our first spelling list and packet was handed out today. Students should do a little work on the packet everyday between now and next Wednesday. The first test will be next Thursday.
It was great to have the opportunity to meet many of you at Curriculum Night this week. We now have our first full week of school under our belts, and things are starting to move smoothly. Exciting things are going to happen in our class next week. Please read on...
IMPORTANT DATES:
9/22 School Picture Day (Please remember to send in order forms with children.)
9/23 Sensitivity Training (Students will participate in a workshop to be made aware/sensitive
to students with disabilities.)
9/24 First Spelling Test
9/30 1st Scholastic Book Orders are due (if you choose to purchase).
10/2 Tentative date for Unit 1 Math Test
MATH
This week, students began the first unit of 5th grade math. They learned about rectangular arrays, what a factor and a product are, and how to write a number model. A study guide was sent home with them today for Unit One.
Next week, students will learn how to find the factors of a number, what a prime number is, and what it means to be a square number. The tentative date for the Unit 1 test is Friday, October 2.
Please ensure that students are reviewing all of their math facts for at least 15 minutes a night. They can use any method they choose including flash cards or computer programs. Mathfactscafe.com is a great resource for this. I will be giving you more great websites for practicing math facts as we move through the school year.
WRITING
This week, students have embarked on an incredible writing journey during our Writing Workshop! I have heard some great stories about their lives. Strategies they learned are: how to generate a topic to write about and how to narrow the focus of your topic. Be sure to ask your child what the difference is between a Watermelon Topic and a Seed Topic.
How can you help your child be a successful writer next week? At home, brainstorm with your child possible “seed topics” they could write about during writing workshop. Topics to consider are small but special stories that have really happened to them.
SCIENCE
Next week, students will become young chemists as we begin our mixtures and solutions unit. To start, we will especially focus on how to work well in a group during our experiments.
READING
Next week, we will officially kick off our Reading Workshop. The focus will be on the procedures and expectations of the workshop (so that it can run smoothly) and strategies for choosing a book that is “just-right” for them. Ask your child to tell you about the “5-finger rule”.
As you monitor your child’s home reading, continue to ask them questions about what they are reading, especially questions that practice the strategies they are learning in class that particular week. The more children read, and the more they practice these strategies, the better readers they will become.
SPELLING
Our first spelling list and packet was handed out today. Students should do a little work on the packet everyday between now and next Wednesday. The first test will be next Thursday.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday's Homework
Please follow the homework assignments for tonight as stated in the assignment book.
Some students were confused about an example that I used during writing...There is NO writing assignment for homework tonight:)
Some students were confused about an example that I used during writing...There is NO writing assignment for homework tonight:)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Reading/Writing Notebook 9/15/09
Students were given time in school today to find and print pictures of their favorite books and other things they were interested in/passionate about. These pictures are to be used to personalize the cover of their 2-subject Reading/Writing Notebook. Students have been asked to take these pictures and a piece of laminating paper (which I have provided) home with them today. The idea is for students to cut the pictures out with scissors and paste them as a collage on the front cover of the notebook. Some students brought (2) 1-subject notebooks. This is fine. They will just need to decorate 2 covers; one for reading (with favorite book covers) and one for writing (with things they are interested in/passionate about). Feel free to add photographs or pictures from magazines that you find at home. Please help your child with the laminating as it can be tricky to apply smoothly. The notebooks should be complete by Friday of this week. We will be using the notebooks in school this week before Friday, so please make sure students bring these back and forth to school with them until they have been decorated.
Thank you,
Mrs. Hart
Thank you,
Mrs. Hart
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Introduction
Hello!
Welcome to Mrs. Hart's 5th Grade Blog! I am looking forward to an exciting year with your child. Please make sure to check for updates on the blog every Friday to keep up-to-date on what's happening in your child's classroom and at school.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hart
Welcome to Mrs. Hart's 5th Grade Blog! I am looking forward to an exciting year with your child. Please make sure to check for updates on the blog every Friday to keep up-to-date on what's happening in your child's classroom and at school.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hart
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