IMPORTANT DATES:
11/3 Picture Retake Day
11/4 Tentative Unit 3 Math Quiz
Family Wellness Night
11/5 End of 1st Marking Period
11/6 No School: Records Day
11/16 Fire Safety Presentation during school
11/25-27 Thanksgiving Recess
MATH
Students were given the opportunity to fix incorrect answers on the Unit 2 Math Tests on Thursday. I hope to have these rescored and sent home Friday. If not, they will go home Monday of next week. Please return the test to school with your child once you’ve reviewed it.
I am changing the way we handle study links in order to conserve time that is taken from the daily lessons and management of papers. Students have been asked to check over their own study links at home once they’ve completed them. Answer keys for all of the study links for the entire year were given out at Curriculum Night or sent home with your child if you did not attend. Study links are merely meant to be a reinforcement of the lesson that was learned that day, but we seem to be taking away too much time away from the next day’s lesson to check them. Students will still be held accountable each day by showing me that it is completed. They will then keep the study link in their binders until the end of the unit when they will turn in the completed packet. I am confident that this will reduce the amount of zeros that show up in the Snap Grade due to no names on papers as well.
Next week, we will cover the following concepts in Unit 3:
Using a Compass
Congruent Triangles
Unit 3 is a short unit. A short quiz on concepts learned is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday of next week.
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will continue to focus on strategies used to make meaning of what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Merging active reading strategies
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
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.
WRITING
Students will begin showing their talent as we work on our first fiction stories during our Writing Workshop. They will begin by creating “seed” stories/ideas in their writing notebooks which will eventually be used to create a final piece.
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/SOCIAL STUDIES
Science tests will be scored and sent home at the beginning of next week.
We have started our first social studies unit of geography. Concepts will include:
Labeling a map
Absolute location
Physical features
With our new social studies program, the units are incredibly short and simple. We will usually finish one a week, at which time the students will be assessed on what they’ve learned. The assessments are meant to be a picture of what the students have learned during the lesson. There is really no need for them to prepare at home-unless I notify you otherwise.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
October 23, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Thank you to Renee Cortright for volunteering to be our class photographer! J
2. MEAP testing is finally complete, and our class schedule can get back to normal.
3. Next week is our Harvest Hike, Party, and Parade. Our parties in fifth grade are planned and organized by the students. Students began planning for the harvest party this week. Many volunteered to bring in supplies or treats for the party. That information was to be taken home on Friday. If there is something you are unable to send in, please do not hesitate to send me an email. Parents are always welcome to attend and enjoy the parties with us.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/26 Unit 2 Math Test
10/27 Tentative Science Test “Mixtures & Solutions” (or 10/28)
10/30 10:15 Harvest Hike
12:25 Class Party
1:45 Parade
11/3 Picture Retake Day
11/4 Family Wellness Night
11/5 End of 1st Marking Period
11/6 No School: Records Day
MATH
After the Unit 2 test next week, we will start Unit 3. Students can expect to have one study link a night once again, since MEAP testing has concluded. Concepts we will cover in math next week include:
Exploring Angle Measures
Using a Protractor
Using a Compass
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will continue to focus on strategies used to make meaning of what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Merging active reading strategies
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will complete their first published piece: a personal narrative. They’ve been working so hard on these. We will celebrate all of their hard work by giving everyone a chance to share their personal narrative with the class.
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
Students will be assessed on their knowledge of mixtures and solutions, chemical reactions and solubility. The test is scheduled tentatively for Oct. 27. If I feel students need more time, I will postpone it until the 28th.
Once we have completed the assessment, we will switch from science to social studies during the same time slot. In social studies we will begin our Geography Unit.
1. Thank you to Renee Cortright for volunteering to be our class photographer! J
2. MEAP testing is finally complete, and our class schedule can get back to normal.
3. Next week is our Harvest Hike, Party, and Parade. Our parties in fifth grade are planned and organized by the students. Students began planning for the harvest party this week. Many volunteered to bring in supplies or treats for the party. That information was to be taken home on Friday. If there is something you are unable to send in, please do not hesitate to send me an email. Parents are always welcome to attend and enjoy the parties with us.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/26 Unit 2 Math Test
10/27 Tentative Science Test “Mixtures & Solutions” (or 10/28)
10/30 10:15 Harvest Hike
12:25 Class Party
1:45 Parade
11/3 Picture Retake Day
11/4 Family Wellness Night
11/5 End of 1st Marking Period
11/6 No School: Records Day
MATH
After the Unit 2 test next week, we will start Unit 3. Students can expect to have one study link a night once again, since MEAP testing has concluded. Concepts we will cover in math next week include:
Exploring Angle Measures
Using a Protractor
Using a Compass
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will continue to focus on strategies used to make meaning of what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Merging active reading strategies
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will complete their first published piece: a personal narrative. They’ve been working so hard on these. We will celebrate all of their hard work by giving everyone a chance to share their personal narrative with the class.
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
Students will be assessed on their knowledge of mixtures and solutions, chemical reactions and solubility. The test is scheduled tentatively for Oct. 27. If I feel students need more time, I will postpone it until the 28th.
Once we have completed the assessment, we will switch from science to social studies during the same time slot. In social studies we will begin our Geography Unit.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/23 Tentative Unit 2 Math Test
MEAP Testing Dates
10/20 Math
9:00-10:20 Part One
1:00-2:20 Part Two
10/22 Science
9:50-11:10 Part One
12:30-1:50 Part Two
MATH
Students received their math quiz from Unit 2 on Friday. It took a while for us to finish reviewing the quiz due to our MEAP testing schedule. The test is now scheduled for next Friday, October 23.
Next week, we will finish Unit 2. The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Estimating Products
Multiplication of Whole Numbers & Decimals
Comparing Millions, Billions, & Trillions
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to make meaning of what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Merging active reading strategies
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will continue working on a personal narrative story to publish. The focus for next week: writing a quick draft and a satisfying ending.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Chemical Reactions
· Reaction Products
· Reaction in a Zip Bag
The first science test has been scheduled tentatively for October 27. We will start our review on October 23.
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/23 Tentative Unit 2 Math Test
MEAP Testing Dates
10/20 Math
9:00-10:20 Part One
1:00-2:20 Part Two
10/22 Science
9:50-11:10 Part One
12:30-1:50 Part Two
MATH
Students received their math quiz from Unit 2 on Friday. It took a while for us to finish reviewing the quiz due to our MEAP testing schedule. The test is now scheduled for next Friday, October 23.
Next week, we will finish Unit 2. The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Estimating Products
Multiplication of Whole Numbers & Decimals
Comparing Millions, Billions, & Trillions
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to make meaning of what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Merging active reading strategies
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will continue working on a personal narrative story to publish. The focus for next week: writing a quick draft and a satisfying ending.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Chemical Reactions
· Reaction Products
· Reaction in a Zip Bag
The first science test has been scheduled tentatively for October 27. We will start our review on October 23.
Friday, October 9, 2009
October 9, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
In an effort to promote Michigan grown products, nutrition education and encouraging fruit as part of a balanced lunch, Sodexo School Services are featuring Michigan Apples as part of the school lunch program, during the week of October 19-23. A different variety of a Michigan-grown apple will be featured each day of that week, in addition to interesting and educational information specific to that variety.
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/12 Tentative Unit 2 Math Quiz
10/21 Tentative Unit 2 Math Test
MEAP Testing Dates
10/13 Reading Session I
9:00-10:30 Part One
1:20-2:30 Part Two
10/15 Reading Session 2
9:00-10:40 Part Three
10/20 Math
9:00-10:20 Part One
1:00-2:20 Part Two
10/22 Science
9:50-11:10 Part One
12:30-1:50 Part Two
MATH
Math tests were sent home on Wednesday. Please review the math test with your child, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
The quiz is scheduled for Monday of next week.
The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Chance Events
Estimating Products
Multiplication of Whole Numbers & Decimals
Comparing Millions, Billions, & Trillions
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to understand what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
Decoding unfamiliar or difficult text
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will continue to work on revising leads and endings for their chosen story.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Soft Drink Recipes
· Salt Concentration
· Mystery Solutions
· Chemical Reactions
SPELLING
Starting this week, students will take their spelling tests at school on Spelling City. This will allow them to print their test and receive immediate feedback on their score. Students will be asked to print two copies. One to be sent home, and the other to keep in their file at school.
In an effort to promote Michigan grown products, nutrition education and encouraging fruit as part of a balanced lunch, Sodexo School Services are featuring Michigan Apples as part of the school lunch program, during the week of October 19-23. A different variety of a Michigan-grown apple will be featured each day of that week, in addition to interesting and educational information specific to that variety.
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/12 Tentative Unit 2 Math Quiz
10/21 Tentative Unit 2 Math Test
MEAP Testing Dates
10/13 Reading Session I
9:00-10:30 Part One
1:20-2:30 Part Two
10/15 Reading Session 2
9:00-10:40 Part Three
10/20 Math
9:00-10:20 Part One
1:00-2:20 Part Two
10/22 Science
9:50-11:10 Part One
12:30-1:50 Part Two
MATH
Math tests were sent home on Wednesday. Please review the math test with your child, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
The quiz is scheduled for Monday of next week.
The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Chance Events
Estimating Products
Multiplication of Whole Numbers & Decimals
Comparing Millions, Billions, & Trillions
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
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to understand what they are reading. Strategies include:
Noticing the kind of thinking we do as we read
Recognizing when reading doesn’t make sense and doing something about it
Decoding unfamiliar or difficult text
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will continue to work on revising leads and endings for their chosen story.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Soft Drink Recipes
· Salt Concentration
· Mystery Solutions
· Chemical Reactions
SPELLING
Starting this week, students will take their spelling tests at school on Spelling City. This will allow them to print their test and receive immediate feedback on their score. Students will be asked to print two copies. One to be sent home, and the other to keep in their file at school.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SNAPGRADE
On Friday, letters were sent home in your child’s homework binder notifying you of our Snapgrade program. This is a web-based grading program that parents (and students) can access from home to check in on their child’s progress. The letter includes directions on how to login to Snapgrade as well as your individual password. Please sign this letter and return it to school, so that I know it made it home to you.
Please note: While I will try to keep up with grading in as timely a matter as possible, it sometimes will take a few days for grades to be updated. For instance, if a student turns in an assignment late, it may not show up on their report for a few days after it has been turned in. Also, many times students do the work and turn it in, but forget to put their name on it. If an assignment turns up missing on their report, remind your child to first check the “no name” folder in the classroom, put their name on it, and turn it back in. Again, this might take a few days for this to be recorded in the system.
I will no longer ask for tests or quizzes to be signed by parents, since I know you will have access to, and see the grades on Snapgrade. However, I will still send the tests and quizzes home for review and would like them returned to school within a few days after you’ve seen them to be placed in your child’s file. These will all be given back to your child at the end of the year.
DONATIONS
If anyone has any arts and craft materials you do not use and are taking up space in your house, please send them in. I will take ANYTHING from yarn, to cotton balls, to old wrapping paper, to Popsicle sticks, to whatever! These make great materials for projects in social studies or publishing writing pieces in creative ways.
Thank you to whoever brought in the foam shapes and put them on my desk!
We could also use any used books to add to our growing classroom library!
BOOK ORDERS
Any Scholastic book order that is made on line gets us a free book for our classroom library. Instructions for how to do this were included on the last page of the Curriculum Night packet. You can still send in a check to me and the order will be sent in if you do not wish to use a credit card online. I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the other option! J
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
Thank you, Robin Dewitt for volunteering to keep Spelling City updated. What a help!
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/12 Tentative Unit 2 Math Quiz
MATH
Math tests will be assessed over the weekend and come home with students at the beginning of next week. Please review the math test with your child, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
Next week, we will start Unit 2. The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Addition of whole numbers & decimals
Subtraction of whole numbers & decimals
Number stories
Estimation
Please look for a study guide for Unit 2 in your child’s homework binder next week. The quiz will tentatively be Monday of the following week.
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, during our Reading Workshop, students were assigned a reading discussion partner. With this partner, they will be asked to discuss what they are reading as it relates to the strategies we are learning in class. Students also began reflecting their thoughts about their reading in their reader’s notebook.
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to absorb themselves in the book that they are reading. Strategies include:
Creating a “movie” in your mind while you read
Using background knowledge to create sensory images so they feel as if they can actually see, feel, smell, hear, and even taste what is happening in the story.
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will be asked to choose one of their “seed” stories to revise and bring to a published piece. Our main focus for revising next week will be coming up with a good lead for their story.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Salt Saturation
· Citric-Acid Saturation
· The Saturation Puzzle
· Comparing the Crystals
SPELLING
The 2nd spelling test will be assessed over the weekend and be sent home at the beginning of next week. You do not need to sign and return this test.
SNAPGRADE
On Friday, letters were sent home in your child’s homework binder notifying you of our Snapgrade program. This is a web-based grading program that parents (and students) can access from home to check in on their child’s progress. The letter includes directions on how to login to Snapgrade as well as your individual password. Please sign this letter and return it to school, so that I know it made it home to you.
Please note: While I will try to keep up with grading in as timely a matter as possible, it sometimes will take a few days for grades to be updated. For instance, if a student turns in an assignment late, it may not show up on their report for a few days after it has been turned in. Also, many times students do the work and turn it in, but forget to put their name on it. If an assignment turns up missing on their report, remind your child to first check the “no name” folder in the classroom, put their name on it, and turn it back in. Again, this might take a few days for this to be recorded in the system.
I will no longer ask for tests or quizzes to be signed by parents, since I know you will have access to, and see the grades on Snapgrade. However, I will still send the tests and quizzes home for review and would like them returned to school within a few days after you’ve seen them to be placed in your child’s file. These will all be given back to your child at the end of the year.
DONATIONS
If anyone has any arts and craft materials you do not use and are taking up space in your house, please send them in. I will take ANYTHING from yarn, to cotton balls, to old wrapping paper, to Popsicle sticks, to whatever! These make great materials for projects in social studies or publishing writing pieces in creative ways.
Thank you to whoever brought in the foam shapes and put them on my desk!
We could also use any used books to add to our growing classroom library!
BOOK ORDERS
Any Scholastic book order that is made on line gets us a free book for our classroom library. Instructions for how to do this were included on the last page of the Curriculum Night packet. You can still send in a check to me and the order will be sent in if you do not wish to use a credit card online. I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the other option! J
VOLUNTEERS
We are still in need of a parent photographer.
Thank you, Robin Dewitt for volunteering to keep Spelling City updated. What a help!
IMPORTANT DATES:
10/12 Tentative Unit 2 Math Quiz
MATH
Math tests will be assessed over the weekend and come home with students at the beginning of next week. Please review the math test with your child, and send back to school so that it can be placed in your child’s file.
Next week, we will start Unit 2. The concepts we will cover are as follows:
Addition of whole numbers & decimals
Subtraction of whole numbers & decimals
Number stories
Estimation
Please look for a study guide for Unit 2 in your child’s homework binder next week. The quiz will tentatively be Monday of the following week.
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, during our Reading Workshop, students were assigned a reading discussion partner. With this partner, they will be asked to discuss what they are reading as it relates to the strategies we are learning in class. Students also began reflecting their thoughts about their reading in their reader’s notebook.
Next week, in our Reading Workshop, students will focus on strategies used to absorb themselves in the book that they are reading. Strategies include:
Creating a “movie” in your mind while you read
Using background knowledge to create sensory images so they feel as if they can actually see, feel, smell, hear, and even taste what is happening in the story.
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.
WRITING
Next week, in writing, students will be asked to choose one of their “seed” stories to revise and bring to a published piece. Our main focus for revising next week will be coming up with a good lead for their story.
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
Next week’s investigations include:
· Salt Saturation
· Citric-Acid Saturation
· The Saturation Puzzle
· Comparing the Crystals
SPELLING
The 2nd spelling test will be assessed over the weekend and be sent home at the beginning of next week. You do not need to sign and return this test.
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