Welcome Back!

I have spent a lot of time this summer sitting at this table and reading while listening to the birds and gentle breezes.

Summer is winding down and it's nearly time to start back to school!  Yikes, it hardly seems possible.  Where did the summer go?  Our first day is August 26 but the good news is that we start off gently with a three day week.

This summer I have been busy organizing the classroom and developing problem based units of study for us to delve into this year. Although I hate to see the summer vacation come to an end I am getting excited about starting a new school year with my new class of fifth graders!

Be watching your mailbox for a newsletter outlining some of our units of study and offering an opportunity for extra credit!  I am looking forward to seeing you all soon, and in the meanwhile I hope that you will take a moment to write to me and tell me about your summer and your hopes and goals for your fifth grade year!

I have included a suggested supply list in the newsletter you will be receiving.  In the meanwhile, if you wish to check it right now, please click on the Summer Newsletter link to see an electronic copy.  Likewise, you can access a copy of the Suggested Classroom Supply List by clicking on this link.

See you soon!

We Like Words

I couldn't resist making a word picture of some of the 

wonderful words included in this terrific letter.

Recently I came across a rather well-known letter written by Robert Pirosh in 1934. Immediately I knew that I had to introduce it to my students!  As I suspected, they loved it! We are investigating many of the words used by Mr. Pirosh in this letter and each student is preparing a short presentation on their chosen word.  They will create posters depicting the meaning of their word, the word's origin, and other interesting information.  Students asked if they could also create Google Presentations about their words.  Why not?  What fun!  

As an example, I chose to research the word "estivate".  That led to an interesting discussion of lungfish and other creatures that estivate to escape heat and dry weather.

Fifth grade Common Core Standards for writing include:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4.A  - Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4.B - Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis).

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4.C - Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

For more information about the letter itself, you can visit Letters of Note. 

  

Open House Handouts and More!

 

We are off to a wonderful start to our new fifth grade school year and are eager to meet you at Open House on Tuesday evening, September 16.

I have added another page which includes a copy of the packet I will be handing out.  You will find information about grading practices and an overview of the fifth grade curriculum.  You will also find tips for helping your fifth grader with work habits, homework, and more.  I have also included information about out Peanut/Tree Nut Safe Classroom in the packet. Later this week I will post copies of the fifth grade report cards for Math, English/Language Arts, and Social Studies.  Simply look at the tabs at the top of this page to find these helpful documents.

I also wanted to share a free and simple app, Online Voice Recorder that I recently discovered and plan to use in the classroom this year.  I thought that you might also find it useful.  All you need to do is push the record button and follow the screen prompts to "Allow" the application access to your computer's microphone.  You talk as long as you wish and then listen to the recorded playback.  You can trim and edit the length of the recording as desired and then save your finished version in mp3 format using the link.

Students might use the app to practice spelling words, practice reading fluency, practice giving a presentation, or listen to playbacks of themselves practicing their instruments.

There is one drawback, however.  The site includes advertising, but I have become accustomed to ignoring the clutter of online advertising.  Maybe you have too.

Welcome To A New School Year

Welcome to all the rising fifth graders who will be heading back to school in a few days!  It hardly seems possible that summer vacation is nearly over but I hope that you have all had an opportunity to rest up, have fun with your friends and family, and are ready for a wonderful new school year, fifth grade!

I sent each of you a welcome back newsletter with many details about what to expect this year.  Included in the newsletter is also a copy of the classroom supply list and a classroom wish list.  This newsletter can be accessed by clicking on the "Helpful Documents" tab at the top of this page, or by clicking the 2014 Summer Newsletter link.

You may access a copy of the classroom supply list by clicking on the 2014 - 2015 Classroom Supply List and a classroom schedule by clicking on this link 2014 - 2015 Classroom Schedule.

This year we will be using a new math program called Bridges in Mathematics.  I am very excited to start using this math program and will be posting more about the program as the year goes along.  In the meanwhile I would like you to know that when you look at our daily schedule you will see math listed at three different times during the day.  Each morning we will start with Number Corner, which may already be familiar to some of you.  Number Corner is a skill building program that revolves around the classroom calendar, providing daily practice as well as continual encounters with broader mathematical concepts.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Thank You Spelling City! We LOVE you!

We LOVE SpellingCity.com

In our class we simply LOVE SpellingCity!  All of our spelling lists are available for students to access when they want to study their spelling words, practice science or social studies vocabulary words, or simply have some fun while reinforcing their learning.  For many years I've used this resource to help my students learn their spelling words, but recently I've also begun to add content area vocabulary words that I want students to study. 

I love that many of the activities are printable so that I can provide extra homework practice for students each night.  Each week I use the Handwriting Worksheets  to help students become more familiar with the way their words are spelled, but also to help students practice how letters are formed and joined.  We also work on the Crossword Puzzle that can be generated from each week's words as a way to help develop our vocabulary.  The Word Unscramble and the Alphabetize activities are two other options that can be printed out to provide extra practice.

But, the most fun of all - and probably the best practice activities are the interactive games. The class LOVES to play "Hangmouse" and we've had some rousing versions of the game.  I must admit that even I get a bit nervous when the cat starts opening his eyes and unsheathing his claws.  We all root for the mouse to survive each of his efforts to steal the cheese!

This fall our class discovered how much fun WordFind is.  Once a student figures out the correct word from among the scrambled letters, they then attempt to make all the small words they can create with the given letters.  It's a great challenge to see who can make the longest correctly spelled word from the letters available.

We are all changing over to the Common Core State Standards and Spelling City supports many of the CCSS in Language Arts and in the Content areas.  When I click on the standards search and search for Vermont Common Core State Standards, it opens up a printable drop down list of standards (with interactive links) that are covered by Spelling City.  Just so you know, my list is three printed pages long!  WOW!  Next week we are going to work on reviewing parts of speech.  Know what I am going to use?  Take a peek!

Among my favorite books is Brain Rules by John Medina.  One of his twelve brain rules is "Rule #4:  We don't pay attention to boring things".  Spelling City is definitely NOT BORING!  The games keep students engaged with their jazzy music and fast paced activity.  Another of the brain rules is "Rule #10:  Vision trumps all other senses".  The bright colors and moving objects make the activities appealing and memorable.

For students who have access to i Pads, there is now a Spelling City App.  There is a new Android app available through the Google Play store.  There is even a Kindle app available through the Amazon App Store! Students can get access to all the activities any place they can access their electronic devices.  It's wonderful!   

Finally, I like how I can create individual accounts for each student and then check up on their progress as they study their words each week.  It's easy to see which activities they have used and how successful they were.  If a student is not spending enough time studying it's easily evident and it's helpful to be able to show students this information too.

Thank you SpellingCity!  We LOVE you!

Disclosure: I received a year subscription in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.

I was provided with a premium membership free of charge for this review.  However, all opinions are mine and reflect my honest use of the product in the classroom.

I received VocabularySpellingCity.com at no cost to me, in order to complete an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Back To School

We have completed our first seven days of school and we are off to a wonderful start!  We have been learning new routines and getting used to being in a completely different part of the building.  The students say they really like the classroom, plants and all, and they really love their lockers.

Our beautiful new Chromebooks have arrived and we are in the process of setting them up so that students may begin utilizing them to enrich and enhance their learning investigations.

We started our first Reading Workshop unit, Building A Reading Life, and it is already clear that these students are voracious readers.  How wonderful that they simply love to read.  As one student put it, I don't read because I am trying to reach a goal of completing a certain number of books, but I read because I love reading!"

We have begun our first math unit, Number Puzzles and Multiple Towers in which we review and learn many different properties of number.  We have been working to develop and deepen our understanding of math vocabulary so that we can have rich, meaningful discussions about math.

In Social Studies we begin with a unit on geography and map skills.  We have been analyzing many different types of maps and learning how they convey important information.  Soon we will move on to learning how to locate places using latitude and longitude and we will review and extend our geographic vocabulary.

This week we will begin studying about cells in Science.  I am eager to introduce students to the microscopic world that exists all around them yet is invisible to the naked eye.  We have many different investigations and labs to pursue and I hope that students will find cell biology to be an exciting new world to discover.  Two wonderful websites that we will utilize are Cells Alive and Inside A Cell.

1:1 Chromebook Classroom!!!

You will love our new 1:1 Chromebooks!

I'm so excited to be able to tell all of you that we will have 1:1 Chromebooks in the fifth grade next year!  In "kid language" the term "1:1" means that in our classroom we will have enough computers for each student to have a computer to use during the school day.  The computers will be stored in our classroom and will be available whenever we need them during the day.  We will not take the computers home with us at night, but they will be recharged and waiting here for you each morning!

What, you may ask, is a Chromebook?  A Chromebook is a bit like a laptop computer, but with some important differences.  First of all they are small.  Chromebooks are about the size of a clipboard, weigh only about two pounds, and are about 3/4" thick.  When you use one you don't save your work to the computer itself, you save your work "in the cloud".  What does "in the cloud" mean?  It means that your work is stored elsewhere and not on your computer itself.  That means that you don’t need to worry about forgetting or losing your flash drive.  It means that you will be able to access your work from any computer at school, at home, the library, or your grandmother’s house!

I have been using a Chromebook quite a bit this summer and I absolutely love working with it.  The battery holds its charge for at least 6 hours which will suit us well at school.  (I suspect we will recharge them at lunchtime and again each evening.)  The size makes them perfect to carry around and use in different areas - although not outside because our wireless connection doesn’t reach very far outside the building.  I have been using Google Apps a lot and have discovered many different activities that will enhance and enrich our learning.  The possibilities are absolutely endless! In fact, to my mind, there won’t be enough time in the school year to do all that I would like to do with you using these computers!

Chromebooks are meant to be used online and we will use them a lot this year.  We will keep Interactive Reading Logs for Reading Workshop and we’ll  use Google Docs to write and publish our work in Writing Workshop.  We will use the Chromebooks in every subject area!  In science and social studies we will use them for research and to publish our learning in all sorts of interesting ways.  We will use Chromebooks to deepen our understanding of new math concepts and to help us practice our math facts.  We will be able to practice our spelling words online too.   I’m very eager to use the computers to help us to meet the challenges of the problem-based units we will take on.  More about that later : )We will have a parent meeting very early in the school year to explain how our 1:1 program will work and to answer questions parents may have about this exciting new learning opportunity.  

In the meanwhile what can you do to get ready to start the new year with this fabulous technology?  You can practice Typing Pal Online so that you have strong keyboarding skills.  This will help you be more efficient as you work on the computer.  If you have a school G-Mail account you could also work with some Google Apps such as Google Docs so that you become more familiar with the possibilities these programs offer.

I am very grateful to our wonderfully supportive school board; our principal, Karen Prescott; and our superintendent, John Castle;  for supporting this initiative and making the 1:1 Chromebooks available to our class.  We are lucky to have such a supportive community!

To My New Fifth Grade Class and A Supply List

Welcome! I am looking forward to having you in class!  I have heard many lovely things about each of you and am eager to get to know all of you better.  We will work hard, but I know that we will learn a lot and that we will become a supportive classroom community.

In order to prepare for fifth grade you will need to complete some summer reading.  I would like you to read at least TWO different books.  One of these books should be written by an author on the attached list; the other author can be your choice.  You will receive extra credit if you read more than two books.  Remember to choose a book that is “just right” for you - not too easy, not too hard.

You need to be an active reader, even in the summer. Since we will be continuing Reading Workshop in the fifth grade, I am asking you to identify characters, describe the setting, summarize each book you read, and make some connections - Text to Text, Text to Self, or Text to World.  Then draw a picture of your favorite scene from the book.   On the first day of school, you will need to turn in your completed Summer Reading Logs.  We will be using these in class.  

On the back of this letter is information about personal school supplies for next year AND a classroom wish list in case any of you would like to make donations.

If you have lost your copy of the Summer Reading Journal please go to my Helpful Documents to Download page. You will see the tab for my Helpful Documents page displayed at the top of this page.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Grade 5 Suggested Student Supplies 2013 - 2014

The school will provide general classroom supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, scissors, rulers, paper, glue, markers, and colored pencils.   You are welcome to bring in your own personal supplies if you wish.

Personal student supplies needed:

1 - 2½ “ binder with dividers

An assignment book

A  LOT of sticky notes for Reading Workshop

Pencil box or pouch

Flash drive

Earbuds

Optional locker organizer

Classroom Wish List

Duct tape

Sticky notes for Readers’ Workshop
Colored Flair felt tipped markers
Wausau Paper Astrobrights Colored Paper, 24lb, 8-1/2 x 11, 500 Sheets/Ream
Washi tape in any color or print

Bean Bag “chairs” for our Reading Nook

Skivinger Hunt - What Fun!

Today completes the school-wide Reading Challenge!  What fun it's been!  The students had many opportunities to hear book talks, see book trailers, read genres that were new to them, and otherwise revel in the splendors and joys of reading!

We did a wonderful mini-unit on Robert Frost's poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay.  We went outside on a beautiful spring day in early May and sketched the newly emerging foliage of trees and bushes as well as the blooms of the shad (service berry) trees.  Then we discussed change before our first reading of the poem.  The students had some very impressive insights as we explored the rich images the poem evokes.  Then we had an "Aha" moment a couple of weeks later when one student came across the same poem quoted in the book she was reading.

For the final day of the book challenge some of the staff members dressed up as book characters.  What fun!  Above is a picture of me with my friend Mrs. Gallagher.  Can you tell who we are?  She is dressed as Piper from the Percy Jackson series.  See her Camp Half Blood T-shirt?  I am dressed as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.  I find it interesting that several years ago students couldn't get enough of the Harry Potter books even though they become more difficult to read as you go through the series.  It was wonderful that students were stretching their reading muscles to learn new words and concepts because they were so motivated to read the books.  In recent years, student interest has been more focused on the Percy Jackson series of books, the Warriors series, and The Hunger Games.  But, again, all of these series of exciting and interesting books has caused students to push themselves and exercise those reading muscles.

So thank you to all of these authors, J.K. Rowling, Erin Hunter, Rick Riordan, and Suzanne Collins for sharing their gift of writing and adventure with the rest of us.  You have enriched our lives and taken us to places we would never have imagined.  And thank you to our wonderful librarian, Stacy Holbrook for providing us with this year's reading challenge, the Skivinger Hunt!

We love to read!!!!

Reading Challenge Skivenger Hunt

Time to drop everything and read! DEAR!

Drop
Everything
And
Read

Today we started the 2013 Reading Challenge, a "Skivinger Hunt"!  The challenge starts today, April 8 and runs until May 31.  Students are asked to do a number of different activities in order to earn points. Of course the main objective of the reading challenge is to get students motivated about reading but there are prizes for participation too!  The top three student winners will get a chance to go to breakfast with Mrs. Prescott and the top winning class will earn a special treat party later in the year.

We had several Reading Challenge Kickoff Events today.  We made duct tape bookmarks, stopped everything to read (DEAR) a couple times during the day, and went outside to the outdoor classroom this afternoon to read for awhile.

All students have a packet of activities, their point values, and ways to document that they have completed different activities.  Here are some details about ways students can earn points.As you can see, there are lots of opportunities to get involved with books and the printed page!

• Students can earn points for such activities as visiting a public library, reading an article from the Rutland Herald or the New York Times, visiting an author's website, recommending a book to a friend, asking adults about a favorite book, choosing to read instead of watching TV, reading to others, etc.
• Students also earn points for reading different genres such as fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, poetry, graphic novels, nonfiction, etc.
• Students can earn points for listening to an audio book  creating a soundtrack for a book, or making a book trailer video.
• Students can earn points for hosting or attending a book club, writing to an author, or creating a Google presentation about a favorite book.

Staff members are also competing in their own version of the Skivinger Hunt.  In fact, I am earning 10 points for promoting the student reading challenge on my blog right now!  Staff points will be added to the student points and count toward our classroom total.

There is a parent version of the Skivinger Hunt too!  So, be on the lookout for your fifth grader to bring home a handout with a list of activities you can participate in!  Your points will also be added to the student points and count toward out classroom total!

Greek Week! (and-a-half)

We've just completed a wonderful multi-grade interdisciplinary unit on ancient Greece.  We worked with the sixth grade to study the literature, language, mathematics, and culture of the ancient Greeks.  Students met daily to discuss and review Greek allusions that they began to notice as they became more aware of all the gifts the ancient Greeks have given us.

Students noticed that there is an Atlas moving company, both Goodyear Tires and FTD florists use the winged sandals of Hermes as a logo, Mobile gas uses Pegasus as a logo, Nike was the goddess of victory and close companion of Athena, an arachnid is so called after Arachne - the vainglorious girl who refused to give Athena her due, the Castleton Spartans are well named, the Titanic was not well named, and the Barre Montpelier Times Argus has lots of eyes so as to better see and report all the news!

We studied myths, legends, and fables.  We ate pomegranates.  We learned to recognize the letters of the Greek alphabet and can now sing the alphabet song in Greek.  ("I've got to have more cowbell!")  We studied many of the English words we use which have Greek roots.  We learned that "logo" is actually a Greek word.  We learned about Pythagoras and his famous Pythagorean Theorem.  Did you know that he was a vegetarian but he did not like beans or eat them?  He certainly was an amazing mathematician though!

We studied several of Aesop's fables and learned that many of the morals found in these fables have found their way into our everyday language.  One student went skiing over the weekend and recognized the moral of "The Fox and the Goat" on a warning sign along one of the trails which warned, "Look before you leap!"  We discovered a wonderful website - or app if you prefer - from the Library of Congress, Aesop's Fables Interactive Book.

We learned the difference between a myth and a legend and we studied several of the legendary heroes including Heracles and Theseus.  Did you know that although there are not too many female heroes, there is at least one, Atalanta?

Small groups of students closely studied specific myths and learned them well enough to re-enact their myths for their classmates at our felicitous finale, the Greek Feast and Drama Festival.

We would like to thank the many parents who came in to help serve and clean up or who cooked, sent in cheese, olives, beverages, and paper products.  You all are wonderful cooks and helped make our Greek Feast a glorious event.  Yummy!  Spanikopita!  Melopita!  Baklava!  Moussaka!  Keftedes!  Tzatziki!

Please visit our downstairs hallway which is now decorated with twenty-four life-sized Greek gods and goddesses.  They are quite a sight to behold!

Vocabulary Spelling City - How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways!

    

With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning let me tell you about Vocabulary Spelling City!  Why do I love this resource so much?  Take a look at the image  on the left.  This wonderful website offers engaging activities that help students master spelling and vocabulary.  My students love to practice their words by playing "Hang Mouse" on their computers at home, but they especially love to practice their spelling words with this activity on the Smart Board at school!  They also enjoy "Word -O-Rama" and "Letter Fall". While it's wonderful that my students can enjoy the online interaction I also like that I can print many different activities as handouts for student practice. 

During the week I generally assign a spelling practice activity each day for homework and these are all taken from Vocabulary Spelling City.  I have posted all my spelling lists on this site.  Students simply go online, select the list they are working with and select an activity to work on.  Students may complete crossword puzzles, unscramble words, practice alphabetization, or vocabulary. 

As a fifth grade teacher I want my students to practice cursive writing.  I know that soon they will develop their own distinctive styles of handwriting and I know that they will use keyboarding skills even more extensively as they grow older.  But, I feel that at this point it's important that they learn how to read and write cursive.  Then they can choose whether and when they wish to use it.  So, each week I always introduce the spelling words with a handwriting practice page from Vocabulary Spelling City.  Students can see the proper formation of letters and how they join.  They can trace each word before practicing it independently.  I think it makes a wonderful introduction to each week's lesson.  All I have to do is click on the list for the week and select  "handwriting worksheets".  This opens a dialogue box which lets me format the words to my specifications.  I choose cursive, but you may also select print or D'Nealian models, select the size, and whether or not you wish to display guide arrows to assist students.

Teaching spelling and vocabulary is so easy with this great resource!  I also love that students can take final or practice spelling and vocabulary tests right online.  Not only that but there are two tiers of use offered.  Many activities are free but there is a Premium Membership which allows automated student record keeping.  My students are thrilled when I tell them that for homework they need to go on the computer and practice their spelling.  I can later go to the Vocabulary Spelling City myself, log in and check out who has done the assignments and when they did them in addition to seeing their scores.

So, really, what's not to love about this site?

First Day of School

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 was our first day of school.  The first day of school is probably the best day of the school year!  There is nothing more wonderful than a spanking clean school and classroom, students who are well rested and eager to start the new year, and staff who are ready and waiting!  Energy is high and everyone is ready for the next challenge.

Many of you are familiar with Wordle, a fascinating way to create word clouds from text.  To make this image I simply pasted the address of this blog into the Wordle form and pressed "submit".  This image, then, represents all that has been written on our blog.  I was thrilled to see that the word "students" is right in the center, and that it is the largest word in the image.  After all, the students are the most important - they are the center of our universe.

This year in addition to teaching math to both fifth grade classes, I will teach social studies and language arts to my "traveling group" and Mrs. Ladabouche will teach science to both fifth grade classes.  Soon, more information about Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop will be sent home and posted on the blog.

We have ordered a homework planner for each student.  As soon as the planners arrive students will place the planner inside the front of their three ring binder and the planner will remain there for the entire school year.  At the end of each day we stop and take some time for students to enter homework assignments, information about special activities that may come up, and reminders about other items of importance.  We would like you to get into the habit of checking your child's planner each evening.  Something new for fifth graders this year is the Reader's Notebook which will go home with students and return with the student each morning along with the novel or chapter book the student is reading at the time. 

Please note that you can now access homework assignments from this blog.  If a student is absent or forgets to write down an assignment simply check the calendar on the sidebar to your right.  Clicking on the calendar will bring up details about each assignment and when it's due.  In the fifth grade students should expect to have reading homework each evening and parents are asked to initial their child's reading log located in the students' Reader's Notebook and which will travel back and forth from school to home each day.  Students will have math homework each night spending some time in practicing the skills that we have learned in class.  Finally, students will have spelling words to study each week.

Students should get into the habit of remembering to bring their instruments each Wednesday and Friday.  Fifth grade instrumental music lessons take place on Wednesday afternoons and Fifth Grade Band practice is held on Friday at 12:30 pm each week.

Supply List For 2012 - 2013 School Year

My front door.

The school year has ended, but we are already preparing for the new school year. Vacation is a time to rest and relax, but it is also a time to regroup and start developing new units for the next school year! So, although I will not be at school for a few weeks, I will still be busy preparing new and exciting units of study.

Supply lists for next year's fifth grade were handed out with report cards on the last day of school, but I am including a copy of the supply list for next year's NEW fifth grade students in this blog post in case your copy gets lost. Simply click on the following link to download as either a pdf file or as a Word file. 2012 - 2013 5W Supply List Now you can print out the supply list and take it with you!

Our School Year Has Ended

We had a wonderful trip to Cape Cod.  We saw many different habitats and ecosystems which we had been learning about in science and we saw many sites related to our learning in social studies.  We came back windburned, exhausted, with sand in our shoes, and many lovely memories of the trip.

Upon returning from Cape Cod we had only two weeks of school left, but we made the best of them!

Now the fifth grade students have "stepped up" and are beginning their summer vacations.

Homework for April 30 - May 4

We are finishing up Chapter 10, Growing Tensions Between the Colonies and Britain and will have our final test at the beginning of next week.  Students should plan to visit the History Alive! website and practice the tutorial for Chapter 10.


We have only two more Spelling units after this week.  Students can go to Spelling City and work on some of the activities for Lesson 33 to get extra practice.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Math - 5 Minute Math - all ten questions

Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal


Spelling - handwriting models for Lesson 33 - in cursive with proper heading on paper


Social Studies - re-read chapter 10 and practice the online tutorial for chapter 10


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due at this time, students should return their mid-trimester reports with parent signatures, health surveys are overdue

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Math - What is the Title of This Picture computation practice handout - with proper heading on paper


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal


Spelling - Unscramble spelling  words for Lesson 33 - in cursive with proper heading on paper


Social Studies - study for the upcoming test on Chapter 10


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due, health surveys will be collected tomorrow, instrument lessons tomorrow - bring instruments and music, computer class tomorrow - bring flash drives and ear buds, READ for the Zumba Reading Challenge

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Math - Write word problems to accompany division equations on handout and solve the equations


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal


Spelling - lesson 33 practice page, also visit SpellingCity for practice with lesson 33 words


Social Studies - study for test on Tuesday, complete online tutorial for chapter 10 at HIstory Alive!, practice vocabulary words at SpellingCity (please note that this is a different link that the link above to the spelling lesson)


Science - bring a trowel and dress for outside tomorrow rain or shine:  we will be collecting wildflowers and other "wildlings" to place in student-made terrariums


Extra - dress for outside, Physical Education - wear appropriate shoes and clothing, return Cape Cod packing list form, READ and record each ten minutes for Zumba Reading Challenge

Homework For April 23 - April 27

I apparently misunderstood how extra pages work in Blogger.  I had thought that I could post regularly to the homework page and it would update as a regular blog post does.  Wrong.  Wrong.  Wrong.  Evidently the extra pages are "static" and not meant to be used for regular blog posts.  Therefore, I will try to add homework to this part of the blog each afternoon instead!  Perhaps it would be less cluttered if I start a post for each week and add to that one post during that week (but date the posts) before starting a new post the following week.  We'll try and see!  I will give the title the dates of the week.


Please send me feedback.  I would like to know if you are using this blog to double check homework assignments.  Is there anything else you would like me to include?

Monday, April 23, 2012

Math - Chain Code computation practice handout - with proper heading on paper


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal


Spelling - handwriting models for Lesson 32 - in cursive with proper heading on paper


Social Studies - some students need to complete the map of the original 13 colonies


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due at this time.  Please send it in ASAP!!!

Tuesday April 24, 2012

Math - Code Line computation practice handout - with proper heading on paper


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal


Spelling - Unscramble spelling  words for Lesson 32 - in cursive with proper heading on paper


Social Studies - two students need to complete the map of the original 13 colonies


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums, some students need to complete their "foldables"


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due at this time.  Please send it in ASAP!!!  Health surveys are due tomorrow, instrument lessons tomorrow - bring instruments and music, Walk At Lunch tomorrow - wear appropriate shoes and clothing, Computer class tomorrow - bring flash drives and ear buds

April 25, 2012

Math - Animal Cracks computation practice handout - with proper heading on paper


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal, some people have a grammar test retake


Spelling - student choice


Social Studies - two students need to complete the map of the original 13 colonies


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums, study for science quiz


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due at this time.  Please send it in ASAP!!!  Health surveys are due this week, Physical Education AND Walk At Lunch tomorrow - wear appropriate shoes and clothing

April 26, 2012

Math - no math homework this evening


Language Arts - read and record pages in reading journal, some people have a grammar test retake


Spelling - student choice, test tomorrow on lesson 32


Social Studies - one student needs to complete the map of the original 13 colonies


Science - students need to bring in jars for terrariums


Extra - money for the Cape Cod trip is due at this time.  Please send it in ASAP!!!  Health surveys are due this week, Band tomorrow - bring instruments and music

April 27, 2012

Traditionally I give little to no homework on Fridays BUT...  

Language Arts -  read and record pages in reading journal 


Spelling - Visit Spelling City Lesson 33 and get a head start on lesson 33 if you wish


Social Studies - test coming up at the end of next week or early the following week on Chapter 10, Growing Tensions Between the Colonies and Britain.  

• Visit Chapter 10 tutorial to get some extra practice
• Visit Social Studies Vocabulary Practice/Spelling City to practice your vocabulary words

Science -  PLEASE bring in jars for terrariums

Extra - money for Cape Cod is due today.  A few people still need to send in their money.  Health surveys will be collected on Monday.  Wear gym shoes and dress appropriately for physical education on Monday.  

Homework Assignments

I have updated this blog with a new page, "Homework Assignments".  My hope is to keep this section updated regularly with homework assignments and due dates so that parents and students can check in on a regular basis if necessary.  

I think it would be useful mainly if students are absent.  Then they can check and at least get some of their homework done before they return to school if they are feeling well enough.  Sometimes, too, students forget to write down  every assignment or forget due dates.  I hope that this will provide an efficient way for you to stay up to date.

This will mean that I will need to update the blog every afternoon after school, and I hope that I will be able to keep up with this new endeavor.  Please bear with me as I establish this new habit.

Parents

In general there is homework every night except for Fridays.  However, weekend is assigned over the weekend more frequently during the last trimester.

Homework is collected each morning and math homework is reviewed daily at the beginning of each math class. Students who have difficulties understanding their homework are expected to ask the teacher for assistance.   We are always available at lunch/recess for extra help as needed.   
Language Arts - Read and record pages read in journalsMath - every night except FridaySpelling - every night except FridaySocial Studies - occasionallyScience - occasionally