Spelling Words and Tutoring Session

Spelling Words, 11/6

 

controlled

control

disaster

eager

enemy

example

excitement

exciting

excite

fierce

flew

flies

fly

forgotten

forgot

gigantic

giant

guide

hurrying

hurried

hurry

knowledge

know

lawyer

paragraph

patient

patience

pianist

pianos

piano

Our words are getting more challenging!  To help your students you can ask them to tell you about the rules we are studying.  Rules 19 and 11 can be tricky, ask your child to explain them to you!

Also, don't forget that the History test will be on Wednesday.

We will be having a tutoring session Wednesday from 1:45 - 2:25 since we will not be in school tomorrow.  A few of the kids had a hard time with todays concept in math.  If you feel that your child needs the extra support, please be sure they stay for help.

Enjoy your day off, and a special thank you to those of you who are serving or have served our country.  I am so thankful for the sacrifices you and your families have made.

Headlines, 11/10

The Headlines

 

We had a very productive week with our fifth graders.  We were able to wrap up a few of our units and start some new ones.  We also had our first school assembly and learned about our virtue of the month, Courage.

 

Math:  The students have done very well with our fraction unit thus far and seem to have a strong grasp on the concepts presented.  We discussed adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators, multiplying fractions by a whole number, and using conversion factor in measurement.  This week we will continue our study of measurement and conversion factors, review bar models, and complete our study guide for the fraction unit. 

 

Literature:  Last week we introduced The Hobbit to the students, and they are loving the humor and adventure already.  We also learned how to create a story map and reviewed summaries.  We will be using this book as a time to use the skills we have learned in writing to create clear summaries of our reading.  Please be sure your child has a copy of The Hobbit at school.  If you need a copy to borrow we are happy to help, just let me know as soon as possible. 

 

Writing: Our focus has been grammar for the past several weeks, specifically we have been discussing noun jobs.  Next week we will be reviewing noun jobs and will take a quiz over the unit.  We will also be reviewing the helping verbs.

 

 

Spalding:  I hope everyone has found the list of words on the blog helpful.  Please note these have not been marked and students should still have their words dictated  to them and should write them three times with markings and rules.

 

Science: The students did a great job on their Animal Cell test and I was proud of how well prepared they were!  We started our plant unit last week discussing the similarities and differences of the two types of cells.  This will be a short unit that should be completed this week.

 

History:  We have completed the Renaissance!  We finished the unit be looking at the way it influenced other parts of Europe.  Study guides were distributed on Friday.  We will be going over these in class on Monday and will test over the unit on Wednesday

.

 

We also took the time this week to think about what it must have been like for Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel by doing a little upside down art ourselves.  Here are a few pictures of our experience:

 

 

                                                      Reminders:                           

The winter uniform policy will go into effect once we return from Thanksgiving Break.  Students will no longer be permitted to wear shorts to school. Girls must wear white or navy knee-high socks or nylon tights with their skirts, skorts, or jumpers. Navy or black socks must be worn with pants. Jackets and sweaters free of pop-culture icons may be worn outside; however, only approved sweaters and pullovers with the logo may be worn in the building. Spirit wear is not uniform-approved attire, so it is not permitted in class.

 

 

Important Dates:

 

Tuesday, 11/6: No school, Veteran’s Day

Wednesday, 11/7: Renaissance Test

Wednesday, 11/26: Half Day, 11:45 am Release

11/27 – 11/28: No School, Thanksgiving Break

 

Wish List:

 

Some students do not have fine-tip black Sharpies (or Sharpie like pens), if you see these on sale we would love to have some extras, as we use these for projects.

 

We are in great need of glue sticks!

 

Spelling List and Flashcard App

This weeks list:

 

injury

injure

distribute

general

tomorrow

consider

against

again

complete

search

treasure

popular

Christmas

Christ

interest

advice

advise

American

America

bargain

beneath

beyond

broken

broke

break

cocoa

collar

comparison

compare

debts

 

Also, I have heard great things about the app ANKI, which has digital flashcards.  The website is:
ankisrs.net

You may want to check it out!

 

One other note, I have the fun run listed on the blog, but it has been cancelled. Finally, don't forget retakes are tomorrow.

 

Have a great day!



Headlines

The Headlines

 

We had quite a week of celebration!  Thank you so much to those of you who came and helped, sent in treats, or decorations.  It was a much needed celebration of all of our hard work over the last quarter J

 

Math:  Last week was the beginning of Singapore Math Unit 3 with a focus on fractions.  Although this is a review for some students, it is good to refresh our memories and we have also been practicing how to use our new skills in problem solving.  This week we will work on adding/ subtracting/ multiplying, and dividing with fractions and mixed numbers.  We also will start looking at the connection between fractions and units of measure.

 

Literature:  Our literature celebration was a huge success.  We were able to taste some new food and some of our students had the opportunity to play chess for the first time.  Thanks to a few of the kids, I am finally learning as well!  This week we will start reading The Hobbit.  Because this can be a challenging book, it will be done entirely as a read aloud.  We will still work on literature skills, but all reading will be done in class.

 

Writing: We have spent quite a bit of time learning all the jobs of nouns in sentences and have continued perfecting our sentence diagramming skills.  This week we will begin looking at prepositions, linking verbs, and nouns used as appositives.  It is very important that students bring home their writing spiral each night to help with their homework as that is where all of our notes are taken.

 

 

Spalding:  Our words are getting a little more challenging, so please be sure that your child is writing each word three times nightly. 

 

Science: We continued working on our cell analogy posters last week and also learned about the types of animal cells.  We will be going over the study guide in class today and will be testing over animal cells tomorrow.  We have a short unit on plant cells coming next.

 

History: Last week we looked at Leonardo Da Vinci and his work and how it impacted the Renaissance.  We should be finishing this unit this week and will review for the test next week.

 

 

Important Dates:

 

11/5: Picture Retakes

11/15: Fun Run

 

Wish List:

 

Some students do not have fine-tip black Sharpies (or Sharpie like pens), if you see these on sale we would love to have some extras, as we use these for projects.

 

We are running low on glue sticks!

Here are few pictures of our awesome literary characters, thanks for helping to make this a fun day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spelling Words, 10/27-10/31

prepare

vessel

busy

preference

prefer

illustration

illustrate

different

differ

provision

provide

according

already

attention

education

director

direct

purpose

common

diamond

together

convention

increase

manner

feature

article

service

serve

injury

injure

 

I hope this helps everyone with their studying! 

The Headlines, October 27

The Headlines

 

It was great to finally have five full days of school to focus on our curriculum.  We achieved quite a bit and are ready for a fun week with plenty of festivities.

 

Math:  As some of you may have heard we took two tests over Unit 2, although this was not part of the initial plan, it worked out very well.  This was really my mistake and after discussing the content with my colleagues I gave a new test that was a better representation of our areas of focus.  I was very pleased with the results!  We will be jumping right into fractions on Monday.

 

Literature:  After spending the first quarter studying The Chronicles of Narnia, we completed Voyage of the Dawn Treader last week.  The test was quite challenging, so please be on the lookout for tests to come home Monday for corrections.  These will be due by Wednesday. The kids are really excited to start The Hobbit!  Because we have the Read-a-Thon and our literature celebration, we are starting a short story called, The Farmer Giles of Ham, this will be a perfect way to introduce students to the style and work of Tolkien.

 

Writing: We worked on peer editing last week, and the students completed a summary of an excerpt based on Helen Keller’s autobiography.  We will be focusing on grammar this week, with an emphasis on direct objects and sentence diagramming.  I will be sending home a list of the helping verbs on Monday, and students should be prepared for a quiz on Thursday.

 

 

Spalding:  The students took a written phonogram review last week and they all did very well.  We will begin our next list this week. 

 

Science: Students have been working this week on their cell analogy posters, these have been very creative!  This will be our last week learning about animal cells.  Cell note cards should have been completed this weekend and our goal is to test over animal cells on Friday.  We will be completing a study guide in class this week that will be coming home for study.

 

History: We spent the week discussing the Pope’s of the Renaissance as well as looking at the beginning of Venice.  Next we will be looking at the life and work of Leonardo Da Vinci and his impact on the Renaissance.

 

Reminders:

 

The Read-A-Thon is coming October 31!  This is a super fun day when students and staff get to dress up as their favorite literary character from our reading list while we enjoy literature together.  I have asked the class to submit a plan to me for their costume, so if your child is dressing up, make sure they have checked in with me.  Students are by no means required to dress up, however, if they are don’t they should be in uniform.

 

A sign-up genius should be coming out soon to come in and read to the class; we would love to have you join us J 

 

I will be at Barnes and Nobles on Thursday from 4: OO to 4:30 to read, so if you are able, stop by and see me!

 

 

 

 

Important Dates:

 

10/29, 10/30: The Barnes and Noble Book Fair, 4-8 pm

10/31: Read-A-Thon

10/5: Picture Retakes

11/15: Fun Run

 

Wish List:

 

Some students do not have fine-tip black Sharpies (or Sharpie like pens ), if you see these on sale we would love to have some extras, as we use these for projects.

 

Thank you so much for all of your donations, we are doing well right now on wipes and hand sanitizer, but we can always use Kleenex!

 

Headlines, 10/20

The Headlines

 

Thank you so much for coming in this week for conferences.  Both Mr. Morris and I enjoyed visiting with you and learning more about your student.  You all gave me some great ideas and I hope you walked away with a better understanding of what we do all day.  I am so appreciative for such a supportive and involved group of parents. 

 

Also, a HUGE thank you for feeding us all week!  It was so nice to be treated to such a delicious spread every day.  We are a spoiled group of teachers J!

 

Math:  Last week we completed Unit 2 of Singapore Math.  We have discussed order of operations, mental math, the distributive property and multiplying larger numbers, and long division.  We will be spending a couple of days on review work and will be testing on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.  I will be holding an additional study session Monday afternoon from 2:45 – 3:25.  If your student needs any additional review I suggest they stay on Monday.  Our next unit will begin after the test, which is fractions.

 

Language Arts: We only have a couple of chapters left in Voyage.  This has been a beautiful book that we all have enjoyed.  We will have a test over the book on Thursday or Friday of this week. It will be composed of vocabulary, comprehension questions, and an essay question.  A review sheet will be coming home this week.  I was very proud of the grades on our Roots test!  I can tell there was a lot of studying that took place.  We are taking a break from Grammar this week and will go back to the study of outlines.

 

Spalding:  We are moving along quite nicely with our spelling words.  This week we will review the phonograms and will have our next set of thirty words. 

 

Science: We have continued reviewing the parts of a cell and their functions.  Unfortunately with our short days we did not make our cell similes, so we will be making these in class this week. We will also be learning about the six different types of cells in the human body.

 

History: We learned about the Medici family this week and discussed the way they impacted Florence’s economy.  Next we are planning on studying the popes and delving deeper into Renaissance artists.

 

Reminders:

 

This is a from last week, but bears a repeating:

This quarter we will be focusing on staying organized and managing time wisely.  I was a bit lax in some of my late work policies, but this quarter I will be more stringent so that they are ready for sixth grade.

Homework turned in late, but on day it was due will receive 10% off, after that they will get half credit.  Please help your students by discussing what homework they have each day.  All due dates and assignments are written in their agendas daily.

 

The Read-A-Thon is coming October 31!  This is a super fun day when students and staff get to dress up as their favorite literary character from our reading list while we enjoy literature together.  We will be discussing this more in class soon, but get your creative juices flowing!

 

 Important Dates:

 

10/29, 10/30: The Barnes and Noble Book Fair, 4-8 pm

10/31: Read-A-Thon

10/5: Picture Retakes

11/15: Fun Run

 

Wish List:

 

We are in need of a few more supplies, so if you are able we would love the donations:

*Old magazines for collage work, needed ASAP!

*Kleenex- We are completely out!

*Hand sanitizer

*Clorox Wipes