12/17 Update

Enjoy a delightful weekend! We had a very busy afternoon--it was so fun to munch on some delicious snacks while snuggled up with a good book, magazine, or newspaper. The hot cocoa and apple cider hit the spot! Thanks to all parents that donated snacks, drinks, or supplies today for a very successful Book-In!

We are missing 3 Countdown novels. The set belongs to the Challenger Learning Center and was on loan to us for a few months. Unless I return those books, I am responsible for purchasing new ones to replace them. Please double check with you child about whether he or she turned in a book. Thank you!

We DO have school on Monday, but just two more days! We have Media Center on Monday, as well. We will work on our Native American webquest and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" math activity. Tuesday is our winter party beginning at 2:45. We will be at a school-wide sing-a-long beginning at 2. Please feel free to join us for both activities!

IRT Trip 12/16

Our field trip to IRT is tomorrow!! We are so excited to see the theater show and to eat at the food court. However, Old Man Winter might have other plans for us! A letter was sent home today on blue paper regarding a back-up plan if we should have a 2-hour delay on Thursday.  Here is something similar to what the note said, just in case you never see it tonight:

We will still go to IRT tomorrow even if there is a delay.  We will leave promptly at 11:00, so it's important that students and volunteers arrive on time. We will NOT be eating lunch at the Hyatt if there is a delay on Thursday, so eat a hearty breakfast. Bring a sack lunch or purchase one from the school cafe if we have a delay.

Keep your fingers crossed for great weather! Please encourage your child to dress nicely for the theater tomorrow. We discussed appropriate dress in class today as well as high expectations for behavior at the theater. Thank you for your help with these two matters!

12/14 Update

Please be diligent about checking the blog this week due to weather changes. There is a chance for more snow on Thursday morning, the day we are planning to go to IRT for "A Christmas Carol" and lunch. We will send home a note regarding a back-up plan by tomorrow, but please check here, too, so that I can get any needed information to parents!

NWEA Results are in . . . 100% of our class improved their math RIT score any where from 5 points up to 20 points!!! We are very excited (hence the screaming we did in class to celebrate)! However, we still have a lot of work to do in the second semester!

Vocabulary test on Friday over list #2 for "On My Honor" novel. This list is a bit harder than last week's list, so please be sure to spend some time studying the words and their definitions.

The kids are creating a collage of their last 10-11 years over the next week and into January. Many are using the ads and magazines to cut pictures for their collage creation. However, I strongly encouraged students to bring photos from home to use, as well.

No spelling until January!

12/10 Notes

Thanks to many parents, we have all the volunteers we need for Monday afternoon's scavenger hunt!

There is NO homework this weekend unless you need to finish your "A Christmas Carol" handout from Wednesday. It is due Monday.

We WILL NOT have a spelling list next week again. We will continue our lessons in January.

We WILL have a vocabulary list next week. The list will go home on Monday.

We will have a test over the novel On My Honor on Thursday before we leave for the field trip.

A note went home to parents and fifth graders regarding our winter party on Tuesday, December 21. If you did not receive the note and want to help Mrs. Falcone and Mrs. Blood, please contact one of them. falcone5@me.com or hblood26@aol.com. Thanks!

IRT Field Trip is Thursday, December 16. ALL students received a half-green sheet note regarding information about Thursday. It includes a note that students need to bring money for lunch: $5-$10 is more than enough. **If you are volunteering for the trip, please look for a green information sheet in your child's file folder today.

Friday, December 17 in the afternoon is our Holiday Book-In! Information went home last Friday about this special afternoon. Students plan to wear jammies and bring slippers, pillows, and blankets in backpacks for that day. We will have hot chocolate and a snack while reading, listening to holiday stories, singing holiday songs, and opening gifts from Mrs. Hill!

Recess Debate

Our class is working on oral communcation skills, forming an argument with evidence to support the argument, the art of persuasion, and point-of-view. We are doing this by debating an issue that matters most to our class at this point in the school year: RECESS! This is only a debate and a chance to discuss their concerns. It is not a place that will promote change for sure, however, a good place to begin a discussion!

We would like to invite families to the debate. It's Friday morning from 11:00-11:30 in the Science Lab (across from our classroom). It will be quick, but I'm certain it will be filled with many interesting points!

Volunteers NEEDED

We are going on a scavenger hunt around the building on Monday afternoon. We will use the data we gather to create pie graphs. In order for this event to be successful, I will need at least 5 parent volunteers so the groups of students can remain small. Please let me know via email, note, or phone if you are able to help out. The volunteering time frame will be from 2:30-3:15 in the afternoon. You will be in charge of monitoring a group as they go from class to class requesting specific items.
Thank you!

Please SAVE . . .

Several parents are already saving a variety of magazines for our class (THANK YOU), however we have a huge need for magazines and newspapers, as well as weekly store ads for next week. We are starting a month long project of collaging the kids' last 10 to 11 years with magazines, weekly ads, and/or newspaper cut outs. If you could please save these items for us, we will gladly recycle what we do not use here at school! Thank you!

We are also starting, as an indoor recess activity, to make bracelets and reusable bags. We need a variety of plastic bags (Walmart, Marsh, etc--the more colorful the better). I've even begun saving marshmallow, bread, and bagel bags, too. We need empty, clean chip bags, as well for the bracelets.

Book Club Opportunity with BHS Senior!

Delaney Arnoldy, a current senior at BHS and former Brown Elementary student, is working on her senior project. She is beginning a Book Club for fourth and fifth grade students! The students in the club will read a book that Delaney will provide with the help from Brownsburg Public Library. They will meet once a month to discuss the book and participate in fun activties that relate to the book. Students in the club can use the book for their class book summary, as well!

If you are interested, there is a parent meeting on Thursday, December 16 at 5:30 at the Brownsburg Public Library. Delaney will introduce herself and will explain the club further. She will also provide time for any questions that you might have that the information sheet sent home on Friday did not provide.

She can be reached at 317-517-2708 or by email at dmarnoldy@aol.com. She would like students to RSVP by December 15 if interested.

Reminders

All Choir students will be going on a field trip next Wednesday, December 15 from 9-11. However, each student MUST return their permission form first. It's due by Monday, December 13.

Donuts with Dad will be this Friday, December 10 at 8 am. An introduction to the "All Pro Dads" club will be given on Friday during the breakfast, too. A $5 donation is requested per family. If you have NOT returned your RSVP note yet, please let Mrs. Hill know right away. She will get the information to the PSG as soon as possible. However, no one will be turned away, so please mark her calendars and plan to attend with your child.

We will be heading to IRT next Thursday, December 16 to see "A Christmas Carol"! All parents attending will receive an email or note from me prior to next Thursday. All students should bring money for a lunch at a pizza place, Subway, or Charlie and Barney's.

12/6 Update

Winter break countdown begins--12 school days!

We will NOT have a spelling list this week.

We WILL have a vocabulary test on Friday and the words will go home today.

The science packet pages 45-49 are morning work all week, but the packet will be turned on Friday for a grade.

We have a visit from IRT Tuesday morning and a distance learning event with Sea Trek on Tuesday afternoon.


We have NWEA Math testing on Wednesday morning.
 
Our Unit 5 math test will be on Thursday morning this week. Study guides will be going home today.

We have Media Center on Friday this week rather than Wednesday due to NWEA.

12/2 Reminders

Vocabulary test tomorrow over the six words given on Monday.

Countdown summaries due tomorrow. These were assigned in the beginning of November.

Read "On My Honor" novel through Chapter 4. Be ready for Chapter 5 on Friday. Each student was given at least 20 minutes to complete this today. It's only homework if unfinished. No journal entries are necessary for tonight's homework.

Muffins with Mom tomorrow morning at 8 in the cafeteria! $5 donation per family minimum

Book Club will resume in January.

SRI results will be coming home next week with an explanation letter. Please look for those on Friday, December 10.

Muffins with Mom & Dontus with Dad

Please plan to join many of our classmates and Mrs. Hill at Muffins with Mom at Brown's cafeteria at 8 am on Friday, December 3. An RSVP note was sent home this week with students, so please return that as soon as possible. However, if you would like to attend and have not RSVPd, please plan to do so! There is a $5 minimum donation requested for each family. We'd love to see you!

Donuts with Dad will be next Friday, December 10 at 8 am in the Brown caferteria! There is also a $5 minimum donation per family for this event, too. One of the dad's is starting an "All Pro Dad's Club" and will announce this amazing opportunity for dad's and their kids on December 10.

Week of 11/29-12/3

We will resume our spelling and vocabulay tests this week. The spelling test will be on Wednesday over Lesson 14. The list went home on Wednesday before Thanksgiving break. The vocabulary test will be on Friday. The list went home on Monday, Nov. 29.

Countdown summaries are due by Friday, December 3. The summary should be written for the last half of the book (Chapters 14-28). Each summary should be edited by at least two adults, as well. Pleaes return your edit sheet along with your typed summary to school by Friday for full credit.

We are starting a new novel this week called On My Honor. All of the reading will be done at school, however, if needed, additional time at home might be necessary.

We are continuing with Unit 5 in math this week. We will test over this unit next Thursday, December 9. I will send home a study guide early in the week to help prepare for the test.

Students will be presenting their readers theater plays on Friday, December 3. We will begin at 1:30. There are four groups to present. If you'd like to attend, please feel free to drop in.

ISTEP+ Info

Fifth graders will be taking the ISTEP+ online this spring. If you'd like to go through a test run with your child, please use the following link. We will go through a test run here at school eventually, but if you'd like to see it, go for  it!

No login is required. Simply select your grade level, click Start the Test, and click Log In (no ID or password needs to be entered).


Here's the link:

http://learnoas.ctb.com/ISTEP/

Notes for this short week 11/22-11/24

• MANY THANKS FOR ALL OF THE DONATIONS SO FAR!!! We are still in need of index cards, clean chip bags, and colored plastic bags! Thanks!
• We will NOT have a spelling or vocabulary list this week.
• We WILL have a Social Studies test over Chapter 2 on Wednesday. We began reviewing for the test today using pages 98-99 in the Social Studies book. Students are writing definitions, sentences, and answering questions to prepare them for the test. The students were encouraged to bring their books and study review sheets home tonight to finish, but will also receive time in class tomorrow. We will go over the correct answers tomorrow, too.
• Countdown summaries are due next Friday, 12/3. The students should finish the book and write a five paragraph essay about over the last portion of the book, Chapters 13-28. The students received an information sheet, as well as an editor's checklist for editing their work with two adults.
• There is math homework tonight: Study Link 5.6. All students were given time to ask questions individually and as a class today, so my assumption, at this point, is no one has any questions. Don't forget students can access their reference book online if more information is necessary.

We would be so thankful for . . .

by December 3 if you're able to donate any of the following:

• index cards of all sizes
• plastic bags from various stores (Walmart, Target, Kohls, Marsh, Kroger, Justice, etc)
• empty and clean large or small chip bags (Doritos, Ruffles, Cheetos, etc)
• parchment paper (at least enough for 15 students)
• Hershey kisses
• CHEER item donations (see Brown Barker for item suggestions)

Many thanks for your donations in advance!

Spirit Day: November 19

I KNOW WE CAN WIN THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!
On November 19 wear GREEN to school to show your support! The CLASS with the MOST green will receive a POPCORN party!! Please remember the spirit day rules by following the dress code and no hair coloring or face painting.


Movie Night Spirit Night: (See permission slip attached to today's email)
Wear your P.J’s to Movie Night for $1.00!!!! If you would like to wear your P.J’s (must wear regular footwear that is acceptable to the school’s dress code) to movie night, bring $1.00 with you to movie night!

November 15-19

After coming back from a wonderful three-day weekend, we're all feeling a little more revived and ready to head into a full five-day week!

Tuesday: Veteran's Day word search is due and Yankee Candle pick up at Harris Center from 4-8p

Wednesday: Spelling test--no packet will be due this week. The list went home with students in their "Friday Papers" on Thursday. It's also the second day to pick up Yankee Candles from 4-8p.

Friday: Vocabulary test-the list will go home today with students

Other assignments might come up throughout the week. These will be written in your child's assignment notebook.

We Support our Bburg Families by December 3

Each year the Brownsburg Cheer Committee provides help for many families in our Brownsburg community. All Brownsburg schools support the Cheer Committee with donations from the students and their families. Our school began collecting items today. Friday, December 3, will be the last day for the collection of items. Student Council has set a goal of collecting 1,000 items and our class would enjoy helping them with this collection to support our three Student Council members. If our school meets this goal, there will be a special reward!
Watch for the details of the reward in the next Brown Barker.


Items Assigned to Brown


Baby Cereal

Baby Food

Cake/Brownie Mix

Canned Fruit

Cereal

Pasta/Rice

Peanut Butter/Jelly

Pop Tarts

Soup

Toothpaste

Important Links

If you're looking for a specific website either that you've worked on in class or that I've mentioned with your parents this week, please take a look at the bottom of this blog for our 5th grade links!

11/9 Update

No math homework tonight, however we worked on changing improper fractions to a mixed number. Example: 7/2 = 2 1/2. We also play "Fraction Top-It" in small groups to work on equivalent fractions. The Everyday Math online games offers opportunities to practice these basic skills. Triple A Math website does, too. See the links to these at the bottom of the blog.

Spelling packet and test on Thursday this week. Spelling list went home on Thursday.

Chic Fil A day/night tomorrow! A portion of the proceeds goes directly to Brown! Just mention us for lunch or dinner!

Tonight's Homework

Math: Study Link 5.1 due Tuesday--the answers to this assignment came home with the family letter via email and/or paper copy. Feel free to guide your child in getting the correct answers. The better they understand today's/tonight's skill, the better off they'll be! We did, however, work on this same skill during math this morning, so it should just be more practice.

Spelling: The spelling test will be on Thursday this week. The spelling packet is also due on Thursday. We will NOT have time to complete any portion of the packet at school this week, so please plan to work on the packet at home this week.

Reading/Writing: Countdown summaries for the remainder of the book are due on December 3. The instruction sheet came home with the fifth graders on Thursday.

No school on Friday!!! Enjoy another three-day weekend!

Island Celebration: Thursday

We will celebrate the culmination of our Island of the Blue Dolphin unit on Thursday by watching the video to compare and contrast it to the novel. We also plan to dress in our island gear (flip flops, sunglasses, hawaiian shirts, shorts, etc) for that day. Remember, however, that if you plan to wear flip flops, you MUST wear your regular shoes to and from school.

We will also plan to enjoy some snacks during our movie. I will provide the popcorn, but if you have any ideas and wish to donate something fun for the event, please contact Mrs. Hill!

We're counting down to the end of Countdown!

Everyone turned in their Countdown novel summaries this week! This is cause for a celebration!  We will be enjoying POPCORN this afternoon to celebrate all of our acheivements for the first nine weeks!

I'm anxious, as many of the kids are now, to begin reading past Chapter 12 and into the end of the book! We will NOT have weekly book club summaries due each week until after we finish this novel. However, all students will bring home a summary assignment sheet again today that is due December 3. The goal is for each student to read through the book to the end and write a five paragraph summary over Chapters 13 through 28, as they did for the first 12 chapters.

Please read through the summary assignment with your child and encourage him or her to ask any questions that might come up!

Homework for Week of 11/1-11/4

FYI: Each day most of the students have a 20+ minute study hall period right after recess from 1:25 to 1:45. This is a time for students that are not in Reading Coach or Successmaker to catch up on assignments, read quietly, and/or organize themselves before the afternoon. Any of the assignments on our assignment board can be completed or worked on during this time period each day.

Unit 4 Math Test will be Wednesday, November 3. Students received a review sheet on Monday that will mimick the test. We went over many of the problems together for understanding. Please remember that I am only concerned with the students answering the problems correctly, not with how they got the answer (i.e. partial quotient method vs. doghouse method for dividing). Ask your child if you're unsure what I mean.

Science packet about worms is due on Thursday. We completed the first page for Morning Work on Monday (allotted 15 minutes to complete if buckled down upon arrival). We will have more time on Wednesday to complete a page for Morning Work as well. However, the remainder of the packet is to be completed during Study Hall time or at home.

We just finished reading through Chapter 23 in our Island of the Blue Dolphins novel today. Therefore, the corresponding pages in the student packets are assigned to be completed by Thursday. Just to give you an idea on timing given to work in class on this assignment: we will spend from 10:30 to 11:30 today quietly working around the room on this assignment. This provides the students with a chance to catch up and ask questions as needed.

Please ask your child if you have any questions or concerns about assignments. Each child should be filling out his or her assignment notebook each evening. We discuss these assignments as a class and the students write them each day in their notebooks. I encourage you to double-check with your child each night.

Scholastic Book Orders for November

Scholastic Book Order forms went home on Friday. This is an excellent opportunity to grab a few early holiday gifts for your kids. I don't send home these forms often, but when I do, it's because the kids tell me how awesome the catalog is for that particular month. If you'd like to place an order, please do so and send the form and payment to school by Thursday, November 11. This will allow plenty of time for me to submit the order and return the books to you.

***If you wish for any of the order to be a surprise, please contact me via email or note before the end of November.

Thanks for your order!

This coming week: November 1-5

We saw some CRAZY hairdos today! GO BULLDOGS!!! Beat AVON tonight!!!!!

No school on Friday, November 5 due to teacher professional development and conferences.
No school on Friday, November 12 due to teacher professional development and conferences.

No vocabulary or spelling tests next week.

Unit 4 math test will be on Wednesday. Students are bringing home a review sheet today to work on before the test. We will go over the review sheet and play a review game online on Tuesday to prepare us for the test on Wednesday.

Chapter 1 Social Studies test will be on Thursday. We will play a review Jeopardy game on Wednesday to practice for the test. It will be an open book test for this chapter, but students will complete the test on their own.

Enjoy the Halloween weekend and stay SAFE!

Dicesquad Singing Debut

On Thursday of this week, October 28, the Dicesquad of Mrs. Hill's 5th grade class will perform our singing debut of the "Rap of the United States". Our entire school will hear our song at the convocation Thursday afternoon starting at 2:30. The Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance students will be announced, as well as the special area teachers' student honor recognitions. Please come hear our song and enjoy the sea of red, white, and blue of our crew as we rap out the capitals to all 50 states!

Clarifications/Updates

Countdown novel summaries: Summaries are now due on Monday, November 1. The students should read Chapters 5-12 for this summary (this is different from a previous blog post). Each student that brings his or her summary, along with the two different edits, to school on the original due date, Friday, October 29, will receive 10 points extra credit for this assignment.

Reading Counts quizzes: Each student should have his or her first Reading Counts quiz completed here at school by Friday, October 29. From this point forward, one Reading Counts quiz will be due by the end of each month using a book at each student's Lexile level.  I WILL allow students to complete a RC quiz over the book Island of the Blue Dolphins for the month of November since we're reading it as a whole class.

IRT Field Trip: We have the 10 parents needed to volunteer for the field trip. Thanks to everyone that has returned permission forms and payments. Please keep in mind that field trip forms and $9.50 is due for each student by Friday, October 29. If there are any issues with payment for this trip, please discuss with Mrs. Hill.

Conference Forms: Parent/Teacher conferences are beginning at the end of next week. Please be sure to return your invitiation so that I know when to expect you. Your child brought the invitation home on Friday, October 15. It needs to be returned by Friday, October 29.

Art to Remember Fund-Raiser: These packets are to be returned by Wednesday, October 27 whether or not you're purchasing any items. The magnet IS NOT FREE. Please read through the directions carefully and return any items necessary. If you are ordering, please make checks out to Brown PSG and include with your order.

Graded Papers/Projects

On the last day of each week, students will bring their graded papers and spelling lists for the next week home in their GAME files--the last file slot is designated for these papers. PLEASE ask your child for these papers and discuss his or her achievements as well as struggles for the week. If a child receives a D or less on an assignment or test, I offer a special treat for giving the effort to fix the page. I DO NOT change the grade.

Math tests are coming home today in these papers. Some students were correcting their tests here at school today, so it's possible their tests will not get home. However, the scores were up on Power School as of Monday.

Thanks for your help with fixing papers! This task will greatly benefit your child as he or she prepares for the next week!

Famous Celebrities Encourage Kids to Read

http://www.readkiddoread.com/home

http://www.oprah.com/packages/kid-reading-list.html

Check out one of these sites if you're looking for a great place to find a book to read over fall break! I've enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember, but I remember struggling to find books that I truly could "dive" into. James Patterson and Oprah Winfrey offer top suggestions for books for kids of all age! Enjoy a good book this weekend! I'd love to hear all about it!

This week's update:

Spelling test Wednesday!

Students MUST complete the reading of Chapters 7-11 from Island of the Blue Dolphins by Wednesday. The packet pages through page 27 MUST be completed, too. We will have time on Tuesday to allow for working time on these two tasks.

We WILL NOT have a vocabulary list this week.

Countdown summaries are due next Friday, October 29 for ALL students. The summary MUST be revised/edited by at least two adults/older siblings prior to that date. The summary MUST be typed and five paragraphs in length. An informational sheet, in which should be handed in with the final summary copy, was sent home last Thursday, allowing for two weeks to complete this task.

We WILL have math homework Monday and Tuesday of this week. Mondays homework is page 75 4.1 Study Link. Tuesdays homework will come home on Tuesday. It will most likely be page 76 4.2 Study Link, but we will determine that on Tuesday during our math block.

We DO NOT have school on Thursday or Friday!!! Enjoy a few days of fall break to yourself!

Red Ribbon Week

Monday through Wednesday of next week, October 18-20, will be Red Ribbon Week here at Brown Elementary. In order to celebrate our drug free choices, students are encouraged to participate in the following spirit days:

Monday: PJ Day (if you wear slippers, bring them in your backpack and wear regular shoes to school)
Tuesday: Flip Flops Day (flip flops MUST be in your backpack while you wear regular shoes to school)
Wednesday: Wear Red Day (contest--wear the most red as a class and win!)

Enjoy another beautiful October weekend!

Art to Remember

"Art to Remember" packets are coming home today. You will find your child's art, a magnet of the art, and a catalog with order form. This is an excellent opportunity, not only to support the school, but to purchase holiday gifts for your family members!

If you would like to order, please return the envelope with payment and order form by October 27. The magnet inside the packet is NOT free. If you wish to keep the magnet, please make the proper payment and return to school with your order form. The packet must include the orginal art piece, too, if you're NOT purchasing from "Art to Remember".

Thanks again for supporting one of Brown's fundraisers that brings supplies into your child's classroom!

WE NEED CEREAL BOXES!

We are partnering with Hendricks Co. Waster Department on Friday for a "Garbage Pizza" activity. We are in need of 30 cereal boxes for this activity. If anyone has an extra box that's ready to recycle, please send to school by Friday!

Thanks!

Unit Three Review

A review handout will be coming home today for the math assessment on Friday. Each student will be asked to bring his or her SRB (Student Resource Book) home each night and return it to school each day this week. The review handout should prepare your child for the test on Friday, should he or she complete each of the activities for understanding the skills.

Countdown Summaries

Each student has a summary due this week for Chapters 1-4 (See more information in a last week's post regarding this summary). Due to the shortened week for Fall Break next week, summaries/book reports for Chapters 5-14 will not be due until the week following Fall Break, October 25-29. Please see the "Book Report" handout coming home today for more information about writing a book report as we complete half of the book!

Today's Update

Book Drive:
As of today, we have 588 books donated to our Books for Youth: Half a Million by Half Time book drive for Indiana Department of Child Services! It has only been five days and we're already over half way to our goal of 1,000! I'm certain we can surpass the goal as this point! Please continue to send your new or gently used books for children ages 0-17 to school! Thank you to all families that have already donated so many wonderful books!

Countdown Summaries:
Each child has received their copy of the novel "Countdown" as of today. All students have a one to two paragraph summary of their reading (at least four chapters per week) on their scheduled Book Club due date. This due date is the same as it has been since the beginning of the year. I'm anxious to hear each student's perception of the first four chapters! I also can't wait to read the next four chapters along with the kids!

Conferences with Mrs. Hill:
Please be sure to contact me as soon as possible regarding your child's parent/teacher conference if you have not already done so. I plan to send home your scheduled appointment with your child by Friday, October 15. I encourage 5th grade students to attend the conference with their parent(s). It's their responsibility to know our expectations and where their strengths and needs reside!

Math Assessemt:
We will have a math test next Friday, October 15. I will send home a study guide and test alert on Monday. Each child will be encouraged to bring the Student Resource Book and Math Journal home each night to practice their math skills for the Unit 3 assessment.

Countdown: Book Club Book

Monday Book Clubbers received the book 'Countdown' today. Each Book Clubber will receive their copy on the day of their summary due date (Tuesday kids will get the novel tomorrow, etc).

Each students is asked to read at least 4 chapters and complete a one to two paragraph summary of the chapters read by his or her book club summary due date. However, the students are encouraged to read at least 90 minutes a week. If more chapters can be read in the timeframe, then go for it!

Our plan is to complete this novel by Thanksgiving (or before for some). I encourage the students to read aloud to parents, siblings, read with friends, etc to reach their weekly goals.

Book Drive

Time to clean out bookshelves? Make a 'clean sweep' while donating your new or gently used books to the Books for Youth program through the Department of Child Protective Services. Their goal is to collect 'Half a million books by Half time' of the Colts game on November 28, 2011.

As a class, we will work to collect 1,000 books for this cause! This is a small amount, but an overall big help for the total goal! Maybe we'll even be able to collect more! We will keep track of the number of new or gently used donated books here at school and pass them onto Mrs. Blood by Thanksgiving.

Summaries Postponed

There will be NO book club summaries due again for this week of October 4 because we are beginning a novel in class that I would like the kids to focus on completely. However, I will be passing out a copy of the novel "Countdown" to each student to read at home each night. We will discuss the "Countdown" novel during our scheduled book club meetings each day. A book club summary for the "Countdown" readings for the week of October 4 will be due the week of October 11.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Scholastic Books

Online orders can begin at any time. Please see the letter attached to today's email. If you did not receive this letter, please let Mrs. Hill know. The online orders are due Friday, October 15. Remember, our class gets on FREE book for each online order! So take a few minutes, allow your child to select a few favorites for holiday presents, and submit your order within the next two weeks! Our class thanks you in advance for your donation!

Dicesquad says, "GO BULLDOGS!"

Book Club

There will be NO written summaries due for the week of September 27-October 1! I do, however, expect that all 5th graders continue to read for the week.

We will be using the extra efforts here at school to complete our project here at school about taking a Fall Break trip to one of the regions in the USA.

Roberto Clemente Site

http://www.robertoclemente.si.edu/

Art Club Information

From Mrs. Connor's Art Class:
Art Club will be a group of 10 5th graders who are seeking additional art lessons to prepare for future artistic endeavors. There will be two “rounds” of art club, one for the fall semester and one for the spring semester. In Art Club, students will focus on drawing from life, throwing pottery on the wheel, working with color theory, and creating an Art Journal.

Art Club will take place on Tuesday afternoons right after school until 4:45 in the art room (room 103). Students will need to have their own transportation home at 4:45. Fall semester art club will begin October 5 and continue until December 21. Spring semester Art Club will begin January 11 and go thru April 5 (of course the Tuesday over Spring Break will be skipped and our last day will be the following Tuesday).

Completed permission slips are due no later than Monday, September 27. Once I receive all interested student’s permission slips back, I will put those student’s names into a pot and draw 20 names out. Those 20 students will then be notified that they have been selected and also which semester of Art Club they will be assigned to. Students who are not selected will also be notified that all the Art Club spots have been filled.

Help for the Homeless Donations

Many, many thanks to all that donated to our "Help the Homeless" drive! What an altruistic activity for everyone!

News for Week of 9/20-9/24

Spelling: Spelling lists went home on Friday with Friday papers. This week is Lesson 6. I will begin sending home the next week's list on Fridays each week for those kids that wish for extra days to practice their words. The spelling packet was given to the students today during our study hall time. The packet is NOT homework for this week as it has been. I provided the copies of the spelling packet for students to practice their words, but I WILL NOT be collecting the packets this week.

Math: We will have our second math test on Thursday. I provided a study guide and "test alert" today that students were asked to place in their homework sections. This is NOT an assignment, but will certainly prepare the kids for their tests on Thursdays. The students DO have Study Link 2.8 page 41 due on Tuesday.

Language Handbook (p105) and Social Studies (p4& 6): These two assignments were given on Friday. Each student was encouraged to bring these two assignments home over the weekend, but they were not required to do so (I don't like to give homework on the weekend unless it's a project).

Science Packet Week 3: Due Friday. Each student received this packet today and has all week to complete.

Book Club: Summaries are still due this week. Each student will write a 5 paragraph summary by the end of October with topic sentences and details for each paragraph.

Vocabulary: Lists will go home on Wednesday. However, the words for this week correspond with this week's story and can be found in the "Vocabulary Power" section of the green reading basal.

Consistent Weekly Assignments/Tests

Each week you child will have the following assignments and/or tests to complete by the due dates:

Monday--given spelling packet and words to study
Wednesday--spelling test

Wednesday--given new vocabulary words to study and begin flash cards
Friday--vocabulary test

Monday--give science packet
Friday--science packet due

One book club summary (by end of October should be 5 paragraphs in length) is due on individual due dates each week (after reading for at least 90 minutes--some of these minutes are expected to be read aloud).

FYI: We have a 20 minute study hall each day in class after recess and, depending on morning arrival, an average of 15 minutes to work on assignments in the mornings. I will, sometimes, assign additional work in the mornings, but a few pieces of homework throughout the week is to be expected in 5th grade.

Wrapping up the Week . . .

Please continue to send items for "Helping the Homeless" to school by Friday. We have juice boxes and travel sized toiletries covered!

Student council nominees will present their speeches and posters tomorrow to the students in our classroom. We will have two new class representatives by Friday!

An overwhelming number of students (at least 5 per day) have been forgetting to do their assignments. Please double check student assignment notebooks each evening. I am doing so here on a individual basis, but communicating with your child regarding responsibilities at school is the key!

Dog Dash donations are due by Friday, September 17.

Penny Wars continue tomorrow to support BEF--Girls were in the lead today to "rule the school" one day next week! Boys, bring in those pennies!

Helping the Homeless

As an extension to our story this week of "Making a Difference", we would like to "Help the Homeless" for a local volunteer center by gathering items throughout this week to donate. If you're able to help in any way, please send your donations to school by Friday, September 17. Mrs. Hill will drop off the donations at the volunteer center over the weekend! Donation items:
Packaged foods:

• Vienna sausage, beef jerky, etc
• Water bottles
• Juice boxes
• Trail Mix
• Pudding cups
• Fruit cups
• Granola bars

Hygiene Items (travel sizes):

• Shampoo
• Soap
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Socks

Student Council Elections

We will be voting on two class representatives for Brown's Student Council. These will be two additonal students from our class to join Hailey, the president of Student Council. Each student MUST complete the following in order to be considered for one of the two positions:

1. Present an oral speech to the class on Thursday
2. Design a poster to hang in the classroom or the hallway to advertise your nomination by Wednesday
3. Willingness to miss recess once a month for meetings (first meeting is Wednesday 9/29)
4. Willingness to miss out on Peer Pals or Cafe Custodians once a month should meetings fall on your duty day

Nominees WILL NOT:

1. Pass out any items in order to "buy" votes
2. Ask anyone to vote for them

United States Electronic Puzzle

http://jimspages.com/States.htm

Dog Dash

Parents,
We will run/walk/jog/skip the Dog Dash on Friday, September 10 beginning at 10:50. The "paws" path will be set up in the Lincoln parking lot (as it was last year). Please come join us or at least cheer us on as we "move-it" to raise money for ALL students at Brown!

Don't forget to wear your t-shirts and bandanas--we should get those by Friday morning!

Math Tests Again . . .

I've received a few math tests back. If you'd like me to recalculate your grade, you NEED to get your test to my by Thursday or the grade will remain the same.'

That said, as I'm recalculating the grades, the total points possible is 37. Since that's a smaller amount of points, many of the scores are changing to a lower score than originally received. Therefore, I'm keeping the highest score of the two.

Thanks again for your flexibility with this new math program!

September 3 News

WELCOME DANIEL to our class! We are so excited to have him back here at Brown!

Students: Please return your Study Links workbooks on Tuesday for a piece of gum. Another challenge I'm seeing is the lack of extra practice students are receiving outside of school to work on the day's skill. Therefore, I'm revamping the Study Links workbooks and how I will incorporate them into the math program.

Book Club summaries due next week. Remember to record your reading minutes for the reading contest for the month of September. Every 100 minutes/100 yards read, each reader scores an individual touchdown! Do you want to be the Super Bowl Readin Champ or MVR (Most Valuable Reader)?

Classroom Chronicle:
We did not get to the chronicle again this week. We WILL fit it in next week, or that's the plan anyway!

Next week: It's a short week, therefore we WILL NOT have a spelling list next week. We WILL have a new vocabulary list and test on Friday.

ENJOY THE THREE DAY WEEKEND! Come to school ready to go Tuesday morning!

Math Test Scores Unit 1

After further review of the Unit 1 math test, I've decided to take Part B out of the total for the test scores(backside of test, bottom half). Therefore, in order to be fair, I would LOVE for the kids to return their tests to me on Tuesday. I will then recalculate the score before I enter the grade into the gradebook. I apologize to you all for this, but this new math program has it challenges and this is one of them! Please be flexible along with us and we'll figure it out soon! Thanks for understanding!

Kickoff to Reading

To coincide with our weekly Book Club reading minutes and summaries already established, students are encouraged to join our 5th grade reading contest. The "Kickoff to a Great Year" reading contest begins today, September 1. For every minute a child reads at home, he or she will write those minutes on his or her reading log (going home today). For every 10 minutes read, each student will move 10 yards on the football field on the reverse side of the log. Once the student makes it to the opposite end zone, he or she has scored a touchdown! Start over after every touchdown, but be sure to track the number of touchdowns received for the month. (These directions are on the reading log handout, too.)

Students that return their reading logs by the first day of the next month (October 1 for this month's contest) will receive a prize for participating. We will have monthly Super Bowl Champs, monthly MVPs, monthly Division Champs, monthly Second Division Champs, and monthly Last Division Champs!

August Breakfast Club

It's time to CELEBRATE our lifeskills of responsibility and organization for completing and returning all assignmnents in August. All students that completed and returned ALL of their assignments in August will be invited to our 1st Breakfast Club on Friday, September 10. Please look for an invitation this Friday! Congratulations to this month's BF Club members!

This week . . .

What game to astronauts play? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Moon-opoly!!!

We are testing for NWEA on Monday and Wednesday mornings beginning at 9:15. Students are always encouraged to do their best, but do so while remembering that a lot of this information hasn't been covered yet. It will be covered and the scores will go UP! This week's tests are just first pieces of data so we can see all the gains/successes by spring!

This week's spelling test is Wednesday, as it will be all year.

We have a math test on Wednesday, as well! Students will bring home a study guide and their SRB (Student Resource Book) to study on Tuesday night.

Current events articles are due Thursday. Students are asked to bring one article from the newspaper, magazine, or Internet. Please write your name on the article.

Postcards: I am finally done writing a note to you on the postcards you addressed. I am not checking that your address is correct or that it is written correctly. I am sending the postcards out soon, so please look in your mailbox for the card. If you return it to me, you will receive a small surprise for the extra effort!

Weekend . . .

Students are asked to bring one current events article (from Internet, newspaper, magazine, etc) to school each Wednesday beginning this week, September 1. We will use the articles with our "In the News" assignment and the articles will give us a chance to talk about current happenings in the world around us. Your child will complete the "In the News" handout in class by the following Wednesday. All of these items will be written on the Assignment Board and discussed!

Book Club summaries are due again next week: One 5th grade paragraph (has at least 5 sentences--topic sentence, three detail sentences, and one concluding sentence). Typed or written is fine. If you would like to write more than one paragraph, I strongly encouarge you to do so. Remember, you MUST read 90 minutes before you can begin your summary! That is the individual goal for each student. That # will change soon, so enjoy it while it last!

We will have a math test over Unit 1 on Wednesday this week. I strongly encourage students to use their study links pages (if not already complete) to practice the skills we've learned about in class. I will see about sending a study guide home on Monday, as we have a spelling test on Wednesday, too. However, we will review as we've done for two weeks, prior to the test.

Team Bandanas

Mrs. Falcone is ordering fuscia/raspberry colored bandanas for the class to wear with Survivor, Volleyball Tournament, Field Trips, Field Day, etc this school year along with our LIME 5th grade t-shirts designed by our own Aspen F. and Hailey!

Banandas are $2 each, but with shipping, we'd like each student to bring $3 to school as soon as possible to cover the total cost for an individual bandana. If parents would like one, too, just indicate the number on a note or in an email to me and send the appropriate dollar amount to school by Friday, September 3.

IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAM SPIRIT!

Wednesday . . .

Wednesday is Picture Day here at Brown. If you're planning to purchase pictures, please send your form with payment to school in the morning. My hope is that we will get our pictures taken before recess, but it's not definite. Please allow your child to bring combs, etc to freshen up if needed.

Your child's "In the News" handout is due tomorrow. This current events activity was introduced last week and students began working on the task then. It's been about one week and rather than assign too much at one time, we've delayed its due date until tomorrow. Before the students left, everyone was asked to double-check his or her GAME File for this handout or to look in the tray to see if he or she already turned it in.

We worked with lesson 1.5 with Mrs. Medjeski today! She's the Educator Trainer for the program this year. If you would like to work on any of the Study Links workbook pages for Unit 1 ONLY, please do so by Friday as we will have another drawing. I encourage students to work the pages each day to enforce the skills taught in class. However, it IS NOT AN ASSIGNMENT for a grade. We will do a weekly drawing for students that choose to complete the pages.

CONGRATS to Lillie for winning a Crayola Dry Erase Poster Set today for the drawing!

Spelling test and spelling packet due tomorrow. We will have dictation sentences for our test tomorrow, too! However, the wonderful way the 5th graders were playing our Spider Spelling game today, there should be a boat-load of 100%!

Study Skills Math Workbook

I mentioned this workbook in an email today, but wanted ALL students to get this information (again since we discussed it twice in class today).

Today's math lesson was over the skills of 1.4 in the Study Skills workbook. Each student was encouraged to bring that workbook home tonight to complete that page. However, it WAS NOT an assignment. Any student that brings Lesson 1.4 page to school tomorrow and it's completed, will be in a drawing for an awesome PRIZE!

Students may also complete Study Skills 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 to be entered into the drawing as well for more chances of winning. Answers to these pages are linked to the parent letter sent by email as well as in the front of each unit in the workbook (page 4 of the parent letter). I encourage students to complete the page first and then check their work and make changes for better understanding as needed.

Another busy, but super-successful day in 5th grade!

Weekend . . .

I will not typically give homework (new assignments) to work on over the weekend. If we begin something on Friday, it will typically be due Tuesday. However, Book Club summaries for #1-7 are due Monday and for all Mondays until further notice. Tuesday Book Club summaries will be due on Tuesdays until further notice and so on. Please ask your 5th grader when his or her summary is due. His or her summary will be due on the same day of the week throughout this year. This summary is based on the 90 minutes of reading completed throughout the week.

We began with our very first edition of our Classroom Chronicle today. We wrote the newsletter as a class. We will continue to do so for the next several weeks. In September, students will begin writing their own newsletters with guidance from me. Each parent is asked to sign the chronicle and the students will need to return the chronicle handout each week. I will collect the newsletters and return them all at the end of the year.

Students will NOT have a typical Friday Folder this year. All papers that need to go home for the week will be in each student's mailbox by midday each Friday. We will set aside a few minutes each Friday afternoon to put these papers in the students' GAME Files. Please have your child remove those papers over the weekend.

Enjoy your weekends! Get some rest. You all did amazing this week while practicing great flexibility, organization, and teamwork skills. Thank you for all your efforts!

A Few Changes & Clarifications

"Book Club Summaries": Each student is required to read 90 minutes each week (as of Monday, August 16) and write/type a summary (on his or her own paper) each week. Each student has a specific day of the week for his or her summary to be due. Each student wrote this date in his or her assignment notebook on Monday, so please see that for a due date for your child's summary.

Assignment notebooks: We will discuss assignments in length throughout the day, but we will also discuss them again at 3:20 each day. Students are going to hold onto the responsiblity of filling the assignments out according to the Assignmen Avenue board. I WILL NOT be signing notebooks each evening, as I previously said I would do. I will, however, begin signing on an individual basis should it become an issue.

I sent an email to all parents and students that provided me with an email address. If you did not get the email, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thursday is PE--5th graders, Wear your gym shoes!

5th Grade with the Dicesquad

WOW! What a busy, busy day, but also a very great beginning to a very full class of 5th graders!

Students, please be sure to give your parents the letter regarding math games for this Friday. We are very excited about the games, but really need parents to create some of them for us prior to next week.

I am currently working on getting a parent and student email group together for easy communication. Therefore, if you'd like me to have your email address (kids), please let me know the address soon.

Book Club started today. Each student should have written down his or her book club due date. The first group of kids, #1-7, have a summary due on Monday, August 23. The summary must summarize the student's reading for the week. Each student should try to read at least 90 minutes a week with a book of his or her choice at this time.

School pictures will be Wednesday, August 25. Information regarding packages will go home on Friday.

Our specials schedule, which I will post to the class website are:
Monday: Spanish
Tuesday: Art
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: PE
Friday: This week is Spanish.

PSG is purchasing t-shirts for all students this year to use throughout the year for various team activities. Our fifth grade was asked to create a design for the backside of the shirt. This is an optional activity, however a finished product must be at school by Friday morning in order to be considered.

Please sign assignment notebooks each night for the month August.

Mrs. Hill’s 5th Graders’ Supply Lists

This list is just a little different than the one online and at the stores. If you've already purchased supplies, no worries--I will have extras! We're just trying a few new things this year, so some of the original items aren't as needed, but will work just fine.

1 plastic accordion file with button/strap closure: at least 6 files inside—preferably 8 files

Pens: blue or black (or add a little fun to it and bring a green, purple, or teal—NO RED)

1 highlighter—(we need a variety of colors, but we DO NOT need yellow)

No. 2 pencils—1 package (Mechanical is fine with me—I will provide the other kind of pencils for testing in the spring)

1 black ultra fine point Sharpie marker

1 non-spiral composition notebook

1 spiral notebook: wide ruled (one subject or preferably multi-subject)

1 pair of scissors (pointed)

1 large glue stick

1 box of tissues

1 package of index cards (for vocabulary)

2 pocket folders, for Music and PE

1 box of colored pencils

2 dry erase markers—larger size

2 packs of Post-it Notes (various sizes)

Boys: 1 package or boxes of baby wipes and one roll of paper towel

Girls: 1 four pack multicolored permanent poster markers

If you want to purchase, but not a requirement:

Pencil sharpener with closure

Crayola Markers

1 small supply box (we’re trying some new things this year with supplies so it will help keep you more organized, but not necessary)

***All things italics items were added by me if you choose—the spiral notebook and the index cards are the only italics items that are a MUST.

IMPORTANT: Saturday "Thoughtfulness"

Last minute idea: I am heading out in the morning, Saturday, July 17 to support the Bret Neylon Paralysis Foundation with Race for Recovery. Mrs. Green, a teacher at our school, has a son name Eric that recently was injured and is recovery in the hospital. Some of the proceeds of this event will benefit Eric's care. Check out www.racetorecovery.org.

The run/walk begins at 8:30 AM at Brownsburg East Middle School. I plan to arrive by 7:45 to register at Door #12, but registration begins at 6:30 and runs until 8:00. It's $25 to enter. I will be walking, not running, so if you have no other plans and want to do a "thoughtful" thing for someone in our community and with our Brown Family, please join me!


Hope to see you there!

August Celebration

We had an awesome turn out in last week at DQ to celebrate our reading and math successes this summer so far! We all decided it would be fun to meet again before school starts to "kickoff" a new year with new friends, new knowledge, and a new room!

Let's meet at Donatos in Brownsburg on Tuesday, August 10 at 12:00. They have individual pizza options with breadsticks. I will attempt to reserve the party room for that date and time. If for some reason that date does not work, I will post the new date and time here.

Hope to see you there to hear all about your amazing summer before 5th grade!

Summer Reading and Math Celebration

I would love to see everyone and hear all about your summer so far! Cory and I will be hanging out next Thursday, July 8 while Camden goes to Ms. McCammack's house for his playtime. Cory has camp at Arbuckle that morning, but we're planning to head to Dairy Queen for lunch and treats at 12:00 if anyone would like to join us!

Hope to see you on Thursday, July 8 at 12:00 at DQ to celebrate all of the accomplishments we've made so far this summer with reading and math!

Scholastic Reading Log

Don't forget to log every minute you're reading on the scholastic website for the world record! Make Brown the next world record holder!

Meet Me at the Movies

Cory and I will be attending the FREE movie at Brownsburg Pavilion Cinemas tomorrow, Wednesday, June 16. Doors open at 9:30 and Night at the Museum (1 or 2, I'm not sure) starts at 10. If you want to purchase a kid combo, it's $7.50 per combo.

Hope to see you there!

Summer Kick Off at BPL Today

Join Cory, Brennan, and me today at the Brownsburg Public Library to register for their Summer Reading Program. There are really cool prizes, treats, and friends there to celebrate reading this summer!

See you at 1 today at BPL!

YOU MUST KNOW YOUR FACTS FOR 5th GRADE!

You MUST know your math facts (all of them: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing) by the beginning of fifth grade! We will do monthly timed tests (for a grade). Our first timed test will be within the first two weeks of school. Should individual students score below 90% for any of the timed tests, each student will spend recess time practicing the facts with Mrs. Hill. This is a fifth grade wide requirement and will ONLY benefit your other math skill development.

So, choose a day of the week and practice one type of math fact that day and the other math facts the other days! This is part of your Summer Math Challenge! YOU are in charge of your learning!

School Supplies for Fall

We have an abundance of loose leaf paper that we will use next year. Therefore, DO NOT purchase any more loose leaf paper when you purchase fall school supplies for 5th grade.

Meet Me at the Movies (this summer)!

http://www.pavilioncinemas.com/Brownsburg/

Cory, Camden, and I will attend the FREE movie at Brownsburg Pavilion Cinemas this summer. The movies play each Wednesday (check out the flyer online). A child's combo is $7.50 if you choose to purchase. Otherwise, you can just come and enjoy the show!

I will post to the blog when we plan to attend a movie. We will be on vacation the week of June 7-11, so do not plan to attend that movie.

Hope to see you there this summer!

Reading Kick-Off

Meet Mrs. Hill, Cory, and Camden on Tuesday, June 1 at 1 PM at the Brownsburg Public Library to kick off our summer reading program. We will add our daily minutes to the Scholastic site, too, but why not earn prizes with BPL for the minutes we read, as well!

Hope to see you there!

Meet Mrs. Hill (and boys) at the Movies!

Shrek Forever After opens this weekend and I would LOVE to meet anyone that is available Saturday (May 22) evening at the Pavilion Cinemas in Brownsburg. The time that works best for me and my boys is 4:45 PM. If you'd like to meet us there, we will arrive by 4:20 to get some popcorn, candy, and drinks. Hope to see you there!

End of Year INFO

No reading or math contracts this week or next week! I still encourage you to read and post your reading minutes each day on the scholastic site: http://www.scholastic.com/summer

Spelling test on Friday, May 21. This will be our last spelling test!

Field Day on Monday, May 24, so please wear your tie-dye shirts on Monday. (This is a change from previous posts/calendars due to rain.)

The last day of school is Friday, May 28!

Summer Reading and Math Challenge

http://readingsummerchallenge.blogspot.com

http://mathsummerchallenge.blogspot.com

Check out these two new blogs for information about our summer reading and math challenge to best prepare for a successful 5th grade year!

More information to come!

Service Learning Success

http://www.fox59.com/news/morningnews/payingitforward/

Check out our 4th grade team's Service Learning success here at Brown: Recycle for Sight!

Pup Putt Get Together

Our class would like to meet at Reagan Elementary this week to show off our putting skills and to help raise money for SCI Hope Fund for spinal cord injuries. The cost is $3 per putter and $10 maximum per family. There will be Little Caesars pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, and Dippin' Dot and all concesson proceeds go to SCI Hope Fund, too.

Mrs. Hill, Cory, and Camden will be at the course on Wednesday, May 12 from 5-7pm. Mrs. Hill and Camden will be at the course on Thursday, May 13 from 5-7pm. We'd love to see you and your family there for the "Paws for a Cause Service Learning Project".

The course will be open from 5-8pm Tuesday through Thursday. It will be open Friday from 5-10pm and Saturday from 10am-10pm.

Check out this link for more information: http://sites.google.com/site/bburgpupputt/home
or the "Pay If Forward: Paws for a Cause clip" on Fox 59 News: http://www.fox59.com/news/morningnews/payingitforward/

Weekly Citizenship Grade

In an effort to prepare students for the many expectations, responsibilities, and privileges that come with moving on to fifth grade, each student will receive one citizenship grade per week for the next four weeks in both Social Studies and Health. We will no longer be flipping cards.

Many of the kids are no longer affected by merely flipping their cards and I think this will really help challenge and motivate them to be the best they can be. The kids are all ready for summer break to begin and we still have four weeks of teaching and learning to do. Therefore, I truly believe this will help those who continue to push the limits with the classroom and school rules.

My hope is that this new system will stress to the students that fun activities, such as Field Day and end of the year celebrations are privileges, or rewards, for students who follow classroom and school expectations as well as give their best effort in and out of the classroom each day.

Fifth grade is just around the corner and the kids will discover the importance of being good citizens and role models for one another, because each year they are given more responsibility. I am doing this because I adore these kids and want to provide them with every opportunity to discover their potential as lifelong learners.

Each student will begin with a 100% A+ for the week in Social Studies and Health. The following are possible reasons for the grade to decrease by 5% for each issue:
v Not following classroom rules/expectations
v Using inappropriate language or tone
v Being unkind to others
v Being told more than two times to do something
v Not following hallway or lunchroom and recess rules
v Not following specials’ class rules
v Failure to turn in work on time

This new system will take affect immediately! Please review and discuss with your child. I appreciate all your support in this new plan.

Thank you,
Mrs. Hill

Summer Lunch Bunch Reading Program

Brownsburg children are invited to come to the Brownsburg Town Hall gazebo every Tuesday at noon beginning June 8 through July 27. The sessions are FREE. No registration is required. Every child will be allowed to choose a book for summer reading from boxes of gently used books that have been given to the program. A sack lunch will be given to every child. Various special visitors will attend to interact with children each week. This program is sponsored by Brownsburg businesses, community groups and churches. Hope to see you there!

Grandparents Breakfast: May 7

The PSG announced a GRAND(parent) breakfast on Friday, May 7 in a blue form that was sent home yesterday (April 27) with the kids. Students need to return the form indicating the number of attendants.

The breakfast will begin at 8:00 AM in the Brown cafeteria. The entrance fee is $5 per family and will be divided among the Brown families that were affected by the fire at Brownsburg Crossing Apartments last week, as well as the Brown Media Center. After breakfast, the Scholastic Book Fair will be open for browsing and/or purchasing until 9:00 AM.

If you have any questions, please contact Angela Falcone at falcone5@me.com.

Portfolio/Data Night

Please plan to attend our Portfolio/Data Night on Thursday, May 6 from 6:00-7:00 PM in our classroom. Students will walk parents and family members through their writings, class data, and other portfolio pieces throughout the year.

Please plan to visit the Book Fair in the cafeteria that night as well from 6:00-7:30 PM! The PSG gives money from their various fund raisers back to the kids' classrooms throughout the year!

Book Fair Review

Our class will review the book fair on Tuesday, May 4 at 10:20 in the morning. Students are welcome to bring money during this time to purchase books and other Scholastic items for sale. Students may also fill out a wish list to bring on Thursday, May 6 to Portfolio/Data Binder night and Book Fair, too.

Chick-Fil-A Thursday, April 22

Help us celebrate Earth Day tonight and let Chick-Fil-A cook for you! Tonight is Brown Elementary's spirit night at Chick-Fil-A in Avon. With your purchase and a flyer, 10% of all purchases from 5-8 pm will go to our Brown PSG for various needs at our school.

The class with the most attendance, as well, will receive an ice cream party with the Chick-Fil-A cow in the weeks to come!

I hope to see you there! Good excuse NOT to cook tonight!

Spring Pictures

Spring pictures went home on Tuesday of this week from Life Touch. If you choose to purchase a package of pictures, please return the payment as soon as possible. If you choose NOT to purchase any pictures, please return the pictures as soon as possible. Thank you!

Talent Show

Please come support Abby, Blake, and Joel tonight in Brown's 1st Annual Talent Show! The show starts at 6 PM in the gymnasium and will last for about 1 1/2 hours. The cost is $3 per person or $10 for a family (maximum). There will be popcorn and cement bulldogs for sale, as well as some great talents!

Hope to see you there!

All proceeds go toward Komen Research for Breast Cancer!

ISM Field Trip

Our field trip to the Indiana State Museum is tomorrow, Friday, April 16. Please wear walking shoes and clothing, as well as a completely disposable sack lunch and drink.

Parent volunteers can come with their child at 8:40 or by 9:00 tomorrow.

If it rains, we're still going on the trip, but our schedule will change a bit.

Looking forward to this trip into Indiana's history!

Works in Progress . . . and Dates

1. Reading and Math Contracts are due Monday, 4/12. The Reading Contract is what its always been: 120 minutes of reading for the week. The Math Contract is the "Math Menu" for data gathering. I cannot attach it to my website for copy right reasons, therefore I double checked with the students today and everyone assured me they had a copy.
2. Trash to Treasure projects are due Monday, 4/12, as well. The link to the assignment is on our class website at http://staffweb.brownsburg.k12.in.us/~lhill. The students are to invent or create something using old CDs.
3. Monday, April 12 will be our final NWEA test in reading! Just do your best!
4. April Timed Tests for all basic math facts will be on Thursday, April 15. Each of these tests will be taken for an individual math grade.
5. Friday, April 16 is our field trip to the Indiana State Museum. Students MUST bring a disposal sack lunch (unless purchasing a sack lunch from the cafe as indicated on the permission slip) and wear walking shoes and clothing.
6. We are working on Famous Hoosier biography projects at school ONLY. The final product will be a tri-fold display board. However, I am NOT asking parents to purchase the boards. I will provide butcher paper or boards here at school. There is no due date for this project as of now.
7. We are also working on Autobiography scrapbooks. Students were to bring in pictures or other artifacts to place into their scrapbooks. Each student will also learn about the journaling process for their scrapbooks. There is no due date for this project as of now.
8. ISTEP testing will resume the week of April 27.

First Annual Brown Elementary Talent Show

Thursday, April 15 at Brown Elementaryn at 6:00PM

Come see Mrs. Hill and the other 4th grade teachers perform, as well!

Cost for entry is $3 per person and all proceeds will go to Komen--Please read the Brown Barker last week and this week for more information.

Talent Show Auditions

- Auditions right after school until 5:30 THIS Thursday, April 8
- Performers must be present at auditions (unless special arrangements made with parents and Ms. Franklin or Ms. Snodgrass)
- Auditions should be a maximum of 2 minutes
- Any necessary music and/or props need to be brought to auditions
- If performer is wearing a costume or outfit, it must be worn to be "OK"d for appropriateness
- Parents should pick students up PROMPTLY at 5:30 at front of building
- Students should bring something to do while others audition

Trash to Treasure Project: Due April 12

Please see the class website at http://staffweb.brownsburg.k12.in.us/~lhill for a downloadable copy of this project. Each student was given a used CD and the handout on the site. There are several resources on the handout, too, for idea starters.
Due Monday, April 12.

Scrapbooking . . . Coming Soon!

We will begin creating autobiography scrapbooks after spring break. In order for these books to be lasting memories, we will need various scrapbooking supplies: color/design paper, stickers, and double-sided tape. I DO NOT expect these to be purchased, as they are quite pricey, but I plan to go through my stash of scrapbooking supplies and bring what I no longer need to school.

We will begin the scrapbooking portion on Thursday, April 8.

Thanks in advance for your generosity!

Brown Talent Show

http://www.brownsburg.k12.in.us/brown/newsletter/BR2010-03-19.pdf

Check out the pdf link (page 3) to this week's Barker for the information regarding the student and teachers (yes, all 4th grade teachers will do a "talent") talent show 2010!

The talent show will be held on Thursday, April 15 at Brown! Be sure to take a look!

SCI Hope Fund Donation Opportunity

http://sites.google.com./site/bburgpupputt/home

Click on the site above to download the order form for a Bulldog Puppy or Bulldog Country Stepping Stone. Proceeds beneft the SCI Hope Fund for spinal cord injuries.

We are half way to collecting $15 to adopt a cement puppy for our class!

Movie Night: Friday, March 19

Movie Night permission slips will go home today with each student. Please send slips and $ to school by Thursday for an early-bird raffle chance to win the movie "Hachinko: A Dog Story". You can also purchase tickets on Friday morning, but you will NOT be eligible for the raffle.

Cory, Camden, and I will be attending Movie Night, too. Your choses are to either play in the gym (which is where we will be) or watch the movie in the cafe. Both places will receive popcorn and drinks.

All proceeds go to "Race for the Cure" in Brown Elementary's name. Plus, the winning class will receive a popcorn party! Don't forget that 4th grade is challenging the 5th graders to the most attendance! See you there!

Contract March 15-23

We WILL NOT have a required reading contract this week due to the introduction of a new math menu contract (see our class website for a downloadable copy). The math menu contract will be due on Tuesday, March 23. Reading contracts will be for extra credit ONLY this week and will resume as normal after spring break.

Spring Party Info

It's Spring party time and we are in need of donations. If you are willing to donate any sum of $$$ and/or help us out the day of the Party (March 26 @2:45), please respond to angela.falcone5@gmail.com. If you would like to send a monetary donation, please send it in with your child in a sealed envelope marked Angela Falcone/SpringParty.

We will accept donations starting this week. Any questions, feel free to e-mail Angela Falcone. Thank You

Math Timed Tests

Our March assessments will take place on Monday, March 15. Each student, as always, will take four math timed tests (5 minutes each): addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This is the first time I will be taking a grade for each assessment. I will also take a grade on each assessment for April and May, too. Study those facts!

Adopt a Bulldog

Our class would like to adopt a cement bulldog to assist Ms. Harres' 4/5 class for their "Paws for a Cause" service learning project. The proceeds of the bulldog adoption fees will go toward the production and construction of their miniature golf course in May to raise money for their service learning program. The adoption fee is $15.

If you'd like to help us give a bulldog a good home, dig beneath the couch cushions, search under the seats in the car, or grab some change from your piggy bank and bring it in as soon as possible.

Thanks for caring!

Thoughts . . .

Testing came to a close today . . . as we all were getting a little squirrely, we were glad to enjoy some relaxing activities in and around the classroom throughout the week!

Tomorrow is a pajama day for fourth grade. If students plan to wear slippers, they must bring their slippers and wear regular shoes to school.

It is also "Heart Heroes" day for the Jump for Heart unit in PE. Ms. Franklin is holding a contest for the best costume.

We will be enjoying one more relaxing day tomorrow while we watch a Disney classic: "Bed Knobs and Broomsticks"! But, we're back on track come Monday for a four day week.

Volunteer THANKS!

Our Public Service Announcements are complete! The kids did an amazing job with this activity, but it wouldn't have gone as smoothly without the help of the parents! Thanks to all of you that were able to come to school and guide the kids through this very challenging, yet inspiring project. By the end of the week, all students can view their PSA linked from our class website. Each student will also receive a CD with the PSA file.

Celebrating Black History Month in Indiana

The students brought home a game card from the Indiana Historical Society yesterday. It's a challenge for each of the students to complete (by choice) by Tuesday, February 23. The link to the site is on our class website. The answers to the 10 questions are linked to the site, as well. This is an optional activity for students, but all entrants will receive extra credit in Social Studies. Class time will not be provided for completing the challenge, however students are always welcome to use the computers in the classroom once daily work is complete.

Super Bowl Reading and Math

You might have read in the Brown Barker about our Super Bowl festivities this week. Along with spirit days, we are also counting the number of minutes each student reads and practices math facts. Student CAN use the minutes they read from their weekly contracts for this activity, too. We get a touchdown for every 7 hours of reading and math completed throughout the week. We also get a field goal for perfect attendance for each day (that includes no tardies). Please sign a football (students will bring home a football for each day of this week) after your child practices math and reads. Our goal is to win the Super Bowl competition as well as being super readers and mathematicians!

Supplies--THANK YOU!

Thank you to the families that sent glue and scissors to school to replenish our supplies. We are still short on scissors, though, and would be happy to take an old pair just lying around your house! The more the merrier . . . even with scissors!

Brown Bonanza Items

Many thanks to those families that were able to send items to school for our "Funshine" bucket for the silent auction at the Brown Bonanza next Friday, February 12. Tomorrow is the due date for our class collections, however, please continue to send things in by this Friday.

Healthy Food Challenge

I have challenged our class to try new fruits and vegetables for the next two weeks. Each student received a handout for tracking the items they try as well as ranking them on taste. Our class is training along with Petyon Manning in his "Project 18" health plan to become healthier, happier people. This is NOT a required activity, as it might produce a larger grocery bill for parents, but it WILL BE for extra credit should your child choose to partcipate. The challenge sheet is due by Friday, February 5.

Supplies . . . WE NEED 'EM!

We are completely out of glue sticks and scissors. If you see a great buy, please pick up one of these items if you can. Our class would greatly appreciate the donations!

Assignment Notebooks

We still have 15 minutes right after recess each day to discuss assignments for the following day and for the week. However, I am no longer signing notebooks unless an issue of missing or late work takes place. Signing the notebooks is now done by each student in the class on a rotational basis. Should this need to be reassessed at the end of the third nine weeks, I will do so then.

Contracts

The new reading contract will continue to be due each Monday or the first day of the school week. Each student determines his or her own grade by choosing the number of minutes read each week. An A grade is reading 120 minutes or 2 hours each week. There is NO letter to write as in previous contracts.

Math contracts will continue eventually. I'm still working on a plan to make the math practice time most meaningful for everyone. More information soon . . .

Math Fact Timed Tests

We will have timed tests for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division once a month. We are working toward 100% of our class in the 100% Club for fourth grade math facts! The test dates are as follows:
February 16
March 15
April 15
May 17
Beginning in February, each student will receive a grade/percentage for each timed test. This is new since it's a MUST that we KNOW the facts before entering 5th grade!

New Reading Contracts (And math info)

Each student will read for 120 minutes or 2 hours each week. The reading log is due in full by the Monday morning of each week. The students are no longer writing a letter about their reading, but will take a Reading Counts quiz online here at school once per month for an additional reading grade.

We DO NOT have a math contract this week. That will be coming soon . . .

Brown Bonanza--NEED DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS

It's almost time for our annual Brown Bonanza Family Fun Night! It will take place February 12, 2010. The goal is to provide an atmosphere of fun for the whole family, and an opportunity for parents to come with their children to meet their friends, teachers, other parents and have a great time together. We will have a carnival-like atmosphere with food, a game room, face painting, bouncy houses, and a silent auction. As in years past, each grade level has a themed basket which is auctioned to the highest bidder.

We need your help with the basket! Fourth grade's themed basket is "Funshine". If you're willing to donate something to the basket, here are some ideas:

4TH GRADE "FUNSHINE" BASKET
The "Funshine" Basket will have everything you need for your spring break or summer getaway!
§ Beach bag
§ Beach towels
§ Sunglasses
§ Sunscreen
§ Frisbees
§ Beach Ball/beach toys
§ Flip-flops
§ Rafts/inflatable blow up toys
§ shovels/sand buckets
§ Tickets to amusement parks/museums

Students can bring in donations by FEBRUARY 1ST.

This Week's Expectations:

We WILL NOT have a math or reading contract this week. Mrs. Hill is working on a new way to complete the practices and will let everyone know when the contracts will begin again!

We WILL NOT have spelling again this week, but we WILL be discussing more grammar terms and memorizing them, too. We will have a quiz over the new terms some time next week.

We began LIT GROUPS today using four different novels chosen by the kids. Each student has an assigned reading that is due on Wednesday of this week (from 2 to 10 chapters, depending on the book). Each student also has a Lit job to complete by Wednesday, as well.