Update 11/28

We got off to a slow start today, but picked up pace as the day went on . . . I think a few kids were still a bit sleepy from too much rest!

We are starting a donation competition tomorrow for our CHEER committee! The class that donates the most items by Friday (see list picture), wins a pizza party! If everyone can donate just one item, we will show compassion, this month's life skill, toward other families living in Brownsburg that need our help this holiday season!

Homework: The numbers in parentheses indicate the approximate amount of time each student was given to work on each individual assignment today or when assigned.

Spelling:

1. No test this week over HOW to spell the words in the packet, but each student MUST KNOW HOW TO USE the words from the packet by Thursday (20+minutes). The packet is due Thursday, too.

Reading:

1.  Island of the Blue Dolphin reading and packet for Chapters 9-11 due tomorrow (30+ minutes). This was assigned last Monday, and time was given last week to complete.
2. Workbook pages 60-61 due tomorrow (10 minutes)

Math:

1. Study Link 6.6 for all students is due tomorrow.

Extras:

1. Reading Counts quiz scores due to Mrs. Hill by Thursday, December 1. These can only be done at school. Students have been reminded on the assignment board, orally, and via the blog about this upcoming due date.
2. Yummy Reading Book It sheets for Pizza Hut pizzas are due by Thursday, December 1, too. The students must each read 20 points for this month of December. Point values are indicated on Reading Counts quizzes after each student passes the quizzes.
3. CHEER donations are due by Friday, Decembre 2. Help our class win a pizza party!

Update 11/18

We've been writing, or I should say, comparing and contrasting our favorite family games this week and last week. Therefore, we're going to have a "Thankful for Board Games Tuesday" for about 45 minutes on Tuesday afternoon. If you'd like to bring one of your favorite games that day, perfect! Or, you are welcome to use one of the games we already have here at school. Please DO NOT bring video games or computer games.

Upcoming events and assignments:

Social Studies: Chapter 5 test on Wednesday. We will have a review packet, and we will also review in class on Tuesday.

Science: Open book test for Chapter 3 on Tuesday.

Spelling: No spelling or vocabulary this next week.

• Tuesday, November 22: Thankful for Games Tuesday
• Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 NO SCHOOL for Thanksgiving Break!
• Tuesday, November 29-Friday, December 2: Cheer Donation Drive--See the Reagan Review for more information. I will also post more information to our blog next week.
• Tuesday, November 29 Acuity Math Assessment--ISTEP predictions!
• Monday, December 5 Acuity Language Arts Assessment--ISTEP predictions!

Students Show Compassion

Jonah Kiritschenko, one of our friends and classmate, debuted on Fox 59 last Friday to celebrate his 11th birthday on 11/11/11, and to donate his time and compassion to Veterans and soldiers around the world!

Enjoy this video clip from his TV debut .  .  .

http://www.fox59.com/videobeta/d0b078c0-62b3-427e-b8ba-35878429ba9f/Community/11-11-11-Birthday-boy-s-wish

Update 11/15

Thanks to all families for your donations to the troops and veterans last week! Our class won a cookie party on Wednesday because we collected the most items at Reagan! Yum!

Our class has a chance to shop at the Penguin store on Thursday. Items range from $0.25 to $10. If your child would like to purchase any holiday gifts, please be sure they bring money on Thursday. This is the ONLY day they will be allowed to shop.

Spelling Update: We DO NOT have an actual spelling test this week. Instead, your child has a packet to practice the uses of "their", "their", and "they're", as well as "its" and "it's", and "your" and "you're". These words are just a small part of our vocabulary study that we will focus on for the remainder of these nine weeks. ***BY FRIDAY, your child needs to know how to use these words in a sentence rather than know how to spell them from memory.

Homework:

Reading:

1. Island of the Blue Dolphins packet for Chapters 7 and 8 is due Friday (along with reading the chapters, of course!)
2. Vocabulary workbook page 56-58 is due Wednesday.

Spelling:

1. Know how to use your vocabulary words (from packet) by Friday for a quiz.

Social Studies:

1. The Landing of the Pilgrims handout is due Wednesday.

Long-Term Goals:

1. One Reading Counts quiz (can only be done at school) is due by November 30. These quizzes should be over books that are at your child's current Lexile level (I shared these levels with you at conferences).

Help Our Class Help Others!

Update 11/9

PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT "TREATS FOR TROOPS" THAT ARE DUE FRIDAY! We've already had a few items donated thanks to Davis, Alexa, Hong, and Mrs. Hill. Again, if you'd like to make a monetary donation, I can use that money on Thursday night to purchase supplies for this collection, too.

CHOIR CONCERT: The tribute to America music concert for grades 2-5 is tomorrow night, Thursday, November 10 at 7:30. All 5th graders MUST wear their decorated white t-shirts and dark pants or skirts. Please arrive by 7:15.

Homework:
WRITING: Superbowl postcard due Thursday (had 15 minutes in stations to work)

READING: Summer of Fire comprehension handout due Friday (had 15 minutes in stations to work), Island of the Blue Dolphins packet for Chapters 3-4 due Friday (assigned last Thursday), and Island of the Blue Dolphins reading of Chapters 5-6 by Friday (assigned on Monday).

SOCIAL STUDIES: Time For Kids page 2 due Thursday (Morning Work-had anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to complete--depends on time of arrival)

MATH: Page 155-156 in Math Journal due Thursday--review work

TREATS FOR TROOPS AND HEROES!

Update 11/7

We welcomed a new friend today, Tyler, to our classroom! Needless to say, everyone had more energy today (maybe it was the time change or the up coming full moon), and we spent some time discussing our jobs as school.

Homework (This might seem extensive, but please note that I've given ample time to complete these tasks during the school day):

• SPELLING: We WILL NOT have a spelling list this week! Something had to give .  . .
• READING: Page 51-52 from the workbook is due tomorrow (had over 10 minutes to complete in class).
• NOVEL: Island of the Blue Dolphins packet for Chapter 3-4 is due Friday along with reading Chapters 5-6. (We started this packet last Thursday and have had time each day to work on the packet).
• WRITING: Final copies of mysteries are due by Wednesday. Most students have these completed, but some are still trying to get them done. (We've been working on the final copies for over a week now.)
• MATH: 5.7 and 5.8 Study Links are due Tuesday. (10 minutes to complete in class)-If in math group, 5.6 and 5.8 handouts are due tomorrow.
• GRAMMAR: "May I Quote You?" page 26 is due tomorrow. (This was our morning work activity that students had from 30 minutes to 15 minutes to complete.)
• SOCIAL STUDIES: Supply and Demand reading comprehension and questions due Tuesday. (This was given out last Wednesday during Literacy Stations. During stations, students had 15 minutes to complete, and there has been time each day since then to complete any unfinished work.)

An email went home today regarding a collection for our troops currently serving in Iraq and for our veterans healing at the VA hospital. We would LOVE to show them our support, but we'd also LOVE a pizza party if we collect the most items! The collection list was also attached to the email, but I've included an image of the list on the blog, too. Please have your child write a letter to a soldier or a hero by Friday if your family cannot donate monetarily (food, magazines, etc.). I would really like for each student to understand the importance of our trait this month: Compassion!

Update 11/4

Thank you to all families that donated treats and snacks this week! The kids were thankful during each delicious bite!

Friday papers went home today! Check out Power School updates each Monday. I have to update grades by 4 pm each week.

Reading Counts quiz for November is due November 30. Also, students will need to read 20 points for th eBook-It reading program for November. This point value is doubled from October's points. Book-It's are due, with parent signature, by November 30 this month.

Science: Each student (unless in Math Lab) has the ocean tides packet (day 1-5) due Monday. This was not a homework assignment given out today, but rather it was given out yesterday with time to complete, and each student was given over 30 minutes today to complete.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mark Your Calendars!

As the holidays get closer and closer (I can't believe it's already November!), our calendars at school and in our personal lives fill quickly! Be sure to mark these dates today so you are prepared:

November 2-? New Box Top Collection--We are doing a grade level competition! GO 5th GRADERS!
November 10 at 7:30 5th Grade Patriotic Music program (WOW--these kids can sing!)
November 15 and 16 Yankee Candle order pick up dates (times TBA)
November 24-24 Thanksgiving Break
End of November, Early December: Our 2nd Acuity assessment for ISTEP performance prediction
December 9 at 1:45 Body and Safety Program for 5th Grade
December 16 End of the 2nd Nine Weeks' Grading Period and last day of school until 2012!
January 2 Back to School

As more dates approach, I will be sure to notify you here!

Update 11/2

We had a very, very busy day . . . it's always harder to get everything in on Wednesdays! However, we all look forward to a few extra sunlight since we're setting the clocks back one hour this Sunday!

Homework:
**Some of our classmates have changed from an expandable file folder system to a binder system equipped with color-coded folders for each subject. If your child is struggling with the current system, I encourage you to make whatever changes are necessary for your child to be most successful!

Math: 5.5 Study Link is due Thursday.
Spelling: No contract, but we will have a test on Thursday.
Social Studies: Read the rest of Chapter 5 Lesson 1 and complete pages 41-42 handout-this was due today, but we just didn't get to everything today! :)
Reading:

1.  Island of the Blue Dolphins packet for Ch. 1-2 was due today. I will check completion tomorrow.
2. Everglades comprehension handout was given during stations today (a least 10 minutes to get started on the questions and skills). It is due Friday.

Station tasks:

1.  The almanac task can ONLY be completed at school. That will be a "turn it in as you get it done" assignment.
2. The conversation task will be due by Friday. Most students already turned this in today.