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!