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.

We need . . .

Hershey Kisses or mini candy bars
Sugar Free gum
Class snacks (we have 25 students)

The kids really look forward to these special incentive treats and the brain fuel through snacks each day! We've been out of snacks for a  few days, however, we did receive a few today, and Mrs. Hill brought Scrabble Cheez-Its for a Halloween activity.

Thank you in advance for supporting our "nurtritional and motivational" needs!

Update 10/31

We briefly discussed statistics today as a part of our fraction unit. Did you know that the most accidents and/or fatalities of pedestrians happens on Halloween? We used this information from this mornings news show to  discuss ways to be safe tonight.

Trick or Treat with:

• a friend or family members
• on the sidewalk or grass
• in well lit areas
• with a mask on top of your head until you reach the door

There is NO homework tonight! The only opportunity is for extra credit in math. 5.2 handout is due tomorrow for extra credit.

Enjoy a safe and delicious Halloween! November starts tomorrow . . . WOW, how time flies!

Update 10/25

Please see yesterday's post for assignments given out yesterday. I've only added NEW assignments to today's post.

Reading: Island of the Blue Dolphin comprehension questions, vocabulary, and figurative language worksheet due Friday. This handout will help your child study for the book quiz on Friday.

If you would like to purchase an autographed book from Herman Parish, the author of the Amelia Bedila series, those orders are due by Monday, October 31.

Have an enjoyable evening with this beautiful weather!

UPDATE 10/24

Sure sounded like EVERYONE enjoyed a little excitement and relaxation over the break! Now we're gearing up for a fresh start to these nine weeks!

HOMEWORK:
MATH: Unit 4 Test on Wednesday. All students received a Unit 4 Review packet that is due on Wednesday, too. We will review tomorrow, and we will test on Wednesday. ALL STUDENTS WERE GUIDED (2 TIMES) TO PU THEIR MATH BOOK AND JOURNAL IN BOOKBAG.

READING:
1.We will have a reading quiz over the vocabulary and comprehension of the story Island of the Blue Dolphins ON FRIDAY. Some students, in stations, began listening to the story today. Others will read it tomorrow as a class, and they will also listen to it within stations tomorrow or Wednesday.
2. One Reading Counts quiz is due by Monday, October 31 for this month. This is an online quiz taken at school over a book at each student's Lexile level. It can also be used for the Book-It Yummy Reading points!
3. Book-It tracking sheet is due Monday, too.

SPELLING: Test on Thursday. Also, page 39-40 handout is due Thursday.

SOCIAL STUDIES: (For all students NOT in the Reading Lab) Southwest Regions states and capitals quiz on Friday. There are only 4 states in this region, so it should be super easy!

LITERACY STATION WORK: All assignments from last week's Literacy Stations are due tomorrow.
1. Time For Kids: Arctic Animals (front side only)
2. Using Math: Main Idea and Details handout
3. Drawing Conclusions handout
4. Prefixes handout

Update 10/18

I've enjoyed meeting with all of the families over the last week! Thank you for taking the time to come to your child's school to discuss his or her strengths and needs!

Wear Red Wednesday! Let's see if we can WIN the competition! Person with the most red in the class wins a PRIZE!

Homework:
No spelling this week.
No reading story this week.

Explorer posters (mini posters we started at school) are due Wednesday.
Math: 4.6 Study Link is extra credit ONLY.
Reading Counts quiz due by the end of the month (can only be done at school, however the reading can be done at home, too).

All station work (Math Symmetry, Drawing Conclusions, TFK, and Prefixes) are due next week, probably by Tuesday. By the end of the day tomorrow, EVERYONE will have had at least 30 minutes total to work on these tasks during our stations and other various times throughout the day.

Have a great night!