Update 1/17

I hope everyone enjoyed an extra day off from school! Did anyone serve in one way or another to celebrate MLK Jr. Day? I'd love to hear how!

A little "housekeeping":

• We have a mini-field trip on Friday, January 27 in the morning. We are headed to BEMS to watch the orchestra and band. This is a chance for ALL fifth graders heading to BEMS in the fall to see/hear the instruments in which they have a chance to play in middle school. Choosing these instruments and/or choir options will come at a later date. Please be sure to return your child's permission slip prior to that day. Another permission slip is going home today with those students that have not returned the slip as of today (Tuesday).
• Our winter class party will be Friday, January 27 in the afternoon. The party will take place in the room and then in the gym for a game. Mrs. Bronger is busy planning the "Beach Bash" themed party, but could really use your response to her letter regarding donations, volunteers, etc. Please contact me if you'd like to contact her directly, or turn in the letter that went home Friday.

Homework/Assessments:

• Math: Our Unit 12 math post-assessment will be Wednesday (tomorrow). We reviewed the study packet today, and all students should have taken notes on the packet during the review. I encourage ALL students to look over the problems in the packet to prepare for tomorrow's assessment.
• Reading: Our story quiz will take place on Friday, as always.
• Spelling: Due to the shortened week and the need to complete a few unfinished projects, we WILL NOT have a spelling list this week.
• Writing: All persuasive writing pieces are due (final draft) by Thursday. We have had a lot of time to work on these in class. The final DOES NOT need to be typed, but it MUST BE in best handwriting form.

Update 1/13

Happy Friday the 13th! It was definitely a "scary" day at school today . . . is it a full moon, too?

NO SCHOOL MONDAY! Ask your 5th grader what he or she learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week!

We DO NOT officially have homework this weekend. It's the weekend, and I don't like to give out extra work. However, we do have a math test on Wednesday (no school Monday). I wanted to pass out the Unit 12 review packet today so any student that wanted to get a head start on it could do so. We will discuss the entire packet on Tuesday in class. If we don't get through every problem, it is my expectation that the packet be completed by Wednesday before the test.

Tuesday is the final collection for the Super Kids--Super Sharing collection. We have a few items here at Reagan already, but I know we can do more. I'd love to see each student bring in ONE item (see previous blog post or newsletter from Reagan) by Tuesday to donate. Remember, gently used or new items accepted. 

Enjoy the weekend! Stay warm!

Update 1/9

We've started off in an EXCELLENT way this morning! I can tell the New Year's fog has lifted, and that the kids are ready to "CHUG" along with me through these next nine weeks (ask your 5th grader about "CHUG" time!)

Upcoming events:
Starting this week through ? : Our school has teamed up with the National Football League, the Indianapolis Colts, and the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and Martine University to be "Super Kids-Super Sharing!" Kids bring in gently used or NEW school supplies, sporting equipment, and/or books for local children and schools! What an amazing way to share the gifts of learning and sportsmanship with kids in Indiana!
Tuesday: Hendricks County Waster Management visit with Mrs. Archer
Friday: OWLS of Indiana visits from McCloud Park

Homework:
ANY UNFINISHED WORK IS ALWAYS DUE THE NEXT DAY! IT IS POSSIBLE YOUR CHILD HAS MORE WORK THAN WHAT IS LISTED DUE TO TIME MANAGEMENT.

Math: 12.4 and 12.5 Study Links (ODDS ONLY) due Tuesday
Social Studies: Chapter 7 Test Thursday (We will review in class this week, and the kids will receive a study guide to assist.)
Reading: MLK Jr. Fact and Opinion handout (We WILL NOT have a book quiz this week (normally on Friday!)
Spelling: Test Friday (this date is different than normal Thursday test dates)

Update 1/3

Our spelling test for Hattie's Birthday Box will be on Friday this week due to the short week. This will be the case during the week of January 16, too, since we do not have school that Monday.

Reading: Workbook page 70 to practice vocabulary is due Wednesday. The kids were given about 10 minutes to complete here at school otday.

Math: Study Link 12.1 is due Wednesday. The math group has page 349 due Wednesday. Please remember, students will receive one assignment grade for the math unit for completing nightly assignments. Since the students are provided with the answers, it's not necessary for me to take a grade. We will always go through the work here at school, but the homework in math is meant as extra pratice for reinforcing the day's skills.

We will take our reading quiz for Hattie's Birthday Box on Friday as we usually do.

A new month for Reading Counts quizzes starts NOW! I will extend December's deadline to Friday, January 6. Taking this quiz can only be done at school, however, the reading of the book at your child's level can be done at home and at school.

Happy New Year!

Welcome back! It will be a tough start since I'm sure everyone, like me, ate too much, slept too long, and did just about whatever we wanted throughout the break! Just think of all the ways you're ready to grow academically this semester!

We are starting a few new things, but keeping some of the old. It won't be anything new to homework, but rather some things we'll be doing in class. I'm just posting them all here because the tasks will reflect each student's reading and math grades.

Once a week, each student is required to complete a FASTTMath lesson. He or she when then check off the lesson each week on the sheet in our classroom. This can only be done at school, and time will be given throughout the week as long as good time management is utilized by the kids each day!

Once per month, each student is still required to complete one Reading Counts quiz for a grade using a book from his or her lexile reading level. Lexile levels can be found on many of the books you read by going to www.lexile.com.

Spelling tests will still continue in the same fashion as before break. We WILL NOT have contracts due each week. It's possible that various assignments will be given throughout the week, however. Keep in mind though, as with most homework (other than math), plenty of time is given to get a good start on the assignments if not completely done during the school day.

Let's get ready to CHUG (Choose How U Grow) through this semester! I'm so excited to see how you've all grown since August! I can only imagine how you'll continue to soar though May! See you Tuesday!

Update 12/13

McTeacher Night for Reagan Elementary will be this Thursday, December 15 at the McDonalds on Main Street from 5:00-8:00 PM! Come out to see Mrs. Hill working, and to enjoy some good ole' fashion family dinner, all while donating to our school with each purchase!!

We are not having a regular reading, math, and spelling week. Therefore, we DO NOT have any study links for math, no spelling words to study, and no basal reading story for this week. We are, however, doing many other academic activities this week before the end of these nine weeks.

We DO have a Social Studies test on Friday over Chapter 6. Pages 228-229 have been assigned for completion by Thursday so we can discuss and review in class.

We are also in the process of publishing holiday picture books. The final publications are due Thursday morning so we can share them with our first grade buddies while making reindeer food!

We also are doing character education skits in science/health this week. The skits will be presented to the class on Friday afternoon.

One RC (Reading Counts) Quiz is due by Thursday, January 4. We return to school on Tuesday, January 3, so this allows for one extra day to complete the quiz. This CAN ONLY BE DONE AT SCHOOL! However, the reading of the books can be done whenever!

Update 12/7

Thank you to all families for your donations to the CHEER fund last week! Our class came in second with 145 items for families in our community that needed a little extra help this holiday season!

I wanted to apologize for not updating the blog over the last week or so! I felt that things were a bit more smooth this week, fewer assignments, and not much going on. Therefore, I didn't even think to update the blog! Holiday time=Crazy, Fun Time!!

We have our Unit 6 math test tomorrow (Thursday)! We have been preparing for this test for weeks, but we've also spent this entire week so far working with all of the skills. Your child has a study guide that we worked a bit on yesterday and today in class, but it needs to be done by Thursday.

We DO NOT have spelling this week!

We DO have a reading quiz Friday, as we usually do, over this week's story: The Case of the Flying Saucer People. As long as your child reads along in class (we read it or listen to it at least 2 times each week), he or she should NOT have to study further. One additional reading of the story and a review of the vocabulary words might help if needed.

Everyone has one Reading Counts Quiz due for December. I will accept scores through January 4.