8/31

No school Monday for Labor Day holiday!  Enjoy your long weekend!

Next week's Thursday multiplication speed test will be the 0-11 facts.

Work on your science presentation!  Some are due Wed., some Thurs., and the rest Fri. 

8/30

We are doing well here at school but a few students are getting a little "comfortable" and not following a few classroom or school rules.  We went over some of the problems today, so I look forward to more time on task learning!  We also talked about ways we can prevent the spread of germs.  There are several illnesses floating around in our community, so we're trying to keep safe and stay healthy.

Tonight's homework:
Finish sci. workbook lesson 1 if not finished in class (p. 2, 4-7).

Study for spelling & vocabulary tests!

Finish IRA, day 4 (Somebody/wanted/but/so then) and be ready to turn in all four days.

Finish DITB 4 if not yet finished.

Finish realistic fiction genre project if not yet finished and turned in.  Be sure to have your book finished to quiz in the morning if you haven't quizzed already!

8/29

Study times tables!

Begin science project- due next Wed., Th., or Fri.  (see today's post for more info).

Work on IRA. (Each night, write a summary using the "Somebody/wanted/but/so then" format.)

Finish spelling and vocabulary choice activity (due Thurs.).

Work on realistic fiction genre project!

Ch. 2 Science Project

The students have decided to each choose a science Ch. 2 topic to present/teach to the class.  They can be as creative as possible in sharing what they learn.  Here is the topic list and presentation schedule:
 

Wednesday 9/5

1.     Mountains and hills Wayman

2.     Plains Will

3.     Landforms of sand Jordan

4.     Landforms from water Lillian

5.     Georgia’s geologic regions Zack

6.     Battlefield geography (p. 71) Lance

7.     Georgia’s Fall Line Kaitlyn

Thursday, 9/6

8.     Rivers and Sand investigation p. 76 Emma

9.     Changes caused by wind James

10.  Changes caused by moving water Kristen

11.  Erosion Isabella

12.  Deposition Alexander

13.  Sinkholes and landslides Brittany

14.  Plants Cheyenne

15.  Narrative writing p. 85 (could be a poster) Madison

16.  Map Works (include at least 5 of the 9 landforms but use a map of GA) Matthew

Friday, 9/7

17.  Modeling a Volcanic Eruption investigation p. 88 Evelyn

18.  Earth’s structure Alexus

19.  Earthquakes Alyssa

20.  Volcanoes Braylen

21.  How mountains form Blake

22.  Cleaning water investigation Adam

23.  Seismological studies Nathan

24.  Flood control Connor

25.  Beach restoration Guage

26.  The EPA p. 111 Kane

World Book Online

Our school system has just purchased a subscription to World Book online!  Here is the log in info: Username and password outside of school for www.worldbookonline.com

username = uniones
p/w= elementary

8/28

Study times tables!

Work on IRA. (Each night, write a summary using the "Somebody/wanted/but/so then" format.)

Work on spelling and vocabulary choice activity (due Thurs.).

Work on realistic fiction genre project!

Patriotic Blocks

Check out what Alexus made today during indoor recess!

Grading Explanation (English WB p. 6)

Parents, just  quick note of explanation in case your child doesn't or can't explain English workbook p. 6 grading.

I left this assignment for the students to complete with a sub last Wednesday while I was at Promethean Board training (our interactive whiteboard).  The sub didn't collect them so I collected them Thursday.  I was totally SHOCKED when I checked them to find that MOST students didn't complete the bottom half (6-10).  Their first (unacceptable grade) is written in orange.  I gave them back to make corrections, and students earned half credit back toward their grade (the green grade).

Math Notes: Multiplying by 10s

We are working on multiplying by powers of 10 (10, 100, 1000, etc.) and multiplying by multiples of 10 (20, 320, etc.), especially using some "shortcuts" or mental math.

Click HERE to access a PDF of today's math notes.

Happy Birthday, Kaitlyn!

We hope that you have a fabulous day!

8/27

Study for Thursday's 0-9 speed test!  (A few students will be taking their 0-8 instead, but most are up to the 9s and doing well.)

Finish AM practice if you didn't finish in class today.

Work on IRA. (Each night, write a summary using the "Somebody/wanted/but/so then" format.)

Write spelling in ABC order.

Finish vocabulary definitions.

DITB 4 is due on Friday.

*Realistic fiction genre project is due NO LATER THAN this Friday, 8/31!

Spelling & Vocab. Unit 1, Week 4

Unit 1, Week 4                                    Story:  Pipiolo and the Roof Dogs

Spelling: words with /ur/ and /ir/

Monday – copy your spelling words into your agenda in ABC order – due Tuesday.

*Spelling choice activity due Thursday!

Study spelling and vocabulary nightly for tests on Friday

1. clear                                                6. blurt

2. nerve                                    7. thirst

3. squirt                                    8. spur

4. verse                                    9. engineer

5. surf                                                10. jeer

11. lurk                                    16. sneer

12. year                                    17. dreary

13. stern                                    18. squirm

14. spurts                                    19. swerve

15. lurch                                    20. yearns

Vocabulary

Use your reading book glossary to identify the part of speech and complete the definitions for your vocabulary words – due Tuesday – finish for HW Monday if not finished in class!

Study nightly spelling and vocabulary definitions for your tests on Friday!

1.     cooperation (noun) – working with ____________________________ or others for a ___________________ purpose.

2.     celebration (         ) – the act of _______________________ with __________________

3.     fragrance (          ) – a ______________________ or ____________________ smell

4.     variety  (        ) – a number or ____________________ of different things; things of ___________________ kinds or ___________________

5.     canceled  (          ) - did _______________ with, stopped, or ___________________ off

6.     moistened (          ) – dampened or made _____________________ wet

7.     theory (             ) – an ________________ that explains  a group of _____________ or an ___________________; something that has not been _____________________ true

8.     transformed (           ) – changed in _______________, form, or ___________________

This week’s IRA:  On your own paper, summarize what you read each night (Mon., Tues., Wed., and Thurs.).  Use the “Somebody/wanted/but/so then” strategy each night to summarize what you read.  Include the page  numbers of the pages you read.

TESTED READING SKILL: summarize

Computer Lab

Go to Brainpop.com and log in (unionco/panthers).

Click on Science, then Scientific Inquiry.  Scroll down to the bottom and click on Scientific Method.
Watch the movie as many times as you like and then take the graded REVIEW quiz.  Print your results and bring them to Mrs. Dyer.*

Then go to math and click on Numbers and Operations.  Watch and quiz on Order of Operations.  Again, print your results and bring to Mrs. Dyer.

You can watch and quiz on Exponents for extra credit.  This one is NOT required.  It is challenging!

Now it's time to practice your times tables!  Go to a favorite website to practice.  Remember to stay on task.  Thanks!

*Because the computer lab printer is not yet working, only do the review quiz at this point.  Sorry about that!

Happy Birthday, Alexus!

Have a very happy day!

8/21

Thanks to everyone who came to Open House last night!  If you would like to view the presentation that I shared, feel free to click HERE.

Work on the following (due Thurs.):
*math Four Fours challenge
*spelling choice
*vocabulary choice

Go over social studies ch. 2 study guide.

Have you quizzed on at least one AR book?

Please sign and return signed papers if you did not see them yesterday.  Thanks!

Computer Lab 8/20

Today you are going to set up your Gizmos account and enroll in our classes so that you can use Gizmos at school and at home.

1.  Go to GIZMOS (click the link).
2.  At the top right, click on the blue ENROLL IN A CLASS.
3.  In the box, enter the following class code: DHT4TFHUJ4
4.  You should use your AR username and password as your log in.  Do NOT enter an email address if it asks for one.
5.  You will also want to enroll in our science class using the class code: ZZBTYXBDQ4

Now you should be ready to go to the science class to complete the Growing Plants gizmo.  You will probably have to click on "launch gizmo" to get it started.   

Spelling & Vocabulary: Unit 1, Week 3

Unit 1, Wk. 3                                                Story: Ultimate Field Trip

Spelling: Words with /ar/. /ar/, and /or/

Monday: Copy words into agenda in ABC order (due Tuesday).

Tuesday: Begin a spelling choice activity (due Thursday).  *YOU CAN LOOK AT OR PRINT A COPY OF THE CHOICE ACTIVITIES FROM THE LINK AT RIGHT.

Monday – Thursday: Study words nightly for the test on Friday.

1. heart                                                11. barge

2. swear                                    12. thorn

3. aboard                                    13. marsh

4. squares                                    14. force           

5. swore                                    15. harsh

6. chart                                                16. scarce

7. scorn                                    17. coarse

8. starch                                    18. flare

9. source                                    19. course

10. fare                                    20. sword

Vocabulary

Complete the definitions below using your reading book glossary - finish for hw Monday if not finished in class – due Tuesday.

Vocabulary choice activity is due Thursday.  (You can complete it on the back of your spelling choice if you have room.  Otherwise, use another sheet of paper.)  *YOU CAN LOOK AT OR PRINT A COPY OF THE CHOICE ACTIVITIES FROM THE LINK AT RIGHT.

1.     function (verb) – to work or ______________; to _______________

2.     adjusted (                ) – changed or ___________________to fit a need or ___________________

3.     disasters (               ) - _______________ that cause much __________________________

4.     environment (               ) – the ___________, water, ______________, and all the other things that surround  a _____________________, animal, or ___________________

5.     mission (                 ) – a ______________________ job or ________________

6.     maze (                ) – a _______________________ series of paths or ____________________ through which people may have a hard ____________ finding _______________ way

7.     zone (             ) - a _____________ or area that has some ____________________ quality

8.     gravity (        ) – the ________________that _____________ things toward the center of _______________

TESTED READING SKILL: compare and contrast

8/16

Most students have to finish their AMP (A.M. practice) because they did not use their time wisely in groups.  (Many were talking with their neighbors instead of doing their work.  Parents, you will find that I believe very strongly in logical consequences, so this is a direct result of some of them not using their time wisely.  They assure me that they will work harder at their independent work when we do groups again!)

Finish DITB 2 (Drops in the Bucket #2).  I am impressed with how well most students did on the first one, so I do no think that we'll have to do them all year.

Finish the Character IRA (Independent Reading Activity).

Study for spelling & vocabulary tests!

PEANUT-FREE CLASSROOM!

(This post will stay at the top for the next few weeks.  Scroll down for the daily info.)  We have a student with a peanut allergy.  Please do not send in snacks with peanuts, peanut butter, or any peanut products.  Thank you for your understanding and for helping to keep all our students safe!

Card Catalog

Our library's card catalog is now online!  You can access it HERE.  (I'm also including a link to it up above in the "other websites" tab to make it easy to find.  Happy browsing!

8/15

Study for tomorrow's speed test!
Finish AMP (Accelerated Math practice) if you did not finish in class today.  Make corrections if you have any work that needs to be corrected.

Finish sp/vocab WS.

Are you reading your AR book?

Signed Papers

Yesterday you probably saw our new purple communication folders.  Each week, please look through your child's work (stapled together), sign the top page, and return.  Thanks!

Of course the "keep at home" papers stay home. 

8/14

Study times tables

Work on Character IRA, sp/voc WS, and DITB 2.

Study spelling & vocabulary.

Order of Operations Math Notes (Mon. & Tues.)

These PDFs of our math lessons may make more sense to your student than you (since we worked through them together rather looked at a finished product), but hopefully they will help you make sense of order of operations!

Day 1

Day 2

8/13

Study times tables (0-6 if you didn't make an A on last week's test or 0-7 if you did make an A) for Thursday's speed test.

Study SS ch. 1 vocabulary for a quiz Tuesday.  CLICK HERE for the vocabulary prezi that we watched in class.

Spelling in ABC order in agenda

Start on sp/vocab worksheet (due Thurs.), DITB #2 (due Friday), and Character IRA (due Fri.).

Open House

UCES will host an Open House next Monday, 8/20, beginning at 6 PM.  All parents should report to the gym and then you will be dismissed to come to class.  Please make plans now to attend if at all possible.  I have a lot of information to share with you.  Thank you very much!

Computer Lab

Today in computer lab, please review the Order of Operations website that we previewed in our math lesson.  (Just click on the title to go there.)  Try to answer all of Chef Henri's problems.

After you've helped Chef Henri, please go to multiplication.com to practice your times tables.

This Month's Genre Project: Realistic Fiction

Each month, students are required to read ONE book in that month's assigned genre and complete an assigned genre project.  This month's genre is realistic fiction, and students have a book report form to complete.  (CLICK HERE for an extra copy.)  This form is due NO LATER than 8/31/12.  It can be turned in sooner.

This Week's Spelling & Vocab: Unit 1, Wk 2

 Spelling and Vocabulary Lists; Unit 1 Week 2; Story: Davy Crockett Saves the World

Spelling: Long vowels

Monday – Copy spelling words into agenda in ABC order (due Tues.). Begin working on spelling/vocabulary sheet (due Th.).

Wednesday – Finish spelling/vocabulary worksheet.

*Study spelling words nightly for your test on Friday

1.    paste                                    11. theme

2.    bride                                    12. type

3.    shave                                    13. oak

4.    spice                                    14. growth

5.    greed                                    15. yolk

6.    plead                                    16. folks

7.    greet                                    17. aim

8.    heap                                    18. prey

9.    paid                                    19. tow

10.                  coach                            20. grind

Vocabulary

Study nightly the following vocabulary words and definitions for your test on Friday.  Finish vocabulary sheet to turn in Thursday.

1.    advertisement – public notice or announcement recommending some product or service

2.    sauntered – walked along slowly or happily

3.    commenced – began

4.    elected – chosen for public office by a majority vote

5.    wring – to twist with force; squeeze hard

6.    impress – to have strong effect on the mind or feelings

7.    original – of or from the beginning; first

8.    fireball – anything that looks like a mass of bright heat

TESTED READING SKILL: plot and setting

IRAs

Each week, your child will have an IRA (independent reading activity) to complete.  Students need to use their current independent reading (AR) book to complete the activity.  Sometimes they will have a worksheet to finish and other times they'll complete their responses on their own paper.  This week's IRA is about characterization.  Click HERE if you'd like to download another copy of this week's IRA.

Tools of Science Presentation

Today we learned about the tools that scientists use.  CLICK HERE for the presentation.

8/9

Finish DITB #1 (That stands for "Drops in the Bucket" and they are to finish side 1 only.  This will be a weekly assignment until further notice.

Study for sp/voc tests tomorrow!

Read!

8/8

Study times tables for tomorrow's speed test!

Finish spelling and vocabulary worksheet.

Read in your book.

Correct Heading

Some students are struggling to remember the correct heading for their papers.

On the top line, to the right of the left margin, they should write their first & last name and number.
On the second line, again to the right of the left margin, they should write the date. (Any format is fine for the date.)
On the third line, again to the right of the left margin, they write the subject/assignment.

Like this:
Sammy Student #21
8/8/12
Math p. 4

8/7

We had another good day today!

Study times tables for speed test Thurs.
Make your number web.

Finish spelling 3x each (2x print, 1x cursive)

*Orange folders (nothing to be signed and returned this week)

Math Notes: Whole Numbers

Today in math we learned about whole numbers, operations, expressions, and equations.  Here is a PDF of the "flipchart" we made on our ActivBoard if you'd like to follow along with us.  Click HERE for the link.

Each student has a sheet of construction paper to make a "number web" of their favorite whole number.  (I did ask them NOT to use the number 10 since that is what we used in our example together.)  I can't wait to see what they create!

8/6

We've had a great first Monday!  As expected, we are learning our classroom routines and expectations along with some of our weekly academic procedures.  Your children are great listeners!  They are trying hard to follow directions and do the right thing the first time.  (If you share this compliment with your child, write a note in the agenda that you saw it on our blog and he or she will earn a sticker for their conduct chart!)

Here's what SHOULD be written in the agenda (and if it was correct I initialed Monday):
Study times tables [Speed tests will be each Thursday until further notice.]

Sp/voc WS (spelling/vocabulary worksheet) due Thurs.
Work on DITB #1 (Drops in the Bucket #1- front side only- not #3 on the back!)

Write spelling words in ABC order in the agenda


Thanks for sharing your child with me!

Spelling & Vocabulary: Week 1

Unit 1, Week 1 Story: Miss Alaineous

Spelling words: Short vowels

Monday – Copy spelling words in ABC order in your agenda. Start on sp/vocab worksheet.

Tuesday – Write spelling words 3x each. Two times in cursive and one time in print – follow the example we did in class together – due Wednesday
Wednesday- Finish sp/vocab worksheet.

Study each night for your test on Friday.

1. jut 11. notch

2. dove 12. gush

3. nick 13. scan

4. tenth 14. batch

5. shrug 15. rough

6. stuff 16. stump

7. sense 17. tough

8. damp 18. laugh

9. cot 19. guess

10.fling 20. lead

Vocabulary words:

Study vocabulary words and definitions each night for the test on Friday.

1. capable – having skill or power

2. categories – groups or classes of things

3. luminous – bright; shining

4. strands – things similar to threads

5. credit – something owed a person for work

6. soggy – very wet or damp

7. slumped – fell or sunk heavily

8. gigantic – like a giant; huge

VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Tested skill:

8/3

Today was a wonderful start to school!  (I hope the kids share this sentiment!)  Please be sure to check and sign your child's agenda.  (That is part of their homework for you parents.  The other part is for you to fill out the parent info packets.  Thank you!)

Our first multiplication speed test today went well for some but not so well for others.  It is crucial for 5th graders to know their basic facts fluently.  We will assess their progress each week with a speed test of 100 basic multiplication facts in 5 minutes until all facts 0-12 are memorized.

The class has chosen Thursdays as our speed test day.  Please study nightly!  The first test will be identical to the practice test today, except that they are expected to know all 100 facts in 5 minutes. 

Enjoy your weekend and rest up for the first full week of school!

Thank you!

It was so nice to get to meet so many of you today!  Thank you for coming.  I look forward to a great year together.  Please help me keep the lines of communication open to serve your child as well as possible.  I appreciate your confidence and the trust you have placed in me.  I promise to do my best for your child!  It's going to be a great year!

Happy Birthday, Nathan!

Enjoy your special day!

Meet the Teacher

Tomorrow is Meet the Teacher!  Drop in between 1:00 and 3:00 to say hi and pick up your "parent homework pack," all the required paperwork that we need for the start of school.  I look forward to meeting you!