12/19

The holiday presentations have been terrific!  We've learned so much about our neighbors around the globe.

Finish your genre project if you haven't already!
Please finish any "old" AM assignments.
Make corrections to the math Module 10 and/or Module 11 assessments (if needed).
Study for the ch. 4 science test!
Study spelling & vocabulary too.

Finish coloring the Trim the Fractions math extra credit if you would like a little extra math help before the nine weeks ends.

Do you have your 6 books/250,000 words for this nine weeks?  Friday is the deadline!

12/18

Thank you so very much for your generosity this holiday season!  The holiday presentations have been so interesting.  Our party was a huge success.  Thank you!

Our science test will be Friday instead of tomorrow.  Sp/vocab choices are due tomorrow.  The tales Venn diagram genre project is due on Friday.  We will be taking our reading, spelling, and vocab tests then too.

This Week's ELA

Yes, we still have (some) school work this week!  The kids should enjoy this week's trickster play.

Spelling & Vocabulary: Unit 4, Week 5          “Catch of the Day”

Spelling:

Spelling & vocabulary choices are due by Thursday.  A spelling sort (see below) would be a great choice.

Study your spelling words Monday – Thursday for your test on Friday!

1.     ambulance

2.     brilliance

3.     balance

4.     performance

5.     attendance

6.     residence

7.     dependence

8.     hesitance

9.     substance

10.  absence

11.  assistance

12.  persistence

13.  ignorance

14.  radiance

15.  appearance

16.  reluctance

17.  disturbance

18.  importance

19.  resistance

20.  distance

review words: creature, pressure, measure

challenge words: vigilance, inference

SPELLING SORT Suggestion:

Two syllable words –ance (4)                        Three syllable words –ance (12)

Two syllable words –ence (1)                        Three syllable words –ence (3)

Vocabulary:

Tues.-Wed.: Finish your spelling & vocabulary choices. [Edited @ 2:30 PM Monday]

Thursday: Continue to study for your test on Friday!

1.     appreciation

2.     riverbank

3.     burdens

4.     treasurer

5.     educate

6.     unfortunate

7.     merchandise

8.     wares

TESTED SKILLS: analogies & synonyms, author’s purpose

GRAMMAR: pronouns, contractions, and homophones

NO IRA THIS WEEK!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Our class earned their much-coveted 100 stars today!  I am so proud of the entire class and their great behavior.  Dr. John Barge, State Superintendent, visited our school and our classroom today, and he complimented the students on their work.  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!

The class voted to have our reward party this coming Monday on top of their movie field trip.  (No delayed gratification for them!)  Students may wear their PJs.  I will be providing a special snack and would welcome your contributions too if you'd like.

We are still having our holiday party Wednesday at 12:45.  Thank you!

12/10

Orange folders went home today w/our practice writing test scores and a letter from the principal.  We also have the permission slip for our movie field trip on Monday, 12/16.  No slip, no trip!!!!  You can turn in the $5 later if you need to.  (We will be seeing the movie in 3-D and the $5 includes popcorn and a drink.  Fifth grade is subsidizing the cost of this trip for all of our students with our snack fundraiser money.)

Don't forget that spelling & vocabulary choices are due on Thursday.  Continue to work on your holiday informational writing/presentation and your tales project (Venn diagram).  Thanks!

12/9

Finish any AM and/or make corrections if you have them.

Start on spelling & vocabulary choices- due Thursday.

Work on tales project and/or holiday project.

This Week's ELA: The Unbreakable Code

Unit 5, Week 4: “The Unbreakable Code”

SPELLING Suffixes:

Monday: Write spelling words CORRECTLY in your agenda in ABC order (due Tues.).

Wednesday: Finish a spelling choice if you made less than 100% on last week’s test or this week’s pretest (due Thurs.).

Study your spelling words Monday – Thursday for your test on Friday!

1.     emptiness

2.     gladness

3.     bottomless

4.     foolishness

5.     harmless

6.     fullness

7.     fierceness

8.     darkness

9.     effortless

10.  forgiveness

11.  motionless

12.  stillness

13.  sadness

14.  needless

15.  fearless

16.  hopeless

17.  ceaseless

18.  weakness

19.  meaningless

20.  fondness

Challenge words: weightlessness, thoughtlessness

Vocabulary:

VOCABULARY:

Complete a vocabulary choice if you made less than 100% on last week’s test (due Thurs.).

Study vocabulary words and definitions each night Monday through Thursday for your test on Friday.

1.     enlisted: (v) joined the military voluntarily

2.     invasion: (n) entering of an army into a region to conquer it

3.     location: (n) an exact position or place

4.     corridor: (n) a long, narrow hallway or passageway

5.     shield: (n) a person or thing that protects against danger, injury, or distress

6.     sagged: (v) drooped down in the middle from weight

7.     reservation: (n) land set aside by a government for a special purpose, such as for Native American tribes to live on

8.     creased: (adj) characterized by lines or marked by wrinkling

Tested Skill: Generating questions & author’s perspective

Grammar Focus: Comparative Adjectives

No IRA this week!

St. Nicholas Day

We are kicking off our "holidays around the world" celebration today with Mrs. Dyer presenting Christmas in France and the legend of St. Nicholas.  We each enjoyed a mini "buche de Noel" or yule log dessert.

Students also signed up for their date for their holiday presentation.  Holiday reports are due no later than 12/13.

12/5

Finish math WB p. 111-112.
Finish IRA (author's craft).

Work on holiday project and/or tales genre project.

12/4

Finish spelling & vocabulary choices.

Work on holiday informational report and/or reading your fairy tales.

*Math WB p. 111 (7-11) & p. 112 are due Friday.

12/3

Continue to work on all assigned work!

12/2

Happy December!  I hope that everyone had a very blessed, relaxing Thanksgiving.

We have lots to do this month!  We are starting two separate (but possibly related) projects: the December "tales" genre project and our winter holiday project.  The winter holiday project is due first and includes a written report about the holiday and a presentation.  We will set the dates for the presentations tomorrow or Wed. for the next week or so. 

*Please sign & return the Tales genre project sheet.
Finish spelling sheet Greek roots predictions.
Finish AM.

This Week's ELA: The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring

Spelling/Vocabulary 6.1: The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring

Greek Roots: Based on your spelling list and prior knowledge, what do you think each root means?  Fill in the blanks in pencil!  We will check your predictions Tuesday.

astr/aster = ________________________ photo = ________________________

tele = ________________________  phon =________________________

mech = ________________________ myth = ________________________

Spelling choice is due Thursday, 12/5.

1.     myth

2.     telescope

3.     astronomer

4.     homophone

5.     automatic

6.     telegraph

7.     disaster

8.     autograph

9.     mechanic

10.   telephoto

11.   astronaut

12.   telephone

13.   mythical

14.   phonics

15.   television

16.   photograph

17.   automobile

18.   photography

19.   telegram

20.   mechanical

*photogenic

Vocabulary choice is due Thursday, 12/5:

1.     dismiss: to take away the job of, fire

2.     intentions: plans to act in a certain way; purposes

3.     despair: complete loss of hope

4.     bridle: the part of a horse’s or donkey’s harness that fits over the head and is used to guide or control the animal

5.     descended: moved from a higher place to a lower one

6.     accompany: to go together with

7.     delicacies: rare or excellent food

8.     consented: gave permission or agreed to

IRA: Author's Craft

            Look for at minimum a sentence and better yet a passage that really impresses you with how the author writes.  Was it their word choice?  How they slowed down a moment?  Their “show don't tell” technique?  On Friday, be prepared to share your author's cool craft with the class.  You need to turn in a copy of this author's craft with the passage highlighted (or feel free to hand copy the passage and include the page number).  Write down what struck you about this particular part.

Grammar Focus: Adverbs

This Month's Genre: Tales

The literary genre “tales,” also known as folktales, includes any traditional, usually anonymous, story handed down orally among a culture. The stories might be fairy tales, tall tales, or fables. Legends and myths also fall into this category.

Your genre project this month is to read at least two folktales and create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two tales. Remember, a Venn diagram uses two interlocking circles where similarities go in the middle and differences go in the outer circles. Your Venn diagram may be on paper of your choice but please not larger than half a sheet of poster board.

You must read both of the tales that you use, and you may NOT use the Disney versions of either tale. (You also may not use tales read aloud in class as one of your two choices.) They do not have to be AR books or stories. You need to read two stories that are of the same type, such as two tall tales, two different myths about the same general idea (for example, why the sun and moon are not in the sky at the same time), two different versions of the same fairy tale, etc. You may read a traditional fairy tale and then compare it to its “fractured” or “modern” version.

Please get your two tales approved no later than 12/9 before you begin your Venn diagram. Be sure to have the book(s) at school when you get approval.

To earn an A on your folktale genre project, you must include the origin of each of your tales, any author or illustrator listed, the title of each tale, and at least 8 excellent comparisons in each of the three sections of your diagram. Neatness, including correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, are very important. Feel free to illustrate your project. Your Venn diagram must be turned in by Friday, December 20. The project will count as two test grades. Below is the rubric that will be used to determine your score.

Tale # 1: Tale #2

title of tale ____/3 title of tale ____/3

author or illustrator ____/2 author or illustrator ____/2

origin of tale ____/2 origin of tales ____/2

at least 8 excellent differences ____/24 8(+) excellent differences ____/24

at least 4 excellent similarities ____/12 4(+) excellent similarities ____/12

illustration ____/2 illustration ____/2

overall correct spelling, ____/5 overall neatness ____/5

punctuation, and grammar Bonus points ____

TOTAL: ____/100

*Parents, you have a legible copy to sign tonight as part of your child's homework.

We are going to the library at 10:30 today to get started on this project, 

so excuses won't fly this month! ;)

Virtual Nerd Online Video Tutorials

Here's a new free website geared toward Common Core: Virtual Nerd online videos.  I would love for you to check them out and write a review for extra credit! I believe there are math and science videos available.