February 28, 2011

• Journal: Do you get all of your work done?  How? or Why not - how come?
• English - Review Unit 5 - Most of the class was struggling with quotations.  We will review that lesson tomorrow, and plan on the Unit 5 test Wednesday.
• Spelling - Review words - there are 40 words this week:  Write the words in alphabetical order.
• Buddy Readers
• Math - Simplifying Improper Fractions: Lesson 91
• Science
• Music - Finished the states in "50 Nifty United States" - we studied dynamics, tempo, and staccato.
• Social Studies - Review Chapter 8: As a class we outlined the first lesson of chapter 8.  I am planning to have the chapter 8 test (The American Revolution) on Monday. 

Thanks for turning in so many reading minutes.  Keep up the good work!!!

February 25, 2011

• Journal: Tell me about your morning (dads and donuts?).
• Computers - blogspot challenges
• English - Review of Unit 5 - test on Tuesday You can practice the skills we've been learning at the following site: http://www.eduplace.com/
• Reading - "Dear Mr. Henshaw" 
• Math - Line Graphs: Investigation 9
• Science - Introduction to Magnets
• ABA
• Social Studies - locating states on an unlabeled map

We have one more weekend of tallying reading minutes for Dr. Seuss month, so read, read, read.  For the third week in a row I have failed to print progress reports.  I apologize, I am planning to send new reports on Friday, March 4.  Have a great weekend!

February 24, 2011

• Journal: What are the steps to a great persuasive essay?
• Direct Writing Assessment - Parents I'll let you know when I get the scores.
• Math: Test 17
• Social Studies: Abraham Lincoln coloring page

Tomorrow is crazy hat day and dad's and donuts.  I sent missing work pages home with each of the students who are missing work today.  If they turn it in by tomorrow morning they can participate in the ABA activity.

February 23, 2011

• Journal: Write a short conversation using quotation marks correctly.
• English - Titles: pg 199 (5-25)
• Storytelling Festival - We heard some great stories today and the students behaved really well.
• Math - Reducing Fraction part 2: lesson 99 - test tomorrow

Remember that tomorrow morning is the Direct Writing Assessment for our class. Please allow your child to get a good night sleep and be ready to work in the morning. ;)

February 22, 2011

• Journal: Tell me about the book you are reading.
• English - Abbreviations: pg 196 (7-32)
• Writing - We have been practicing persuasive writing to prepare for the Direct Writing Assessment.
• Library
• Math - Finding a Square Root: Lesson 89
• Science
• Social Studies - Victory and Independence: set up a two-column chart titled Challenges Faced in the American Revolution.  Label one column challenges, and the other column responses.  List the challenges colonists faced during the war and how they responded to each challenge (four challenges with a response to each is sufficient).

Tomorrow we are going to the story-telling festival. Students are expected to wear best dress.  Thursday morning is the Direct Writing Assessment.  This is a test required for all fifth graders in our state.  Please make sure your child is here that morning.  Thank you!

No new spelling list this week.

February 18, 2011

• Journal: What is GCF?  How do you find it?
• Assembly:  "Groark Learns to Listen"
• Spelling Test
• English - Quotations: pg 195 (5-22)
• Reading - "Dear Mr. Henshaw"
• Math - Transformations: lesson 88
• Science - Test Tuesday
• ABA
• Social Studies

Remember that we have no school on Monday.  Have a great 3-day weekend.

February 17, 2011

• Journal: What did you like and dislike about the wax museum?
• DARE - Officer Taylor gave an introduction to the DARE program.
• Spelling - pre-test: test tomorrow
• Math - Using Manipulatives to Divide Fractions: Lesson 87

Students have a lot of assignments due tomorrow, including: Survival Trait Presentations, Math Art, James Buchanan coloring page, Take Sides social studies assignment, and Samuel's Choice social studies assignment.  Tomorrow is Crazy Color day. 

February 16, 2011

• Journal: How did things go with Mr. "Mean", the substitute teacher?
• English - Interjections: pg 193 (9-22)
• Computers
• Spelling - Words with Suffixes: Worksheet pg 59-60 (Spelling Spree)
• Reading - "Dear Mr. Henshaw"
• Math - Multiplying Fractions and Whole Numbers: Lesson 86
• Wax Museum

The wax museum went really well this afternoon.  We hope to see you this evening for part 2.

February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

• Journal: What do you like to do for Valentine's Day?
• English - More Uses for Commas: pg 189 (9-25)
• Spelling - new list: words should be written in planner
• Valentine Exchange
• Buddy Readers
• Math - Converting Units of Capacity: lesson 85 - Test tomorrow
• Science
• Art
• Valentine Party

There will be a substitute teacher tomorrow.  I have the second part of the two-day training, last Tuesday was part one.  Wednesday is the wax museum.  Students do not need to wear costumes all day at school - just send the costume with your child and he/she can change just before we begin the wax museum.

February 11, 2011

• What do you think about Jerry Sloan's retirement?
• Spelling test
• Computers - typed the "no recess" persuasive essay
• English - Commas in a Series: worksheet 3 Commas in a Series
• Math - Mean, Median, Mode, and Range: Lesson 84
• Science
• ABA

Monday is Valentines Day.  I sent an e-mail yesterday with the list of class names.  Have a great weekend!

February 10, 2011

• Journal - Have you read the biography for the wax museum?  Tell me about it.
• Spelling - pre-test
• Math - Investigation 8 Displaying Data: We finished this assignment as a class.  It is due tomorrow.
• Writing - Persuasive Essay: No More Recess for Fifth Graders
• Math - Properties of Geometric Solids: Lesson 83

Have a great afternoon.

February 9, 2011

• Journal: How did things go with the substitute yetserday?
• English - Proper Nouns and Adjectives: pg 180 (1-14)
• Computer - PAWS or StudyIsland
• Spelling - We played a game of sparkle
• Reading - "Wait Until Next Year"
• Math - Greatest Common Factor: Lesson 82
• Science
• P.E.
• Battleship Reward Activity

The school's website has been changed.  It can be accessed through the district's site. I don't know if the changes are permanent or temporary.

February 7, 2011

• Journal:Would you like to visit other planets?  Why or why not?
• English - Cumulative Review- Adjectives: pg 173 (106-130)
• Computers - PAWS typing program
• Spelling - new list: write spelling words in your planner
• Reading - "Second Sister and Her Secret Admirer"
• Math - Displaying Data - Investigation 8 - We are still working on this assignment as a class; it is not due tomorrow.
• Science
• Music - Fifty Nifty United States - We have learned from Alabama to Texas.
• Social Studies - Americans Take Sides: Write about or draw a picture representing how the group you were assigned (such as churches, women, Native Americans, or Africans) supported the Loyalists, or Patriots, or remained neutral.

The students were able to sink all of the ships on Friday which means they have an activity coming up. I am attending a training tomorrow, so there will be a substitute teacher here. That substitute teacher will give the students a note regarding the activity on Wednesday.  There will not be a blog entry tomorrow since I will not be here.

February 4, 2011

• Journal: What do you think of our new seating arrangement?
• English - Cumulative Review - Verbs: pg 172 (61-105)
• Math - Test 15: no homework
• Roller Skating

We had a great time at the roller skating rink. Have a great weekend!

February 3, 2011

• Journal: Have you been roller skating before?
• Spelling pre-test
• Writing - Persuasive writing format - 1. State your opinion; 2. List and explain your strong reasons; 3. Conclusion - restate your opinion.
• Computers - Utah Write: persuasive topic
• Mrs. Taylor presented a lesson on the power of words.
• Reading - Mom's Best Friend
• Math - Prime and Composite Numbers: lesson 80 - test tomorrow

February 2, 2011

• Journal: What do you do to keep warm in this cold weather?
• English - Cumulative Review - Verbs: pg 171 (41-60)
• Computers - studyisland.com Students were required to complete one test each in Math and ELA (Elementary Language Arts) with 70% profieciency or better before playing the games on study island.
• Reading - reading groups - Students either read "Friends and Competitors," or "The Fab Four From Liverpool."
• Math - Finding Equivalent Fractions by Multiplying by 1: Lesson 79
• Science
• P.E.
• Social Studies - The Decision for Independence: With a partner create an advertisement for Common Sense, include at least one of the ideas described in Common Sense.

February 1, 2011

• Journal: What did you think of volleyball yesterday?
• English - Cumulative Review - Nouns: pg 170 (24-40)
• Writing - Persuasive letter
• Library
• Math - Exponents and Powers: lesson 78
• Science
• Art
• Social Studies - At War With the Homeland: List the strengths and weaknesses of the continental or British army and brainstorm some strategies that would give your army an advantage.

The fifth grade is rollerskating on Friday.  Please remind your child to turn in his/her permission slip.