Week of 5/13

Oh, dear families,

It's the last week of elementary school for your sweet babies! It's pretty packed, so let's look at it. You'll ESPECIALLY want to check out the schedule for Friday.

Monday, 5/13
9:30 leave for Guest House (walking)
10:00 50s and 60s concert at Guest House
11:00 popsicles and games at Rock Creek Park
12:40 lunch (in classroom)

Tuesday, 5/14
Read All Day
Read favorite books and magazines

Book buddies

Read Aloud

Wednesday, 5/15
10:00 lunch in classroom
10:45 buses to Funtastik
11:00 Funtastik 5th Grade Field Trip

1:30 return to school

Thursday, 5/16
Greek Plays
Mystery Skype

Friday, 5/17
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
7:30 family breakfast (student families invited!)
8:00 End of Year slideshow (will end around 8:30)
8:30 end of year gifts and "autograph session"
9:00 games (board games and electronic games okay; only 1 device and 1 game per child)
10:00 read aloud/independent reading
11:00 start a movie
12:00 lunch
12:30 recess
12:50 finish movie
2:20 dismissal - OFFICIALLY MIDDLE SCHOOLERS! 

If you plan to come to breakfast, please RSVP so I will know how much breakfast to provide. Thank you!

Week of 5/6

Dear families,

Only ten days of this school year left! Just in case you didn't know, here's a picture to post how I feel about this year coming to an end...

Such a bittersweet time! Ahhh....

Well, this is a pretty busy week for us, so let's take a look.

Next week, on Monday, students in my homeroom plan to have a concert at the Guest House, signing some hits from the 50s and 60s! Look for a permission slip to come home this week. We will be WALKING. I need a parent to meet us at Rock Creek Park when it's over to deliver our lunches for a picnic. Students who wish to may dress up in 50s or 60s fashion.

Monday, 5/6

Gainesville Middle School Field Trip

Buses leave at 8:30 am, hoping to return around 10:30

Wednesday, 5/8

Essay due (homeroom only)

Thursday, 5/9

Field Day
5th Grade Walk around 11 or 11:30
(will give you more details soon)

Friday, 5/10

POW Due

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, 5/13

50s and 60s concert at Guest House (my homeroom only)

Picnic at Park

Wednesday, 5/15

5th Grade End of Year Celebration

Gainesville Bowling/Funtastik @ 11 am

($7 due prior to trip)

Friday, 5/17

Last day of school!

Paragraph of the Week

Which is better - TV or books? What is the advantage of one over the other? Why do people prefer one over the other? Due on Friday.

Monday - Wednesday

Work on essay - choose one topic. Due Wednesday.

Opinion: Why do you think 5th graders deserve to go on an end-of-year trip to Funtastik? Give details about why you all have earned a trip to bowl and play laser tag.

Informative: Choose either bowling or laser tag. Write a how-to essay explaining how to play that particular game. Include specific details, skills, and steps.

Narrative: Imagine the day that you and your classmates will spend at Funtastik. What will you do? Explain the events of the day. Include plenty of description.

Thursday

No language arts - Field Day

Friday

Prepare music for 50s & 60s concert on Monday!

Students are currently working on nonfiction literature circles. They are working in groups to analyze the information presented in their books.

Monday

No reading - GMS trip

Tuesday & Wednesday

A Taste of Blackberries

Chapters 5, 6, 7

Vocabulary introduction

Read all 3 chapters

Analyze chapters in group discussion

Record summary in notebooks

Make prediction for final chapter

Thursday

No reading classes - Field Day

Friday

Finish the book!

Chapter 8

Take Final Quiz

Text Message Activity

Last Day of Reading party!

*If your child is in my reading class and you want to send in snacks (healthy breakfast snacks, please - no chips or candy), then please feel free! I have TRULY enjoyed teaching your kids this year! Sad that our reading classes are coming to an end.

THIS WEEK

Students who need reading remediation will go to their reading teachers for support during this block. Everyone else will participate in science research.

*Thanks to everyone who sent in food for the Greek Feast and materials to Make Mummies! We had a great week!

Week of 4/29

Dear families,

Can you believe that May is almost upon us? Even more, can you believe that we only have THREE weeks of school left?! Oh my!

The CRCT has ended, and everyone survived it. (Whew.) Now, let's get back to work!

Art Auction Update: Thanks to everyone who sent in items for the Art Auction. Our Art Camp gift basket raked in $110 for Centennial. Woohoo!

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 4/29

Normal schedule again (thankfully!)

Tuesday, 4/30

Greek Feast (see social studies information)

Thursday, 5/2

POW Due

Making Mummies (see social studies information)

Friday, 5/3

Chick-Fil-A Biscuits, $2.50

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, 5/6

Gainesville Middle School Field Trip

Buses leave at 8 am, hoping to return around 10

COMING SOON:

Wednesday, 5/15

5th Grade End of Year Celebration

Gainesville Bowling/Funtastik @ 11 am

($7 due prior to trip)

Friday, 5/17

Last day of school!

Paragraph of the Week

Should tests be allowed in school? What do we need them for? What are the pros and cons of having tests? What do you personally think would happen without them? Due on Thursday.

Monday - Thursday

CCRPI Classes with Mr. Williamson (counselor)

College & Career Ready Performance Index

Friday

Begin essay - choose one topic. Due next week.

Opinion: Why do you think 5th graders deserve to go on an end-of-year trip to Funtastik? Give details about why you all have earned a trip to bowl and play laser tag.

Informative: Choose either bowling or laser tag. Write a how-to essay explaining how to play that particular game. Include specific details, skills, and steps.

Narrative: Imagine the day that you and your classmates will spend at Funtastik. What will you do? Explain the events of the day. Include plenty of description.

We are about to start a new round of literature circles. Students will be reading nonfiction books during those literature circles. In reading group, students will be starting a new novel, A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith. Before we start that, we have one assignment left from a couple of weeks ago to complete.

Monday

 Scholastic News Magazine article "Crisis in Syria"

Students will read the article and complete the multiple-choice quiz writing evidence to support or debunk each answer.

Computer: Kidblog

What has been the best part of reading class this year? Why? Be sure to give lots of details. This will help me to know which lessons/books/activities to include in my reading class next year.

Tuesday & Wednesday

A Taste of Blackberries, Chapter 1

Who is narrating this story? Who are the characters? What is the setting? Make any plot predictions. Find evidence in the text.

Literature Circles

Set up notebooks for new lit circle texts. Include title, author, publishing information, and topic. What do you think you'll learn about in this text? Preview the table of contents. How do you think this text is organized? (Refer to notes.) Provide evidence. Set goal for the day; read.

Thursday & Friday

A Taste of Blackberries, Chapter 2

Compare/contrast the narrator and Jamie. Work with partner(s). Describe Mrs. Houser. Is she a believable character? Why or why not? Make predictions. Find evidence in the text.

Literature Circles

Read, then choose a Nonfiction Text Feature task card to complete. Write the question in your notebook. Answer as a group and include evidence.

The next two weeks will be different from the rest of the year. Here's the essence of the plan:

The fifth grade teachers are going to continue to remediate math and reading for students who may need extra support to be sure they are ready for middle school. This "remediation block" will occur during the science/social studies time.

THIS WEEK

Students who need math remediation will go to their math teachers for support during this block. Everyone else will participate in social studies research.

PLEASE READ:

We are having two fun "projects" in social studies. ALL STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FUN PROJECTS, even those who are receiving math remediation. If your child is going to math remediation this week, he or she will miss out on the research part of social studies this week, but they will get to participate in the Ancient Greek Feast and will also be able to Make a Mummy.

Beginning Friday and going on into next week, some students will receive reading remediation while the rest of the students complete science research.

We will need several supplies next week for these projects:

Greek Feast

olives

grapes

hummus

pita chips

honey

grape juice

Making Mummies

Barbies or GI Joe dolls (will NOT be returned to you)

vinegar

salt

cooking oil

cinnamon or nutmeg

For students who will be in my social studies research class, here are the research topics for this week:

Monday

What is a "myth"?

Research Greek gods and goddesses

Tuesday

Research what life was like for boys and girls during Ancient Greece

Essay: Would you rather be a child NOW or during the times of Ancient Greece? Why? Support with research.

Greek Feast

*all students will participate in the Greek feast

Wednesday

Research pharaohs and how mummies were made

Thursday

Make mummies

*all students will make mummies

Friday

Reading remediation/science research will begin

Week of 4/22: CRCT Week

Hello families! I hope everyone has enjoyed this chilly but sunny weekend! There's no way to do this gently, so let's just get to it... this week is the CRCT.

I am truly confident in your child's ability to do well on this series of tests. They have all worked so hard this year, so I hope everyone will be able to relax before the test. I'm proud of all they have learned!

Here are some tips for the CRCT:

• Be sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night, starting on Sunday night. A well-rested child is a well-tested child.
• Be sure your child gets breakfast. If your child doesn't normally have breakfast, be sure he has at the very least a small, healthy snack. If your child's breakfast is heavy and sugary, he won't be able to perform as well on the tests.
• Relax! If you are worried about the test, your child will be too. 

Here's the schedule for the week for CRCT.

7:30     Students should be seated, ready to test

11:15   Students should be wrapped up with all testing for the morning

            Walk around school grounds to get our circulation moving (wear good shoes this week)

11:58   Lunch (usual time)

12:30   Independent Reading/Read Aloud

12:50   Activity/Recess

1:20     Review for the next day's test

2:25     Dismissal

Please do not schedule any appointments for your child this week in the afternoons. We will be going over the most difficult concepts in the afternoons for a last-minute review. I am planning to review using lots of games so that the students are up and moving and (hopefully) not bored to tears.

Below are details about what's happening this week.

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 4/22

CRCT: READING

Afternoon: Language Arts Review

Tuesday, 4/23

CRCT: LANGUAGE ARTS

Afternoon: Math Review

Wednesday, 4/24

CRCT: MATH

Afternoon: Science Review

Italian Ice $2 Due

Thursday, 4/18

CRCT: SCIENCE

Afternoon: Social Studies Review

Friday, 4/12

CRCT: SOCIAL STUDIES

Afternoon: Movie - National Treasure: Book of Secrets (social studies movie guide)

Italian Ice Delivered

Week of 4/15

Hi families!

Sorry this blog is so late. This has been one constantly-moving, crazy weekend! Let's take a look at what's happening this week.

Also, please sign up to send in snacks for CRCT week. Students will need some extra nutritional power to make it through those long testing sessions! :)

Here's the link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C44ABA72DA31-crct 

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 4/15

New activity rotation starts

Thursday, 4/18

POW Due

School Governance Council, 2:30 pm

PTA Art Auction, 6:00 pm

Friday, 4/12

Chick-Fil-A Biscuits, $2.50

NEXT WEEK is CRCT WEEK:

Monday, 4/22

Reading CRCT

Earth Day

Tuesday, 4/23

Language Arts CRCT

Progress reports

Wednesday, 4/24

Math CRCT

Bruster's Italian Ice money due, $2

Thursday, 4/25

Science CRCT

Friday, 4/26

Social Studies CRCT

Italian Ice delivered

Paragraph of the Week

What three items would you take with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?

English Skill

Editing with various skills

Monday

Editing for independent clauses and semicolons

Tuesday

Editing for types of sentences using commas

Wednesday

Editing for adverbs

Thursday

Editing: review of all grammar skills (mixed review)

Friday

Types of Sentences/Expanding Sentences activity

Students worked really hard last week on going through a practice CRCT reading test with a fine tooth comb! I'm very proud of how hard they worked. We've emphasized that students need to closely read each answer choice before they bubble in answers.

This week, students will be working on both fiction and nonfiction skills to prepare them for the reading CRCT next Monday.

Monday

Short Stories: "Tornado" and "Neighbors"

RL.5 Explain how a series of (paragraphs) fits together to provide the structure of a particular story. 

RIT.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which points.

Tuesday

Poems: "Blueberries" and "Winter"

5.L.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. 

RL.2 Determine a theme of a poem, including how the speaker reflects upon a topic.

RIT.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which points.

Wednesday

Visual Elements review

RL.7 Analyze how visual elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text.

RIT.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

Thursday

Making Inferences

RL.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says when drawing inferences.

RIT.5 Compare and contrast the overall structure of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.

Friday

Narrator Point of View

RL.6 Describe how a narrator's point of view influences how events are being described.

RIT.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

This week, my homeroom is in science with Mrs. May, and I have Mrs. May's homeroom students for social studies review!

Monday

End of Year Study Guide

We have created a study guide with 92 items on it. Students will be so excited to realize that they know SO MUCH about our country's history from 1865 until now! 

Tuesday & Wednesday

History of the US Map

Students will be given a copy of a US map with 15 locations marked on it. Students will have to identify each location and write a summary about it's importance. The summary will have to include where it is, who was involved, when it happened, what happened, and why it's important. Students may work with a partner if they choose.

Thursday

Students will read about economics and government to refresh their memories about all the standards we have covered this year. Students will create a rap about one of the topics after rereading.

Friday

Review Quiz Game

Students will take the end-of-year social studies test on Socrative using the Space Race game. Students will compete in teams to see who remembers the most about all we have studied this year!

Week of 4/8

Hi families!

Welcome to April! WOW! This school year is rapidly approaching the close, and it's such a bittersweet time. Everyone loves summer, but your babies are growing up! They will soon be middle schoolers! I want to take a moment to tell you all that I have TRULY enjoyed this school year. It is a privilege to work each day with your children. Thank you very much for putting your trust in me.

That being said, I hope everyone had a fantastic spring break! We are moving quickly towards the CRCT, and of course, these next two weeks will be spent on review. Let's check out what's happening the next few weeks.

Art Auction

*please read*

The PTA Art Auction is next Thursday. Mrs. Robinson has a great idea about our item for the auction. She has obtained a gift certificate for a week at art camp! In order to fill this basket, we need art supplies. Finger paint, water colors, colored pencils, paint brushes, paper, etc. Please check out the Sign Up Genius link below to sign up to send something in. I'm using this so we don't get duplicates. PLEASE view the link before you send in items so that we have lots of great stuff for the auction. We need all items by this Friday, 4/8.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C44ABA72DA31-artauction

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 4/8

Back to School from Spring Break

Friday, 4/12

Chick-Fil-A Biscuits, $2.50

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, 4/15

New activity rotation starts

Thursday, 4/18

School Governance Council, 2:30 pm

PTA Art Auction, 6:00 pm

Friday, 4/12

Chick-Fil-A Biscuits, $2.50

CRCT WEEK:

Monday, 4/22

Reading CRCT

Earth Day

Tuesday, 4/23

Language Arts CRCT

Progress reports

Wednesday, 4/24

Math CRCT

Bruster's Italian Ice money due, $2

Thursday, 4/25

Science CRCT

Friday, 4/26

Social Studies CRCT

Italian Ice delivered

Paragraph of the Week

Would you rather be rich or famous?

English Skill

Editing with various skills

Monday

Editing for spelling and homophones

Tuesday

Editing for regular and irregular plurals

Wednesday

Editing for perfect tense verbs and possessive nouns

Thursday

Editing for dialogue and quotation marks

Friday

Editing for quotation marks and story titles

We have finished reading The Cay. Students were shocked and saddened at the chapters right before the end, but mostly everyone enjoyed the ending. We loved the last line of the book the most! Ask your child about the importance of Phillip saying, "'Dis be dat outrageous cay, eh, Timothy?"

Monday

We will be wrapping up our reviews of the novel. We'll be discussing the changes of the main characters in the novel, the importance of some of the novel's quotations, and reviewing what we learned about malaria, hurricanes, the Caribbean Islands, and blindness.

Tuesday through Friday

We'll be analyzing test questions and their answers by using a practice reading CRCT. We will focus on going back to the passage to look for evidence. This is something we've been doing all year in reading groups, but we are going to work on how to apply it to multiple-choice questions.

This week, my homeroom is with me for social studies to review for the CRCT. Next week, I'll have Mrs. May's class for the same.

Monday & Tuesday

History of the US Map

Students will be given a copy of a US map with 15 locations marked on it. Students will have to identify each location and write a summary about it's importance. The summary will have to include where it is, who was involved, when it happened, what happened, and why it's important. Students may work with a partner if they choose.

Wednesday

End of Year Study Guide

We have created a study guide with 92 items on it. Students will be so excited to realize that they know SO MUCH about our country's history from 1865 until now! 

Thursday & Friday

Review Quiz Game

Students will take the end-of-year social studies test on Socrative using the Space Race game. Students will compete in teams to see who remembers the most about all we have studied this year!

Week of 3/25

Hi families!

Did you all enjoy your weekends? Mine was incredibly busy as I worked at our church Stuff Sale to raise money for our trip to Zambia. I'm exhausted, but it went beautifully! We raised a lot of money, and then I came home for a three hour nap :)

Busy, busy, busy week ahead! I know many students are often absent on the Friday before Spring Break; however, we are working every single day this week. Please note the schedule below, and if your child is going to be absent, he or she will need to be certain to work doubly hard on the work this week. Also, if your child will miss Friday, we will need to schedule a time for him or her to make up the tests that will be missed. Friday is a busy day in all subjects!

Thursday, all of fifth and second grades will be working on the Sandwich Project. To read more about it, please go to the tab on the top of the page titled "Sandwich Project."

I need everyone's help! Please send in bread, peanut butter, jelly, sandwich bags, pretzels (not chips!), and little dessert packs. We will be making over 600 lunches for the homeless and needy in Hall County! It will only be possible with your help.

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 3/25

Begin Chapter 11 in Shurley English

Tuesday, 3/26

Report Cards go home

Wednesday, 3/27

Italian Ice $2 due

Thursday, 3/28

Sandwich Project

Friday, 3/22

Shurley English Ch. 11 Test (my homeroom)

Modern America Test (Mrs. May's homeroom)

Final chapters of The Cay (my reading classes only)

Paragraph of the Week

None this week

*Instead, we'll be practicing Shurley English in the morning and the afternoon in order to finish this chapter before we leave for spring break.

English Skill

Possessive nouns

Monday

Chapter 11 Lesson 1

Tuesday

Chapter 11, Lessons 2 and 3

Wednesday

Chapter 11, Lessons 4 and 5

Thursday

Chapter 11 Review

Friday

Chapter 11 Test

We are still working with The Cay. This is the last week in this text as we will finish it on Friday! These last few chapters, 12-19, are full of surprising twists and turns. They are also filled with unimaginable grief and overwhelming joy.

*When you see the letters IC, it stands for "instructional conversation." This means that we will be having a group conversation about the text, learning from both the text and each other.

Monday & Tuesday

The Cay: Chapter 12

IC: Recap what happened to Timothy. (RL.1) How did Phillip get help? How did his blindness make that more difficult? (RL.1) Explain the last sentence of p.92 and make a prediction.

Chapter 13

IC: How is learning to fish different from learning to make mats for Phillip? Discuss how climbing the tree was a victory. Discuss the last two sentences on p.100. How does that relate to theme? (RL.1, 2)

Chapter 14

IC: What is a "tempis'" according to Timothy? Describe how Timothy helped keep them alive. What are Phillip's thoughts about the impending doom? (RL. 1, 4)

Computer: Work on presentation for survival tips

Wednesday & Thursday

The Cay: Chapter 15

IC: Describe what was happening. Describe the 3 phases of a hurricane once it starts. What did Phillip mean when he said there are times you are beyond tears, on p.112? Why did the appearance of Stew Cat make him cry? (RL.1)

The Cay: Chapter 16

IC: How did Timothy save Phillip? Why is that important to the story? How are Phillip's thoughts about Timothy now different from his thoughts at the beginning? Why did the birds attack Phillip? How are the birds like Phillip? (RL.1, 3)

The Cay: Chapter 17

IC: Describe the events and make a prediction. (RL.1)

Edmodo: Writing a Book Review

Friday

Whole Group

The Cay: Chapter 18

IC: Why was that day the loneliest of all the days spent on the cay? How did the sea grape idea change that? Contrast the hope on p.130 with the despair on p.131. Why did Phillip cry out for Timothy? Make predictions. (RL.1, 3)

The Cay: Chapter 19

IC: Discuss the ending! How do you feel about the ending? Why?

Complete Character Change Chart.

This is the last social studies unit I will teach as a part of the 5th grade standards! Such sadness! This week, I have Mrs. May's class with me for the Modern America unit. 

After the CRCT, we will explore the ancient world in preparation for future history classes!

Monday

May & Thompson homerooms - watch Ice Age: Continental Drift as a conclusion to the last science unit

As you watch, identify instances of the 3 types of continental shifting: lateral movement, divergent movement, and convergent movement.

Tuesday

Vietnam War

Collapse of the Soviet Union

Middle Eastern Conflicts: Arab-Israeli Conflict, Persian Gulf War, 

Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, 9/11, War on Terror

Wednesday

History Channel - America: Story of US

Impact of TV and Internet

Thursday

Middle Eastern Conflicts Map

Friday

Modern America Test

Multiple choice and essay

Click here to read about the standards your child will be covering. Look specifically at SS5H9, both A and B.