December 9, 2010

Well, we've been busy! Here are a few upcoming events that need your attention. Notes went home today about both events.

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

It's hard to believe the holiday season is here! We will be celebrating our holiday celebration on Friday, December 17th, 2010. A note went home about lunch for that day and about sending in a few special treats for your children. Please read the note (it's on green paper) and send it back tomorrow.

SCIENCE FAIR

Science fair will be held at Gibson on January 18th. ALL fifth grade students are required to complete a science fair project. A packet of science fair information went home with your child today. It has very helpful information as well as the rubric and a diagram of how the board should be laid out. It also contains a "worksheet" for your child to organize his/her thoughts before creating the layout of the science board. PLEASE take the time to read through this packet. This project will counts towards your child's science grade.

October 13, 2010

Well....it's hard to believe that the first quarter is almost over! The first quarter ends on October 28th. We will have Quarter Testing the week of October 25th.

Progress reports went home today and I will send another report next Wednesday. As we move through the school year, the work will become more challenging for the students. With challenging work comes the need to study nightly. I stress the word nightly because a student who reviews nightly will most likely feel less stress and pressure before taking a test or a quiz. The information will become like second nature to them when daily reviewing is occurring. Please encourage your child to look at and study spelling words, vocabulary words, math concepts/math notes, science vocabulary.

Also, if a "YES" is listed in the late column on the progress report, your child does need to turn in the assignment in order to receive credit. A "YES" in the exempt column on the progress report means that your child do not need to turn in the work and the score will not be averaged into your child's grade.

Much of our Reading strategies occur in the classroom through oral discussion. This is what most adults do anyway when they are in a book club, or when the same book has been read by two people. Much, much discussion is happening in our classroom. This is a different strategy than most students are accustomed. Please encourage your child to give their utmost attention to the listening skills they need to succeed in reading comprehension.

Behavior reports also went home today. These reports reflect the work habits and behavior habits of your child from October 4 - October 8. Many of these habits are part of our Classroom PRIDE. These include following directions the first time given, talking at the appropriate voice volume, etc. While these habits may seem minor (if checked on the report), please know that if your child has a checked habit, it has occurred in the classroom more than once. The Classroom PRIDE rules are posted and students do know the rules....now they just need to apply the rules to their own behaviors.

Fundraiser information went home in the Wednesday folder. Please do what you can to help raise money for our school....thank you!

Working Hard!

We have been working very hard in the classroom!!

In math, we are working on learning how to solve for unknown numbers, solving math word problems, and reviewing median, mode, and range. Upcoming topics will include interpreting graphs and a review of coordinate graphing.

In reading, we have busy beavers! We are learning about word structure, studying new vocabulary words, adn learning about the parts of speech. We are learning what words are nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. We are also reviewing prefixes and suffixes. We have read 2 selections that focus on heritage. One story took place in Vietnam and the second story took us on a trip to Senegal! What fun!!

In social studies, we just finished learning about the 5 Themes of Geography. We will have a study guide to work on and then a test to follow shortly.

In science, we are continuing our work on food chains and food webs. Students will be constructing a food web based on a group of animals that they have researched. We also have been learning about how humans affect an environment, and also about the living and nonliving organisms that are in an ecosystem.

In writing, we are continuing our work on our writing menu. The students have been working very hard despite the technological slowness of our computers! This is very trying for some of the students, but they are working through the difficulties and coming out ahead! We will finish our writing menu on October 5th.

We have our first Grizzly Den Store visit this Friday. The students are looking forward to spending their hard earned Den Dollars!

Lastly, I just have a few things in which I would like to touch base with you:

• Progress Reports go home tomorrow. These are for you to KEEP. You do not need to send these back to school.
• Graded work does not to be returned if it is in the "Take Home and Keep" pocket of the Wednesday folder. However, any work that is stapled and requires your signature needs to be returned in the Wednesday folder and brought in on Thursday. All Wednesday folders need to be brought to school on Thursday.
• Curriculum Night is Thursday, Sept. 30th from 6-7pm. We will give an overview of the curriculum for this year during this time.

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back to a new school year! I have enjoyed meeting many of you and your children at Open House. I look forward to a great school year.



There are a few items which I believe will help with this school year.

• Grading Scale: The grading scale is a 7 point scale. All graded items will be graded according to this scale. The scale is posted on the side of the blog page, but it is as follows:

A 100 -- 93

B 92 -- 85

C 84 -- 78

D 77 -- 69

F 68 -- below

• Tests/Quizzes: By now, your child has already had a test and/or quiz in one or more subject areas. Every Friday your child will have a Weekly Math Quiz. This quiz will cover a majority of the material that I teach in class. A good resource for reference/study is the daily Math Calendar. I also will give a Study Guide for MOST Science and Social Studies tests/quizzes. The students keep these guides in their notebooks. These guides are a great tool for reviewing the material.


• Calendar Math: Daily Calendar Math is the first item your child completes in class. The amount of time it takes to complete this work depends a great deal on the amount of time your child actively works at his/her work. There is about 25 minutes for Calendar Math to be completed. Calendar Math is a daily REVIEW of concepts that are taught during Math class, so completing Calendar Math should not be difficult. Please encourage your child to come to school and focus

Monday, February 22, 2010

Today's Homework:
Take Home Reader 20 minutes
Reading

• Esperanza Rising -- assignment due tomorrow -- check your child's response journal for his/her assignment
• Riding Freedom -- no homework

Math -- Angles WS

Today's Objectives:

Math -- took a test on Angles, Triangles, Polygons; reviewed Calendar Math

Reading -- worked on Writing Menu and our Hard Bound Books -- we will be working on these for the next few weeks

SS -- worked in pairs to take notes on "Americans and the Revolution"

Science -- took a test on Weather, Clouds, Weather Fronts

FREEDOM TRAIL field trip money AND permission slip due Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Our trip is Friday, February 26, 2010. Thank you to all who have already sent in their child's money and permission slip.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Today's Homework:
Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Reading ~

• ER -- finish summary; collecting journals tomorrow
• RF -- read chapter 5; collecting journals tomorrow

Math ~ text pg. 402 (#4-15)

SS ~ finish "Declaring Independence" notes WS

Today's Objectives:

Math ~ discussed polygons -- types of polygons, number of degrees in each polygon, how to find the degrees in a polygon; regular and irregular polygons

Reading ~ worked on our Word Study book -- focusing on the suffix "s"; began a discussion on finding the main idea and supporting details and how these differ when reading fiction and nonfiction; read Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday to prepare for finding main idea and supporting details from this story tomorrow; students worked on writing menu; met with Esperanza Riding group and had a great discussion regarding the Great Depression, dust storms, migration, and the Mexican Revolution

SS ~ students worked in groups of 3 and took notes on the text they read yesterday pg. 88-89

Science ~ students worked in groups of 3 and began working on their study guide for Clouds, Weather Fronts, Atmospheric Movement -- Coach book pg. 101-107

UPCOMING EVENTS:

We have 2 reading programs (in addition to our AR program).

The first, EBOB -- Elementary Battle of the Books, began right before winter break. For this program, students need to read the 12 EBOB books and have an average of 85% or higher to qualify for the competition, which will be held after spring break.

The second, WS Dash -- students read 5 books within a time frame and score 80% or higher on each of the 5 books. The students receive a special prize after each set of 5 books.

Please encourage your child to read. These are excellent programs and they are FREE to you!

FREEDOM TRAIN field trip money is due by February 24th. The trip costs $9. We will be going on our trip on Friday, February 26th. This information was sent home in the Wednesday folder.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Today's Homework:
Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutesLanguage Arts ~

• ER (Esperanza Rising) group complete Word Wizard
• RF (Riding Freedom) group complete chp. 3 and questions due tomorrow

Math ~ Triangle WS complete triangles B,C,D,E (measure the interior angles of the triangles)

SS ~ complete textboxes on pages 84-85

Today's Objectives:
Math ~ continued Triangles....measured the interior angles of a triangle; went over HW

Reading ~ completed our Word Study book (totally completed in class through class discussion) page 19 using the prefix "out"; worked on our next Writing Menu (again, a classroom assignment);

read The Giving Tree -- we are working on inferences this week (drawing conclusions) and I am using this book to have the students draw conclusions about love, gifts, and happiness. We are working on this all week. At the end of the week, we will write about the love, gifts, and happiness the Boy received in the book and draw conclusions about our own lives and how and why we show love, happiness, etc. This is a "deep" concept for the students, but I know they can handle it and the thoughts that go with questions such as, "how do you know you are loved?" -- "can you be happy without getting gifts?"

SS ~ students read about the colonists preparing for war (text pg.84-85); went over HW

Science ~ continued classifying clouds based on their height in the atmosphere (refer to Coach book pg. 101-103)

Monday, February 8, 2009

Today's Homework:
Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes
Language Arts ~

• ER (Esperanza Rising) group complete Passage Master
• RF (Riding Freedom) group complete chp. 3 and questions

Math ~ text page 397 (#3-10)

SS ~ Define vocabulary from "Problems of Colonists" notes

I am going to make a point to update you, the parents, with the topics we have covered in class. I have gotten requests from many of you that you would like to help your child, but you don't know what we talked about in class. Or, more commonly, that your child "didn't learn anything", or "didn't do anything", or "doesn't know what we did" today. So, hopefully this will help you. Like I stated, I am working really hard to update you as often as I can. Please keep in mind that our days need to be flexible and can change at any moment, so please bare with me. Send me an email if you have specific questions.

Today's Objectives:

Math ~ talked about the types of triangles and classified them based on sides and angles; talked about the number of degrees in a triangle and how we came to this conclusion

Reading ~ completed our Word Study book (totally completed in class through class discussion) page 18 using the prefix "out"; worked on our next Writing Menu (again, a classroom assignment); gave time to complete their Literature assignment (see HW for Lang. Arts)

SS ~ talked about and took notes on the problems of the colonists; text pg. 82-83

Science ~ talked about and took notes on the types of clouds; classified clouds

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Today's Homework:
Reading ~ THR 20 minutes
Spelling ~ Choices due on Friday
Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group text pg. 279 set E
Science ~ Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow

SMART BOARD

We have a Smart Board in our room! A smart board is like a big computer on a big screen. It allows the students to be more interactive in the lessons during class. We have already completed a graphic organizer on the smart board using our novel The Landry News. We have also used a virtual fractions on a math website. The Smart Board is very cool and so much fun!!

SCIENCE FAIR

Thank you to all who completed a Science Fair project! They are currently on display in our hallways and they look great! Job well done!!

UPDATES

Whew! It has been a crazy month!!! Here are the latest happenings:

• December 4th - 5th grade sleepover with Ms. Ayers (music teacher)
• PTA holiday program is Thursday, December 10
• Our holiday celebration will be held the week of December 14th. More details to follow.
• Mid term reports go home December 9
• December 15th - eye screening for 5th grade
• December 17th - PTA Father/Daughter -- Mother/Son dance 6:00 - 8:30pm
• No school for students December 21-January 1

Monday, November 16, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes
Spelling ~ Spelling Activities due on Friday (2 activities need to be complete)
Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group WS 9.8 (#10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Science ~ Science Project due December 1st.

Newspapers

For our next Writing Menu, the students are searching newspapers for their activities. If you have extra used newspapers lying around, please send them in, as we will be using them for the next month. Thanks!

Canned Food

The Student Council is collecting Canned Food until November 20th. Please be considerate and donate a can or two. Thanks!!

Spelling

Your child has 5 words for the week. The 5 words vary from student to student. The words are in your child's binder. They are highlighted. Our focus this week is "r" sounds with a vowel. Here is the entire list for this week:

snore

spare

appear

prepare

pioneer

smear

ignore

engineer

volunteer

declare

Enrichment words: impair, directory, hardware, clearance, porpoise

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes
Vocabulary ~ 4 Box WS for the word "weathering"
Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' math group WS 9.8 circled problems only

Spelling

I have revised Spelling. Each child was given a Spelling pretest on Monday on 10 words. The first 5 words that are incorrect are your child's spelling words for the week. If they got all 10 words correct then their spelling words are the enrichment words. They will be tested on only these 5 words. My purpose in doing this is to create mastery. I felt that by having 20 words, many students were not mastering the phonics that the words had (example: short "a" sounds) and they were not mastering the SPELLING of the words. There will be a test each Friday, which I feel that is a good goal for all students since they are working on knowing their 5 words.

This weeks words focuses on Consonant Blends (sh, ch, ph, etc):

shovel

chapter

hyphen

establish

although

approach

astonish

shatter

charity

pharmacy

Enrichment words: emphasis, sophomore, athlete, phenomenal, chimpanzee

Vocabulary

I have also revised the vocabulary. Your child will need to know 5 words. These words are taken from our content areas: Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, with a heavy emphasis on S.S. and Science words. I felt the students needed to focus on content vocabulary as I have seen a weakness with these words. I also cut the list down to 5 for each week. They will be tested every Friday on these 5 vocabulary words.

The vocabulary for this week is: weathering, abrasion, erosion, meander, tributary.

Wednesday Folders

PLEASE send back all work for your child's portfolio on Thursday. Be sure to sign the portfolio page, or the progress report that is attached to your child's work. Please go through your child's Wednesday folder. I do not need anything from the "Take Home and Keep" section. Going through your child's folder keeps you informed about the happenings at Gibson.

Cookie Dough

Cookie dough pick up is Friday, November 6 at Gibson from 2-7pm. All cookie dough must be picked up by 7pm on Friday.

UPDATES

Lastly, November is a crazy month with the days off from school. Your child should be reading EVERY night....including weekends. Also, your child should be working on their Science Fair Project. This is due in December, and December will be here before you know it, so don't let time slip away. Remember -- the project MUST be an experiment....NOT a model. Your child will need to TEST something. If your child is having difficulty, ASK. A GOOD science fair project does not have to be difficult. Judges (including myself) are looking for a well thought out plan on something the student has tested and recorded data (pictures, graphs, conclusion, future thoughts as to why or why not the experiment went as planned).

THANK YOU for all that you do for your children.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

FALL BREAK

We have no school on Thursday and Friday, October 29th and 30th. Please enjoy your days off and READ!! Be safe!! See you on Monday.

FALL CELEBRATION

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to ALL who helped to make our celebration a success!! The kids had a great time and enjoyed all the treats!!!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Today's Homework:
Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Lang. Arts ~ The Sign of the Beaver read chapter 16 and complete comprehension worksheet (in the student's reading section of their binders -- on notebook paper)

Science ~ Science Fair Hypothesis due tomorrow

SCIENCE FAIR PACKET

By now your child has received their Science Fair packet. In this packet is tips and ideas. You may use one of these ideas or one of your own. All packets should be signed by a parent -- their was a place to sign on the front page of the packet. All 5th graders must complete a Science Fair project. It will be a grade for 2nd quarter. Projects are due December 1st. I will be periodically checking for completeness. Any questions should be asked early. Don't wait until the last minute to complete this project.

ICE CREAM SUNDAE

Please send in $1.00 for the 5th grade Ice Cream Sundae by Monday, October 26th. Thanks!

QUARTER TESTING

Last day of quarter testing is tomorrow! Great job getting to school and arriving on time!!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group -- complete Decimals notebook page

Science ~ Get Science Fair packet signed by parent

Quarter Testing

Quarter Testing begins tomorrow. Please make sure your child is in school and is arriving on time.

Fall Celebration

Thank you to those who offered and volunteered to help with our Fall Celebration. I will be in contact with you over the next couple of days to finalize plans. I appreciate all your help!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes each day.

Ecosystems and Explorers tests are on Monday. STUDY!

FALL CELEBRATION

We are having our Fall Celebration on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. I sent an email out asking for help. I need a parent to help coordinate the food and drink that we will need. If you can help, I would greatly appreciate it!!

QUARTER TESTING

It's that time of year! WOW! The first quarter is almost over! We have 1st Quarter Testing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, October 20-22, 2009. Please make sure your child is in school and on time.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ THR 20 minutes

Spelling ~ wordsearch

Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group text page 209 set C #1-4 do not find the mean

Science ~ Coach Book read page 59

Ecosystems and Explorers Tests are on Monday. (I needed to postpone these.)

Science -- We had a special visitor today from the Winston Salem Water Plant. She came and explained how pollution affects our drinking water. It was very informative and fun! She explained why it is so important to not fertilize your yard too much, and why you should pick up after your pet. Ask your child...it was very enlightening!

Guidance -- Mrs. Bland has been coming into our room to do a guidance lesson with us! She is so fun to listen to and to watch! On Friday, October 16, your child will need to bring in a special ROCK -- yes, a ROCK. This is for a special lesson Mrs. Bland has planned. How exciting!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group -- text page 209 Set B (don't find the mean), complete Graphing from class

Science ~ Lab Report for your Egg Drop due Wednesday, October 14, 2009; Ecosystems Test on Friday

S.S. ~ read and complete text page 14; Explorers Test on Friday

Planner Parent Letter was due today. Your child recieved this on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Please sign and turn in tomorrow.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes
Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group - WS 7.6 (#1-6) -- All students have a math Quiz tomorrow.

Spelling and Vocabulary tests tomorrow.

A Planner Parent letter was sent home today. Please read this carefully and sign the letter. I am collecting all signed letters on Monday, October 12.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Language Arts ~ Read Beaver chapter 15. Write the main idea and 5 suporting details on the chapter.

Spelling and Vocabulary Tests on Friday.

Our Egg Drop went very well today!! The students were very excited about their egg. Our class had 10 "survivors"!! I was very impressed with the containers and the thought process that went into creating a container. We discussed what materials were used for both the survivors and the non-survivors. It was a very good discussion. Thank you to Omiah's mom for helping me load the eggs to the roof! We had a few spectators too!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Today's Homework:

Reading ~ Take Home Reader 20 minutes

Vocabulary ~ worksheet on the word "courtiers"

Math ~ Mrs. Gumbs' group has no homework

Science ~ Egg Drop Project due tomorrow -- ALL students should bring their project with them to school tomorrow.

McTeacher Night at McDonald's TONIGHT from 5-8pm at the McD's on University and Hanes Mill Road (near IHOP and Starbucks). I will be at McD's (doing who knows what!) from 7-8pm! Hope to see you there!! This is a great way to support Gibson!