Back to our routine!!

Hi everyone.
Ok, I am back. Posting will be done daily. We have a lot of learning going on, so it is important to check in and use the sites I put on here for your benefit! This week we will start talking about using the Classroom Learning Logs for extra credit for effort. This site will be a great place for you to find new things to learn.

This week, we are preparing to read the story Iditarod Dream. Here are some of the links we shared in class today:

Link #1

Link #2

Link #3

Link #4

Use these links to build more background on the sport. Keep track of what you learn for that extra credit!!

This week, we will be going into depth with magnets. Tomorrow we will explore magnets, and you are welcome to bring in some little doodads and doohickeys to check if they are magnetic. These items you bring in should be appropriate to bring to school as we discussed (nothing that resembles a weapon of any kind - no needles, nothing questionable - fun little things are fine!).

Here is your homework for today and part of this week:
Spelling - (please read below for more information on our new spelling procedure) If you are on the base or alternate list and are not off contract, you have 3 activities due on Friday. Remember, EVERYONE has the same opportunity to work towards the Word Challenge group. Challenge yourself to do and be your best!

Fluency - read the passage on the Arctic. This is in line with what we are studying on the Iditarod. Be sure to read it to someone at home and have them sign it. ALso, focus on the tip on the back page and be sure to read and understand the directions on the assignment(but do not do it at home). We will do this in class on Friday.

Literacy- 3, 2, 1 (3 things you learned today, 2 questions you still have, 1 prediction for what you think you will learn tomorrow)

Writing - 3 weekend memories (if you didn't finish in class). Be detailed.

Science - study your magnet notes from today. We will have a Magnet quiz on Friday. Pay attention this week, take great notes, and study a bit each night.

Math - 5G has journal page 121 (unless you finished in class). Parents, please help your child as needed, we are beginning a new unit of study (fractions). It will be much more in depth than 4th grade!

Parents, I know this seems like a lot, but time is given in class to begin some of this work.

I look forward to seeing you all at the band/orchestra concerts this week (THursday night).

Also, don't forget about the important parent meeting regarding the Growth and Development field trip at the Robert Crown Center. If you haven't had the chance to attend one of the 2 previous ones, try to make this final one:

Wednesday, December 2
7:00 p.m.
Longwood Elementary (take Route 59 north past North Aurora road, to the light where the BP gas station is, turn left - Bruce Lane, take it around the curve, the school is down a bit on the right). Can you tell I don't want to be the only parent there!?

Any questions, send me an email!!
Thanks!

Now I've got it!

As I am sure you've heard, I left early yesterday and was out again today. Terrible cough, bronchial infection. I was in early this morning to write plans and talked to the substitute, she said wonderful things about the class yesterday. It was great to have the same sub and beable to talk to herabout the plans for the day. I am so glad I live so close to the school so I could come in to plan for the day. I hate missing school, but it means so much to me when the kids can be respectful and helpful when I am not there. I plan to be there tomorrow - although my voice might be MIA - we'll make the best of it!

SPELLING - Unfortunately, I had planned on beginning the Word Challenge group this week. If your child is in this group - meaning they took their Spelling pretest on the alternate list, they are not on regular contract work. Tomorrow, I will outline what I wish for them to do. If they missed 0-3 (on the alternate list), they will not retake the test on Friday. They will have alternate work. The rest of the class will continue to follow the regular spelling program we have been working with. Next week, we will not have a spelling list due to the shortened week.

My math class has our Unit 4 test on Thursday. Today, the teacher should have gone through most of the study guide. The actual test is almost identical to the study guide.

Fluency - read to a parent and get a signature. We will do the back page on Friday morning.

Science - we are studying magnetism - tomorrow we will do a variety of experiments related to magnetism.

See you tomorrow (I hope!!)

Important Parent Meeting in the near future!

A few weeks ago, we sent home a letter to all fifth grade parents regarding parent orientation sessions for our Robert Crown (human growth and development) trip. These sessions are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, November 17
7:00 p.m.
Peterson Elementary

Monday, November 23
7:00 p.m.
Georgetown Elementary

Wednesday, December 2
7:00 p.m.
Longwood Elementary

You are invited to attend ONE of these sessions, which will be a parent orientation for our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development. This unit includes a student visit to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale. The purpose of the parents' meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you may have. Hopefully you will be able to attend one of these sessions. Talking to your child about what to expect before our trip will be an opportunity to develop a base for many conversations you should expect in the future.

Atomic Awesomeness

If you click on the title today, you will be taken to the chemical elements site and can play the game to help you understand the concept of atomic structure. ENJOY!

Also, I have the most awesome site that Mrs. Eaton has shared with me! It is a site designed to help you build your vocabulary in multiple subject areas. It is called

freerice.com

Now, here is what is expected of you this week (there will not be another posting on Thursday):

Spelling - there is no Unit list this week. Yesterday, the kids were instructed to develop their own personalized lists. They could have used the science book, social studies, etc. They are to turn in a copy of their list to me on Thursday. They will have their partner Friday give them their test. No contract work is due.

Math - Accelerated math has a family letter 5th grade needs to do journal page 101 and the worksheet that was handed out in class (some finished in class)

Science - use your periodic table of elements and the notes on Atoms to study for the quiz on Friday. ALso, draw a representation of the atom you chose to study. Use the half sheet with the Chlorine example to help you know what belongs in the nucleus and how to draw the electrons on the electons shells.

Writing - know what book you are reviewing for your Book Review. It should be a book you have recently read or you are almost finished reading (we will begin writing this next week).

Guided Reading - Mrs. Hebenstreit's class has reading to do.

Enjoy your days off!

It's Elemental!

Oh, goodness! We ended our day without me inquiring if you all remembered what the Atomic Symbol for Neon is, the number of protons in Neon, and the atomic weight of NEon. Do you remember?? If so, you have just memorized your first element (well, maybe the second after your researched element). Did you activate your mnemonic devices>> Do you remember how to find the number of neutrons? Do you remember why the number of protons(+) and the number of electrons (-) are the same? Do you remember what neutral means? Check out THIS link to find the game we played to learn all of this great stuff!! ENJOY! Hey, challenge your parents! Play a game and teach them what you know!

Here is the work that is due tomorrow:
Spelling contract and Fluency
Math - accel - test tomorrow
5th grade (5 self created division problems - challenge yourself!!)
Reading - if you didn't finish your DR-TA for Roberto Clemente, it is due tomorrow (most kids did). We will work on the PowerPoint in the morning and you will present to the class during Literacy. I can't wait to see them!

Have a great night and sorry for the late post. Madison and Makenna say hi to everyone!!!!!!

Homework for today

Spelling and Fluency

Math - 5th grade math is to complete all math boxes that were assigned last week and complete the extended response problem. The goal for extended response it for the students to explain what they did and why they did it. In their math notebooks, they have a sample t-chart that explains the problem we did as a whole group. They should complete the problem on the worksheet and then do a t-chart explaining their work.

That's it!!

Who is that man?

Today we began our study of Roberto Clemente. Students will be reading about him, not just in our reading book, but on many websites. Websites are bookmarked for students to work on developing good research habits. We will work on citing work that we get from other sources and paraphrasing what we find in our own words. Powerpoints will be created and shared. Here are some cites to look at on your own:

Roberto Clemente Site #1

Roberto Clemente Site #2

REMINDER - Please bring headphones to school so you can listen to the audio on laptops.

Other work for this week:
Spelling - unit 11 - 3 activities and test Friday

Fluency - "Ozified" read at home to someone and have them sign it

Math - 5th grade has box pages due on Wednesday (each student has a half sheet with the assignment)

Please return the report card envelopes and, if you wish, the preconference letter that came home today!

Thank you!