Happy Fall Break!

It’s been a great short week here in 5^th grade. With such a short week there isn’t a whole lot to report but here are a few things to note:

Beginning Monday we will begin mixing up language arts with Mrs. French’s students just as we have been with math. As I’ve said before it’s worked out well in math and we are excited to see everyone progress in language arts that is more geared to their level of instruction.

All students have wrapped up multiplication and are on to division in math. In science Mrs. French is helping everyone with the scientific method to help expedite their science fair project idea. They should have turned in their project proposals by now, if not be sure to turn it in on Monday! This coming week is Red Ribbon week.

The week’s activities are as follows:

·      Monday: Craziest hairdo and most outrageous socks!

·      Tuesday: Wear clothes that represent your favorite team or sport!

·      Wednesday: Wear your most interesting hat!

·      Thursday: Wear your bobcat shirt to show school pride!

·      Friday: No school!

Finally, please remember to schedule a time for parent teacher conferences on either November 2^nd or 3^rd.  I look forward to meeting with each of you! Thank you again for all you do and for allowing me to work with your wonderful children!

Have a great fall break!

Recess

We are having some real issues in 5^th grade that are happening on the playground. Mrs. French and I have discussed it and feel some changes need to happen in order to ensure that school and more specifically recess stay a safe and comfortable place for all.  The real purpose of recess is fresh air and exercise and starting today and for this coming week that is what recess will be. Mrs. French and I will walk with the students around the field for recess. This way they still get fresh air and some time to walk around and stretch their legs but we will be able to monitor everyone at once. We understand this is not ideal but feel that this proactive approach  will keep everyone safe and comfortable. We hope this will solve some of the problems that have been happening. We did it today and it went quite well!  

Week of Oct. 10

We’ve had a fun and exciting week here in 5^th grade! Monday we wrapped up our explorer unit by completing maps of all kinds, as well as our science unit by a visit from Discovery Gateway for their “Reaction Time” presentation. Tuesday was our full day at BizTown and the students were fantastic! They were mature responsible adults for the day and successfully ran a business; I am so proud of all of their hard work!

Wednesday we jumped back into schoolwork, these are some highlights of what’s happening and coming up:

Science: By now you should have a parent packet as well as a student packet. This coming Wednesday they have a project proposal for their science fair project due.  We made this due date this early so we will have a chance to discuss any ideas during parent teacher conference. Please continue to check future deadlines!

Language Arts—Because this week was cut bit a short (due to explorer day and BizTown) and next week is a short week we have decided to give everyone the same spelling words and will give the test on Wednesday. We are starting in our reading texts and after UEA we will begin mixing students with Mrs. French’s class in order to give everyone the appropriate level of instruction and necessary support. It’s been working well in math and we feel will be of benefit for language arts as well.

Social Studies—We’ve started our unit on early colonial America. We plan on being up to the Revolutionary war by Thanksgiving

What you can be doing:

·      Practice, practice, practice those math facts! It’s only going to make math easier!

·      Help your child read for a minimum for 20 minutes a day then make sure their reading logs get turned in; on average I’m only getting about half of them per week and I’m sure we have more readers than that!

·      Please remember to schedule a time for parent teacher conferences online! I sent a note home this week with instructions on how to do so, if you are having problems accessing it, please let me know. I look forward to meeting with each of you.

Finally, UEA fall break is on Thursday and Friday of this coming week. That makes Wednesday the 19^th an early out day (1:15pm). Thanks for all your support!

October 7, 2011

What a busy week and an even busier one up ahead! On Monday we have Discovery Gateway coming for “Reaction Time” where they will have some great science demonstrations for 5th grade; it’s going to be a lot of fun! That afternoon we will wrap up our explorer unit with explorer day! We will be completing a lot of fun mapping activities! Be sure to ask your students how their day was.

Tuesday is the big day…BizTown! We will leave right at 8:30am so please don’t be late that day. Every child will need to bring a lunch from home; if that is a problem for whatever reason, please let me know, we want to make sure everyone is taken care of. We will return at approximately 2:30 pm. Because students are running businesses we are encouraging them to dress professionally, to make it as real as possible. There is no need to buy anything new, just whatever nice clothes they have will make the day that much more real and fun. We are so excited!

In math we have switched things up a bit. We have swapped with Mrs. French’s class, so I have half her students and she has half of mine. We did this in order to give the best possible instructions at the individual student’s level. So far it is working out great and the students love it. Our plan is to do the same for language arts as well.

This coming week is also picture day; your child should have brought home a flyer about it today.

Everyone did a great job on their explorer in a box project, they were so much fun to present.  I will be getting feedback to the students by next week.

Thank you for all your support and hard work! We are in for another great and exciting week in 5^th grade!

This week has flown by, I can’t believe it’s Friday again already! With the close of another week the students have finished up their explorer in a box project and will present them to the class on Monday. They are looking good and the students are quite the experts on their particular explorer!

I am sending home math tests today for chapter 2. We will be moving on to chapter 3 this week, which covers multiplication.  I am also sending home their chapter 3 social studies test. We have been covering chapter 4 and will take the test next Friday. Also next week look for a parent information packet about our 5^th grade science fair.

BizTown is right around the corner and we will be spending quite a bit of time next week making sure everyone is prepared. The students are learning how to keep a check register as well as how to write checks. We are getting excited for the big day! Thank you to those who have volunteered and those who were willing! For those who did you should have received a letter with some instructions on training and specifics for the field trip. If not, please let me know.

A big focus I’ve had this week in class was teamwork. I know that if we can start to look out for those in our class and really rely on and help one another we can have an even more successful year than we already are! Thanks for all your hard work; I am looking forward to another great week!

-Ms. Stanger

Happy First Day of Fall!

I hope everyone has had a great week! We are entering our last week for our explorer in a box project. They are coming along nicely.  We plan on having our whole explorers unit wrapped up, fittingly, on Columbus Day (Oct. 10), which is coming up quick!

The application process is complete and everyone has been given a job at BizTown. Ask your child what their job will be if they haven’t told you already! A big thank you to all parents who are willing and able to volunteer. More information will come out within the coming weeks as well. You will be specifically trained that morning before we get there.

Remember to be recording your reading minutes and to turn them in (with your signed red folders) on Tuesday this week! I am still missing quite a few students from last week; I want to get out as many entry slips from our class as possible this week!

We are still focusing on respect this year in class and throughout the school.  Congrats to our classes two “respect kids” for the week. (I won’t put names on the blog but you know who you are and be sure to let your families know that you were chosen!) For the most part we do pretty well but every now and then I hear about some disrespectful behaviors on the playground…let’s remember to show respect to everyone no matter who they are or what’s happening. If there is ever a problem please let me, or someone know, so we can fix it!

Coming up this week:

• No school on Monday…have a great 3-day weekend!

• Math test on Tuesday…remember to study! And keep up the work on practicing timed tests. We took them again in class and I noticed a huge improvement; your practice is paying off!

• Book Orders due on Tuesday

Thanks for all you do!

Welcome to our blog!

Hello! I hope you have all had a fabulous week! We’ve had a busy week here in 5^th grade! Here is an update:

We have taken and completed the IOWA Basics Test which is given in 3^rd and 5^th grade. We took it over the course of 3 days. The students were tested in reading, language and math. We’ve also had multiple assemblies and even managed to get in some computer lab time where your children are practicing their keyboarding skills and making explorer “trading cards”. In class they are continuing to research their assigned explorer and putting together some creative “explorer cereals”.

In math we are working on better understanding what rounding really is and estimating sums and differences. Although the majority of that is a review from 4^th grade we are pushing them a bit to understand not just the rules of math but the “why” as well.

BizTown has been a lot of fun this week! They have been applying for the jobs they would like and I will be setting up some “interviews” with them for next week to place them in the best job for them!  They are learning some great life skills and great team-building skills that are helping them in the classroom as well. I am still looking for volunteers for our October 11 field trip to BizTown Please send me a note or email me if you are available.

And finally this week was the first week for students to turn in their road to success logs. For every 5 days they meet their reading goal of 20 minutes per day they receive one entry slip and for every 7 days they meet the goal they receive 2 entry slips.

Every 8 weeks there is a drawing for a bike and between those 8 weeks there are smaller prizes awarded.  Beginning Monday I will start an incentive program in class as well. For every student that turns in their reading log on Monday, as well as the parent signature page, and meets the goal of 5-7 days I will add marbles to our class marble jar. Throughout the day I will also recognize and reward good behavior by adding more. Once the jar is full we will earn a class party!

 Thanks again for all you do to help your student succeed! As always please feel free to contact me and have a great weekend!