For the past few classes we have been studying the details of Jamestown, the first English permanent colony. We've learned about several key players that took part in the Jamestown story: John Smith, King James, John Rolfe, Powhatan and Pocohontas. Yes, Pocohontas is a real person from history. Many students were able to relate to the Disney movie dedicated to her. Unfortunately, they often perceive movies as historicial truth. Hopefully, students have been able to create a new (more accurate) understanding of this period in time. Students will receive a practice test this week. Please ask your child about the practice test and take time to review the information. There will be a test the following week.
Wednesday and Thursday are Parent/Teacher Conferences. Specific times have been sent home with each student. Please return the slip confirming your attendance at your child's scheduled time. We look forward to meeting with you! See you this week.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Will We Ever Have a Normal Week?
Normal? What's that? It seems that we have been off schedule for the last couple of weeks with all the snow days and camp. And as we look ahead, we have mid-winter break and conferences to prevent us from having a full week until March. Whether that's good or bad, it's the way the scheduling cookie is going to crumble.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the parents that volunteered their time to brave the cold at Camp Pendalouan. It was frigid and snowy, but the kids had a great time! We had one of the best camp staffs yet. They were very energetic and knowlegeable.
Congratulations to all the students that made the first and second marking period honor rolls. It was exciting to see how many families were able to attend last Tuesday's assembly. Keep up the hard work and you'll continue to earn honor roll privileges!
Conference forms went home last week with students. Please fill out times that work for your family and return to your child's language arts teacher. Look for a confirmation letter with your scheduled conference time to come home in the next week.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the parents that volunteered their time to brave the cold at Camp Pendalouan. It was frigid and snowy, but the kids had a great time! We had one of the best camp staffs yet. They were very energetic and knowlegeable.
Congratulations to all the students that made the first and second marking period honor rolls. It was exciting to see how many families were able to attend last Tuesday's assembly. Keep up the hard work and you'll continue to earn honor roll privileges!
Conference forms went home last week with students. Please fill out times that work for your family and return to your child's language arts teacher. Look for a confirmation letter with your scheduled conference time to come home in the next week.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Camp Pendalouan Here We Come!
Well, it's finally here ... the highly anticipated overnight fifth grade camp experience. We have a jam-packed schedule that involves mostly outdoor activities. For example, students will be a part of orienteering, bird watching, ice rescue, survival skills and cross country skiing. We can promise you that when your kids come home, they will be tired and worn out. You're welcome, in advance! We are going to have a blast!
An important note went home today with last minute reminders. Please be sure that students have extra clothes, outdoor gear and overnight supplies. They will also need a sack lunch for Thursday. I cannot stress enough how important it is that the kids come prepared. Ready or not, here we come!
An important note went home today with last minute reminders. Please be sure that students have extra clothes, outdoor gear and overnight supplies. They will also need a sack lunch for Thursday. I cannot stress enough how important it is that the kids come prepared. Ready or not, here we come!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Second Semester Spectacular
Congratulations! We've made it half way through our fifth grade journey. Before we know it, June will be here and I will be begrudgingly crying my ugly cry.
But for know, we are very busy in Social Studies understanding the social impact of two historical leaders: Wilberforce and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is amazing how many similarities these two seemingly different men actually have. Today, students organized their ideas about how these two compare. Tomorrow we will be writing compositions with their ideas and supporting every idea with at least two details. Soon, we will be moving into the colonial period of our nation's history. It is my hope to integrate economic concepts with our knowlege of historical content.
As usual, in Language Arts, we never seem to have enough time. We recently finished our New Year's Resolution essays and our TEAM letters. We will be going to the library tomorrow. We are always working on integrating writing, reading, conventions and strategies that make a difference.
Remember camp is at the end of next week. Be sure to pack warm clothing and extra layers. My philosophy is that you can never have enough.
But for know, we are very busy in Social Studies understanding the social impact of two historical leaders: Wilberforce and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is amazing how many similarities these two seemingly different men actually have. Today, students organized their ideas about how these two compare. Tomorrow we will be writing compositions with their ideas and supporting every idea with at least two details. Soon, we will be moving into the colonial period of our nation's history. It is my hope to integrate economic concepts with our knowlege of historical content.
As usual, in Language Arts, we never seem to have enough time. We recently finished our New Year's Resolution essays and our TEAM letters. We will be going to the library tomorrow. We are always working on integrating writing, reading, conventions and strategies that make a difference.
Remember camp is at the end of next week. Be sure to pack warm clothing and extra layers. My philosophy is that you can never have enough.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The End of the 1st is the Beginning of the Second Semester
Friday is already the end of the first semester. We have a lot going on in the next couple of weeks. Report cards will go home on January 25th. Our overnight stay at Camp Pendalouan is January 31st and February 1st. And we are finalizing our candy order in an effort to sell World's Finest chocolate to raise money for our upcoming Chicago trip in May. Continue to watch for information coming home about these events.
In Social Studies, we continue to study the institution of slavery. We are currently watching specific scenes from the movie Amazing Grace that highlight issues concerning slavery. We discussed how after decades and hundreds of years of trading people, slavery became "normal" to Europeans and hence widely accepted. Most just accepted the practice of people as property especially if it meant gaining a profit. Amazing Grace illustrates William Wilberforce's efforts to end the British slave trade. This is a great historical fiction movie to watch with your children. It is rich with history and based on true events. Although it is rated PG, I would caution you to watch it first in an effort to better explain specific scenes and language.
As always, time is my nemesis in the Language Arts department. We are desperately trying to cram in as much vocabuary, writing, reading and comprehension as we can in our short one hour period each day. Students just finished their New Year's Resolution essays and are currently working on their TEAM letters. In these, students are writing to themselves in eighth grade reminding themselves of one of Officer Luce's lessons. Students are struggling to incorporate their own voice into this format. Additionally, they have been given a slew of writing strategies to sprinkle throughout their letter. Some of which are: repeat a word for emphasis, alliteration, transitions for smoothness, smilies and adjectives to add detail, vocabulary to add depth and exaggeration to stress a point. I must admit this is difficult for most adults to do; however, I have complete faith in their writing abilities.
In Social Studies, we continue to study the institution of slavery. We are currently watching specific scenes from the movie Amazing Grace that highlight issues concerning slavery. We discussed how after decades and hundreds of years of trading people, slavery became "normal" to Europeans and hence widely accepted. Most just accepted the practice of people as property especially if it meant gaining a profit. Amazing Grace illustrates William Wilberforce's efforts to end the British slave trade. This is a great historical fiction movie to watch with your children. It is rich with history and based on true events. Although it is rated PG, I would caution you to watch it first in an effort to better explain specific scenes and language.
As always, time is my nemesis in the Language Arts department. We are desperately trying to cram in as much vocabuary, writing, reading and comprehension as we can in our short one hour period each day. Students just finished their New Year's Resolution essays and are currently working on their TEAM letters. In these, students are writing to themselves in eighth grade reminding themselves of one of Officer Luce's lessons. Students are struggling to incorporate their own voice into this format. Additionally, they have been given a slew of writing strategies to sprinkle throughout their letter. Some of which are: repeat a word for emphasis, alliteration, transitions for smoothness, smilies and adjectives to add detail, vocabulary to add depth and exaggeration to stress a point. I must admit this is difficult for most adults to do; however, I have complete faith in their writing abilities.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
History Isn't Always Pretty
We've started to move into an ugly part of our history: slavery. Students are often shocked at many of the details that we discuss. I can see in their faces during some of our discussions that they cannot fathom being a part of a society that would endorse slavery as an institution. Already students have asked intriguing questions that prove to me that they are very much interested in finding out more. Remember, there will be a test over the 50 states on Tuesday, the 15th.
In Language Arts, we are writing our New Year's Resolutions essays. The introductions that I saw thus far were dynamite. I couldn't ask for better! I was very impressed by students' creativity as they searched for ways to draw in the reader. I can't wait to read the essays in their entirety.
Friday, we will be sending home information about our Chicago trip. It is important that we receive these back by the middle of next week. Have a wonderful weekend.
In Language Arts, we are writing our New Year's Resolutions essays. The introductions that I saw thus far were dynamite. I couldn't ask for better! I was very impressed by students' creativity as they searched for ways to draw in the reader. I can't wait to read the essays in their entirety.
Friday, we will be sending home information about our Chicago trip. It is important that we receive these back by the middle of next week. Have a wonderful weekend.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Happy New Year!
I can hardly believe that is it 2008 and we are nearly halfway through the school year. The first semester ends on Friday, January 18th. Please check your students grades online at the district website.
We will have one last test in Social Studies before the end of the marking period. Next Tuesday, the 15th, students should be prepared to identify where all 50 states are located. We have been working up to this all year! I'm sure it will be more of a celebration than a test. Most know our country's layout quite well. In an effort to get in a few last practices, students have homework tonight and tomorrow over the states.
In Language Arts, we started Unit 2 of our Vocabulary workbook. There are 12 words that students should spend time becoming familiar. We will probably have a test next week sometime. Today we started a mini lesson on writing introductions that start with some action. Tomorrow we will color code the parts of these paragraphs and then dive into our own attempt.
We are still in need of a couple more parent volunteers to attend camp with us on January 31st and February 1st. Also, in the next week, there will be important information about our upcoming Chicago trip coming home.
I hope everyone had a fab-u-lash holiday break. We are gearing up to have an impressive 2008!
We will have one last test in Social Studies before the end of the marking period. Next Tuesday, the 15th, students should be prepared to identify where all 50 states are located. We have been working up to this all year! I'm sure it will be more of a celebration than a test. Most know our country's layout quite well. In an effort to get in a few last practices, students have homework tonight and tomorrow over the states.
In Language Arts, we started Unit 2 of our Vocabulary workbook. There are 12 words that students should spend time becoming familiar. We will probably have a test next week sometime. Today we started a mini lesson on writing introductions that start with some action. Tomorrow we will color code the parts of these paragraphs and then dive into our own attempt.
We are still in need of a couple more parent volunteers to attend camp with us on January 31st and February 1st. Also, in the next week, there will be important information about our upcoming Chicago trip coming home.
I hope everyone had a fab-u-lash holiday break. We are gearing up to have an impressive 2008!
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