Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a terrific holiday break and you are all rested and ready for the next year!
We have some exciting units coming up and, of course, the pre-EOG practice test. Doing reading homework from here on out is extremely important. Practice makes perfect and I have seen much improvement in comprehension and fluency in students that have been diligent with their homework. Please make sure your child is reading for 30 minutes (AT LEAST!!!) a day. After the break, we will finish up Out of the Dust, which was interrupted by the snow break. 6th grade will begin reading Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli in small groups and 5th grade will read and listen to a variety of novels on tape and work in small group literature circles. After the novel study both groups will learn about bias, propaganda, stereotypes and write a persuasive essay to a person or institution of choice. In February, we will have an in-depth study of Black History to include slave quilts and stories, the Harlem Renaissance, blues music and African-American poetry.


Theme Project and Essay #2: Due Jan. 3
Students should come armed with both their 2nd essay and project on Monday. We will have presentations for about 30 minutes daily until everyone has given theirs, students should be prepared to go on Monday, even though they may not present until later in the week. Points will be docked from students who are not prepared. Also, I will have students assessing their peers and part of their input will be used in grading. One of the curricular goals for 5th and 6th grade is to develop critical thinking skills and to understand when something is well-done and to develop the stance of a critic. Students will be given a rubric to score their peers which explains what they (and I) should look for in a good project.


The 2nd essay will be a little different because you really can't give much of an opinion about a non-fiction book! I think the easiest approach would be write about the three-five most interesting facts that he learned and why they think they are interesting and then finish with a few sentences of book review, was it appropriate for his/her age level? did it hold his/her interest? would he/she recommend it to others? etc... 1-2 typed pages, 12 point Times New Roman font, black ink. If you can't print it at home, bring it in on a flash drive and I'll print it at school.

Students still must make up the spelling test from the week before break, so we will just use the same words this week. Vocab test on Friday for all students.

See you all soon!

Dec. 20

The Spelling/Vocab for week of Dec. 20. Our test will be on Thursday of this week!!!!!
We will finish "Out of the Dust" this week.
Spelling/Vocabulary (all classes) Berner
Week of Dec. 12 Words from “Out of the Dust” p.149 to end of book
SPELLING TEST ON THURSDAY !!!!!!!! (1/2 day of Friday: Holiday Party!!!!)
fierceness
warped
scorched
migrants
sparse
sulking
horizon
frantic
descended
swarmed
desperation
yield
hoarding
sustain
scowled
mottled
flinch
nourish
confident
intentions

Week of December 5

It snowed over the weekend! Winter is just around the corner and, as usual, I am shocked at how quickly the school year rolls by. We are midway through the second quarter already. I guess it's true what they say, time flies when you're having fun and working hard!
All classes will continue with "Through the Dust" by Karen Hesse this week. Spelling/Vocab words will all be from the reading. Students seem to be enjoying the book. We will have a short quiz about every 50 pages.
Social Studies will continue reading and working from the book this week, moving through the American Revolution and the Constitution.

Vocabulary/Spelling (all classes)
Week of Dec. 6 Words from “Out of the Dust” to page 150
excavating
clinging
deformed
exhibit
benefit
suffocating
forsaken
cloaked
thrived
agony
bleary
withered
parched
chaos
pouted
prospects
desperate
straddled
smothered
reassuring

I hope everyone had a relaxing and satisfying Thanksgiving! Mine was great and so now I feel ready to work off the stuffing and pumpkin pie with some solid learning. Let's finish this year off right with some brain building reading and writing!
We will continue to read Out of the Dust aloud in each class.(5B will begin reading this week) If you can get a copy of the book, please do. We are currently sharing in class. If your student has a copy, it will make studying for tests and reviewing much easier for them. 5A and 6A will have a quiz Tuesday on the book to page 51.
5B will finish their work on the Paul Revere essay by Tuesday, as it its due to the DAR on Wednesday. I would love for them to be typed and would allow students to type and edit their essay at home in lieu of reading homework. Parents must review the essay.
Neuse Charter will participate in the Spelling Bee again this year. I will firm up the format this week.

Vocab for all classes this week:

Spelling/Vocabulary 5A
Week of Nov. 29 Words from “Tuck Everlasting” and “Out of the Dust”
retorted
meager
accommodations
rapid
ought
toppled
dismay
passage
skeptical
loomed
pitiless
strewn
aimlessly
mirage
festered
withered
tufts

Spelling/Vocabulary 6A
Week of Nov. 29 Words from “Tuck Everlasting” and “Out of the Dust”
perilous
retorted
meager
accommodations
dismay
passage
skeptical
peculiar
loomed
solemnly
aimlessly
festered
boughs
grumble
withered
tufts
ought

Spelling/Vocabulary 5B
Week of Nov. 29 Words from “Tuck Everlasting” and “Out of the Dust”
perilous
retorted
meager
apprehension
dismay
skeptical
vigorous
reservoir
loomed
solemnly
indomitable
aimlessly
festered
boughs
tallow
withered
tufts

Next week, all classes will begin working in a new format. We will kick off centers and small group literature circles. Classes will read two book. The first, in which I will lead a guided reading group, is titled “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse. It is about the Oklahoma dust storms in the 1930s. It is a novel written in blank verse and is an extension of our poetry unit. The other novel is “Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie Babbitt. Students will listen to Tuck on tape and read along in small student-led literature circles. I selected this novel because many students have read it already and will be able to read and discuss the novel with little supervision. Literature circles should be student led. Please send in headphone or earbuds with your student, if they have them. I will also institute a writing center and an art center, where students will create artistic representations of their work. In addition, we will enjoy a “game” center. Students will quiz each others vocabulary words, literary terms, and other language arts knowledge. I expect a few bugs and will adjust groups and timing as we proceed, but I think this will enhance most student's learning experience exponentially. Please e-mail any questions.

Bookmobile comes on Tuesday! If your student does not have his or her theme book yet, this is a great opportunity.

Social Studies: we are moving into the colonial era and will begin the Revolutionary War this week. Students will be writing an essay about Paul Revere for a Daughter's of the American Revolution contest. The essay is due Dec. 1, so we need to get cracking!

This weeks spelling/vocabulary words:
Spelling /Vocab Week of Nov. 15
From Tuck Everlasting and Out of the Dust
5A
prologue
connection
smeared
everlasting
tangent
tranquil
contemplation
dissolved
oppressive
accessible
isolation
melancholy
bounty
pestering
ratcheted
riled
spindly
pledged
dazzled
wisp

Spelling /Vocab Week of Nov. 15
From Tuck Everlasting and Out of the Dust
5B
arduous
everlasting
prologue
tangent
contemplation
tolerantly
fringe
forlorn
accessible
isolation
tarnished
intrusion
grimace
slant
riled
distraction
whittled
ratcheted
fidgeting
bounty
smeared

Spelling /Vocab Week of Nov. 15
From Tuck Everlasting and Out of the Dust
6A
prologue
connection
smeared
everlasting
tangent
tranquil
contemplation
dissolved
oppressive
accessible
isolation
melancholy
bounty
pestering
ratcheted
riled
spindly
pledged
dazzled
wisp

Reminder!!! Tomorrow is the poetry terms test. Students should also know the graphic organizer with the terms: Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Denouement. Students must understand what happens in each of those categories of a storyline for a fiction story.

Social Studies:
Know these terms:
navigation
expedition
what eradicated (wiped out) Native Americans: guns, germs and horses (plusses and minuses)
Christopher Columbus
missionaries
Verrazano
Cartier
Northwest Passage (what is is and why is was important)
Conquistadors: Ponce de Leon, Hernando deSoto, Cortes (where from, what they did?)
Henry Hudson

Terms for the Poetry Test on Nov. 10:
alliteration
antagonist
ballad
climax
conflict
couplet
denouement
elegy
epic
falling action
foreshadowing
free verse
hyperbole
limerick
metaphor
narrative poem
ode
onomatopoeia
point of view
protagonist
quatrain
resolution
rhyme
rising action
setting
simile
sonnet
stanza
style
theme
tone
Students in all grades will need to know the DEFINITION of these words. I will give the word and students will fill in definition. No spelling next week. These terms are important enough to revisit until they are mastered.

Hello,
We'll be writing sonnets and couplets this week in 5th grade and writing a sonnet and reading another selection from the Junior Great book in 6th. Spelling test on Friday means the homework on Thursday is to study!!!! This week's words:
Spelling/Vocab 5A Pattern: c/le, and vc/v
Week of 11/01/2010
capable
bundle
idle
idol
bridle
bridal
stifle
tremble
miracle
brittle
wrestle
example
particle
gurgle
trifle
tepid
valid
novel

Vocab/Spelling 5B patterns: c/le, vc/v and root: equ
Week of 11/01/2010
capable
icicle
idle
idol
bridle
bridal
stifle
brittle
particle
tepid
static
valid
root: equ means equal
equity
equanimity
equate
equator
equidistant

Vocab/Spelling 6A Pattern: vocab from “Raymond’s Run”, c/le, vc/c, root:equ
ridiculous
sloshing
fluttering
prodigy
reputation
weightless
blurry
obviously
root: equ meaning equal
equity
equator
equate
stifle
brittle
tremble
idol
idle
bridle
bridal

Hello! This is the last week before report cards, so we'll be doing things a little differently. This is the last week for your student to make up any work they are missing before it becomes a permanent part of their grade. Check agendas to make sure your child is caught up. We had a make-up catch-up day on Friday, and most students worked very diligently to get make-up work done. I was impressed with how conscientious many of my students were. However, some chose not to make-up any work. There will be no more class time devoted to make-up work.

We will have no spelling words this week. We'll have the test from last week's words on Monday.

Friday is a teacher workday. No class for students.

A special treat this week and next! Burning Coal Theatre will return and teach our students all about Shakespeare! They were so well received last year that I know we're all looking forward to a triumphant return. 5th grade is this week the 19th-21st. 6th grade will be the following week Oct. 26-28.

6th grade: Remember, being on a sports team is a privilege. If your grade falls below a "C" average, you will be suspended until it rises up to acceptable levels.

Happy Fall, all!

Week of Oct. 11

Hello all!
Our Fairytales unit, somewhat sadly, has come to an end. Although, I'm pretty sure they all lived happily ever after :) Students seemed to enjoy reading, writing and learning about them. Most students wrote a really solid fairytale, although many (especially 6th grade) failed to turn one in on time. Please check with your student (and read their agendas) to see that they turned one in. This was a 200 point assignment. I am enjoying reading the stories!

Reminders to all: Please remind your student of the importance of following the no-talking rule during testing. I am very strict regarding this and will throw out a students test if they talk during testing. It breaks my heart to do it, but students must learn self-discipline. EOG results can be canceled for the entire school if protocol is broken.
Oct 15: the first theme book review and project are due. This assignment includes a book review (typed 1-2 pages, 12 point TNR font), a project and a brief presentation in class (no more than 5 minutes, unless you work it out with me)

Social Studies: Students will complete their Native American unit this week and we will move onto colonial America. Students voted to participate in a writing contest about Paul Revere held by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The essay is due Dec. 1. We plan to have a Thanksgiving celebration in November, melding what we learned about Indians with what we learn about colonial Americans. Should be fun.

5th grade will begin a poetry unit this week, as is reflected in their spelling/vocab words. I will begin to grade spelling tests a little differently this week. Students will now receive 2 points for using the word correctly and 1 point for spelling it correctly, for a total of 3 points a sentence(instead of the current 2). This reflects my emphasis on the importance of meaning. Many of 6th grades words will be the same as last week, as they didn't seem to learn them as well as I'd like them to. Last weeks results will be tossed for the 6th grade spelling/vocab test, unless, of course, your student did well.

6th grade will read a story in the Junior Great Books series and do activities associated with the story, "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing. We will also do some focused lessons on vocab, as that seems to be a weak spot.

This weeks words:
Spelling/Vocabulary
6A
Week of Oct.11
Patterns: ie/ei and prefix: dis: meaning apart, not. Vocabulary from reading this week
Repeat words from last week:
conceited
seize
retrieval
unwieldy
grievance
deceitful
dissuade
disengage
discord
indispensable
New this week:
contrition
rigorous
sputter
promontory
continuous

Spelling/ Vocabulary
5B
Week of Oct. 11
Pattern: poetry terms
rhyme
haiku
alliteration
quatrain
couplet
sonnet
antagonist
protagonist
denouement
elegy
kigo- means: a seasonal word, used in haiku
hyperbole
resolution
simile
metaphor
ballad
stanza
foreshadowing

Spelling/ Vocabulary
5A
Week of Oct. 11
Pattern: poetry terms
rhyme
haiku
alliteration
quatrain
couplet
sonnet
antagonist
protagonist
denouement
elegy
kigo- means: a seasonal word, used in haiku
hyperbole
resolution
simile
metaphor
ballad
stanza
foreshadowing

Week of Oct. 4

Remember: Students are expected to know spelling and proper usage in a sentence. They receive one point for each and Thursday night's homework is to study for the test!!!!
Spelling/Vocabulary
5A
Week of October 4 Pattern: V/CV and ie /ei

vacant
frequent
veto
deduct
vital
locate
moment
omit
rotate
unite
puny
putrid
conceited
achieve
deceive
leisure
grief
seize

Spelling/Vocabulary
5B
Week of Oct. 4 Patterns: v/cv, ie/ei and prefix: dis: meaning apart, not

puny
putrid
vital
deduct
vacant
conceited
seize
retrieval
unwieldy
grievance
deceitful
receipt
believe
dissuade
disengage
discord
discomfort
indispensable


Spelling/Vocabulary
6A
Week of Oct. 4 Patterns: v/cv, ie/ei and prefix: dis: meaning apart, not

puny
putrid
vital
deduct
vacant
conceited
seize
retrieval
unwieldy
grievance
deceitful
receipt
believe
dissuade
disengage
discord
discomfort
indispensable

Sept. 26

We have completed novel studies of Freak the Mighty and Frindle and are busy working on our new lessons. This week we will continue learning about Fairy Tales in 5th grade and complete our own traditional tale. Then we will mix it up a bit!
6th grade will begin the unit and continue vocabulary study.
The 5th grade Social Studies students are working on a Native American tribe project.

Picture Day; Oct 6
Faculty/Student Volleyball Game: Oct. 1 JCA gym

Vocabulary Words:
This week we will have 18 words, instead of 15. I feel students need to punch up their word skills, so we'll work more on this in class also.


Vocabulary Week of Sept. 27 pattern: VC/CV
5A

gather
servant
berserk
different
chatter
hermit
persist
garment
discard
parcel
distort
horrid
torment
burden
flirted
murmur
squirrel
urban

Vocabulary Week of Sept. 27 pattern: VC/CV
5B
berserk
chatter
persist
distort
horrid
torment
burden
murmur
perturb
squirrel
proclaimed
confined
neighborhood
represented
unrelenting
version
melancholy
descendents



Vocabulary Week of Sept. 27 pattern: VC/CV
6A
berserk
chatter
persist
distort
horrid
torment
burden
murmur
perturb
squirrel
proclaimed
confined
neighborhood
represented
unrelenting
version
melancholy
descendents

For the week of September 20:


5th (Berner’s homeroom)
Vocabulary/Spelling
Students must use words correctly in a sentence for full credit (2 points per sentence)

Focus: VC/CV and Frindle

endures
rebellion
procedure
impatient
remarkable
cascade
athlete
stampede
describe
inquire
incline
backbone
oppose
dispute
consume

5th grade (Dohner’s homeroom)
Vocabulary/Spelling
Students must use words correctly in a sentence for full credit (2 points per sentence)
Focus: VC/CV

endures
cascade
stagnate
octane
confiscate
stampede
confide
pastime
textile
implode
suppose
commune
consume
protrude
dispute

6th grade
Vocabulary/Spelling
Students must use words correctly in a sentence for full credit (2 points per sentence)
Focus: VC/CV


endures
cascade
stagnate
octane
confiscate
stampede
confide
pastime
textile
implode
suppose
commune
consume
protrude
dispute

Hello! Hope all is well with everyone. These weekends go by too fast, don't they?

This week we will finish up Frindle and Freak the Mighty. Unit tests will be given on Friday, if all goes as planned. If we fall behind, and that is a definite possibility, they will be given on Monday of the following week. Vocab words for my classes this week are:


Spelling/Vocab Spelling pattern: VC/CV
Sept. 13-18
Words must be used properly in a sentence and spelled correctly.
5A
1. enchant 9. adverb
2. hectic 10. absurd
3. splendid 11. dictate
4. contact 12. contrive
5. progress 13. connive
6. establish 14. immune
7. abnormal 15. Raleigh
8. informal



Spelling/Vocab Spelling pattern: VC/CV
Sept. 13-18
Words must be used properly in a sentence and spelled correctly.
5B
1. infiltrate 9. adverb
2. indispose 10. absurd
3. jargon 11. contemplate
4. interrupted 12. contrive
5. infantile 13. connive
6. informal 14. immune
7. abnormal 15. Raleigh
8. compensate



Spelling/Vocab Words taken from Freak the Mighty
Words must be used properly in a sentence and spelled correctly.
6A
1. optimum 9. illiterate
2. devised 10. adverb
3. heave 11. dynamic
4. urgency 12. testify
5. tremble 13. prodigy
6. obligation 14. smidgeon
7. furrowed 15. vanquish
8. injustice

Labor Day week

I hope everyone had a great long weekend! My family and I spent a relaxing and wonderful time in Boone, NC, enjoying the fresh, cool mountain air.

The 4 day school week means we won't have a spelling/vocab test on Friday, although we will work on some new words. Several students didn't do as well as they probably wanted to on last week's test, so they will have a second chance this week. We also had quite a few absences, so make-up tests will occur on Friday. Any student may take the test again, but if your student earned less than 80%, it is required. Many did very well, so kudos to those who studied and did great!

5th grade:
We will try and finish up Frindle this week. Be prepared for a pop quiz or two! Literature Circles will continue. I was very impressed with some of the discussions I overheard in my homeroom class last week. Well done! We will write about our personal "Frindles" and try and get others to adopt our word.

6th grade:
We will continue to work on Freak the Mighty, you also, should be prepared for a pop quiz! Vocabulary will figure prominently in out lessons this week. Literature Circles will continue, as will group discussion of the novel.

Spelling/Vocab Lists for the week of Aug. 30

Vocabulary/Spelling Week of 08/30/10 5th (Berner)

Test on Friday. You must know both spelling (1 point) and definition/usage (1 point).
their
there
they’re
conquer
priority
strategy
instead
successful
monopoly
organized
expanded
reputation
tension
essential
foment


Vocabulary/Spelling Week of 08/30/10 5th (Dohner)

Test on Friday. You must know both spelling (1 point) and definition/usage (1 point).
conquer
priorities
strategies
successful
monopoly
essentially
organization
compulsion
reputation
acquainted
redeemed
consequences
demeanor
foment



Vocabulary/Spelling Week of 08/30/10 6th
Test on Friday. You must know both spelling (1 point) and definition/usage (1 point). All vocabulary taken from Freak the Mighty.

resembles
hunker
consequences
humanoid
periodic
propulsion
demeanor
invisible
intrude
tenement
expel
evasion
stern
divulged
budge

Welcome back to a new school year! It's going to be terrific, classes are in full swing and we've even completed a few assignments! Let the learning, laughing and growing begin!
6th grade:
This week we will begin Freak the Mighty, (quiz on Monday) have our first vocab/spelling test and continue with the goal setting project. I will also hand out paperwork for the theme book project.
5th grade:
We will read Frindle, (quiz on Monday!), also begin spelling/vocab and begin the theme book project.
Social Studies:
We will continue work in the SS book, and begin talking about the geography of North America.

Important dates to write in your agendas:
Aug. 30: Quiz on summer reading
Sept. 6: Labor Day, no school
Sept. 7: Theme for theme book projects are due.
Sept. 21: Bookmobile
Oct. 15: Theme book report and project due

March and April

Hello all!
February has come and gone and it was very eventful. The Black History Unit was very well received and I think all the students had a great learning experience, and a little fun too! March is nearly over already and I, for one, don't know where it's gone! Oh well, onward and upward!
We have been learning about inventors and artists, lately, in the Reading Street book. Students have explored their own thoughts on what are the most important inventions and how they have impacted the world.
We have also been working on Paideia workshops with 5B. This is new to me and has been very enlightening. I always enjoy class discussion and I truly believe it leads to higher understanding, but it is just terrific to learn a more structured way to carry out discussion. I think students are enjoying it quite a bit too. I will try and incorporate at least one every week or two for the rest of the school year, for all classes. Be sure and ask your student about it!
We have been toiling away at EOG prep too. The EOG booklets have arrived and were distributed last week. I have answer keys in my room, located in the Homework bin, for students to check their answers. I will accept two practice readings a night for homework. Please make sure your student works in order in the book and answers ALL practice questions (not just the A,B,C.. questions). I am tutoring 6th grade students in the mornings (7:45-8:10) using these books. I have administered the pretests to most classes again during March also. I will write down your students score in their agendas this week, please watch for that.
Chip reward week has arrived! 6th grade students will be treated to an old-fashioned sock-hop in the gym. Their will be prizes given for best 50's dress (male and female), best dancers (male and female), Best hula-hooper and best limboer. Should be a lot of fun. 5th grade classes will be treated to a free period of fun too! On Thursday, students who have earned the privilege (at least 77 chips, from me only) may bring hand held electronics, musical CD's, games, etc.. and spend time playing, instead of working. If the weather's nice, we'll go outside.
Important Dates to remember:
March 26: No school for students, teacher workday
March 31: Report cards go home
April 2-9: Spring break, Enjoy!
April 6: PTO Meeting Light of Christ Church 7:00
No spelling words this week!
Reminder: Homework is also the same and is ALWAYS due unless we have a PTO meeting or I write differently in students agenda: Read for 30 minutes, write a paragraph about what you read (not the book) and jot down page numbers. Students should read chapter books for this assignment!

Hello! Welcome to the third semester at Neuse Charter School! This semester we will work on novel studies, Black History Month and EOG preparation. On Tuesdays, we will have a special schedule for EOG preparation. Also, if you would like a great website for extra practice:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/index.htm
Have a great week!

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year to everyone! I trust you all had a restful and happy Christmas break. I spent my time doing a whole lot of relaxing, reconnecting with friends and my college-age son and eating great food. My family and I went to a Charlotte Bobcats game. We spent a few very cold nights in the mountains, too. I look forward to hearing about all my students' adventures over the break!

The first week back at school will be fun. We will be holding a persuasive writing workshop in our classroom! Students will learn the importance of being able to influence readers and some of the strategies that writers employ to acheive their goals.

All grades will have spelling words this week. On that note, congratulations to Oriauna Henry, Neuse Charter Schools' spelling bee champ. She will be competing in the Johnston County Spelling Bee. Well done, Oriauna!

The week of January 11th, students will be taking pre-EOG practice tests.

Please remember: homework, for all classes, is ALWAYS to read for 30 minutes, write page numbers and a short summary. Many students are not getting their homework turned in. Late homework is not accepted.

Welcome back to school in 2010! I have a feeling, it's going to be a great year; full of learning, growing and good times!