Christmas Break!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Thank you all for your generosity to me for the holiday, I am a truly fortunate person to have such warmth and love in my life. Good tidings to all.

After the break, auto/biography book reports are due (Jan.2) Instead of artwork this time, students will perform a short skit about the person they chose to read about. It should be based on the facts, or an episode in the person's life and give the audience an insight into the person's life. A short narrated piece to give background is recommended. The rubric includes points for creativity, preparedness, facts included, timing and presentation. If you would like to see your child's performance, the schedule will be as follows:
Monday:
5A: Michelle, Noelle, Jaime, Josh B., Gracie W.
5B: Katelyn, Edie, Josh C., Elijah, DJ
5C: Garrett, Genevieve, Nathaniel, Christian, Mikeala
Tuesday
5A: Tiquan, Franko, JJ, Caleb
5B: Sarah, Alyssa G, Cole, Josh H., Graham
5C: Hayden, Blaine, Amelia, Anikah, Tyler
Wednesday
5A: TJ, Ricky, Alyssa L., Josh M.
5B: Alexis, Malek, Clar, Angel, Kylee
5C: Jacob G., Montrell, Regan, Jackson, Madison
Thursday
5A: Nicholas M., Carlos, Tyler, Josh P.
5B: Caleb O., Fernell, Trevor, Joseph
5C: Ian, Jacob M., Nicholas, Erin, Hampton
Friday
5A: D'Andre, Lauren, Tanya, Aubri
5B: Derek, Alyssa S., Emily, Emma, Grant
5C: Emalee, Kreston, Ben, Anthony
There is a 5 minute limit that will be strictly enforced. Please make sure your child has practiced a couple times and timed themselves. In addition to the skit, your student should have a typed book report to hand in Monday. This will count as a major participation grade and a test grade. No vocabulary the first week back :)

Students may videotape their skit. It should be about 5 minutes long and include a written script for me to grade. The video should be on a DVD/CD or a flash-drive in a format that is commonly available, so we can watch it in class.

We will also be working on completing our books and reading Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.

EOG test prep books will also be in!

Be rested and be ready to learn! Fun times in 2012!

Week of Dec. 12

Back in town from a weekend in the mountains, a dusting of snow on the ground, coooold air, a cozy fire in the fireplace. Just perfect. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well.
No vocab/spelling this week! We will finish up writing our odes, begin our biographical narrative poem and start organizing our individual books. If you haven't sent in the paperwork for the free book, or need another envelope, please get it in this week. Without that information, the company will not give your student a free book! I have a limited number of additional envelopes. I have to have them ready for the printer by the second week in January.
I will order EOG test prep books this week and students should have them by early January. I will allow students to work in these books for homework but there will stipulations and rules :) for getting credit. I will send a letter home with the books.
Early release on Friday. Elementary releases at 11:30. Please be sure to put this in your calendars. Have a terrific and blessed holiday!

Week of December 5 (already!)

It's that time of the quarter again! Progress reports go home Wednesday! Please keep in mind that there are fewer grades than there will be at the end of the quarter and so each one counts for more than it eventually will. If that makes any sense?! Participation and homework are two places that students may make an easy A with a little effort. Participation is based on participating (obviously), listening to others, following class rules and coming to Language Arts prepared. Homework, as I have stated before, consists of reading for 30 minutes and writing a 5-7 sentence summary, including the title of book and number of pages read. Reading every day is vital for success in Language Arts and the reading EOG.

This week, I will be administering the second quarter assessment, beginning tomorrow. It will take a couple of days to finish up.

We will be learning about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl this week. We will begin reading Out of the Dust towards the end of the week. The book is written in a series of free-verse poems, each consisting of a chapter. The book will be read aloud in class. We will also be writing odes and a narrative poem over the next few weeks.

I sent home an envelope with students that will allow them to receive a free book if they return the envelope with their information filled out. This is a great opportunity to have a lifelong memory of your students work in 5th grade. The book will consist of 14 pages of their poetry and artwork. I must get this envelope back in order to participate. Please get these back to me by Wednesday so we can begin!

I also need EOG test prep book orders this week. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting this book. I will use it during tutoring and would love to use it in class. I have no received the number of orders I should have. Books are $17.

Vocabulary/ Spelling
Week of Dec. 5
Students must write sentences that indicate they understand the meaning of the word and spell it correctly for full credit. Words from “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse
5A
pledged
ripple
wisp
dazed
scowl
ancient
crouched
bawling
holler
shouldn’t
supposed (to)
civil
separately
aisles
collapsed

Vocabulary/ Spelling
Week of Dec. 5
Students must write sentences that indicate they understand the meaning of the word and spell it correctly for full credit. Words from “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse
5B
ratcheted
pledged
rippling
scowling
wisp
ancient
crouched
bawling
holler
shouldn’t
supposed (to)
civil
separately
aisles
secondhand

Vocabulary/ Spelling
Week of Dec. 5
Students must write sentences that indicate they understand the meaning of the word and spell it correctly for full credit. Words from “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse
5C
ratcheted
rippling
scowling
wisp
ancient
crouched
bawling
hollered
oilcloth
supposed (to)
satisfied
civil
separately
butterfly
exposing