Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Next week we continue Black History Month. We began sewing our story applique quilts on Friday and will continue this week. Each group chose a story they like and then created a four-panel retelling of that story, using fabric scraps that students will sew into place. The quilt will then be sewed into one large work that will be displayed at the Talent Show and in our classrooms for years to come! Students are enjoying this hands-on project and we haven't been through too many band-aids yet! Next comes the blues and Harlem Renaissance....
Mrs. Souter is collecting all overdue library books. Please check and make sure you have returned all materials to the media center ASAP. I have the list and will write titles of overdue books in agendas this week, please keep an eye out for it.
PTO Auction basket is due this week. Last call for all sports related donations from parents of 5A and 5C! Cindy Marshall has generously volunteered to organize it for me!
Talent Show auditions were canceled on Friday due to inclement weather. Students will re-audition on Monday of this week. Talent Show is April 20th. Make sure you put it on your calendar! Refreshments will be served. This is a fundraiser for the Language Arts department.
Homework in Competitive Edge: I would like everyone who has not highlighted their answers to complete that for homework this week, up until page 74. It is very important to prove your answers, when possible. Ask your student what I mean when we talk about red light, yellow light and green light questions. If your student has already underlined or highlighted, they should read and write a summary this week.
Reminder: The third book report is due on March 7th. Please follow the format I have included on the blog. In addition to a non-fiction book review, students should create an informational poster than includes a time-line of important events regarding their topic. Fourth book is choice of book genre and project!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Week of Feb 21
The dance was a blast! Everyone looked wonderful and so grownup. I was very proud of the way we all pulled together and created such a great event! I'll post pictures very soon!
Competitive Edge Homework this week: Pages 49-74. I will check books on Friday for homework credit.If you do not work in the CE book, I do expect a reading summary.
Black History Month: We will wrap up of Middle Passage historical narrative this week and move on into life as a slave. We will be sewing our own slave quilt, using the applique process. Any donations of fabric, especially colorful felt, are welcomed!
Progress reports go home today. Remember, these are just progress reports and these grades can be changed by putting more effort into class. We have fewer grades at this point so they have a greater impact.
Talent Show auditions are after school this week. This should be a wonderful event. Plan to attend the evening of April 20th. Concessions will be available. Remember, this is a fund raiser for 5th and 6th grade language arts department. Show us your talent Neuse Charter!
Wednesday is the last day for the PTO auction basket. Our theme is Sports!
Competitive Edge Homework this week: Pages 49-74. I will check books on Friday for homework credit.If you do not work in the CE book, I do expect a reading summary.
Black History Month: We will wrap up of Middle Passage historical narrative this week and move on into life as a slave. We will be sewing our own slave quilt, using the applique process. Any donations of fabric, especially colorful felt, are welcomed!
Progress reports go home today. Remember, these are just progress reports and these grades can be changed by putting more effort into class. We have fewer grades at this point so they have a greater impact.
Talent Show auditions are after school this week. This should be a wonderful event. Plan to attend the evening of April 20th. Concessions will be available. Remember, this is a fund raiser for 5th and 6th grade language arts department. Show us your talent Neuse Charter!
Wednesday is the last day for the PTO auction basket. Our theme is Sports!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Week of Feb. 12
We finished up “Out of the Dust” last week in all classes. It was a terrific novel and I think the students really enjoyed learning about the Depression, the dust-bowl and some of our country’s history combined with a very compelling story of one young girl’s journey.
Beginning this week, 5th grade classes will combine with either a 6th or 7th grade class and learn all about black Americans history and contributions to the United States. Mrs. Brindle and I work together on this unit for several reasons. First, it is extremely labor intensive. Your student will be reading, writing, painting, singing, performing, sewing and a variety of other activities in a small group. Second, it aids in the transition from elementary school to middle school. Getting to know, and work with, an upperclassman creates a bond between all involved. Next year, students will already have friends and acquaintances in middle school. They will know one of their teachers. It takes away some of the anxiety of the transition. Third, we try and recreate the very thing that has helped to make the African-American story a successful one in the US: the idea of teamwork and helping each other out. The concept of “it takes a village” will be one of our themes.
We begin the unit with a time-line that covers up until 1860, the story of the Middle Passage, slave ships and Amistad. We will then move into slave life and how resilient and resourceful slaves were with the little they were given. We then make a short stop at Reconstruction and the Great Migration and delve into the Blues and the Harlem Renaissance. We wind our journey up at the Civil Rights Movement and the Greensboro Woolworth counter.
This is an awful lot to cover and we will be working into the month of March. The focus will always be on the positive contributions of blacks in our society but some attention will be paid to the trials that have had to be overcome as well. This story cannot be told without some ugly truths.
I will be requesting supplies throughout the unit. Like now! Please send in beets, blueberries, turmeric, acorns, and anything else you know of that will create a natural dye (I have tea left over from last year). We will be dying fabric the old fashioned way and need to create our dyes! Also, any all cotton or felt fabric remnants are needed.
Please remember, 5A and 5C: we need to fill our PTO basket with sports-related swag! Time is running out, please donate today! Dicks sporting goods gift cards, tickets to events, apparel, etc…
Competitive Edge homework: We still have a few months to go before the actual EOG, please continue to work in this book. I will continue to cover passages in the morning and remediation class will use this book daily. Homework: Mon. 27-31, Tues 32-34, Wed. 35-41, Thurs, 42-48
Vocab: We will not have traditional vocabulary for a couple weeks, I will give a list of words each Monday and students will be expected to write a cohesive paragraph using the words by Friday. Spelling will not count, although I should be able to recognize the word! I will post the words on Monday.
5th grade dance: Friday, from 4:30-6:00. Please pick up you student at the end of the day and then return for the dance. I will lead a small group of kids in the decoration of the cafeteria. I cannot manage all 71 5th graders! I have not received any donations of food or décor yet. I need lights!!!This is a free event, which means I need help supplying it! Please donate as follows:
If your last name begins:
A-E : drinks
F-J: salty treats
K-O: sweet treats
P-T: choice
U-Z: cups and plates
Vocab Words
These words will be put on the board on Friday and students will write a story using them correctly in context.
integrity
oppression
abolitionist
emancipation
stench
prejudice
currency
injustice
manilla
Middle passage
Beginning this week, 5th grade classes will combine with either a 6th or 7th grade class and learn all about black Americans history and contributions to the United States. Mrs. Brindle and I work together on this unit for several reasons. First, it is extremely labor intensive. Your student will be reading, writing, painting, singing, performing, sewing and a variety of other activities in a small group. Second, it aids in the transition from elementary school to middle school. Getting to know, and work with, an upperclassman creates a bond between all involved. Next year, students will already have friends and acquaintances in middle school. They will know one of their teachers. It takes away some of the anxiety of the transition. Third, we try and recreate the very thing that has helped to make the African-American story a successful one in the US: the idea of teamwork and helping each other out. The concept of “it takes a village” will be one of our themes.
We begin the unit with a time-line that covers up until 1860, the story of the Middle Passage, slave ships and Amistad. We will then move into slave life and how resilient and resourceful slaves were with the little they were given. We then make a short stop at Reconstruction and the Great Migration and delve into the Blues and the Harlem Renaissance. We wind our journey up at the Civil Rights Movement and the Greensboro Woolworth counter.
This is an awful lot to cover and we will be working into the month of March. The focus will always be on the positive contributions of blacks in our society but some attention will be paid to the trials that have had to be overcome as well. This story cannot be told without some ugly truths.
I will be requesting supplies throughout the unit. Like now! Please send in beets, blueberries, turmeric, acorns, and anything else you know of that will create a natural dye (I have tea left over from last year). We will be dying fabric the old fashioned way and need to create our dyes! Also, any all cotton or felt fabric remnants are needed.
Please remember, 5A and 5C: we need to fill our PTO basket with sports-related swag! Time is running out, please donate today! Dicks sporting goods gift cards, tickets to events, apparel, etc…
Competitive Edge homework: We still have a few months to go before the actual EOG, please continue to work in this book. I will continue to cover passages in the morning and remediation class will use this book daily. Homework: Mon. 27-31, Tues 32-34, Wed. 35-41, Thurs, 42-48
Vocab: We will not have traditional vocabulary for a couple weeks, I will give a list of words each Monday and students will be expected to write a cohesive paragraph using the words by Friday. Spelling will not count, although I should be able to recognize the word! I will post the words on Monday.
5th grade dance: Friday, from 4:30-6:00. Please pick up you student at the end of the day and then return for the dance. I will lead a small group of kids in the decoration of the cafeteria. I cannot manage all 71 5th graders! I have not received any donations of food or décor yet. I need lights!!!This is a free event, which means I need help supplying it! Please donate as follows:
If your last name begins:
A-E : drinks
F-J: salty treats
K-O: sweet treats
P-T: choice
U-Z: cups and plates
Vocab Words
These words will be put on the board on Friday and students will write a story using them correctly in context.
integrity
oppression
abolitionist
emancipation
stench
prejudice
currency
injustice
manilla
Middle passage
Thursday, February 9, 2012
EOG results info
Either today or tomorrow, your student will be bringing home the results to their EOG pretest in reading. I want to offer a word or two about these results. The numbers may look deceptively low. Please understand that we still have several months of school. One of the main reasons we took this test was to identify students who are struggling before it is too late to work out any issues. Please be aware, I consider any score above 60% to be in range to pass at this time. Also, the EOG test consists of 58 questions in 5th grade, 8 of which are field test questions that do not count towards your child's results. The score they are coming home with includes those 8 questions. More than likely, some of those questions will be tossed.
Also, please be aware in order to score a "4", your student must answer 43 questions correctly out of 50. In order to earn a "3", your student must answer 32 or more questions correctly out of 50. Please look at the number of questions your student answered correctly for a better picture of the result. Please continue to work on the Competitive Edge books. They really help. And read, read, read!
Also, if 5th grade, collectively, makes 90% or higher on the EOG tests. I will, once again, wear the monkey suit. Have a great day.
Also, please be aware in order to score a "4", your student must answer 43 questions correctly out of 50. In order to earn a "3", your student must answer 32 or more questions correctly out of 50. Please look at the number of questions your student answered correctly for a better picture of the result. Please continue to work on the Competitive Edge books. They really help. And read, read, read!
Also, if 5th grade, collectively, makes 90% or higher on the EOG tests. I will, once again, wear the monkey suit. Have a great day.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week of Feb. 6
I could not be happier that last week is over! The book-making business is not for me. Some of you may have noticed I was a bit more stressed than usual:)I'm better now and ready to move on to bigger and better things! As a side note, there were several students that either didn't get their paperwork back signed, didn't hand in their book, left it at home on Friday or didn't get enough finished to warrant publication. (I sent 59 books, there are 71 5th graders)
This week we will finish "Out of the Dust" and have a final exam on Friday. It will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks, short essay and identify the quote. It is a much shorter test than the other novel exams and shouldn't cause much stress. Students have been taking a quiz every 50 or so pages and most understand the novel very well. I will drop the lowest quiz grade from each student.
Pre-EOG testing will also take place this week for 5th graders. They will each take a math, a science and a reading pretest. Schedules will once again be disrupted, but we are accustomed to it at this point! We are nothing if not adaptable!
Black History Month will finally begin next week. Mrs. Brindle and I team teach this month-long unit (it will no doubt run into March this year). We plan many wonderful and educational activities based on black American history, literature and art. This has also become a really great time for 5th graders to get to know their Language Arts teacher for next year and become better acquainted with upper class-men. It has been much anticipated and should be a lot of hard work and fun.
5th grade dance: To be held after school on Feb.17, from 4:30-6:00 in Neuse Charter School's cafeteria. Students should dress nicely, i.e. dresses and ties, shirttails tucked. We will have decorations, dancing, refreshments, games and a photographer on board. I need parents to supply refreshments. If your last name begins A-E, please supply drinks, F-J please supply salty treats (i.e. chips), K-O please supply sweet treats, P-T please supply either sweet or salty treats, and U-Z please supply cups and plates (I have plenty of napkins). Donations of decorations are welcome! (especially white lights)
It’s Talent Show time! And auditions are right around the corner! Finally, your opportunity to show us what you got! Singers, dancers, bands, acrobats, poets, magicians…be creative, grades 5-10, are all welcome to audition! Tryouts will be held in Mrs. Brindle’s room daily, beginning Tuesday Feb. 21 at 3:20 until Friday, Feb. 24.
The 2nd Annual Neuse Charter School has Talent Show is certain to be a show-stopping extravaganza you will not want to miss but you must be signed up to audition. Signup sheets are in the front office, outside Brindle’s room in the middle school building, outside the tech lab in the high school building and outside Berner’s room in the elementary building. Please only sign up on one sheet!
This was an awesome and fun event last year and it is certain to be even better this year! Come on, Neuse, let’s put on a show! Sign-up to try out today!
This week we will finish "Out of the Dust" and have a final exam on Friday. It will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the blanks, short essay and identify the quote. It is a much shorter test than the other novel exams and shouldn't cause much stress. Students have been taking a quiz every 50 or so pages and most understand the novel very well. I will drop the lowest quiz grade from each student.
Pre-EOG testing will also take place this week for 5th graders. They will each take a math, a science and a reading pretest. Schedules will once again be disrupted, but we are accustomed to it at this point! We are nothing if not adaptable!
Black History Month will finally begin next week. Mrs. Brindle and I team teach this month-long unit (it will no doubt run into March this year). We plan many wonderful and educational activities based on black American history, literature and art. This has also become a really great time for 5th graders to get to know their Language Arts teacher for next year and become better acquainted with upper class-men. It has been much anticipated and should be a lot of hard work and fun.
5th grade dance: To be held after school on Feb.17, from 4:30-6:00 in Neuse Charter School's cafeteria. Students should dress nicely, i.e. dresses and ties, shirttails tucked. We will have decorations, dancing, refreshments, games and a photographer on board. I need parents to supply refreshments. If your last name begins A-E, please supply drinks, F-J please supply salty treats (i.e. chips), K-O please supply sweet treats, P-T please supply either sweet or salty treats, and U-Z please supply cups and plates (I have plenty of napkins). Donations of decorations are welcome! (especially white lights)
It’s Talent Show time! And auditions are right around the corner! Finally, your opportunity to show us what you got! Singers, dancers, bands, acrobats, poets, magicians…be creative, grades 5-10, are all welcome to audition! Tryouts will be held in Mrs. Brindle’s room daily, beginning Tuesday Feb. 21 at 3:20 until Friday, Feb. 24.
The 2nd Annual Neuse Charter School has Talent Show is certain to be a show-stopping extravaganza you will not want to miss but you must be signed up to audition. Signup sheets are in the front office, outside Brindle’s room in the middle school building, outside the tech lab in the high school building and outside Berner’s room in the elementary building. Please only sign up on one sheet!
This was an awesome and fun event last year and it is certain to be even better this year! Come on, Neuse, let’s put on a show! Sign-up to try out today!
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