Hello! I hope everyone had a fabulous break! Report cards go home this week! Remember, I don’t “give” you a grade, you earn one! I hope everyone earned the grade they wanted! We are now entering the final quarter. We will begin to work and focus more on EOG prep, as well as strengthen and review some of what we have already learned!
I will be restructuring how classes run. We will begin incorporating centers and D.E.A.R (drop everything and read) time into our daily schedule. Students must have a book they want to read with them at all times. We will write a daily summary. In all classes, I will review an EOG focused skill (ex. main idea, compare and contrast, etc…) for the prompt daily. We will have vocabulary tests on Fridays that focus on EOG words and Greek and Latin roots.
Students in 5A with Competitive Edge Books should have them every day. They will be used in remediation class, which has been restructured. Mrs. Vassar will be leading a group daily. Students who have been meeting with Mrs. Peele in the afternoon will now be meeting with her at 8:30. This cuts down on disruptions during remediation. All 5th grade classes will go to recess at 3:00. Mrs. Souter will be helping with Science remediation on Thursdays.
Competitive Edge Homework: pages 130-162
Mrs. Dohner and I are instituting a new contest for 5th grade! We will chart all classes “excellence” and reward the 5th grade with the most excellent behavior at the end of the week! Classes that receive 33 points out of a possible 35 points will be rewarded, as “excellence” is earning an “A”. Behaviors to be measured include: being respectful in all classes to all stakeholders, completing work, cleaning up after ourselves and arriving promptly and prepared to work.
Which brings me to a HUGE problem we’ve been having. Students are not coming to class prepared. They do not have pencils or paper, a lot. It is your student’s responsibility to arrive to class ready to work, which means they not only should have supplies, but they should have supplies in working order. Homeroom is the time to make sure you have sharpened pencils, paper, homework, etc… I will no longer supply paper or pencils to unprepared students and they will lose chips if they are not ready to roll at class time.
4th Book Report: We will read the 4th book in class during DEAR time and write the essay using the summaries we have written. Students should have a folder to hold all the summaries they will produce. I am hoping to get tech time to type the essays at school.
Vocabulary lists:
Vocab/Spelling
5A
Week of March 26
graphics
conclusions
strategy
lull
maneuver
volley
originated
persuade
monarch
prohibit
unjust
voluntary
root: ex: out, away, from (know meaning)
exclamation
exasperated
Vocab/ Spelling
Week of March 26
graphics
conclusions
strategies
lull
maneuvering
originated
persuade
monarch
prohibited
root: ex: out, away, from (know meaning)
exasperated
exclusive
exclamation
root: di/s: apart, not, away (know meaning)
disoriented
dissect
digression
5C
Week of March 26
graphics
conclusions
strategies
lull
spawned
persuasive
monarch
prohibited
root: ex: out, away, from (know meaning)
exasperated
expulsion
exclamation
root: di/ s (know meaning)
disoriented
digression
dissect
*Choose one root word using “ex” or “dis”. Must be challenging.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Week of March 19
Just a quick note: Only 3 days for students! The week ends on Wednesday, so no homework or vocabulary this week! Hooray!!!!
The quarter ends for grade collecting this Wednesday. If your student is missing work this will be the final week to get partial credit for overdue work, including homework. Students will be able to make up 3 homework assignments this week, if they hand it in completed correctly. I have compiled a list of overdue work and will informing students tomorrow if and what they owe me. I will be sending home current grades of students who have earned a "D" or "F" in Language Arts so far this quarter.
For students who have completed all work and are up to date, this will be a fun week featuring arts and crafts and a wonderful movie.
We will have a meeting for all Talent Show talent on Monday, March 26 at 3:20 in Brindle's room. This will be a mandatory meeting. We will probably need to meet at least once a week until the Talent Show on April 20th. Make sure your student continues to practice!!!!
Change to the Final Book Report/Project:The last book report will be written in class (I'm going to get tech lab time), the project done at home. The 4th book review will be placed in students' MAPP binder (the folder that follows them through their years at NCS. Also, the date will be changed (it will now be due in May). We will begin reading daily in class after next week, so most of the reading for this review will be done in class. Please make sure your student has selected their book by Monday, March 26th and has a flash-drive by mid-April.
The quarter ends for grade collecting this Wednesday. If your student is missing work this will be the final week to get partial credit for overdue work, including homework. Students will be able to make up 3 homework assignments this week, if they hand it in completed correctly. I have compiled a list of overdue work and will informing students tomorrow if and what they owe me. I will be sending home current grades of students who have earned a "D" or "F" in Language Arts so far this quarter.
For students who have completed all work and are up to date, this will be a fun week featuring arts and crafts and a wonderful movie.
We will have a meeting for all Talent Show talent on Monday, March 26 at 3:20 in Brindle's room. This will be a mandatory meeting. We will probably need to meet at least once a week until the Talent Show on April 20th. Make sure your student continues to practice!!!!
Change to the Final Book Report/Project:The last book report will be written in class (I'm going to get tech lab time), the project done at home. The 4th book review will be placed in students' MAPP binder (the folder that follows them through their years at NCS. Also, the date will be changed (it will now be due in May). We will begin reading daily in class after next week, so most of the reading for this review will be done in class. Please make sure your student has selected their book by Monday, March 26th and has a flash-drive by mid-April.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Week of March 12
It's a beautiful, sunny day in North Carolina! I hope you all are enjoying the weather. Did you remember to "spring forward?"
Well, it's our last week for black history month. We got a late start, so we are having a late end! This week we will research and create a poster with a partner about a person, place or thing from the Harlem Renaissance. Students will create a mask that reflects their identity. We will briefly learn about the civil rights movement and make a cartoon that reflects knowledge of our rights and responsibilities as US citizens. This has been a delightful and educational experience for students. I hope your student enjoyed this unit as much as I did!
I hope to begin the final touches on the quilts this week. I pinned one of them together last week and it looks terrific. These will be on display at the Talent Show on April 20, make sure you come see them!
Competitive Edge homework this week will be pages 97-129. Please make sure your student, if they are working on this for homework, highlights answers and checks them in class. Many students are not completing all of these tasks, which must be done for full homework credit.
Report Cards are coming up in a couple weeks. I did not receive all book reports and posters. Please make sure your student handed in all their work.
The final book report is "choice". The essay writing part of this assignment will be completed in class. I will secure Tech lab time for students to be able to type them in class. The final book report will be added to students MAPP binder, so I must be certain they do all their own work. I will be sure they have at least 2 hours of tech time over a couple of weeks to complete this assignment. Students will also be given time in class to read their books, so be sure your student has selected a book soon. I will post back with more information during the 4th quarter.
We have been experiencing more discipline issues than normal lately. Many students, especially away from core classes, are not showing excellent behavior.Some students are littering the campus and not taking pride in their school. Please remind your child that doing one's best is important no matter where you are or what you're doing. It is a mark of a good character to behave yourself even if no one is looking :)...or sending you to the office.
I look forward to another week of learning with students at NCS!
Well, it's our last week for black history month. We got a late start, so we are having a late end! This week we will research and create a poster with a partner about a person, place or thing from the Harlem Renaissance. Students will create a mask that reflects their identity. We will briefly learn about the civil rights movement and make a cartoon that reflects knowledge of our rights and responsibilities as US citizens. This has been a delightful and educational experience for students. I hope your student enjoyed this unit as much as I did!
I hope to begin the final touches on the quilts this week. I pinned one of them together last week and it looks terrific. These will be on display at the Talent Show on April 20, make sure you come see them!
Competitive Edge homework this week will be pages 97-129. Please make sure your student, if they are working on this for homework, highlights answers and checks them in class. Many students are not completing all of these tasks, which must be done for full homework credit.
Report Cards are coming up in a couple weeks. I did not receive all book reports and posters. Please make sure your student handed in all their work.
The final book report is "choice". The essay writing part of this assignment will be completed in class. I will secure Tech lab time for students to be able to type them in class. The final book report will be added to students MAPP binder, so I must be certain they do all their own work. I will be sure they have at least 2 hours of tech time over a couple of weeks to complete this assignment. Students will also be given time in class to read their books, so be sure your student has selected a book soon. I will post back with more information during the 4th quarter.
We have been experiencing more discipline issues than normal lately. Many students, especially away from core classes, are not showing excellent behavior.Some students are littering the campus and not taking pride in their school. Please remind your child that doing one's best is important no matter where you are or what you're doing. It is a mark of a good character to behave yourself even if no one is looking :)...or sending you to the office.
I look forward to another week of learning with students at NCS!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Week of March 5
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend, finally the sun is shining!
We will continue with Black History Month this week and finish up next week. We got a late start due to testing. This week we finish up all projects that have been started, including sewing our quilts, writing our Middle Passage narrative and putting the finishing touches on our blues song. Be sure and ask your student what their blues name is :) Also, the Middle Passage narrative should be handed in typed, by Tuesday. Students may e-mail it to me and I'll print it out. We will continue to the Harlem Renaissance this week and explore the idea of identity. Students will also begin researching a famous time, place or person in black history.
Book Fair this week! Be sure to visit the media center. Speaking of which, all overdue books must be returned to the library ASAP. Mrs. Souter will hold report cards of students who fail to return their books. I informed students last week if they had an overdue book and the title. Please be diligent about returning materials to the library. Many students have books that belong to me checked out also, please get them returned so I can continue to lend them out to all!
Non-fiction book reports and posters are due this Wednesday, March 7. I am posting the rubric for the poster and will grade essays based on the guidelines I have posted on the blog. Please follow both!
Talent Show auditions wind up Monday. We are going to have a heck of a show! Be sure to plan on attending this extravaganza on April 20th! This will be a fun time you don't want to miss! Refreshments will be available.
I have 4 disks of pictures from the dance! Thank you Alexis Howell's family! I would like a parent volunteer to upload them to a photo-sharing site.Parents and friends may then view shots and select which ones they would like to buy! There are some terrific shots. The site we upload these shots to must be closed to the general public, as we have some students that do not have permission to publish their pictures. Please contact me if you are able to set this up for everyone!
Homework: We still have homework!!!!!Students must continue to read daily!!! This is extremely important!
Competitive Edge: students should have completed answering, highlighting, and checking answers up to page 74. This week we will continue onto the next chapter, I will not award credit from here on out, unless answers are highlighted and corrected weekly. I check books on Friday. Please have students complete, with highlighting and answers checked, pages 75-96 this week.
If your child is completing reading summaries instead of Competitive Edge, they should just continue handing them in as usual.
We will continue with Black History Month this week and finish up next week. We got a late start due to testing. This week we finish up all projects that have been started, including sewing our quilts, writing our Middle Passage narrative and putting the finishing touches on our blues song. Be sure and ask your student what their blues name is :) Also, the Middle Passage narrative should be handed in typed, by Tuesday. Students may e-mail it to me and I'll print it out. We will continue to the Harlem Renaissance this week and explore the idea of identity. Students will also begin researching a famous time, place or person in black history.
Book Fair this week! Be sure to visit the media center. Speaking of which, all overdue books must be returned to the library ASAP. Mrs. Souter will hold report cards of students who fail to return their books. I informed students last week if they had an overdue book and the title. Please be diligent about returning materials to the library. Many students have books that belong to me checked out also, please get them returned so I can continue to lend them out to all!
Non-fiction book reports and posters are due this Wednesday, March 7. I am posting the rubric for the poster and will grade essays based on the guidelines I have posted on the blog. Please follow both!
Talent Show auditions wind up Monday. We are going to have a heck of a show! Be sure to plan on attending this extravaganza on April 20th! This will be a fun time you don't want to miss! Refreshments will be available.
I have 4 disks of pictures from the dance! Thank you Alexis Howell's family! I would like a parent volunteer to upload them to a photo-sharing site.Parents and friends may then view shots and select which ones they would like to buy! There are some terrific shots. The site we upload these shots to must be closed to the general public, as we have some students that do not have permission to publish their pictures. Please contact me if you are able to set this up for everyone!
Homework: We still have homework!!!!!Students must continue to read daily!!! This is extremely important!
Competitive Edge: students should have completed answering, highlighting, and checking answers up to page 74. This week we will continue onto the next chapter, I will not award credit from here on out, unless answers are highlighted and corrected weekly. I check books on Friday. Please have students complete, with highlighting and answers checked, pages 75-96 this week.
If your child is completing reading summaries instead of Competitive Edge, they should just continue handing them in as usual.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Week of Feb. 26
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!
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!
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
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