I can't keep from singing and dancing...

Your students were amazing, fabulous, musical, and they brought true LOVE, PEACE, AND MUSIC to all of us!  They worked very hard and they took full pride in their performance!

If anyone took pictures would you PLEASE send them to me!  I was a little busy and did not have time to capture all the joy they sang and danced!  

Next time you see Ms. Ritter, be sure to let her know how awesome the concert was-she put a lot of time and energy and gave our kids freedom to love their music.

CAMP COPNECONIC

NEWS FLASH!!!

CAMP IS ONLY $25 THIS YEAR!!

Monday, February 14th - Wednesday, February 16th, the 5th graders will be traveling to Camp Copneconic in Fenton, MI. 

The money for camp is due Friday, January 7, 2011.

Here is a preview of what your students will experience...

5th grade camp 2009 photos

Remember to check the "What to Bring List" for Camp - these would be great holiday gifts!!

Camp what to bring list

EXHIBITION RUBRIC

Below, you will find a copy of the rubric that will be used during exhibitions. A hard copy is also coming home.

Please remember that students must present an agenda, have enough copies for all audience members, and present their exhibition as stated in the agenda. 

"Visual Aids" must be completed for all subjects and neat in order to receive a score on the day of the exhibition.

"Body Language" has to do with standing straight and looking at the audience without fidgeting, rocking or putting hands in pockets. I've discussed this with the students and have suggested that they practice their speaking and presentation in front of others, and in front of a mirror.

"Delivery" requires a loud voice that is clear and a voice that is enthusiastic and not monotone.

EXHIBITION RUBRIC

Exhibition Rubric 1st Trimester 11/10

The 39 Clues

We have started our first online book club with reading of The 39 Clues.  Students go onto Edmodo and post questions and comments with students from other schools around the country.  We will be making a character chart to keep track of the many characters and clues as we read.  We are very excited about this fabulous way to hold a book club!

Happenings in Room 303

Writing - Students have been hard at work drafting their mystery stories.  This week the focus has been on strong leads, synonyms for "said", dialogue and dialogue tags. Students will be bringing their drafts home so please ask them to read their stories, and see if you can figure out "who dunnit" by their clues!
Math - We are wrapping up Unit 2 with our unit assessment on  Friday, 11/12.  This unit included review of several multiplication strategies, including partial sums and the lattice methods.  Students also used these methods, as well as the traditional method, for multiplying decimals and whole numbers.  Place values and number sentences have also been a strong focus during this unit.
Reading - This weeks reading comprehension strategy has been visualizing.  I read several short passages, and several books to the students and they drew what they heard.  Their drawings needed to relate to the text to show accuracy and understanding of the author's intent.  We had some amazing representations and an "aha" moment as the students realized that we all see and hear very differently.
Milkweed -  Hopefully the students have shared our read aloud book, Milkweed.  It is by Jerry Spinelli, one of our favorite authors.  It is an historical fiction that retells the events of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War 2, and the Holocaust.  It is narrated by an 8 year old boy, and the main themes are friendship, identity, and family.  We have had very intense and relative discussions regarding the experiences of the main character, and have made many connections to slavery.  Please discuss this with your child, and have them tell you about our powerful visual inquiry we did on a sculpture of Dr. Janus Korczak.

For his exhibition project, one of our students, Renardo Whittler, has been researching the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit.  As part of his project, he is collecting pop can tabs.  These tabs will be turned in for supplies for the House.  Please support Renardo as he builds  contributions to the children at the Ronald McDonald House.

Exhibition Sign-up

Exhibition Sign Up

Checklist for Exhibitions Trimester 1-2010-1

EXHIBITION REMINDERS

MILESTONE #4

DUE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010

Visual aids for all of the

ACADEMIC AREAS

(math, writing, reading, social studies, and science) 

A COMPLETE CHECKLIST FOR ALL OF THESE SUBJECTS WILL BE SENT HOME ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH

You may also view the entire checklist below.

Please call or email me with any questions or concerns.

SCHOOL BOOK FAIR

Our school book fair is Wednesday, November 4th, from 4:30 - 6:00.  Beginning at 5:00 there will be several fantastic literacy workshops for students and family members.  There will also be special book readings with teachers reading their favorite books.  This is a wonderful opportunity to browse through many different books and add to your library!

No School

NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, November 2^nd

There will be no school on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.  The teachers have a Professional Development Day.

Weekly Updates for 10/11/10

MILESTONE #2 -   Please be sure your child follows the outline format that I sent home on Friday.  The topics will match the topics that were established during your child's learning team meeting.  ******In order for you child to pass this Milestone, the outline must be written in their own words, using the driving question from the learning team form. Material copied from the internet or books will not be accepted.


Math - We have continued with Unit 1, working on factors, multiplication, and division.  It is very important for you to work with your students daily on their math facts.  Students realized how difficult it is to factor numbers without complete knowledge of their facts.  
Reading - Most groups met this week and have begun their guided reading books.  We have been focusing on making text-to-text connections, text-to-self connections, and text-to-world connections.  They have started writing in their reading response journals, with one of the paragraphs devoted to making connections to the book they are currently reading.  They are focusing also in using sticky notes or thinkmarks to track their reading.  These are used during their guided reading discussions.
Writing- Writing has not been consistent this week due to the two days of MEAP.  However, the students have been peer editing and revising on their personal narratives.  This weekend they were to write final drafts with an ending that either brought back language from the beginning of the story, had a lesson learned, or was a memory ending.  
We will be starting mysteries this next week.  This was launched in Village with students reading "The Case of the Missing Billy", by Jimmy Jimereeno.  The students participated in a Crime Lab and needed to find clues to the missing rabbit, including fingerprints, various powders, footprints, and matching blue ink to a piece of writing.  Four teachers dressed up as characters and the students asked us questions based on evidence.  An awesome time was had by all!
Science- Science was held in the Village twice this week with students working on "dancing raisins", and building molecules out of gumdrops.
MEAP- Students took the MEAP reading tests on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will be taking math and science this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.  Please be sure your child has enough sleep the night before AND a healthy breakfast that day!

Chris Van Allsburg interview

DID YOU READ TONIGHT?

Answer this question by hitting "comment" under this post. Be sure to hit "save now", and "publish post". 
Have your parents also post a comment.  Ask your parents to subscribe to the blog so they will automatically receive any new posts from me.  

Fundraiser for 5th Grade Camp

Yes, it's that time!  We all need to start contributing to the funds needed for 5th grade camp. The goal is for all to attend by raising as much money as possible and keeping the bottom line cost down as low as possible.  There was a note that went home last week regarding the first fundraiser.  The students were asked to bring $1.00 in by Monday.  I have received some, but still need much more.  Please remind your students to bring that in ASAP.

Ford Field & Haiti

WOW!  What an experience we all had today!   The students were awed by the Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford who answered some questions the kids had on eating and exercising. Jalib shook his hand and vowed to never wash that hand!  We'll be anxiously awaiting the outcome of that vow:)  There were many cameras, video cameras, several news reporters, and plenty of PR for the Lions.  I saw our kids on Channel 2 at 5:00 tonight running, jumping, and laughing.  Ask your student what they learned from the day.


We also had a speaker from Haiti in Village during the afternoon.  He described his experience during the earthquake last year, and how difficult it has been to recover from the devastation, focusing on the differences between what are students have and what they are working on to provide for students in Haiti. But, what he inspired in the kids was the believe that they can accomplish whatever they set out to do in life no matter what obstacles, as long as they dream it and believe in it.  Thank you to all those students who brought in loose change to send to the children in Haiti to help rebuild their schools.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS

Scholastic book orders are due this Friday, 10/1/20.  Soon you will be able to order books online from Scholastic. When parents order online, our class adds up additional points, which allows us to order free books from Scholastic!  The students have the latest book order and there is an incentive that if we order $20 or more this order, each student in the class will receive a free book!  Let's do it!

EXHIBITION REMINDERS

IMPORTANT:  Milestone #1 - Due Thursday, October 7th

• All resources for the interest project:  at least 3 books AND 3 websites on the correct form with a parent signature.
• Please have students double check their website information as I look at all the websites for accuracy.  If possible, please have them print the page (s) they will be using for their outline notes.

FIELD TRIP TO FORD FIELD

The fourth and fifth grade classes are going to Ford Field for a Blue Cross/Blue Shield event on Tuesday, October 5th.  We will be leaving at 9:00 and returning at 11:30.  There is not cost for the trip, but all parents must fill out waivers.  I will be sending those home Monday and they need to be returned by Tuesday, 9/28.  I'm sorry for the late notice, but we just got the waiver forms!
Students need to wear his or her RED polo shirt.  We also need 1 parent chaperone for the event.

FIELD TRIPS!!

Oh yes! We are starting our field trips with a walking trip to the local Public Library.  I'm hoping to arrange that for one day this week.  Please have your students bring their library cards if they have one.  I am also planning on having library card applications available for the students.  The goal of this trip is to have the students learn how to access the resources at the library and begin their search for books for their exhibitions.

Our week in Room 303

MATH
We have been reviewing geometric concepts such as area and perimeter of a rectangle, types of polygons, measurement conversions, and geometric transformations (rotation, reflection, and translation).  The students had their first quiz this past Friday.  Look for that to come home in their Friday Folders.

WRITING WORKSHOP
Students have begun rough drafts of their personal narratives.  They have been working on gathering ideas for their writing, pulling from special memories, experiences, and people in their lives.  They are sharing their writings with each other and will begin to revise this week.  We will be focusing on strong leads to pull readers into the story. Along with strong leads, they will be showing and not telling in their stories.  In other words, students will be using descriptive language through character dialogue and character action, as well as strong, descriptive words and phrases.

READING WORKSHOP
Students learned how to write a response letter to me this week.  This is a weekly part of our reading workshop.  They were given the task of writing about a character that was interesting to them in the form of a friendly letter.  I will answer their letter, asking additional questions about the book they are reading.

SCIENCE
We began science this week with a video of gases, solids, and liquids, which are the states of matter we'll be working with during science.  The students learned the various properties of each state.