Week of February 7, 2010

VIP News:  We just finished two great weeks of VIP activities!  Ashlyn O'Grady and Vinson Kwan both did a super job!  Ashlyn taught us how to draw a cute animal and Vinson taught us how to write in Chinese!!!  Good job guys.  Students, don't forget to check out their newsletters in the VIP section of this website.

Valentines' Day is fast approaching and we will be celebrating on Friday.  Our party will be from 2:15 to 3pm on Friday and is a student only party!!!   My class list is in my website locker so that you all can ensure you make a valentine for each and everyone of your classmates.

Field trip to Lawrence Hall of Science.  The field trip was a great success.  We attended two classes, on on Electricity and the other on Acids and Bases.  We also were able to roam around and visit the exhibits; one was a wonderfully put together unit on Races and the other was a Building and Mazes exhibit.  Thank you to Mrs. Birdsall, Mrs. Lallana, Mr. Vallejo, Mrs. Mullins, Mrs Hu, Mrs. Rogers, and Mrs. Pecoraro for driving!

Curriculum:

Writing:  We are well into our persuasive essays unit.  We will make our final choices regarding thesis statements on Monday and the rest of the week will be used to pick our three supporting ideas and ensuring that they are all parallel.

Reading:  We have formed Fantasy Book Clubs and each club has begun their first book.  Each day the club will determine what their reading assignment is for the night.  It is each child's obligation to finish the assignment.  If the assignment does not fulfill their 3 hour a week at home obligation your child should have another book "on deck" to read when needed.  No child can read ahead of the rest of the group in their Fantasy book.

Math:  Every Monday we have a whole class Geometry and Measurement lesson and on Friday we reinforce that activity with hands on activities.  This week we will continue our lessons on metric measurement adding measuring perimeter and area into  the mix.  Friday, we will also have a quiz on the definitions and relationships between the metric units of measurement for length. A study guide was included in your homework packet.

Tuesday-Thursday each child receives small group instruction at his/her particular math level.  Please check out their math journal for more information.

Science-Please check out Mrs. Pierce's website weekly for up to date information.(link can be found in my locker).  Also, download her study guides and plan weekly science study sessions to ensure you are keeping up with her curriculum.

FAME:  Fine Arts Mini Experience:  This PTA sponsored program is back this week and I look forward to learning aside the children.  We will be enjoying this program on Friday, February 12th.

Reminder:

WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF NEWSPAPER FOR OUR "BUILD IT FESTIVAL"!!!  Please help us out!

Currently the 5th grade classes are participating in "Make Change"  and I have asked all students to bring their bottles in by Wednesday, February 9th, whether full or not!  We will work with our classmates to fill as many bottles as possible and then they will be delivered to Kira Weiss after school that  afternoon.

Parent Volunteers:  Please refer to the calendar for the schedule of volunteers!

Auction

The auction is right around the corner!!!!!  The, always-popular, 5th Grade Fun Night is returning along with some special 5th grade teacher treats that will be announced soon!!!!  Last year's Fun Night was crazy fun and included pizza, water balloon fights, hula hoop contests (yours truly is the undefeated champ!), trike races in the kindergarten yard (shh! don't tell them!!!), and lots more!  We hope many of our students will be able to join us in this memorable event.

I will be donating a day of hiking and a yummy picnic.

Our wonderful room mom, Mrs. Pavlik, has been working with the class and I to make some wonderful works of art to contribute to the auction.  I thank her for her time, positive attitude, and creativity!!!

EMAIL ISSUES:  If you do not get my email reminders to check this website please send me an email and I will try to solve the problem.