Fantastic Fifth Graders in Room 53

Good morning Families-
This week went by extremely fast! Here are some highlights. Most math groups are finishing up unit 3 and have pretested on unit 4. Next week, we will test unit 3. Please look for post test packets to come home sometime next week (depending on their math teacher). Whether or not you and your child think a retake is necessary, the test packet should still return to school with your signature. Ask your child for that if you don’t see it by Wednesday afternoon. We will begin Unit 4 in new math groups on November 30th! We have also been working on our computation in both multiplication and division. We will test on Tuesday. Please review these two skills with your child. We continue to work on Birds and Flight in science. Yesterday, we discussed and filled out a graphic organizer comparing the structures of planes and the structures of birds. We then talked about how each of the four forces of flight played in role in the structure! We had a great discussion. We will continue that learning for about 2 more weeks and then move onto our next social studies unit. Here are some things that will be happening next week:

Monday – No DARE lesson
Tuesday – 3:45 Gillette Hospital Video will be shown for our community service project
Wednesday – Happy birthday to Kole, Gillette Blanket and Buddies community service project with Mrs. Housman’s class (my former first grade group!) – please note that there will be NO leveled reading today!

I think that is all for now! Have a super weekend!

Sarah

Hello Families-
We have begun our next science unit….Structures of Flight! Today, we experimented with paper airplanes and tested several variables along with a controlled experiement!! Enjoy the photos…

Good evening families-
Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to listen to your child read their DARE essay and how they pledge to stay drug and alcohol free!! It brought tears to my eyes as they described stories about how drugs and alcohol effected them in their lives or about all of their new knowledge on making responsible choices!! I am so proud to be their teacher! On Monday, November 30th, you are all invited to join us for our DARE graduation in the cafeteria. Please arrive a few minutes early as we will begin promptly at 2:45. Refreshments will be served after. We will also be able to listen to the top essay winners of each classroom chose by the DARE team. My congratulations goes out to….GRAHAM THOMPSON!!!! He will represent Room 53 while he reads his essay aloud to all of the fifth graders and their families on the 30th!! What an honor!! I am sure it was difficult for the DARE team to choose the top essay…as they were all so fabulous!!

Fifth graders—Congratulations!!!

Mrs. Gute

Once again, Turkey BINGO turned out to be a fabulous time for both me and my family! I was able to see current students and visit with former students! What a great community event! Thanks again to all who donated to our “PASTAbilities” Silent Auction basket. I will let you know shortly what the top bidder paid for it! Here is a photo of me BINGO calling with Mrs. Goodrich, we had a blast!!

I forgot to mention that Student Council is organizing a food drive for CEAP. The kick-off will be tonight at Turkey BINGO. If you bring in a non-perishable food item, you will receive a BINGO card!! Then starting next week, you can earn free tacos from Taco Bell when you donate!! The food drive will run through mid December!!

Also, please send in those old used ink cartridges and cell phones. The grade level contest is still in progress…

Sarah

Hello Families-
Happy Friday to you!! Here are some important things to remember for today and the upcoming week:

Today – Turkey BINGO is tonight from 5 – 8. Please join us! It will be a great time and check out our silent auction basket! We had enough stuff to fill two baskets!! Thanks to everyone for their generous donations! Also, Innisbruck fundraising items can be picked up tonight from 4 – 8!!

Monday – DARE essays are DUE! These essays are a large part of your childs grade. There is a formula to writing the essay in their DARE book. This project is an at home project only. Everyone will be required to read their essays aloud to the class on Monday!! Check in with your child on that assignment…

Tuesday – My math class will pretest for Unit 4

Thursday – Chuck E Cheese fundraising night in Blaine for grades 4 – 6!

Fairly quiet week next week! We will have our Blankets with Buddies project on Wednesday, November 25th. Our class along with our second grade buddy class (Mrs. Housman’s class – my former first grade class!!) will be making a total of about 10 blankets that will be donated to Children’s Hospital. It is always such a wonderful community activity! I will be sure to take many photos.

A letter was sent home regarding the DARE graduation. Here is some of the information. It will be on Monday, November 30th at 2:45 in the cafeteria. If you plan to join us, please arrive and be seated prior to 2:45. Students will be given their shirts before graduating. If you have further questions, please contact me!

I think that is it for now! I LOVE this blogging thing, so make sure to check back frequently!! Have a super weekend! Our family will be celebrating my husbands 35th birthday!

Sarah

Students that had permission today, came in during recess to view James and the Giant Peach since we just finished that as our class read aloud.  We are about 30 minutes into the video…hearing the students giggle at all the funny parts are wonderful to sit back and listen to!!  Music to my ears…

This afternoon, we worked on our Health Germ Webquest. We had enought computers so that all be two students had their own. AMAZING!! Students were guided through various activities about germs, including articles on several bacterias, Infection Detection, interactive games, and much more. They began their health assigment which is developing a comin strip about germs. Your child has the rubric with them in order to guide them while they are completing the comic strip. The assignment is due tomorrow. Below are some photos of your children hard at work!! Enjoy!

Sarah

Sarah and Shatha

Sam

Sovann and Graham

Hi Families-
I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you part of our morning routine. Each morning after WDTV announcements, our class participates in a morning meeting. It is modeled after Responsive Classroom. There are 4 main components to the morning meeting. Here they are:

1. Greeting: each morning we greet each other in a new way. We focus on making good eye contact and saying each others name. Greetings can be as simple as a firm handshake, or greeting in Spanish to as complex as tossing a ball across the circle to greet one another or adjective greetings with their name. This morning we did the adjective greeting…my personal favorite was “Good morning Respectful Ryan!”

2. Sharing: each week we will have a new share topic. Each student is assigned a day of the week to share. They are expected to share. Our share topic this week is to tell about your favorite author, book series, or book. Last week we learned about favorite desserts…moms, you should feel proud!! Most desserts were ones that you make!!

3. Activity: This part of morning meeting is where we really focus on cummunity building through a group game. A class favorite has been Night at the Museum. This morning during Be Bop Boom….I was the first person out!! Ask your child about their favorite game.

4. Announcements: This is a message that is posted on the projector that the students should read as they enter the room. I share things that will happen during the day. Also at this time, power study hall passes are given out, student council activities are shared, and other “housekeeping” type items are discussed. This makes for a smooth transition to academics.

Please ask your child to share some things they have liked best about our morning meetings. We really work hard on building community and having good sportsmanship! They are amazing students!!

Sarah

Hello Families-
We are currently learning about germs and diseases in Health. We will wrap up this unit by Friday. We will be completing a WebQuest today and tomorrow in class. Check out the link on the side of the page. Watch for a comic strip assignment to come home tomorrow along with a grading rubric.

Sarah