HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday and prosperous New Year!

See you on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to LEO MUMPFIELD for winning the Armani Village Haiku Showdown!!! He competed against approximately 130 other 4th and 5th grade students in a poetry competition. I am very proud of him!  Click on the "Student Work" tab to view some of his winning poetry.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I could not have ask for a better way to begin my Winter Break, than with the wonderful gifts that were given to me.

THANK YOU TO...

Kaitlyn Cook and family for the teapot and mug

Brandon McLean and family for the poinsettia 

Brianna Owens and family for the card

Marissa Goodwin and family for the coffee mug and cocoa

Theo Smith and family for the hand-knitted scraf

Charlie Sutton and family for the gift card (I love to eat!!)

Exhibition REMINDER

Please make sure that your child is working on their interest project over Winter Break!

Milestone 1:

Due Wednesday, January 12^th

All resources for the “COUNTRY” interest project:

o   Students must bring in THREE books along with the printed materials from each of the THREE websites, and the form with a parent signature

Milestone 1

Milestone 2:

Due Thursday, January 27^th  

Notes from all resources in an outline format

o   During the learning team meeting, we discussed the 11 main topics (roman numerals) that need to be answered to assist your child in their “COUNTRY” interest project, which you received at the learning team meeting.

Milestone 2

NEW Narratives (Report Cards)

Our school's narratives/report cards have undergone some fairly drastic changes. They still include narrative comments, but we've added skills checklists to give you some more specific feedback on your child's performance in many areas within each subject.

I did want to discuss one thing in particular: the rating system. In the checklists, students are rated "Needs Improvement," "Developing," and "Secure." While I was filling them out, I noticed numerous students rated "Developing" in many areas (especially writing) and I want to let you know in advance that in the Fall/Winter of fifth grade, "Developing" is acceptable. It means they're where they're supposed to be and making the proper amount of progress. 

A rating of "Secure" is not very common this early in the year. The goal is to move students from "Developing" to "Secure" during the course of the year so that their fifth grade skills are solid and they are ready for sixth grade.

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

CAMP COPNECONIC

Can You Believe It?

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.

Check out the fun that previous 5th graders have had...

View more presentations from embryjd.



As you shop over Winter Break, don't forget about the items on the "What to Bring List."

What to Bring List

Sounder Book Report

Don't Forget: 

Your child's book report for the historical fiction novel, Sounder is due on Monday, December 13th. 

Board Game Instructions

BLOG UPDATE

I have just added TWO more tabs to our classroom blog!

STUDENT WORK: This tab allows you to view exceptional work. Some work that will be displayed in the future are: composition pieces, poetry, and many more!

RIGHT NOW:  Power Points that were created for Exhibitions are posted.  

HELPFUL WEBSITES: This tab provides links to websites that are used frequently in our classroom.  

RIGHT NOW: Everyday Math websites are available to help assist your child with new math concepts and homework. 


Also, links to Edmodo, Google Docs, and some of the AMPT teacher's blog are posted.

Permission Slips

Please click on the "Permission Slip" tab above and complete the Winter Celebration form. 

Winter Concert

On Wednesday, December 8th at 6 p.m. the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders will be performing in the Ellen Thompson's music concert titled, "Peace, Love, & Music." I hope to see all the families there because every student has a role in this production.

The students are expected to arrive at the school at 5:30 and to wear UPA colors (black, white, or red). 

CAMP MEETING

There will be a Winter Camp Information Meeting on Wednesday, December 8^th, before the Winter Music Concert, at 5:15 in the 3^rd Floor Village area. Information will be given regarding dates, cost, chaperones, behavior expectations, what to bring, and more. Please plan to attend this very important meeting!

BLOG UPDATE

I have just made an update to our classroom blog to make things more convenient for YOU!

Now, you can fill out forms like Permission Slips, Exhibition Sign-up forms, and Celebration forms directly on the blog, without printing paper.

Just click on the “Permission Slip” tab above. 

RIGHT NOW: I've just posted a permission slip on the blog that can be filled out for the movie, Sounder that we will be watching on Monday.

I’m going “Bananas” over…

Charlie Sutton and family for donating books to our classroom library and the box of Kleenex

Marissa Goodwin and family for donating a ream of copier paper

Brandon McLean and family for donating packs of lined paper

IMPORTANT DATE

NO SCHOOL

Thursday, November 25^th - Friday, November 26^th

I’m going “Bananas” over…

Theo Smith and family for donating packs of lined paper and the box of Kleenex

Kyra Walton and family for donating a stapler to the classroom

Exhibition Reminders

DUE DATE EXTENSION!!

Milestone 4:

Due Tuesday, November 23^rd  

Visual aids for all of the

“ACADEMIC AREAS”

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

A complete checklist outlining the requirements for Milestone #4 was sent home on Monday, November 1^st. 

Exhibition Schedule

Below you will find the dates and times we will be conducting Exhibitions in our class.

  

Please note that at least one family representation is required to attend each Exhibition and that you should count on being there for an hour to include the second trimester Learning Team Meeting.

November 29^th                      November 30^th

Marissa Goodwin                    Charlie Sutton

Tariq Simpson                        Deon Bond

Brianna Owens                       James Sinclair

Kaitlyn Cook                          Tia Curtis

December 1^st                       December 2^nd

Cariae James-Bey                  Kyra Walton

Theo Smith                           Matthew Hurt

Leo Mumpfield                      Deon Brown

Xavier Martin                        Christina Greene

December 3^rd

^{Brandon McLean}

Exhibition Reminders

SIGN UP SHEET

  

Exhibition will take place during the week of November 29^th through December 2^nd. The sign-up sheet will be sent home THIS Friday, November 5^th in your child’s Friday folder.

o   Please pick your top three (3) choices that you are able to attend by indicating 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd.

o   Return the form no later than Wednesday, November 10^th. Spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis!

o   I will return a final schedule with your child on Friday, November 12, 2010

Exhibition Sign UP

CLASSROOM ITEMS NEEDED

We are in need of the following items:

-Reams of copy paper

-Packs of lined writing paper

-Boxes of Kleenex

If you could donate any of the items listed above it would be greatly appreciated! 

Picture Day

 Picture Day will take place on Monday, November 8^th. If you would like to purchase school pictures, please return the packet and payment to school on Monday. Your child does have the option of “free dress”, ONLY if they are purchasing pictures.

Exhibition Reminders

Exhibition Reminders

Milestone 4:

Due Thursday, November 18, 2010    

Visual aids for all of the

“ACADEMIC AREAS”

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

o   A complete checklist outlining the requirements for Milestone #4 was sent home on Monday, November 1^st.

 VIEW THE COMPLETE CHECKLIST BELOW and contact me if you have any questions

Exhibtion Checklist TRIMESTER 1-2010

BOOK REPORT

Reminder: Book Reports

Due: THIS Friday, November 5th

We have been reading the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for over a month. We have been doing a variety of activities in exploration of the book (comprehension questions, movie, group discussion, etc). To conclude the story, your child will be presenting a book report on the story, THIS Friday, November 5th. 

Your child had the option to choose from any of the following: 

New Book Cover
(Kyra, Brandon, and Cariae)

Now is the chance to create a new cover for your book.  Your cover should have the author, illustrator’s name, and  a new illustration, different from the original.  Don’t forget to use the space on the front and back flaps to add information to your project.  The front flap should include information about the author, including other titles they have written and why they started writing, etc.  If there is an illustrator, please include their information on the back flap.  If your book does not have an illustrator, write five or more sentences describing your favorite part of the book.  The back cover should be a summary of the book with a minimum of five sentences.  Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation are very important. 

Character Diary
(Kaitlyn)

Choose several important days at strategic points throughout the book.  Write chronological diary entries that your character might have written if he/she kept a diary.  You need a minimal of five diary entries.  Each entry needs to be at least a paragraph in length and written in first person. Create an interesting cover for your diary.  Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation are very important.

  

Diorama
(Matthew, Deon, Brianna, Deon, Charlie)

Create a diorama for an important scene in the book.  A diorama is a miniature scene usually inside of a shoebox, using dried or living plants, stones, dirt, small figures, background pictures, and etc to create a three-dimensional effect.  On the back attached to your diorama should be paragraph, explaining your diorama.  Your report should state why you have chosen that scene and how it is significant to your book, using examples from the story.

Character Puppet or Doll

Bring your chapter book main character to life.  Your puppet or doll should have accessories that illustrate your character’s personality.  Some examples:  if your character loves to read, you could attach a book to your puppet or doll.  If your character favorite color is red, then they could have a red shirt.  You need at least five accessories attached to your puppet/doll.  Your puppet/doll should have specific details that reflect their physical features.  They should have correct hair, eye color, etc. With the doll/puppet there needs to be a report. You report should explain your selection of accessories with detail, using examples from the story.

Collage
(Tia, Xavier)

Browse through magazines, newspapers, and/or the Internet, looking of for pictures that depict 8 major scenes from your book. Then cut out the pictures and arrange them in sequential order on poster board. Underneath each picture should be 3-5 complete sentences explaining the significance of the scent/event. Your collage should tell the story of the book you read.  

NO SCHOOL

NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, November 2^nd

The school will be closed on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 for teacher’s Professional Development!

Book Fair

Our school's Book Fair this year will be on November 3rd from 4:30-6:30. We would like to invite you and everyone you know to visit our event. There will be a great selection of books and fun items at the fair. We will have literacy workshops and special book readings beginning at 5:00.  Get a jump on the holidays and start your shopping here.  Visit all of our literacy stations for your chance to be entered into the raffle for a free gift. 

Exhibition Reminders

                      Milestone 3:

Due Thursday, November 4, 2010  

ALL visual aids for the "Interest Project"

o   There needs to be at least 2 visual aids per Roman Numeral   (I, II, III), for a minimum of 6 different visual aids.

o   Each visual aid must be relevant to the Roman Numeral.

o   A detail checklist outlining the requirements will be in THIS week’s Friday folder. Please review the checklist and contact me if you have any questions.

Thank You

THANK YOU...

Matthew Hurt and family for purchasing the boxes of Kleenex for our classroom

Kaitlyn Cook and family for the box of Kleenex and the chapter book for our classroom library

James Sinclair and family for the books you donated to our classroom library.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to…

Mrs. Sutton

I appreciate your flexibility and understanding a few weeks ago during the field trip.

(sorry so late in showing my appreciation)

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of Americans during the last week of October every year. By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life.

Our school will be supporting Red Ribbon Week by participating in the following themed days from Monday, October 25 - Friday, October 29.

Monday               Born to Be Drug Free

                           Students will bring in a baby picture of themselves.                     

Tuesday              Sock it to Drugs

                           Students can wear crazy socks to school with their uniform.

Wednesday         Hats off to Saying No to Violence

                           Students can wear hats to school with their uniform.

Thursday            Team Up Against Drugs

                           Students can wear a sports jersey or shirt over their uniform.

Friday                 Dress up in Good "Character"

                           Students can wear a costume to school.

                           No goblins, witches, masks, or weapons.