Testing Week

This week has been packed with testing and instruction.  We will have testing all this week from 8 AM until 10 AM.  ITBS is used for instructional purposes so it is very important that the children do their best, that way I will have a true profile of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

I have a meeting Thursday and Friday of this week and will be off campus.  I will have a substitute, however; Mrs. Smith-Derreth will be administering the ITBS.  I have told the students and it should be just fine.

No science or social studies this week due to testing.  We will resume the rocks and minerals unit on Monday.

Addition properties is the skills for Chapter 3.  I hope that everybody could get their book on line.  There are some great activities to go with each lesson as well as a tutorial for each skill.  Please let me know how you like it.

The science and social studies is also on line.  I will let you know when I get your children registered and ready to go.

Thank you goes out to Patrick as he was a terrific hero student.  The students enjoyed Patrick's items and DVD his mother and father made for him.  This week is Mitch's turn.  Next week, will be Katie's turn to be "Hero of The Week". Patrick's mom also sent in some really cool treasure box items.

Thanks goes to Mrs. Hamel and Mrs. Wood for hanging up our graphs and fall word clouds. Mrs. Hamel also sent in some great books on democracy. Thank you for being an important part of your child's classroom.  Thank you also goes to Mrs. Wood for copying for me, I appreciate this task as it frees me up to plan for your children.

Thanks to the Minor girls for helping me close the classroom each Friday.  I really think that it helps us stay a bit healthier as the germs do not spread, it is also nice to start each week with a fresh room.

Spelling Choices are going well.  We have some creative students.  Thank you all for supporting this hands on way of studying.  If you look closely at your child's choices a learning style just might emerge.  Good information on how your child learns.

We are writing our first paper to publication.  It is our "Response to Literature" .  We are reading Roald Dahl, Danny Champion of The World aloud.  The students have learned how to specifically describe various character traits.  Their paper describes a "goodie" and a "baddie" character in our story.  I can't wait until they are finished.

Guided Reading Groups are going well.  We have 4 different groups according to reading performance. We are focusing on how to read text.  For example, previewing an informational text by reading the title, subtitles, captions and looking at the pictures.  Forming questions in our mind before we read gives us a purpose for reading.

AR points are going well.  Four students have satisfied their requirements already.  Way to go.  You must have 8 points by Oct. 15th.  If your child has below 4 points and they are reading AR then they are behind.  Please encourage them to read and take tests. 

Fact Buddies must be going well as we have 10 students who are on multiplication.  Way to go, we make a great team! (students, teacher, parents, fifth graders)

Problem solving in math is done on Mondays.  We are learning how to perform on our Cobb County Math rubric.  Each Monday students work in their math journals to solve math word problems.  I look forward to much improvement in this area.  We are exploring various problem solving strategies.

I have met with many of you over the past couple of weeks.  Thank you for being willing to take time to discuss your child.   I appreciate your involvement. 

I am working on the October calendar and will have it attached as soon as possible.  Remember, most of my communication is via my BLOG.  The reason for this is so that you can always go back and refer to it.  It is important that we develop good communication skills and are able and willing to access information pertinent to the class.

I have a cutting project if anybody would like to volunteer.  I have received "Mountain Math".  I am excited but it is a ton to cut out. I can send home and the directions are easy.  Please let me know if anybody is interested in cutting out our MT Math stuff.  I would need it by the end of next week at the latest. 

As always if you have questions ask, my door is always open to you.  Have a wonderful week.

secret word: mineral