Week of April 25th - 28th

Important Dates:
May 3rd:     Muffins with Mom 
May 3rd:     High School band comes to perform for 5th grade students
May 13th:   5th Grade Track & Field Day

TRACK and FIELD DAY:
Our class has already chosen their events and they are practicing! A note went home with your child Thursday about this event. If you have additional questions, please contact me.


POETRY BRUNCH:
Thank you to all of you that were able to be a part of our audience. Thank you also to parents who brought brunch items for us! > Cathy Dykema, Amy Klanderman, Lynae Wolfram, Bridget Scoville, Tara Blood, Kathy Eastman, and Missy Eustice! The kids worked hard and really looked forward to this day. I have put some pictures below:

READING: 
We will begin literature circles next week.

SCIENCE:
We have been caring for and observing our animals. We are studying behavioral and physical characteristics and survival needs. We are beginning to move into inherited traits as well as behavioral and physical adaptations. Your child will have some homework for you next week!

WRITING:
We will read some Pourquoi tales and then write one of our own. A Pourquoi is a fictional story that explains the reason something is the way it is. For example, Why does the giraffe have a long neck or why does a cheetah have spots?

MATH:
We continue to practice converting units which can be tricky, but students are getting a handle on it! We have also learned about perimeter and area. We are practicing using the formulaic format when working area problems in order to prepare for algebra in middle school.

POETRY BRUNCH CHANGE!

I (more than once!) have put the poetry brunch at 9:40 on Wednesday.
The time will actually be moved up an hour to 8:40!!
We will be in Music from 9:30-10:00- I cam sorry for my silly mistake! 
I will also sed a note home about this on Monday!

Week of April 18th-22nd

                   Upcoming Dates: 

- April 27 - Poetry Brunch (See below) 
- May 3 -    Muffins With Mom

- May 13 -  Track and Field Day (a note will come home soon!)

- June 3 -    Dunes Field Trip (rain date June 6)

Poetry Brunch/Writing: We've been writing poems and practicing reciting poems for our Poetry Brunch on Wednesday. Students will be reciting poems from other authors and their own work will be displayed around the room. If you wish to come, please plan to be there by 8:40 in our classroom on Wednesday, April 27th.

Puberty Lessons:

We have concluded our lessons on puberty.

All participating 5th grade students watched 2 videos about puberty on Friday and had the opportunity to ask questions. (We have them write questions anonymously if they wishand then we read and answer.) Some questions can't be answered by us as they aren't part of our curriculum. There are many books that are suitable for students this age to read with a trusted adult which may make discussing this subject easier for you and your child. I encourage you to discuss changes your child will be going through so they are more comfortable coming to you when they have questions as they come up. 

Charlton Park Trip:

Thank you to our volunteer parents that came along on our trip. The students enjoyed the day! Students were responsible on the bus and at the Charlton Park and I appreciate this very much! 

Track and Field Day:

Students are preparing for track and field day events. Next week they will sign up for 3 events. WISH will call parents to volunteer for this day. Whether you volunteer or not, all parents are welcome to come enjoy the day with your child and watch from the bleachers! 

Dunes Trip:

Please remember to turn in the purple paper sent home by May 3rd if you plan to attend and/or donate items.

MEAP:
Scores were sent home for he MEAP test that was taken in October, 2010. Please call if you have questions.




Reading: We finished reading and discussing our novel, Long Way from Chicago, and will begin Literature circles next Tuesday. Students will be working in small groups reading and participating in discussion/activities based on their novel.

Math: We began our first unit on measurement this week. Concepts covered were measuring and converting units of length in customary units and metric units which we will work on next week as well. We will also learn perimeter and area and reviewing past concepts.

Science: We spent time caring for and observing our hermit crabs. We are focusing on behavioral and physical characteristics and how these help the crabs survive.

 

WEEK OF APRIL 11-15

Welcome Back to school! I'm glad everyone had a pleasant break, and now we're all back to reality!

- April 20 - Charleton Park trip
- April 27 - Poetry Brunch (See below) 

- May 3 -    Muffins With Mom

- May 13 -  Track and Field Day

- June 3 -    Dunes Field Trip (rain date June 6)

Today was "Yellow Day" in order to encourage spring to stay! We wore yellow, watched the OLD video for the song,  "Mellow Yellow" while we drank Mellow Yellow, watched the "Yellow Brick Road" Muppet video, made and ate some scrambled eggs, ate some Lemon Heads, and finally had banana popcicles. Whew! It was a yellow day. I forgot my camera to take pictures! :(

Puberty Lessons begin next week. 
Students will bring short assignments home to discuss with you. The videos will be shown on Friday. Boys and girls are separate for this, but watch both videos. Mr. Hoekstra teaches this part to the boys so they are a little more comfortable. If you have not sent your child's permission form back, it is assumed that he/she is to be included in these lessons. 

3 Field Trips Left!

FIELD TRIP! WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20TH
Wednesday is our field trip to Charleton Park! Please remember to send $5 with your child for this. Students will need a snack, sack lunch, and a drink. I will send a second note about this on Monday. We'll be touring a pioneer village in Hastings.
We'll see a general store, one room school house, military museum, and a typical home where students will make vegetable soup and butter to eat! As the note said, there is a gift shop with trinkets and candy. I encouraged the kids not to go crazy there- a couple dollars for some candy to $5 for candy and a little souvenir is plenty if they want to get something.

DUNES FIELD TRIP:
Today your child should have come home with a purple note about the Dunes trip which is June 3rd. If you have questions about any of the information, please call or email me! If you want to join us, a WISH form MUST be turned in by May 3rd! Many of you filled one out earlier this year. If you are unsure, I can fins out for you!


TRACK AND FIELD DAY
Track and Field Day is May 13th. Parents and other family members may come watch this fun event where the 8 - 5th grade classrooms compete against each other. Very fun!


Science: Tomorrow I will be picking up our tree frogs and hermit crabs and disgusting meal worms to feed the frogs for our Systems unit. Monday I will show students how to handle and care for these creatures- and what to do when one gets away from us. Fortunately, I haven't had a death since I accidentally dropped a couple dwarf frogs down the vents when I subbed in Mrs. Slotman's 4th grade a few years ago! Thankfully, tree frogs are too big for that to happen. 4 frogs and 4 crabs will be able to be adopted by the end of May. I will send home a page about needs and care along with a permission form later. If too many students want one, I will have a drawing.


Math:
We will take the test over our very short ratio and percents unit on Tuesday. We did the study guide today, reviewed it, and students were quite confident. We'll review on Monday and students should study the guide. Our last 2 units are measurement.


Reading:
At this time, we are reading A Long Way from Chicago. Set in the depression era of the 1930's, this is the story of 2 Chicago kids who go spend a week each summer with their very colorful grandmother in a tiny Illinois town. We have learned some history along the way- prohibition, the depression, gangsters of Chicago, the roles of men and women of that era, and about various items that people used. I'll read the sequel as a read aloud later. 
Thursday was an anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. We read some articles about this event. We used our information to discuss who was at fault from the evidence and lessons learned from this tragedy. We'll finish this on Monday.

Writing:
We are reading and writing some poetry this week and next. We're focusing on imagery and word choice. I will send a note about this, but we would like to invite you to a Poetry Brunch on April 27th at 9:45. Students will read some of their poems and we will have a little brunch! 


Have a wonderful weekend!

Week of March 21st to 28th

SAVE THE DATE!
Please save Friday, June 3 for our field trip to Saugatuck for a dune ride, hike to Lake Michigan, lunch and a time of celebration!!
(Monday, June 6 is the rain date) Any parents who wish to join us are welcome, however, you MUST be registered with the WISH volunteer program. If you have not yet signed up with WISH for the current school year, you must do so prior to MAY 3. Forms can be found in the front entrance of our school. More information will be sent home after Spring Break.


Music Performance- Monday March 28th
The 3rd - 5th grade students will be having their music performance this coming Monday night at the high school auditorium.  The students need to be there by 6:45 with their recorders.  They will need to be dressed in nice clothing (Sunday Best)! 

UPCOMING DATES:

-  March 28:  3rd-5th Music Program at the High School

-  March 30: Hawaiian/ Beach Day, Ch. 8 Math Test

- April 1 - 8: Spring Break!!!

Spelling Test

 The tests are on Monday as usual. We have been studying homographs. I have been telling the students that if they are frequently missing 3-4 words or more, they should be studying the words on Spelling City.


Math:
We completed the Chapter 8 study guide and we will continue to review for the Chapter 8 math test (Fraction operations) which is on Wednesday. Students should take the study guide home on Monday
and study this.  


Reading: 
Students have finished reading their biographies and have been working on activities to demonstrate what they have learned. They will present their biography information on Monday and Tuesday. They are aware that activities are to be completed this weekend.


Writing:
We are wrapping up our most recent writing project. Monday and Tuesday, students will complete editing, revising, and final drafts. Wednesday and Thursday they will present their writing to the class.


Science:
We will conclude our Forces and Motion unit on Wednesday with the test. We have already done the study guide. Students are supposed to be studying in class ans we will study during science. They should bring the study guide home on Tuesday night and study that evening as well. Our next science unit is "Systems". We will be studying human body systems briefly and then ecosytems. We'll be getting hermit crabs and tree frogs to study and care for. I will send a permission note home in May for students who wish to bring one home. The note will include materials needed to care for the critter and how to care for it.  If more students want animals than the amount I have, we'll have a drawing.


Reproductive Health will begin after spring break. You will be receiving a note next week about this.

Week of March 14-18

Upcoming Dates:
March 22nd: Author visit-Sue Stauffacher
March 25th: Family Fun Night
March 28th: 3rd-5th grade music program
March 28th & 29th: Book Swap
March 30th: Hawaiian/Beach Day

Music program: Students in the program should be at the stage by 6:45.

Author Visit: Students will hear from author Sue Stauffacher next Tuesday from 1:30-2:30.

READING  and Puppets

We will begin reading biographies in class on Monday and the kids have been making a puppet in art in the likeness of their topic. The last day of art class to work on these was Friday. Some students need to finish these at home- some paint, material for clothing, etc. They can also take a little spare class time for this as well, if needed. I had them take them home on Friday to finish and keep there for now because of space in the classroom. I would like them to have their puppet to present on Monday, March 28th along with their information about their biography subject. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

MATH:

We took the chapter 7 (fractions) test on Friday. The test will come home next week. I like to review the test with each student and didn't have the opportunity on Friday. We continue to work in Chapter 8 (fractional operations). We will take this test Tuesday Mar. 29th.

SCIENCE:
Our forces and motion unit is wrapping up. This week we discussed forces and motion of roller coasters. We read an informational book, and then each student was able to try a site on the computer that allowed them to design a roller coaster keeping in mind the importance of momentum, a lift hill, exit path and hill shape. Their roller coaster had to get a thumbs up rating for safety and fun! After they tried this for awhile, I let them spend a little time playing a roller coaster game on another site.
 Monday we'll be designing our own roller coasters in class. I will be spending plenty of time reviewing for the test (Wednesday March 30th) as this is such along unit.  

WRITING:
We continue to work on a piece of writing focusing on voice, word choice, and point of view. Students  are writing about a situation based off of a book we read. Students were able to choose to write a news report, a talk show interview, another scene like one from the book, or a conversation between 2 characters. They'll present these next week.

Week of Feb. 28th - March 4th

- March 2:     Sports Day

- March 10:   Family Reading Night Event (6:30 - 8)
- March 11 - 14: No School

- March 16:   Favorite Character Day

- March 25:   PTO Family Fun Night

  March 30:   Hawaiian/Beach Day 

Please remember! Turn in your $7 for your Track and Field Day shirt!
I know there are many trips, etc. this year to pay for. If this is an issue for you, please contact me by phone, note, or email!

FYI: Charleton Park is our next field trip. Mrs. Maxson's and Chateau's classes will be going on March 31st while our class will be going with the Sandyview 5th grade on April 20th. They can only accommodate 2 classes at a time.

Middle School Principal, Mr. Smith, came in to visit on Friday. He showed us a video of a day in the life of a 6th grader that was very informative. Students who have returned their yellow slip will also be going to visit the middle school on March 17th! This will be fun and informative and certainly relieves some of the anxiety students tend to have. They will receive a snack, a tour and information, and there will be some fun activities such as inflatables! 

READING: 
We continue reading and discussing the novel, The Fighting Ground. Students are enjoying this historical fiction piece set during the Revolutionary War, a topic they are also learning about in social studies. We work on reading and comprehension strategies and skills, vocabulary, grammar, and dictionary skills.


MATH: 
We have begun our next unit covering fractions - Chapter 8. We will take the Chapter 7 test over fractions on March 18th. Chapter 7 concepts such as simplifying fractions, changing improper fractions to mixed numbers, equivalent fractions, and finding a common factors are required in Chapter 8 giving students more opportunity to practice for the Chapter 7 test.
In Chapter 8 so far, we have learned to add/subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators as well as practice finding the LCM, or least common denominator.


MATH RTI- Each student is working on specific skills in fractions they continue to need to practice. Students that already are confident in these skills are working in other areas.


SCIENCE:
This week we discussed magnetism and contact and non-contact forces. Most movement/work requires some kind of contact force. But there are also non-contact forces such as gravity and magnetism. Students performed an experiment that showed a non-contact magnetic force- they were able to "float" a paper clip in air using a bar magnet. Then I was very impressed to watch as students were able to come up with other ideas to show this force. We also played a game I have called "Jishaku" (sounds like "just shock you").
This game uses magnetic "rocks". If you're looking for a new game at home- they love this one!


WRITING:
We have worked on brochures this week that either persuade others to join the patriots or persuade others to move to the colonies. Students were to use some historically accurate information for these. Students know brochures are due on Monday.


SPELLING:
The spelling test will be Monday. We have reviewed adding suffixes to base words, in particular
-s and -es.