Tuesday, November 27, 2012

November 28, 2012

Dear Parents,
       Several of you have asked me questions about the Ancestor Share Fair, so I will try to dispel any confusion.  I am sorry about the dates on the letter that was sent home.  These are the real dates:

Friday, November 30---Ancestor Interview Questionnaire is due.
(I will look at it, check it off, and return it so your child can use the info to type his/her narrative).

Monday, December 10--Ancestor Share Fair Display board is due. 
Students will share this with the class in the morning, then display it in the gym 2:30-3:15.  You are invited to walk through and see all the displays.   The board can be a small or large tri-fold science-fair board that you purchase, or you can fold a nice piece of cardboard yourself.   Just remember that it needs to stand by itself on a table. 

                            
  * On the display board, you will need:
     1.   A typed (or neatly written) narrative about your ancestor.
     2.  Picture or drawing of the county s/he came from.
     3.  Picture or drawing of the mode of transportation that brought him/her to America.
     4.  A tradition or value that has been passed down, such as hard work, religion,
          wood carving,  music, etc.
     5.  Name of the ancestor.  (A photo is not necessary, but you can add one).
     6.  Anything else you'd like to add to make it interesting.

Please help your child gather information about your ancestor, share stories, etc.  Your help is needed, and I hope this will be a good experience for your family.  When it comes to the writing and typing, however, please make sure your child types this in his/her own words.  This is important, because I would like to enter these narratives in the Sons of the Utah Pioneers Essay Contest, and they need to be the work of your child.  For this reason, I am asking that you print two copies--one for the display, and one for the contest.

Tuesday, December 4--Talent Share in music class (with Mrs. Leavitt)

 Friday, December 21--Biography/Autobiography Book Project (share in front of the class)
       Your child should be reading a biography book. I am waiting until the Ancestor Share Fair is over before this new project is due. This should be a do-it-yourself project (whew!).  I am assigning a Box Book Report.   Any box will do--cracker box, shoe box, cereal box.  The outside can be
covered with paper and the "ingredients" of the book written on the outside.  More info will be coming home on this.

WRITING:
        Thanks for sitting down with your child and helping with the essay about living in Cedar City.  Several students told me that their scores went up after you helped them revise.  Every improvement is a good reason to cheer.  Thank you!
I am really trying to boost their writing skills so they can score in the twenties (30 is a perfect score).  I hope you read the letter I sent home regarding this.  We are working toward a class party, and we will celebrate when 75% of the class achieves a score of 24 or higher.  So far, eight students have achieved a high score and others have been steadily improving.  I am so proud of their diligent efforts in revising.

SCIENCE:
We have been madly mixing together chemicals and conducting science investigations.  Ask your child to explain to you the evidences of a chemical reaction.
Next Friday (December 7) we will have a culminating activity for our chemistry unit.
We are asking for a 50-cent donation so we can buy ingredients to make fudge.  The question of the day is: Is this a chemical or physical change? 

The last day of school before Christmas vacation will be Friday 21st.  School will resume again on January 7th.

We have a new student.  Welcome Caleb!

Birthday Greetings to Emily and Jake! 

Thanks for all the effort you put into your child's education.  I am grateful for your support.

--Jeanne Payne




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

November 2012

To the parents of a great bunch of fifth graders,

        I want to say thanks for encouraging your child's typing practice at home.  I know we'll see a difference as they continue to practice. 
         Each week, I will send home a typing sheet attached to the weekly Reading Record.  Students will record the time spent typing, get your signature, and return the slip on Monday, along with their Reading Record.  This will be easier for me to record, and hopefully, students can  remember better and keep track of each record sheet.  Please look for the one sent home for this week.  It is due back on Monday.  (Next week it will be attached the Reading Record).
      
       Important:  Mr. Oldroyd is asking that you call the office and excuse your child whenever s/he is absent.  In an effort to keep students safe, please call or email before 10:00 AM.  That way, we can make sure that your child is really at home. 

     Here is what's happening in our classroom:

     SOCIAL STUDIES--We finally won the American Revolution and are now studying the three branches of government and the Constitution.  This is timely with the Presidential Election.  Speaking of the election, we cast our votes in our classroom, and Romney won 95% of the votes.  With the news of O'Bama's win, some of the students were worried and one of them asked, "What will happen to us now?"
     This question startled me.  Fifth graders shouldn't have those kinds of worries.  I assured them that we will be OK.  No matter who is president, we still live in the greatest country on earth.   I hope that you will have a discussion about this if your child is concerned.

       SCIENCE-- We are studying physical and chemical changes.  This is an exciting unit where we get to be Mad Scientists mixing chemicals.  We began the unit with a visit from SUU chemistry students, who performed amazing tricks in our classroom with fire and color.  They even set off the fire alarm!

     READING--Our new unit is on Immigration.  The culminating activity will be an Ancestor Share Fair on December 10.  Look for a letter and an Interview Sheet to come home next week with the details.

     LANGUAGE ARTS--Our school purchased a cart of Chrome Books, and we are loving them!
So far, our class is the first to use them.  We are learning how to use Google-docs as we type our latest persuasive paper.    We're continually working to improve our writing skills.

     MATH--This class is a hard working group.  They are willing to stay in the struggle in solving math problems.  I am proud of them!  Thanks for your extra help at home.

     *November 14--Progress Report and letter about Ancestor Share Fair comes home
     *November 20-- Worker's Holiday
     *November 21-23--Thanksgiving Holiday

The most important events of November are the birthdays of  Ethan, Tara, Brinley, and Becca!

          Thanks for your continued support in educating your children.   I truly enjoy each day I spend with them.   Please don't hesitate to contact me.

              --Jeanne Payne      586- 2850  (school)      586-4744  (home)
                                             jeanne.payne@ironmail.org