Wednesday, January 21, 2015

January 21, 2015

Coming Up in the 5th Grade...

January 20--Math Tutor begins
     We know some of you have been patiently waiting for this to happen.  The tutor will be in the library 3:30-4:00 PM, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  This tutor will help 3rd-5th graders catch up or learn math concepts.  We hope you take advantage of this if your child needs extra help.     Important:  students must be on their best behavior, and they must be picked up promptly at 4:00.  If you want your child to take advantage of this, please let me know.

January 23, Friday--Language Arts Interim Test (Practice Test)
     These tests help us see what we still need to teach before the "real" ones coming up.  They also help students know how to manipulate the computer icons as well as get a feel for the SAGE tests.  Thanks for sending headphones for the testing.

January 25--Students may begin recording their reading minutes for the Lion's Kite Flight for      Reading.  Look for the sheet coming home with the progress report.  Students can bring their reading charts to the kite festival, where they will exchange their chart for a kite, book, or movie pass.  Our school will get money depending on the time students read.

February 4th--Begin Harmonicas (Mrs. Payne's class)
     If you would like to buy a harmonica for your child to own, s/he can bring $4.50 and buy a harmonica from me.  My harmonicas are very basic, beginner instruments.  If you want a higher quality one, you can purchase one at a music store (or online).   If you choose to buy one from another source, make sure it is in the KEY OF C.   If you do not wish to buy one, your child may borrow a harmonica from me.  It will be a used one from previous years, but cleaned and sanitized.

February 12 (Thursday)--SAGE WRITING TEST--the real thing!
February 16 (Monday)--President's Day--no school
February 19 (Thursday)--SAGE WRITING TEST-the real thing!

February 20 (Friday)--School Spelling Bee, 2:30 PM for 3rd-5th grades (2:00, 1st-2nd).
    A list of words was sent home with the progress reports today.

March 10 (Tuesday)--"You Be the Chemist" competition at SUU.  We will send one team of six students from our 5th grades to compete.  Any students interested in taking the qualifying exam may do that.

March 13 (Friday)--3rd Term Ends
April 25--Lion's Kite Flight for Reading


Thanks for encouraging your child to read at home.  My students have surprised me and taken off in a big way!  Our chart is getting full of stickers, and I am so proud of all of them.

Remember to sign the gold verification slip and send it back to school as soon as you can.  I appreciate your support, your offers to help, and your communication over the needs of your child.  We are in this together!

                                                        Sincerely, Mrs. Payne




Wednesday, January 7, 2015

January 7, 2015

                                                  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dear Parents,
   
       Can you believe we are already halfway through the school year?  The end of second term is already here, so all work must be turned in by Friday, January 9th, before 9:00 AM.  This will give me time to enter all scores so that students will know by the end of the day if they made Worker's Holiday.    I handed out progress reports today, along with a missing assignment sheet if your child has missing work.   I printed hardcopies, since so many parents asked for them, but you can check it on Power School, if you'd like.

      Worker's Holiday will be a sledding activity on Cal-Ranch hill.  That will take place on Monday, January 12, IF WE STILL HAVE SNOW.   If not, we will reschedule it for Friday 16th.  If snow doesn't come by the 23rd, we'll do an alternate activity.

      For this sledding activity, students will need:
       *Garbage Bag (large) to slide down hill (no sleds or tubes allowed)
       *Snow gloves and snow boots
       *Packet of hot chocolate or cider (we will furnish the hot water and cups)
       *Warm coat (or wear layers, so they can remove one as needed)

     Every year students show up for this activity with only thin gloves and tennis shoes.  They get wet and cold.  We teachers have given up our own gloves to students who have been ill prepared.   For their own safety, students will stay at the school if they have insufficient clothing.  However, if gloves and boots are an issue, please contact me.  Other students often have extra pairs that they are willing to share.

     SAGE WRITING TEST:  Coming up in February--and we are working hard to be prepared!
We jumped into writing an opinion essay as soon as we came back from Christmas break.  In this paper, students are learning how to cite quotes from a variety of texts and accurately use them to influence their audience.  That's a tall order for 5th graders, but after only three days of practice, their writing is becoming impressive!  

     TYPING SPEED:  Students should be getting pretty good at their typing skills by now, but I still have a few students who aren't up to 20 wpm yet.   Our top typist is Sam, who continues to clock in at speeds over 50 wpm.  (Hard to believe for an 11 year old).   I sent home another typing sheet for this week.  This is due next Wednesday.

     READING--40 BOOK CHALLENGE:  Since I gave this challenge, six students have reached the Presidential Award (16 books), and many others are closing in on it.  Three students have read over 20 books already.  Honestly, I have been blown away by the excitement students have shown toward reading.  They are reading more, and (because of their reading response journals), their writing has improved.  Thanks for  your support in this great "experiment".

       Remember that Martin Luther King day is Monday, January 19th (no school).  During that week students will watch a video about Martin Luther King, read his "dream" speech, and write a paper about their own dream.  Martin Luther King is one of my all time heroes, right beside George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  I want my students to have a great respect for this courageous man.
     Please ask your child for the bright orange verification slip stating that you have read this newsletter and have looked at the progress report.

     Thank you so much for the help and support you give me.  I appreciate the communication through email, phone, or personal visits.  You have great kids!

                                                              Sincerely,  Jeanne Payne


PS.  I'm trying to decide whether or not to teach harmonicas this year.  I've been going back and forth.  If you have an opinion, let me know.  Harmonicas would cost approximately $5.00.