March 2012

We have cause to celebrate: the Direct Writing Assessment was a huge success for every student in our class!  I won't have the results for months, but I know that my students did well because I peeked over their shoulders as they took the test.  I was impressed with their arguments.  The organization of their papers was expertly written, and their choice of words brought a big smile to my face.  They definitely wrote with "voice", and I was thrilled!   All our hard work was worth it.  Even those students who have struggled with writing did better than I ever expected.

Language Arts:  
 Now that we can relax a little, we are going to write a twisted fairy tale, and just have fun with developing main characters, setting, and plot.

Science:
We are wrapping up our unit on Current Electricity.  Thanks to you parents who came in and helped with our circuit cities.  They turned out to be works of art.  Next week we will begin studying Inherited Traits.  This is a fun unit where we will explore living creatures and their traits.  Why do people look like they do?  What causes certain behaviors?  What is learned and what is inherited?
 
Social Studies:
Students just presented their Civil War Projects-- poems, videos, art, games, dioramas, and reports.
Beautiful display!   We will move on to World War 1, The Great Depression, and
World War 2.
I'd love you to come and share with us, if you have an interest or knowledge in one of these areas.

Math:
We just finished learning about perimeter, surface area, and volume.

Reading:
Most of the class is plowing ahead, trying to reach their Reading Revolution goal, and read their assigned "Battle of the Books" books.   Keep reading!

Arts Night is coming up on March 19 (Monday) at 5:30 PM.  Our class would like to perform their harmonicas.  I know that not everyone will be able to come, and that's OK.   I'll let everyone know when to meet.   I am also giving extra credit points to every student who performs on his/her own or in a group.  They can do a dance, karate, jokes, art, magic show, poem, sing, piano, violin, etc.

-Science Fair is Thursday, March 22.
-School Musical is Friday, March 22, 23 (6:30 PM)
-DARE Graduation is Monday, April 2 at 1:00 PM.
-Peter Pan production is Tuesday, April 3, 10:00.
    *Our class is going so we can watch Harvey perform!

Thank you for helping your children at home with their essays.  I'm convinced that your one on one help gave them the leg up they needed on the assessment.    I am so lucky to have enthusiastic students and supportive parents. 
Thanks for your teaching and training at home.  These are amazing kids!

--Jeanne Payne







 

January 2012

Happy New Year!

It's good to be back into a routine.  I hope you had a relaxing vacation.

Parents, I have a few concerns that I need your help with.
First, our fifth graders will take the Direct Writing Assessment (statewide writing test) the last week of February.  Although they are making great strides in their writing, most of them need an extra push at home.  I sent home a letter today asking if you could sit down with your child and read the essay s/he has written, then help with revision and editing.  There is a checklist that you can use to help you. I hope that you will be able to find the time to do this.
I need the essay to be returned to school by Monday, so that we can go to the computer lab and try to type them within an hour time.  I say "try" because many of the students in the class type slowly, and can't finish the essay in an hour...

This brings me to my other concern.   Please encourage your child to practice typing everyday, using proper fingering, so they can be more prepared to take the big test.  I believe daily practice is needed.

I would like to begin teaching the harmonica on January 18 (Wednesday).  I understand that about half of the class received harmonicas for Christmas (excellent!).   The rest can purchase one from me for $4.50, or you can buy one at Cedar Music Store.  If you choose not to purchase one, I have a few I can loan.  It's nice if students have their own, so they can take it home each night and practice, but whatever you decide.

Science:  We are studying magnets now, a fascinating unit for students (and me!)
Social Studies:  We are beginning our unit on the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.  If you have a special interest in either of these subjects (magnets or Civil War) and would like to share with us, I would love you to come and spend some time with us.
Math:  Fractions

End of second term ends January 13.  All work must be turned in then.

Thank you for your help with the writing.   We do a lot of writing in class, but I believe that the fine tuning of writing composition must be taught one-on-one.  I know it's another thing for you to do, but I believe your help will provide the boost that your child needs to succeed in this.

Thanks again for your support!
--Jeanne Payne

December Happenings

Hi all,

Take a minute and look at the photos of our Ancestor Share Fair at the bottom of this entry.

I sent home a progress report yesterday.  I hope you received that.  

Tomorrow (Friday, 2:30) our school choir and orchestra will perform for the other students.  I'm looking forward to that performance.  It's always fun to see my students shine.

Coming up on the 15th (Thursday), we will walk to the Randall Jones Theater at SUU and watch

"A Christmas Carol".  This will cost each of us $1.00.  We plan to leave the school at 9:15 AM and return in time for lunch.  Please make sure you sign the permission slip that was sent home yesterday.

On Friday 16th we will have a Christmas party in the afternoon (that is, if we earn it, and we're pretty close).  I made a deal with my class that if three students could achieve a perfect score of 30 on

one of their essays (utahwrite.com), and 90% of the class could score 24 or higher, we would double the length of the party and really celebrate!  They have been working on revising their essays so that they can increase their score.  Any practice they can get at home would be excellent.

We will begin learning how to play harmonicas in January.  The cost will be approximately $5.00, maybe less if I can find a better deal.  If you want to give one to your child for Christmas, just make sure that it is in the key of C.  You can buy them at the Cedar Music Store, or you can buy one from me later.  If you'd rather not buy one at all, I have a few that I can loan out.

We're learning about geometry now in math, and we're winding up our unit on chemical/physical changes in science.  In social studies we're learning about the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, and the Mexican War. 

I can't believe that Christmas is just around the corner.  We're trying to pack a lot into next week.

Thanks for supporting my efforts here at school.  I hope you will contact me with your concerns.

I love my students and want them to be happy, confident, and successful.

Have a relaxing and memorable holiday!

--Jeanne Payne

November 2011

Important things to know for November:

 
     4th--Reflections Contest entries due.  (Thanks for encouraging students in this).
     8th--Pricila's birthday!
    11th--5th Grade Art will be displayed in the Sharwan Smith Center (SUU) for Veteran's Day.
    11th--Interview Questions for the Share Fair are due.  Students will use the information on this form to write the biographical essay about their ancestor.
    13th--Chandler's birthday!
    16th--Thanksgiving dinner for school lunch.  This is on Wednesday instead of Thursday (mistake on the school lunch menu).
    21st--5th Grade Ancestor Share Fair.  This is a big event, and will be held in the gym.  Family and friends are invited to drop in anytime between 2:00 and 3:15.
    23rd-25th--Thanksgiving Holiday

Parents,
I have a couple of Share Fair displays set up in my classroom, if you'd like to drop by and look at them.
Remember, the only items required on the board are:  map of the country ancestor came from (students can draw or print one),  mode of transportation (sketch or picture),  information about the ancestor (typed or very neatly written),  value or tradition passed down  (religion, music, work ethic, skill, honesty, etc).  Anything else students wish to add to their displays are welcome.  Pictures, interesting facts or stories, artifacts, etc.

Yes, you may help your child.  We hope you will make this a family project.  The one thing we need students to do on their own is to write up the information in their own words. You can share with them the information, but they need to write it their way, using the information they wrote on the interview questionnaire.  We would like to enter these essays in the Sons of the Utah Pioneers Essay Contest in April.  Even though your ancestor may not have lived in Utah, we can still enter them in this contest.  Please call or email if you have questions.

Please encourage your child to practice typing at home.  A few minutes every day would be wonderful.  Thanks.

Because of your children, I am truly enjoying this school year.  Every day I smile all the way home, thinking about things they did and said!  I love getting to know them.
 
--Jeanne Payne 

PS:  Happy birthday, Pricila and Chandler!

October 2011 Update

I have enjoyed meeting with all of you during SEP conferences, and discussing your child's progress.
A few dates to remember:
     October:
Friday  7th:          Book Projects are due
Monday 10th:      Choir concert @ 6:00
Sunday 16th:       Karsen Bleazard's birthday!
Monday 17th:      2nd book report due for Reading Revolution
                             and picture retake day
Tuesday 18th:      Final progress report for first term/newsletter
Thursday-Monday 20-24:  NO SCHOOL (Fall Recess)
Tuesday 25th:      All work for first term must be turned in to earn the Worker's Holiday (80% average
                               is also a requirement).
Wednesday 26th:  Worker's Holiday (further info coming October 18)
Wednesday 26th:  Volcano Explosion Day (more info coming home)
November 4:         Reflection's Contest due  (Theme is "Diversity is...")
November 4:         SUU Braithwaite Gallery Tour
November 21:       Ancestor Share Fair  (more info will come home).

I encourage all my students to enter the Reflection's Contest this year.  Entries are in the office.
We are learning more about erosion and weathering in science. We'll end this unit in a week or two.
The Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence are the topics for social studies, and we're getting ready to print our final copies of our scar story. 
Happy birthday, Karsen!  I love having you in my class this year.

One concern:  Most of our fifth grade students need to increase their typing speed, with their fingers in the correct position.  I plan on sending home some keyboarding homework to help with this. 

This year is going very well.  I have already fallen in love with your children!
Email or call if you'd like to discuss a concern with me.

Thanks,
Jeanne Payne
 



   

Here's What's Happening--September 2011

Items to Calendar:
     September:
          8th--After-school class, 3:30-4:15
          9th--School pictures
          12th--Back to School Bash, 5:30-8:00 PM
          13th--Orchestra & Arts Rotations begin, 1:15-2:00
          15th--Vision Screening
          23rd--Cedar Mountain Field Trip
          26th--Worker's Holiday, Kickball Tournament
          30th--Maturation Program

I sent home a packet of important papers today; I hope you had a chance to look at them.  They
included your child's progress report, September newsletter, permission slip for the field trip,
permission for the maturation program, and the Back to School Bash.  Please sign and return the permission slips.

August Reading Planner:  I apologize for miscalculating the reading time for August.  If your child read 300 minutes, s/he earned full credit.  If more than that was read, I gave extra credit (unless it was turned in late, then no extra credit was given).   For September, I expect students to read 600 minutes.

Students are enjoying the Kindles.  They are fun to read.  We have only six of them, but each student should be able to check one out every six weeks of so.   

I hope the newsletter your child brought home explained all of the above activities.  If you still have questions, please contact me.

Happy Birthday this month to Allie Nielsen!  We are lucky to have her in our class.

I am really enjoying your children.  This is a hard working and respectful group of students.
Thanks for sharing them with me this year.

Jeanne Payne 




         

August 24, 2011

Dear Parents,

Welcome!   I'm excited to begin a new year, getting to know you all and making wonderful memories.
I am enjoying getting to know your children these past few days. I love them already!   I have a great bunch of students this year.  It seems that I always get an amazing class, and I have you to thank for that.  You are doing an admirable job as parents, and I realize that you are trusting me with your most valuable "possessions".   I want you to know that I take that responsibility seriously.  I will do all I can to make sure they feel safe here, and that they are stretched academically.

     *We are working for a yummy pan of brownies, but we can't get it until the entire class has come prepared with math homework ten days in a row.  So far we have been successful four days in a row.  Please double check with your child to see if s/he is prepared each day.  I want the first ten days to be a great success!

It is easy for me to communicate with you by email, and you are welcome to contact me that way.
My school account is:   jeanne.payne@ironmail.org

Please feel free to come visit with me about your child.  I want to know how I can best help
him/her succeed this year. 

Also, please send me a short reply, so that I know you received this.

Thanks,
Jeanne Payne