Don’t forget to login to the portal to enter your student’s electives for next year! February 9th (today) is the deadline. The county provided a Planning Guide for Students and Parents that went home yesterday. This guide covers class options all the way through high school!
For our writing lessons next week, students will need yellow, pink, and blue highlighters or markers to use as we systematically reflect and grow in our writing style.
Valentine’s Day is next week. Please be cognizant of sending a Valentine for every student in the class if you choose to send them in. Due to food allergies please remember that there can be no candy with nuts sent in to the classroom. The students wrote down the names of their classmates on a sheet of paper that is in their purple folders. Here is a link to our class list if you should need it. class list 2017
Strawbridge Studios sent a package of pictures home to each student a few weeks ago. Please be sure to send the packet back, or send the payment envelope back so I can check your child off the list.
2/9 Final day to go on Parent Portal for 6th grade elective selection
2/12 Report cards go home
2/12 5th Grade Visits the GAR store – Bring in calendars for the 2nd nine weeks (Nov, Dec., & Jan) with total number of minutes read calculated
2/12 – 2/16 GAES Kindness Week sponsored by Mrs. Sitter
2/15 Social Studies Quiz on the Northeast Region Vocabulary (more information below)
2/16 YMCA Aquatics Field Trip (5J & 5L)
2/19 now a regular school day
2/20 Social Studies Unit Test on the Northeast Region (additional information below)
2/21 Family Life
2/21 Math Benchmark Part 1
2/22 Math Benchmark Part 2
2/27 Jump Rope for Heart
What’s Happening in Reading?
In reading we will be working on comprehension skills that include characterization skills, conflict, and plot characteristics. We will also begin a unit on poetry.
Book Buffet Book Report
The students are so excited about our book report for the 3rd nine weeks – the return of the great Glen Allen Book Buffet!
Click on this link for the electronic version of the directions and rubric. Book-Buffet Book Report.
Check out this video of past Book Buffet Book Reports!
The Book Buffet book report was assigned on Tuesday, January 30 and is due on Thursday, March 29. Please be sure your child is managing their time wisely in reading and completing the book report. We outlined parameters for good time management and documented it in our book report direction packet in class. Please be sure that your child has returned the form indicating that you have reviewed the directions with him/her. This was due on Friday, Feb. 2.
GAR (Glen Allen Reads – incentive program): Is your child logging his/her GAR minutes on their calendar? Be sure that they have picked up the February log to keep in their GAR folder. The calendars are always ready for pick up on the reading area bookshelf. The GAR program is a fun way to reward the reading that your child does each day at home. Our next visit to the GAR store will be on Monday, February 12th. Students should bring in their Nov., Dec. & Jan. GAR calendars on Monday with the total number of minutes read calculated.
We will pick up with our second unit of Greek and Latin Roots this week for our reading vocabulary and spelling. The students were amazed at the fact that over 60 percent of all English words have Greek or Latin roots. In the vocabulary of the sciences and technology, the figure rises to over 90 percent! (http://blog.dictionary.com/word-origins/).
Spelling City: Please have your child log onto Spelling City 2-3 times each week to 
practice the reading vocabulary. This is such a fun way to increase their knowledge and application of the weekly vocabulary words and to review past lists as well. Look for the link to Spelling City on the right hand side of the blog.
Writing
In writing the students will be working on recognizing and utilizing quotations correctly and on interjections. We will also be enjoying some “Free Write” time and begin to learn some new techniques for editing work.
Social Studies:
We are loving our study of the northeast region in our geography unit in social studies. Students have the northeast study guide map glued into their notebooks. They also have the northeast flash cards to review the states and capitals. There will be a quiz on the Northeast vocabulary terms on Thursday, February 15. For the quiz students will be required to fill in the correct vocabulary word for each definition. Students should use their vocabulary flash cards or the Northeast Region Vocabulary sheet in their notebook to prepare for this quiz. We will continue to work in our interactive notebook on the the northeast region. It would be beneficial for your child to review the notebook and the flashcards/map periodically throughout the week. Be sure to go on my Portaportal site for some fun games and songs to help reinforce the 50 states and capitals. This is located on the bottom of my email, as well as the right hand side of the blog. The unit test on the Northeast Region will be on Tuesday, Feb. 20th. Students will have a study guide to complete to prepare for the test. It is imperative that they complete the study guide to do their best on the test.
Mrs. Lyons’ YMCA Field Trip 2/16/18
YMCA Aquatics Field Trip
The students are so excited about the Aquatics Field Trip this Friday, February 16 (5L’s trip: 11:20 – 1:05). Please be sure that your child brings in a bathing suit, towel and a plastic bag for their wet bathing suit and towel on Wednesday morning. We will change just prior to leaving for the YMCA.
- This will be a wet experience and is designed for swimmers and non-swimmers to participate. There will be dry land activities at each station for students choosing not to get wet.
- Non-swimmers will wear life jackets while participating in the water.
Click on the link below to practice for the 5th grade performance in March! (exact date TBD)