HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Families, I give thanks for all you do!  Grant is such a great school and folks tell us kids like their 5th grade year.  I feel our success is due in large part to what happens outside of school hours.  Kids experiences with family and community provide the foundation for our awesome school community.  Thanks for sending your kids safe, healthy, and ready to learn with positive attitudes.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to families during conferences.  Every student in Room 86 is heading the right direction with successes to celebrate from the 1st trimester.  We have all set goals and reflected on our work to be ready to keep rolling through the 2nd trimester.

Friday Folder/Imp Dates:  This week's Friday Folder has the weekly work habit chart and a letter about accessing the math curriculum online.  This joyous time of year becomes busy quick!  We are excited to focus on school as we get ready to celebrate school wide on Dec. 20.  Please let me know if you are interested in helping plan the Winter Party.  There are not a lot of extra events at school during this time, but we will be very busy academically

In most subjects, we are picking up where we left off in terms of academics.  There is a summary of our focus below:

READING: We have completed reading half of our Native American themed book club books.  Students are completing their 2nd literature journal assignment, focusing on how their connections helps them comprehend their reading.  We will complete two more lit journal assignments, one each week, as we finish our books. The final due date for completing the books and lit journal work is 12/18.  Students will then have a couple days to work on a Book Share for their book.  We will also take the STAR reading test sometime in December.  I am still trying to find the best timing for that.

WRITING/SS: Students are deep into research for making a Native American museum exhibit.  Our writing focus is on collecting notes for the research using webs.  These webs will then be revised to create a rough draft.  Students have all chosen a Native American topic to study and make a visual artifact for.  Right now, we are focusing on the research and the connections we are making about Native American culture/history.  Next week, we will begin online research and start to envision/develop our museum exhibit final projects.

MATH: In math, we are nearing the end of Unit 3, focusing on fractions.  Currently, we are adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. We will also work with comparing fractions, fraction story problems, and set a foundation for multiplying fractions before taking the Unit 3 assessment. We will also take the STAR math test sometime in December.  I am still trying to find the best timing for that.

SCIENCE: Our science focus has been on the Ecoshoolhouse!  We have visited this awesome classroom and watched the documentary about this amazing community project.  Next, I will be sharing the awesome 5th grade community projects students have completed in the past.  These experiences and discussions will ultimately lead us to choosing a integrated community project for the rest of this year.

Here is a picture of our class art work on the Native American Heritage Month display across from the office:

LEAF COLOR

MDC SITE: SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

SMOKY MTN FALL FOLIAGE MAP

NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER (LOTS OF IMP DATES!)

Families, this has truly been one of the best weeks I've had as an educator.  The time 5th graders and I spent in the Smokys was fantastic!  We learned together and spent quality time building community which will only add to our class dynamic at school.  Also, in my absence, the rest of our 5th graders at home did a fine job for the substitute.  We were able to stay on target for our learning.  I rewarded the class with a bit of free time and pizza today.  They earned it.  This is a special class that stands out over my 18 years in the classroom.  I am excited to see where it leads us the rest of the year.  Below is our current focus and a list of important dates to remember.

Thank you to all who helped with our awesome Halloween party!
Please check the Friday Folder for important papers including our scheduled family conference times.

READING:  Students should have 3 book shares completed by next weekend.  We are also focusing on story elements and character descriptions.  Next week, we will start to choose books for book clubs with Native American themes.

WRITING/SS: Students are researching information in nonfiction resources about various Native American regions.  They will present their information to kick off our Powwow theme.

MATH: We will start Unit 3 next week.  The focus is on fractions.

SCIENCE:  We are wrapping up chemical change examples, leading into a larger matter and ecosystem investigation.