Newsletter for the week of 11-1

Reading: This week we will read a variety of texts.  The focus skill will be learning about similes, metaphors, proverbs, and idioms.  A simile is a comparison between two things using like or as.  For example, Julie is as slow as a snail is a simile.  A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase which is used for something normal is used in a different way.  For example you are my sunshine is a metaphor.  An idiom is an expression that has a meaning different from the meanings of its individual words.  For example it's raining cats and dogs is an idiom.  The extended response will be an ongoing skill.  We will also continue to work on prefixes, suffixes, root words, and using context clues to define words. 

Book Report:  The next book report is due on Monday, November 15 and is a choice book.  The students have two options they can select from.

• Option #1 - They can make a book sandwich.  There are 6 pages and the directions are on each page.  They need to get the pages from me.
• Option #2 - They can make a book quilt.  For this book report they need to make a 3x3 quilt block and each square should be 8 inches by 8 inches.  In each box they should share something from the book.  Examples would be characters, setting, summary, illustrations, character traits, conflict, resolution, their favorite part, etc.  All 9 squares should be filled in.

Math: In math we will start unit 4.  This week the students will practice their division facts, use mental math to divide, use a map scale to determine distances, and learn the partial quotients and traditional method for long division. 

Writing: This week we will continue working on a book review.  For the book review we will focus on the introduction, summarizing, strengths, weaknesses, and recommendation. Our mini lessons will continue focusing on using the 4 square organizer, sentences fragments, establishing and maintaining a focus in the paper.

Science: We will go back to science at the end of this month.

Social Studies: This week we will start chapter 5 which focuses on early English settlements in North America, and we will finish the first three lessons.  The first lesson is about England's first colonies.  These colonies are Roanoke and Jamestown.  The second lesson will focus on the Dutch and French colonizing in North America.  In the third lesson, the students will learn about the Pilgrims and Puritans.

Spelling: Unit 9 Words:
level       double       metal       evil       travel       couple       needle       battle      
candle       article       equal       civil       capital       original       individual
material       angel       camel       illegal       stencil       brindle       possible
personality       wilderness       humorous       morsel       superficial 
inseparable       indomitable       astronomical       indispensible       impeccable
beautiful       technological       hysterical       atom       proton       electron      
molecule       element

Important Information:
May Watts Book Fair: Sales Dates
Tuesday, Nov. 2nd from 8a.m. - 4p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 3rd from 9a.m. - 4p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 4th from 8:45a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5th from 8:45a.m. - 4p.m.
Monday, Nov. 8th from 8:45a.m. - 9:15a.m.

Indian Prairie Scool District will host a parents' orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.  For your convenience, the district has scheduled two dates.  You can attend any one of the seesions.
1st Session:  Wednesday, November 17 at Brookdale Elementary School
2nd Session: Thursday, December 2 at Kendall Elementary School

Important Dates:

No school Tuesday, November 2 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Spelling Test Wednesday, November 3
Field Trip Thursday, November 4
Parent Teacher Conferences Thursday, November 4 from 4:30 - 8:00
Band Concert Tuesday, November 9 at Hill
Picture Retakes Tuesday, November 9
Parent Teacher Conferences Wednesday, November 10 from 4:30 - 8:00
No School Thursday, November 11 - Veteran's Day
Book Report due Monday, November 15 

Homework 10-29

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

Homework 10-28

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due tomorrow

Spelling - Test & Contract due 11-3

5G Math - Journal pages 95 & 96

Homework 10-27

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due Friday, Drawing Conclusions questions due tomorrow

5P Math - Test tomorrow, 2 review sheets

5G Math - Journal pages 91 & 92

Homework 10-26

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due 10-29

Spelling - Contract & Test due tomorrow

5P Math - Study Link 3.9, study guide due tomorrow, Test on Thursday

5G Math - Study Link 2.11, Journal page 79

Social Studies - Test tomorrow, Worksheets 39 & 40

Field Trip Money

Homework 10-25

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due Friday

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

5P Math - Study link 3.8, Journal page 84 1-4, study guide due Wednesday, Test Thursday

5G Math - Study Link 2.10

Social Studeis - Finish reading lesson and study guide, Test on Wednesday

Newsletter for the week of 10-25

Reading: This week we will read "Iditarod Dream".  The focus skills are drawing conclusions and comparing ways in which kinds of literature are organized.  We will continue working on the extended response.  This week, we will work on answering the question, finding evidence, and interpreting the evidence. Vocabulary analysis is another skill that we will continue to focus on.  We will work on prefixes, suffixes, and root words.  The students will also continue to use context clues to define words. 

Book Report:  The next book report is due on Friday, October 29 and must be done on a sports related book.  For this report, the students will make a newspaper page.  I sent home an outline of the requirements for this report.

Math: In math we have started unit three. We finished the first four lessons which were on the American tour, estimating, finding the angle measures of pattern blocks, using the geometry template, using a protractor, and learning about the different angles.  An obtuse angle is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.  An acute angle is less than 90 degrees.  A right angle is 90 degrees, and a straight angle is 180 degrees.  A reflex angle is greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees.  Last week the students learned how to copy line segments and angles using compasses and protractors.  They also learned the properties of polygons and play polygon capture.  This week the students will explore and learn about tesselations.  The last lesson will focus on finding the sum of angles in a polygon. 

Writing: This week we will work on a book review.  For the book review we will focus on the introduction, summarizing, strengths, weaknesses, and recommendation. Our mini lessons will focus on using the 4 square organizer, combining sentences, and adjectives.

Science: We will go back to science next quarter.

Social Studies: This week we will finish chapter 4 which is about Spain building an empire in the Western hemisphere.  The first lesson is about the voyages of Columbus.  Lesson two will focus on the Spanish settling in the Western hemisphere, and Spain conquering the Aztec and Incas.  Lesson three will focus on the Spanish explorers.  The skill for this chapter is using latitude and longitude.

Spelling: Unit 8 Words:
American      frozen      button      chapter      tractor      golden      taken      harbor
father      color      ancestor      hidden      hamburger      theater      weather      beckon
cannon      comparison      elder      turban      desperate      frostbitten      laden
emergency      straighten      forbidden      sovereign      battalion      examine      amplifier
renovator      reverberate      calendar      interpreter      wanderer      proprietor      Conestoga
indigo      despair      Congress

Important Information:
Parent Teatcher conference notes went home last Thursday.  I need the bottom portion returned to me.
A field trip note went home on Friday.  The field trip is for the Paramount Theatre, and we will be seeing "We the People".  This note needs to be returned to me by Monday, October 25.

Indian Prairie Scool District will host a parents' orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.  For your convenience, the district has scheduled two dates.  You can attend any one of the seesions.
1st Session:  Wednesday, November 17 at Brookdale Elementary School
2nd Session: Thursday, December 2 at Kendall Elementary School

Important Dates:

Spelling test Wednesday, October 27
Social Studies test Wednesday, October 27
Math Test Thursday, October 28
Book Report due Friday, October 29
Halloween Parties Friday, October 29
Report cards go home on Friday, October 29
No school Tuesday, November 2 - Parent Teacher Conferences