Newsletter for the week of December 19

Reading: This week in reading, we will do a variety of activities.  On Monday, we will work on using comprehension strategies and define unknown vocabulary words using a Time for Kids magazine.  For the rest of the week, we will be working on a fun project using alliteration.  I will read the book Animalia, and the students will look for examples of alliteration in other texts.  Then they will create their own alliteration.  We will also be presenting our wordless picture books and our mash up books.

Book Report:  Your book report for December must be a biography, memoir, or autobiography.  The presentation will be Wednesday, December 21.  For this book report you can select from one of my examples, or you can come up with your own idea.  You need to provide a detailed account of the person’s life, have a visual, and give a presentation. 

Here are a few examples:

Example #1:

     Illustration of your person

     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

     Write a summary about your person's life

     Do you think it was a good idea to write a biography about this person?  Why or why not?

Example #2:

     A timeline of the person's life
     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

Example #3: Power Point
     Photo Collage
     Birth & Childhood
     Education
     Adulthood - Family and jobs they had before becoming famous
     What made them famous
     Interesting facts about your person
     Later Years/Death

Math: In math we will start unit 6.  The first couple of lessons will focus on using landmark data, which is minimum, maximum, median, mode, range, and mean and organizing the data.  They will ogranize the data by using graphs, line plots, and stem and leaf plots.  On Thursday, the students will work on identifying mystery line plots. 

Writing: This week in writing we will be finishing our marketing plan. The students have been put into groups, and their group picked one item to develop a marketing plan and advertise the item.  They can select how they would like to present this item: TV ad, radio ad, billboard, print ads, a web page, or Prezi.  The students need to think about who is your target and develop a marketing plan to reach the audience.  These will be presented in class on Tuesday.

Science: In science we have focused on the atom and magnets. The students learned that an atom is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, and a nucleus. They also learned about ions. We discussed the periodic table of elements, and the students learned how to read it. After learning about the periodic table of elements, the students drew atoms. They also learned the difference between an element and a molecule.  We used the interactive periodic table of elements to learn more about each element, and we built a salt crystal using play-doh.  In the first lesson for magnets, students observed three different rocks looking at their similarities and differences.  In this lesson they learned that there is a type of rock with magnetic qualities called lodestone.  In the next lesson, students learned how magnets got their name, and they did an experiment to see if a one unit magnet or a two unit magnet held more paper clips.  Last week in science we continued to do experiments with magnets.  On Monday, the students learned how to make a magnet.  Then the students saw the magnetic field around different magnets.  On Wednesday, the students learned where a magnet is the strongest and which magnet is the strongest.  They also saw what objects magnets attract and what substances magnetism can pass through.  This week we will review for the magnet test on Monday, and their test will be on Tuesday.  On Wednesday and Thursday, the students will learn about statice electricity.  Static electricity occurs when extra electrons collect and stay in an object for a period of time.  Electrons move from object to object through friction.  As the electrons move between two objects, one object gains electrons and becomes negatively charged.  The other object loses electrons and becomes positively charged.

Social Studies: We finished our social studies unit and will move on to science for the rest of the quarter.

Spelling Unit 14:
absent     servant     present     instant     accident     assistant     current     moment     resident
ignorant     pleasant     distant     innocent     intelligent     restaurant     patient     government
statement     migrant     participant     efficacious     orbiting     continent     magma     landforms
embarrassment     magnificent     amendment     resistant     pungent     expedient     resilient
immigrant     incident     consonant     electricity     traitor     static     map scale     Congress

BOX TOPS:
The PTA is always collecting box tops.  They can be found on many different products such as: Progresso soups, Kleenex boxes, Suddenly Salad, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, and many more products.  Check all of your purchased goods and send in your box tops.  This is an easy way for the school to make money to enrich our children at May Watts.

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. Minutes will be checked on January 9.

Important Dates:
Science Test Tuesday, December 20
Spelling Test Wednesday, December 21
Book Report due Wednesday, December 21
December 23 - January 8 No School - Winter Break
January 9 Classes Resume

Homework for Dec. 16

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

Science - Test on Tuesday

Homework for Dec. 15

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec.21

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5B Math - Study Link 5.5

Permission Slip for Hot Chocolate due tomorrow

Homework for Dec. 14

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

5P Math - Test tomorrow

5B Math - Study Link 5.4

Permission Slip for Hot Chocolate

Homework for Dec. 13

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling - Contract & Test due tomorrow

5P Math - Study Link 5.11, Mathboxes page 159 #s 1, 3, 4, 5, Study Guide due tomorrow, Test on Thursday

5B Math - Study Link 5.3

Permission Slip for Hot Choclate due on Friday

Homework for Dec. 12

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Links 5.9 & 5.10, Study Guide due on Wednesday, & Test on Thursday

5B Math - Study Link 5.2

5V Math - Mathboxes 5.5 #s 1, 2, 4, & 5

Newsletter for the week of December 12

Reading: This week in reading, we will do a variety of activities.  On Monday, we will work on metaphors using tangible and untangible items.  The students will also create their own metaphor.  We will use picture books and our anthology to work on our focus skills this week.  These skills are: What is the audience or purpose for the writing?  What is the author's controlling idea?  What does the author want you to learn?  How do illustrations use art to express their ideas, and how do illustrations reflect different cultures?  We will also continue to work on vocabulary using a variety of word analysis and strategies within context to identify unknown words.

Book Report:  Your book report for December must be a biography, memoir, or autobiography.  The presentation will be Wednesday, December 21.  For this book report you can select from one of my examples, or you can come up with your own idea.  You need to provide a detailed account of the person’s life, have a visual, and give a presentation. 

Here are a few examples:

Example #1:

     Illustration of your person

     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

     Write a summary about your person's life

     Do you think it was a good idea to write a biography about this person?  Why or why not?

Example #2:

     A timeline of the person's life
     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

Example #3: Power Point
     Photo Collage
     Birth & Childhood
     Education
     Adulthood - Family and jobs they had before becoming famous
     What made them famous
     Interesting facts about your person
     Later Years/Death

Math: In math we have started unit 5. The first lesson focused on solving parts and whole problems with fractions and finding a fraction of a whole.  We have also worked on converting fractions from mixed numbers to improper fractions and converting them from improper fractions to mixed numbers.  Last week we compared and ordered fractions and found equivalent fractions. The students also learned how to convert fractions to decimals and rounding decimals.  Last week, we continued to work on converting fractions, to decimals and worked on equivalent fractions.  We also constructed, read, and labeled bar and circle graphs.  This week we will use a percent circle to measure the different pieces of a circle graph and construct our own circle graphs. 

Writing: This week in writing we will be working on developing a marketing plan. There will be more mini lessons on marketing and the different ways companies try to sell their products.  The students have been put into groups, and their group picked one item to develop a marketing plan and advertise the item.  They can select how they would like to present this item: TV ad, radio ad, billboard, print ads, a web page, or Prezi.  The students need to think about who is your target and develop a marketing plan to reach the audience.  These will be presented in class.

Science: In science we have focused on the atom and magnets. The students learned that an atom is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, and a nucleus. They also learned about ions. We discussed the periodic table of elements, and the students learned how to read it. After learning about the periodic table of elements, the students drew atoms. They also learned the difference between an element and a molecule.  We used the interactive periodic table of elements to learn more about each element.  Last week we built a salt crystal using play-doh and started learning about magnets.  In the first lesson, students observed three different rocks looking at their similarities and differences.  In this lesson they learned that there is a type of rock with magnetic qualities called lodestone.  In the next lesson, students learned how magnets got their name, and they did an experiment to see if a one unit magnet or a two unit magnet held more paper clips.  This week in science we will continue to do experiments with magnets.  On Monday, the students will learn how to make a magnet.  Then the students will see the magnetic field around different magnets.  On Wednesday, the students will learn where a magnet is the strongest and which magnet is the strongest.  They will also see what objects magnets attract and what substances magnetism can pass through.

Social Studies: We finished our social studies unit and will move on to science for the rest of the quarter.

Spelling Unit 13:
anyway     any way     all right     every one     everyone     already     all ready     a lot    its  
it's     your     you're     who's     whose     there's     theirs     anyone     any one     altogether
all together     continents     wavelength     particles     dangerous     eventually     minuscule
millennium     occurrence     anoint     ridiculous     aerobic     acreage     eccentric     luxurious
apostrophe     symbol     petition     repeal     delegate     Boston Tea Party

BOX TOPS:
The PTA is always collecting box tops.  They can be found on many different products such as: Progresso soups, Kleenex boxes, Suddenly Salad, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, and many more products.  Check all of your purchased goods and send in your box tops.  This is an easy way for the school to make money to enrich our children at May Watts.

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. Minutes will be checked on January 9.

Important Dates:
Spelling Test Wednesday, December 14
Pro-Kids Assembly Wednesday, December 14 at 10:30 a.m.
Pro-Kids Family Night Wednesday, December 14: K-2 6:00 p.m., Grades 3-5 7:45 p.m.
Math Test Thursday, December 15
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, December 15
Science Test Monday, December 19
Book Report due Wednesday, December 21

Homework for Dec. 9

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling- Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Thursday

P.E. homework due on Monday

Homework for Dec. 8

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Time for Kids due tomorrow(if it was not finished), Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 5.8, Journal page 149 #s 1, 3, 5, & 6, Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Thursday

5V Math - Mathboxes 4.11 #s 1, 3, & 4

P.E. homework due on Monday

Homework for Dec. 7

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

5P Math - Journal page 146 #s 1, 2, 3, 4, & either 5 or 6, Study Guide due next Wednesday, Test next Thursday

5B Math - Test tomorrow, Study Link 5.1

Homework for Dec. 6

Reading - Read 20 Minutes, Book Report due on Dec 21

Spelling - Contract & Test for tomorrow

5P Math - Journal page 144 #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

5B Math -Test on Thursday, Go Over Study Guide

5V Math - Mathboxes 5.3

Homework for Dec. 5

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Dec. 21

Spelling - Test & Contract for Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 5.5

5B Math - Test on Thursday, Study Guide due Tuesday

5V Math - Mathboxes 5.4, one chart done

Newsletter for the week of December 5

Reading: This week in reading, we will do a variety of activities.  On Monday, we will do an outline for our extended response, and on Tuesday we will write it in paragraph format.  The question is: What does the author want you to learn from Dusty's success? Use information from the passage and your own ideas to support your answer.  The rest of the week we will use Time for Kids to focus on our other skills. Our focus skills for the week are: connect and clarify main ideas and concepts and identify their relationship to other sources and topics.  We will also continue to work on vocabulary using a variety of word analysis and strategies within context to identify unknown words.

Book Report:  Your book report for December must be a biography, memoir, or autobiography.  The presentation will be Wednesday, December 21.  For this book report you can select from one of my examples, or you can come up with your own idea.  You need to provide a detailed account of the person’s life, have a visual, and give a presentation. 

Here are a few examples:

Example #1:

     Illustration of your person

     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

     Write a summary about your person's life

     Do you think it was a good idea to write a biography about this person?  Why or why not?

Example #2:

     A timeline of the person's life
     5 character traits that relate to your person and evidence

Example #3: Power Point
     Photo Collage
     Birth & Childhood
     Education
     Adulthood - Family and jobs they had before becoming famous
     What made them famous
     Interesting facts about your person
     Later Years/Death

Math: In math we have started unit 5. The first lesson focused on solving parts and whole problems with fractions and finding a fraction of a whole.  We have also worked on converting fractions from mixed numbers to improper fractions and converting them from improper fractions to mixed numbers.  Last week we compared and ordered fractions and found equivalent fractions. The students also learned how to convert fractions to decimals and rounding decimals.  This week, we will continue to work on converting fractions, to decimals and work on equivalent fractions.  On Friday, we will construct, read, and label bar and circle graphs. 

Writing: This week in writing we will finish our picture book mash up. The students take two different picture books and mash them up into a new story.  When we finish the mash up books, we will begin a collaborative writing activity dealing with needs and wants using a variety of catalogs with a range of items costing between $20.00 and $60,000.  We will begin with a pre-writing activity of what a want is and what a need is.  Then I will use some online catalogs and have the kids generate a list of the items that I show into a needs or wants section.  After the lessons on needs and wants, we are going to watch some old TV classic commercials and discuss how the companies are marketing their products.  There will be a mini lesson on marketing and the different ways companies try to sell their products.  After all the mini lessons are done, the students will be put into groups, and they will be given a sample of items cut out of a magazine or they can bring in their own items.  Their group will pick one of the items to develop a marketing plan and advertise the item.  They can select how they would like to present this item: TV ad, radio ad, billboard, print ads, a web page, or Prezi.  The students need to think about who is your target and develop a marketing plan to reach the audience.  These will be presented in class.

Science: Last week in science we focused on the atom. The students learned that an atom is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, and a nucleus. They also learned about ions. We discussed the periodic table of elements, and the students learned how to read it. After learning about the periodic table of elements, the students drew atoms. They also learned the difference between an element and a molecule.  We used the interactive periodic table of elements to learn more about each element.  This week we will build a salt crystal using play-doh.  Then on Wednesday, we will start learning about magnets.  In the first lesson, students will observe three different rocks looking at their similarities and differences.  In this lesson they will learn that there is a type of rock with magnetic qualities called lodestone.  In the next lesson, students will learn how magnets got their name, and on Friday they will do an experiment to see if a one unit magnet or a two unit magnet will hold more paper clips.

Social Studies: We finished our social studies unit and will move on to science for the rest of the quarter.

Spelling Unit 12:
basketball     seventy-five     rock band     everybody     fireplace     anything     take-off     skateboard
homework     two-thirds     high school     railroad     motorcycle     vice president     strawberry
freeway     car pool     comic strip     fine arts     forty-two     breathtaking     thunderstruck
runner-up     half hour     paper clip     extracurricular     cold-blooded     headache    
counterclockwise     merry-go-round     awestruck     overexposure     time-consuming     nonetheless
spreadsheet     treason     boycott     liberty     militia     assembly

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. Minutes will be checked on January 9.

Important Dates:
Spelling Test Wednesday, December 7
5th Grade Musical Wednesday, December 7 at 9:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Orchestra: Rehearsal at Hil 6:00 p.m. & Concert at 7:00 p.m.

Homework for December 2

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on December 21

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

5B Math - Test Thursday

Homework for December 1

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on December 21

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 141 #s 1, 2, 3, & 4

5B Math - Study Link 4.10, Test on Thursday

Science- Quiz tomorrow

Book Order due tomorrow

Homework for Nov. 30

Reading - Read 20 minutes

5P Math - Study Link 5.4

5B Math - Study Link 4.9

5V Math - Test tomorrow

Science - Quiz over atoms

Book Order due on Friday

Homework for Nov. 29

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

5P Math - Study Link 5.3

5B Math - Study Link 4.8(optional)

5V Math - Mathboxes 5.2, Optional Test due tomorrow

Science - Ws due tomorrow

Book Order due on Friday

Newsletter for the week of Nov. 28

Reading: This week in reading, we will be reading the story Iditarod Dream.  In the Iditarod Dream, Dusty Whittemore faces several challenges and below freezing temperatures during the Junior Iditarod race in Alaska.  He and his team of sled dogs meet these challenges and eventually win the race.The focus skills for this week are: Demonstrate understanding of structure through the use of graphic organizers and outlining with a specific focus on sequencing events and character analysis.  Using character traits, students will also infer the type of person Dusty is and draw conclusions about him.  The students will use context clues to determine the meaning of words in the story.  The vocabulary words that will be focused on during the story are: headquarters, positions, handlers, pace, and tangle.  If we have time this week we will also work on an extended response question.  If we don't have time, we will do the question on Monday.  The question is: What does the author want you to learn from Dusty's success?  Use information from the passage and your own ideas to support your answer.

Book Report: The next book report is due on November 30, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to read a nonfiction book. The assignment is making an organizer with all the important information. We did a practice one in class with our story about Roberto Clemente. If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we have started unit 5. The first lesson focused on solving parts and whole problems with fractions and finding a fraction of a whole.  Last week we worked on converting fractions from mixed numbers to improper fractions and converting them from improper fractions to mixed numbers. Next week we will be comparing and ordering fractions and finding equivalent fractions.  The students will also learn how to convert fractions to decimals and rounding decimals. 

Writing: This week in writing we will finish the expository paper. The prompt: If you could invite anyone living or dead to Thanksgiving dinner who would it be, and why? We will also continue working on our dead word book. When we finish the expository papers, we will start a picture book mash up. The students take two different picture books and mash them up into a new story.

Science: This week in science we will be focusing on the atom.  The students will learn that an atom is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, and a nucleus.  They will also learn about ions.  We will discuss the periodic table of elements, and the students will learn how to read it.  After learning about the periodic table of elements, the students will build atoms.  They will also learn the difference between an element and a molecule.

Social Studies: We finished our social studies unit and will move on to science for the rest of the quarter.

Spelling Unit  :
There is no spelling this week

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Elementary School
3731 Lawrence Drive
Naperville, IL 60564
(Ashbury Subdivision;
North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty.They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation. If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me. I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. Minutes will be checked on December 1.

Important Dates:
No School November 23, 24, & 25 Thanksgiving Break
Book Report due on Wednesday, November 30
Robert Crown Parent Night Wednesday, November 30(See above)
Elementary Acivity Night at Metea Thursday, December 1
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, December 1
Spirit Day Friday, December 2
5th Grade Musical Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Homework for Nov. 22

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

5P Math - Journal page 127 if not done

Homework for Nov. 21

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

Spelling - Test & Contract for tomorrow

5P Math - Journal page 128 all

5B Math - Study link 4.5

5V Math - Test tomorrow

Social Studies - Test tomorrow

Read in tomorrow

Newsletter for the week of November 21

Reading: This week in reading, we will finish up on some activities that we did not get to last week.  We will look at a double line graph and work on interpreting what the graph is telling us.  Then the students will use data to create their own line graph.  We will also read some articles and work on comprehension questions.  On Tuesday, the fifth grade is having a read in.

Book Report: The next book report is due on November 30, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to read a nonfiction book. The assignment is making an organizer with all the important information. We did a practice one in class with our story about Roberto Clemente. If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we have started unit 5.  The first lesson focused on solving parts and whole problems with fractions and finding a fraction of a whole.  Next week we will be working on converting fractions from mixed numbers to improper fractions and converting them from improper fractions to mixed numbers.  We will also be comparing and ordering fractions and finding equivalent fractions.

Writing: This week in writing we will finish the expository paper.  The prompt: If you could invite anyone living or dead to Thanksgiving dinner who would it be, and why? We will also continue working on our dead word book. If we finish the expository papers, we will start a picture book mash up.  The students take two different picture books and mash them up into a new story.

Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.

Social Studies: Last week the students learned about the Pilgrims and the Puritans.  Last week we
reviewed the Pilgrims and the Puritans. They also learned about the 13 English colonies and their economies. Another lesson that was focused on last week was the different work and trade that happened in the colonies.  On Tuesday there will be a test over these lessons.

Spelling Unit 11 :
island     design     calm     column     sword     half     yolk     walked     talk     chalk    
wrinkled     wrong     autumn     solemn     aisle     foreign     lightning     benign     glistened
resign     orchids     slaughter     clambered     knowledge     habitat     colleague     acquaintance
potpourri     pneumonia     receipt     mnemonics     jeopardy     gauge     handkerchief
foreigner     temporary     natural     permanent     lodestone     special

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m. 
Patterson Elementary School
3731 Lawrence Drive
Naperville, IL 60564
(Ashbury Subdivision;
North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty.They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation. If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me. I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. Minutes will be checked on December 1.

Important Dates:
Spelling Test Tuesday, November 22
Social Studies Test Tuesday, November 22
Market Day Pick Up on Tuesday, November 22
No School November 23, 24, & 25 Thanksgiving Break
Book Report due on Wednesday, November 30

Homework for Nov. 17

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Thursday

5P Math - Journal page 123 #s 1, 3, 2(select 2), 4(select 1)

5B Math - Study Link 4.3

5V Math - Test on Tuesday, 2 fraction problems

Homework for Nov. 16

Reading _ Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

Spelling - Contract & Test for Tuesday

5B Math - Study Link 4.2

Social Studies - Worksheet

Homework for Nov. 15

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

5P Math - Math test tomorrow

5B Math - Study Link 4.2 Journal page 126

Homework for Nov. 14

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30, Free Rice Vocabulary, Frayer Vocabulary Model

5P Math - Study Link 4.5, Study Link due tomorrow, Test on Wednesday

Newsletter for the week of November 14

Reading: This week in reading, we will be doing a variety of activities using different text.  On Monday we are going to use the website freerice.com to work on vocabulary.  As the words get harder, we will discuss on we can define the words without any context.  Then using their books for their book reports, I am going to have them select a word they don't know and use the Frayer Model to define it. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be using Time for Kids to work on our reading skills.  They will work on inferential questions while reading the headline story on Tuesday.  Then on Wenesday, we will use the same magazine to work on vocabulary.  Another skill that we will focus on is building and supporting plausible interpretations with evidence from the text, which we will focus on Thursday.  On Friday, students will work on interpreting information using tables, maps, and visual aides to enhance understanding of the text.

Book Report: The next book report is due on November 30, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to read a nonfiction book. The assignment is making an organizer with all the important information.  We did a practice one in class with our story about Roberto Clemente.  If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we have been working on unit 4. The first lesson will focus on using friendly numbers to divide. Then we will work on dividing using the traditional method and partial quotients. Last week the students learned strategies for estimating straight path distances using a map scale.  They also learned how to make magnitude estimates for division.  These estimates will help the students place the decimal while dividing and have a range of where their answer should be.  The last lesson focused on solving number stories using division.  The students had to decided what to do with the remainder.  The three choices were: round up, ignore the remainder, or change the remainder to a decimal or a fraction.  On Monday, we will learn about variables and how to solve problems with them.  On Tuesday, the study guide is due, and we will review for the test.  The unit 4 test will be on Wednesday.  Our next unit of study will be fractions.  The first lesson will focus on reviewing fractions and solving parts and whole problems.

Writing: This week in writing we will focus on the expository paper.  We will finish our practice paper on Monday and begin a new paper on Tuesday.  The prompt for our next expository will be a guess whose coming to dinner.  The prompt: If you could invite anyone living or dead to Thanksgiving dinner who would it be, and why?  We will also continue working on our dead word book. This book will have a graveyard of overused words, and the students will make a list of synonyms for these words.  We will also continue working on combining sentences to make our papers sound more fluent.

Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.

Social Studies: Last week the students learned about the Pilgrims and the Puritans.  This week we will review the Pilgrims and the Puritans.  They will also learn about the 13 English colonies and their economies.  Another lesson that will be focused on this week is the different work and trade that happened in the colonies.

Spelling Unit :
There is no spelling for this week

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.For your convenience, we have scheduled two dates. Please feel free to attend any one of the sessions as follows:

Thursday, November 17, 2011                                                  Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m.                                                                                        7:00 p.m.
Brooks Elementary School                                                          Patterson Elementary School
2700 Stonebridge Boulevard                                                       3731 Lawrence Drive
Aurora, IL 60502                                                                            Naperville, IL 60564
(Stonebridge Subdivision;                                                          (Ashbury Subdivision;
West off of Eola Rd.)                                                                    North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty.They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation. If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me. I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. To learn more about the program go to Mrs. May's blog at mwlmc.blogspot.com.

Important Dates:
Family Math Night Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30
Math Test Wednesday, November 16
Band Concert Wednesday, November 16 at 6:30 at Hill
Robert Crown Parent Session Thursday, November 17(See above)
Paw Print Redemption Day Thursday, November 17
Book Report due on Wednesday, November 30

Homework November 8

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on November 30

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 109 #s 1, 2, 3, & 4

5B Math - Study Guide, Test on Monday, Study Link 3.8, Study Link 3.9

5V Math - Mock Test(optional), Test tomorrow

Social Studies - Worksheet 44

Homework for November 7

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

5P Math - Study link 4.3, Study Guide due next Tuesday, Test next Wednesday

5B Math - Study Guide & Test on Monday

5V Math - Study Link 3.9 & 3.10 (optional)

Newsletter for the week of November 7

Reading: This week in reading, we will be doing a variety of activities using different text.  On Monday we will be doing an extended response with the story Roberto Clemente.  The prompt for the extended response will be: What are Roberto Clemente's most admiring qualities.  Use information from the text and your own ideas to answer the question.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be using Time for Kids to work on our reading skills.  They will work on inferential questions while reading the headline story.  Then on Wednesday, they will be using a graphic organizer to write down the main idea with details.We will also work on defining words. 

Book Report: The next book report is due on November 30, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to read a nonfiction book. The assignment is making an organizer with all the important information.  We did a practice one in class with our story about Roberto Clemente.  If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we will start unit 4. The first lesson will focus on using friendly numbers to divide. Then we will work on dividing using the traditional method and partial quotients. This week the students will learn strategies for estimating straight path distances using a map scale.  They will also learn how to make magnitude estimates for division.  These estimates will help the students place the decimal while dividing.  The last lesson this week will focus on solving number stories using division.  The students will have to decided what to do with the remainder.  The three choices are: round up, ignore the remainder, or change the remainder to a decimal or a fraction.

Writing: This week in writing, the students will review the 4 square organizer.  We will go over the different components and fill one out together.  Then we will define what an expository paper is and use our organizer to write one.We will also continue working on our dead word book. This book will have a graveyard of overused words, and the students will make a list of synonyms for these words. I also would like to do a lesson on the use of transitions to make our sentences sound more fluent. Last week we worked on combining sentences to make our papers sound more fluent, and next week we will continue working on this skill.

Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.

Social Studies: This week in groups, the students will continue to create their own colony and develop a vision of their colony 3 years out. They will have to develop a political system, create a flag, name the colony, create a story of the discovery, map the location, figure out a 3 year plan to pay back their charter, and look at the economy. Each group will then present their colony on Monday to the class.  The fifth grade team decided to give them one more day to work on their project.  On Tuesday the students will learn about the Pilgrims and the Puritans.

Spelling Unit 10:
crisis     knives     media     roofs     pianos     waves     wishes     armies     briefs     videos
heroes     data     bacteria     oxen     tomatoes     canoes     berries     loaves     lives
messages     foxes     breaths     tragedies     buses     skis     hypotheses      analyses    
phenomena     vertebrae     antennae     arteries     monkeys     journeys     hooves     magnetism
voyageur     conclusion     portage     mission     replies

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.For your convenience, we have scheduled two dates.Please feel free to attend any one of the sessions as follows:

Thursday, November 17, 2011                                                  Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m.                                                                                      7:00 p.m.
Brooks Elementary School                                                           Patterson Elementary School
2700 Stonebridge Boulevard                                                        3731 Lawrence Drive
Aurora, IL 60502                                                                          Naperville, IL 60564
(Stonebridge Subdivision;                                                            (Ashbury Subdivision;
West off of Eola Rd.)                                                                    North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty.They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation.If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me.I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. To learn more about the program go to Mrs. May's blog at mwlmc.blogspot.com.

Important Dates:
Book Fair Begins
Presenting colonies Monday, November 7
PTA meeting on Monday, November 7
Picture Re-Take Day Tuesday, November 8
Spelling Test Wednesday, November 9
Conferences Wednesday night from 4:30 - 8:00  This is a regular school day.
Conferences Thursday, November 10 from 8:00 - 8:00  There is no school today.
No school on Friday, Novmeber 11
Book Report due on Wednesday, November 30

Homework for Nov. 4

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30
Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

Homework for Nov. 3

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Nov. 30

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 101

5B Math - Study Link 3.7

Homework for Nov. 2

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on November 30

5P Math - Study Link 4.1

5B Math - Quiz on Thursday

5V Math - Study Link 3.7

Homework for November 1

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on November 30

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 100 #s 1, 3, 4

5B Math - Journal page 106

5V Math- Study Link 3.5

Please Return Report Card Envelopes

Homework for Oct. 31

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Spelling - Test & Contract due Wednesday

Report Card Envelopes Need To Be Returned

Newsletter for the week of October 31

Reading: This week in reading, we will read the story We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente. We will continue with vocabulary and using context clues to define words.  The words for this week are dedicated, lineup, ace, error, artificial, and control tower.  One of our focus skills for this week is the reading strategy of SCAN and RUN.  The S stands for survey headings and turn them into questions.  C is capture the pictures/graphics/maps.  The A stands for attack boldface words, and N means to note and read the lesson questions.  In RUN, R stands for read and adjust speed.  U stands for use word attack skills, and N means notice and check parts you do not understand.  We will also work on using graphic organizers and outlining to understand what we read. 

Book Report: The next book report is due on October 31, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to make a newspaper page. The assignment has the requirements copied on the back. If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we will start unit 4.  The first lesson will focus on using friendly numbers to divide.  Then we will work on dividing using the traditional method and partial quotients.  This week the students will also learn strategies for estimating straight path distances using a map scale.

Writing: This week in writing, the students will continue to create a written story for a wordless picture book. We will also continue working on our dead word book. This book will have a graveyard of overused words, and the students will make a list of synonyms for those words. I also would like to do a lesson on the use of transitions to make our sentences sound more fluent.

Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.

Social Studies: This week in groups, the students will continue to create their own colony and develop a vision of their colony 3 years out. They will have to develop a political system, create a flag, name the colony, create a story of the discovery, map the location, figure out a 3 year plan to pay back their charter, and look at the economy. Each group will then present their colony on Friday to the class.

Spelling Unit 9:
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     indispensable     impeccable
beautiful     technological     hysterical     atom     proton     electron     molecule     element

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development. For your convenience, we have scheduled two dates. Please feel free to attend any one of the sessions as follows:

Thursday, November 17, 2011                                                      Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m.                                                                                         7:00 p.m.
Brooks Elementary School                                                              Patterson Elementary School
2700 Stonebridge Boulevard                                                           3731 Lawrence Drive
Aurora, IL 60502                                                                             Naperville, IL 60564
(Stonebridge Subdivision;                                                               (Ashbury Subdivision;
West off of Eola Rd.)                                                                       North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty. They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation. If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me. I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. To learn more about the program go to Mrs. May's blog at mwlmc.blogspot.com.

Important Dates:
Book Report due on Monday, October 31
Parade & Halloween Party Monday, October 31
Spelling Test Wednesday, November 2
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, November 3

Homework for Oct. 28

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Oct. 31

Language Arts - Extra Credit Scary Story due on Oct. 31

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

Please Return Report Card Envelopes

Homework for Oct. 27

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Oct.31

Language Arts - Extra Credit Scary Story due on Oct. 31

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday.

5P Math - Test tomorrow

5B Math - Study Link

Homework for Oct. 26

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Oct. 31

Language Arts - Stuffed Animal Memoir due tomorrow, Extra Credit Scary Story due on Oct.31

5P Math - Study Link 3.9, Study Guide due tomorrow, Test on Friday

5B Math - Study Link 3.4

5V Math - Study Link 3.3

Homework for Oct. 25

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Oct. 31

Language Arts - Extra Credit Scary Story due on Oct. 31

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 3.8, Study guide due on Thursday, Test on Friday

5V Math - Study Link 3.1

5B Math - Study Link 3.3

Homework for Oct. 24

Reading - read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Oct. 31, Time for Kids sheet due tomorrow if they did not finish in class

Language Arts - Extra Credit Scary Story due on Oct. 31

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 81 #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, & 4 select 2, Study Guide due on Thursday, Test Friday

5B Math - Study Link 3.2

5V Math - Study Link 3.1

Conference note if you have not turned it in.

Newsletter for the week of October 24

Reading: This week in reading, we will use a variety of literature to teach our skills.  We will continue with vocabulary and using context clues to define words.  We will be reading articles from the Time for Kids magazines and using read alouds to teach our skills.  This week in reading we will be distinguishing between significant and minor details in a reading selection.  We will also be reading to form an opinion and take a stance using our Time for Kids magazine, and working on higher level thinking skills.

Book Report: The next book report is due on October 31, and the students will present this to the class. For this report, they will need to make a newspaper page. The assignment has the requirements copied on the back. If you have any questions about this report please let me know.

Math: In math we started unit 3. The first two lessons focused on data collection, organization, and interpreting data. The third lesson focused on finding the measurements of angles inside a polygon without using a protractor. The students will use a circle to figure out these measurements.  Last week we worked on the different types of angles and measuring them using a protractor. The acute angle is less than 90 degrees. An obtuse angle is greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. A right angle is exactly 90 degrees, and a reflex angle is greater than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees. Then they learned about the radius and the diameter of a circle. They also learned about the measurements of vertical and adjacent angles. Adjacent angles form a straight angle so the sum of the angles equal 180 degrees. Vertical angles have the same measurement. They also learned about the different types of triangles, and how to use a compass to copy them.  This week the lessons will focus on the properties of polygons and tessellations.  The test will be on Thursday.

Writing: This week in writing, the students will finish writing a memoir from the point of view of their stuffed animal.  In groups, the students will create a written story for a wordless picture book.  We will also create a dead word book.  This book will have a graveyard of overused words, and the students will make a list of synonyms for those words.  I also would like to do a lesson on the use of transitions to make our sentences sound more fluent.

Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.

Social Studies: This week in groups, the students will continue to create their own colony and develop a vision of their colony 3 years out. They will have to develop a political system, create a flag, name the colony, create a story of the discovery, map the location, figure out a 3 year plan to pay back their charter, and look at the economy. Each group will then present their colony to the class.

Spelling Unit 8:
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

HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.

Robert Crown:
Indian Prairie School District #204 will host a parents’ orientation to our fifth grade health unit on Human Growth and Development.  For your convenience, we have scheduled two dates.  Please feel free to attend any one of the sessions as follows:

Thursday, November 17, 2011                                                       Wednesday, November 30, 2011
7:00 p.m.                                                                                           7:00 p.m.
Brooks Elementary School                                                                Patterson Elementary School
2700 Stonebridge Boulevard                                                             3731 Lawrence Drive
Aurora, IL 60502                                                                                Naperville, IL 60564
(Stonebridge Subdivision;                                                                  (Ashbury Subdivision;       
West off of Eola Rd.)                                                                         North off of 104^th St. onto Lawrence Dr.)

This unit includes, as part of its material, a visit by our students to the Robert Crown Health Center in Hinsdale.

At the health center, students have a presentation on the growth changes that are about to begin in their bodies with the onset of puberty.  They also will see a twenty-minute film on human growth and development.

 The purpose of the parents’ meeting is to inform you of the material your child will be seeing and to answer any questions you might have about the Robert Crown student visitation.  If you have any questions about this unit or about the meeting, please contact me.  I hope you will be able to attend one of the sessions.

NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. To learn more about the program go to Mrs. May's blog at mwlmc.blogspot.com.

Important Dates:
Conference Notes due Monday, October 24
Spelling Test Wednesday, October 26
Math Test Thursday, October 27
Report cards go home Friday, October 28

Homework for Oct. 21

Reading _ Read 20 minutes, Book Report due 10-31

Language Arts - Extra Credit: Scary story due on 10-31

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Thursday

Conference note due on Monday