Newsletter for the week of April 2

Reading: This week in reading, we will finish our poetry packet. In groups, the students will be given a packet of poems to select from. The poems are: The Tyger by William Blake, Alone by Edgar Allen Poe, I Knew A Man By Sight by Henry David Thoreau, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E. Cummings, Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, A Father To His Son by Carl Sandburg, Hope Is The Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickinson, If by Rudyard Kipling, O Captain! My Captain! The students will analyze these poems and look for the deeper meaning. The following are questions we will focus on: What does the title mean? What was the purpose of the poem? What is the target audience for the poem? Is there a lesson in the poem? What is the implied meaning in the poem? How does this poem evoke feelings? The students will also take text that they think are poems(silly kid ones) and connect it to the deeper texts that I will give them.  On Tuesday or Wednesday, we will begin analyzing lyrics of songs that kids will bring in.  They need to bring in their lyrics of a song on Monday.  Teams will interpet the deeper meaning of the song.  We will also complete the analysis based on the questions we did before break. 

Book Report: Your book report for April must be on a fantasy or science fiction. The presentation will be Monday, April 30. For this book report you can make a travel brochure, or you can come up with your own idea.  For the travel brochure you should include the following items:

•  An illustrated cover
• What a guest should bring
• Why someone should come and visit this place
• Directions on how to get there
• Any special features that a person may want to see
• Anything else you would like to include

Math: In math we have started unit 8. The first lesson focused on renaming equilvalent fractions and comparing fractions. The second and third lessons will focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers. On Monday after break, we will review what they learned before break and finish with subtracting fractions.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be doing a grass problem which is an open response.  The kids will make a one square inch template with a hole.  Then we will take it outside and do a random sample of how many blades of grass are in a hole.  Next the kids will calculate the area of the field, and then the kids will calculate the total number of blades of grass in the whole field.  The kids will need to come up with a way to figure out the total area of the field.  On Thursday, we will work on adding and subtracting fractions.

Writing: This week in writing the students will continue working on poetry. They will write free verse poetry.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars. This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: The students will learn about America becoming a country. They will learn about the first government The Articles of Conferation which was a weak government. The students will also learn about the delegates at the Constitutional Convention debating about representatives and the formation of the Constitution.  The week after break the students will learn about the delegates ratifying the Constitution and the test will be on Wednesday.  On Thursday, the students will analyze the Constitution and create their own Constitution for a colony.

Spelling:
There were no spelling words this week.

Missing Books From The LMC:

The following is a note that Mrs. May sent to the staff.

We’ve got a problem of epic proportions in the LMC, and I need your help. In the last 3 years, we have lost 271 books just from the Chapter Book and Graphic Novel sections. In that same time period, we have lost 63 picture books. That is over $5,000 worth of books from just 3 sections! A small portion of the books were lost while they were checked out, but most just disappear off the shelves.

Please look around all the hiding places in your house for books from the LMC while you are doing your spring cleaning.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:

To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 325 minutes for this month. The incentive will be sponsored by the Chicago Slaughter Professional Indoor Football Team along with Buffalo Wild Wings and GameWorks. Students who meet their goal will receive 2 ticket vouchers to a 2012 Chicago Slaughter game, a free kid's meal courtesy of Buffalo's Wild Wings, a free game card from Game Works, and other prizes. Since all reading must be done before Spring Break, and the month is shortened, the reading goals have been reduced.

Important Dates:
Spring Break the week of March 25
Classes Resume Monday, April 2
Market Day Tuesday, April 3
Hill Middle School Parent Night Wednesday, April 4
Social Studies Test Wednesday, April 4
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, April 5
Report Cards go home Thursday, April 5
No School Friday, April 6

Homework for March 23

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Language Arts - Bring in a copy of a song that shows poetry

Have a great spring break

Homework for March 22

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Make sure your reading minutes are logged in.

Homework for March 21

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

5B Math - Study Link 8.2 Optional

5V Math - Mathboxes 8.1 & 8.2

Homework for March 19

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5P Math - Mathboxes page 253 1, 2, 5, & 6

5B Math - Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Wednesday

Newsletter for the week of March 19

Reading: This week in reading, we be reading poetry.  In groups, the students will be given a packet of poems to select from.  The poems are: The Tyger by William Blake, Alone by Edgar Allen Poe, I Knew A Man By Sight by Henry David Thoreau, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E. Cummings, Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, A Father To His Son by Carl Sandburg, Hope Is The Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickinson, If by Rudyard Kipling, O Captain! My Captain!  The students will analyze these poems and look for the deeper meaning.  The following are questions we will focus on: What does the title mean?  What was the purpose of the poem?  What is the target audience for the poem?  Is there a lesson in the poem?  What is the implied meaning in the poem?  How does this poem evoke feelings?  The students will also take text that they think are poems(silly kid ones) and connect it to the deeper texts that I will give them. 

Book Report: Your book report for March must be a fairy tale. The presentation will be Thursday, March 22. For this book report you have three options to select from.

• After reading your fairy tale, you can create your own fairy tale.
• For the second option you can create a twist to the fairy tale you just read. This means that you can change a character, change the setting, change the character traits, etc. You do have to keep the message the same. You will rewrite your fairy tale with this twist.
• The third option is to create your own parody. An example of a parody would be Cinderella's Rat. Cinderella's rat tells the story instead of Cinderella. Another parody is the Wolf telling the story of the three little pigs.

Math: In math we have started unit 8. The first lesson focused on renaming equilvalent fractions and comparing fractions.  The second and third lessons will focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers.  On Thursday, the students will learn how to multiply fractions.  For this unit, the students will be required to reduce the fractions.

Writing: This week in writing the students will be working on poetry.  They will write free verse poetry.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars. This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: The students will learn about America becoming a country.  They will learn about the first government The Articles of Conferation which was a weak government.  The students will also learn about the delegates at the Constitutional Convention debating about representatives and the formation of the Constitution.

Spelling Unit 23:
wondering    fastened     permitting     controlled     listening     regretted     suffered     admitted
referred     bothered     submitted     whispered     transferred     occurring     canceled     developing
scrubbing     upsetting     wondered     quarreled     triggered     pretended     commenting    
delaying     squatted     complained     permitting     remained     profiting     selling     supplying
obtaining     omitted     preferred     profited     abolitionist     headline     editorial     dateline     secede

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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 325 minutes for this month. The incentive will be sponsored by the Chicago Slaughter Professional Indoor Football Team along with Buffalo Wild Wings and GameWorks. Students who meet their goal will receive 2 ticket vouchers to a 2012 Chicago Slaughter game, a free kid's meal courtesy of Buffalo's Wild Wings, a free game card from Game Works, and other prizes. Since all reading must be done before Spring Break, and the month is shortened, the reading goals have been reduced.

Important Dates:
Doodle 4 Google due on Monday, March 19
No School Tuesday, March 20
Spelling Test Wednesday, March 21
Book Report due on Thursday, March 22
Special Chorus Concert Thursday, March 22 7:00 p.m. at Hill
Friday, March 23 early dismissal
Baby Photo for 5th Grade Farewell due on Friday, March 23
Photo Permission Slip due on Friday, March 23
Spring Break the week of March 25
Classes Resume Monday, April 2

Homework for March 16

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5B Math - Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Wednesday

5V Math - Test on Monday

Doodle 4 Google due Monday

Fun Fair on Saturday

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 250, 252

5B Math - Study Link 8.1, Study Guide due on Wednesday, Test on Wednesday

Social Studies - Test on Thursday

Square Art due Friday

Doodle 4 Google due on Monday

Homework for March 14

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

5B Math - Test on Wednesday

5V Math - Test

Social Studies - Test on Thursday

Square Art due Friday

Doodle 4 Google due on Monday

Homework for March 13

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5B Math - Study Link 7.8 due on Wednesday

5V Math - Mathboxes 7.9

Social Studies - Test on Thursday

Square Art due next Friday

Homework for March 12

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

Langugae Arts - Timelines due tomorrow

5P Math - Test tomorrow

5B Math - Study Link 7.8 due on Wednesday, Quiz on Tuesday

5V Math - Math boxes 7.6

Social Studies - Test on Thursday

Square Art due next Friday

Newsletter for the week of March 12

Reading: This week in reading, we be reading the story William Shakespeare & the Globe.  This story explores the world of Elizabethan England, focusing on the life and times of William Shakespeare and on the building of the Globe theater.  The skills we will be focusing on are determining the importance of information, word analysis and contextual clues, determine the meaning of words in context using denotation and connotation.  On Friday we will have an assessment on the story, and we will read a Time for Kids magazine.  The magazine we will be reading focuses on women pioneers.  After reading the magazine, the students will have to decide how they would celebrate Women's History Month in the magazine, and come up with new and different ways to explore the topic.

Book Report: Your book report for March must be a fairy tale. The presentation will be Thursday, March 22. For this book report you have three options to select from.

• After reading your fairy tale, you can create your own fairy tale.
• For the second option you can create a twist to the fairy tale you just read. This means that you can change a character, change the setting, change the character traits, etc. You do have to keep the message the same. You will rewrite your fairy tale with this twist.
• The third option is to create your own parody. An example of a parody would be Cinderella's Rat. Cinderella's rat tells the story instead of Cinderella. Another parody is the Wolf telling the story of the three little pigs.

Math: In math we are finishing unit 9. The first two lessons focused on reading and plotting coordinate pairs. The next lesson focused on the area of rectangles. Last week we worked on the area of triangles and parallelograms. This week we will work on the volume of prisms and conversions of liters, milliliters, cubic centimeters.  On Monday of this week, we will go over the study guide, and on Tuesday there will be a test.  We will start unit 8 on Wednesday.  The first lesson of unit 8 will be focusing on renaming equilvalent fractions and comparing fractions.  The second and third lessons will focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers.

Writing: This week in writing the students will finish their parallel timelines and present them. Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be. The class will make two timelines. The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event. They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event. Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like? Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam? Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother? The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event. We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research. These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation. 
Two other writing assignments this week will be on social studies topics.  The first prompt: Do you think it was a good idea for the colonists to start the American Revolution?  Explain your answer using evidence.  The second prompt: If you lived during the time of the Revolution which side would you have taken and why?  Explain your answer using evidence.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars. This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: The students  have learned about the French and Indian War which led to the taxes that were placed on the colonists. The students also learned about taxes, and the taxes that the colonists were required to pay.  Last week they will learn how the colonists protested these taxes and the start of the American Revolution.  This week the students will learn about the American Revolution.

Spelling Unit 22:
pretty     service     thunder     blanket     effort     fellow     subject     perhaps     attack     entire
chimney     tunnel     effect     suspended     challenge     pretzel     survive     pillow     hunger
college     determined     autobiography     disease     eternal     composition     percussion
malignant     elastic     silkworm     signal     suburban     warranty     yielding     perfection  
language     undeniable     despair     concocted     homestead     brooded

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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 325 minutes for this month. The incentive will be sponsored by the Chicago Slaughter Professional Indoor Football Team along with Buffalo Wild Wings and GameWorks. Students who meet their goal will receive 2 ticket vouchers to a 2012 Chicago Slaughter game, a free kid's meal courtesy of Buffalo's Wild Wings, a free game card from Game Works, and other prizes. Since all reading must be done before Spring Break, and the month is shortened, the reading goals have been reduced.

LMC NEWS:
The Book Fair is coming! Preview was March 7-9, and sales are March 12-17. We will be open during the Fun Fair!  Our online homepage can be accessed directly by going to http://goo.gl/7jFU4 or go to www.scholastic.com/schoolbookfairs and follow the path to May Watts.

Important Dates:
Math test Tuesday, March 13
Spelling Test Wednesday, March 14
Social Studies Test Thursday, March 15
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, March 15
Band Concert at Hill on Thursday, March 15 @ 6:15
Orchestra Concert at Hill on Thursday, March 15 @ 7:45
Fun Fair Saturday, March 17 11:00-3:00
Book Report due Thursday, March 22

Homework for March 9

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

Square Art due next Friday

Homework for March 8

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Journal page 330, Mathboxes page 331, Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

5V Math - Venn Diagram Questions 1-4

5B Math - Study Link 7.6 & 7.7

Square Art due Friday, March 16

Homework for March 7

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

5P Math - Study Link 9.9, Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

5V Math - Study Link 7.5

Homework for March 6

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

5P Math - Extended Response, Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

5B Math - Study Link 7.5

Homework for March 5

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due March 22

5P - Study Link 9.8, Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

5B Math - Study Link 7.4

5V Math - Extended Response

Newsletter for the week of March 5

Reading: This week in reading, we will work on nonfiction reading using a variety of stories and writing another extended response.  We will be doing ISATs during reading on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Book Report: Your book report for March must be a fairy tale. The presentation will be Thursday, March 22. For this book report you have three options to select from.

• After reading your fairy tale, you can create your own fairy tale.
• For the second option you can create a twist to the fairy tale you just read.  This means that you can change a character, change the setting, change the character traits, etc.  You do have to keep the message the same.  You will rewrite your fairy tale with this twist.
• The third option is to create your own parody.  An example of a parody would be Cinderella's Rat.  Cinderella's rat tells the story instead of Cinderella.  Another parody is the Wolf telling the story of the three little pigs.

Math: In math we are working on unit 9.  The first two lessons focused on reading and plotting coordinate pairs.  The next lesson focused on the area of rectangles.  Last week we worked on the area of triangles and parallelograms.  This week we will work on the volume of prisms and conversions of liters, milliliters, cubic centimeters.  We will also continue to work on the extended response.

Writing: This week in writing the students will continue to work on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  The class will make two timelines.  The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event.  They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event.  Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like?  Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam?  Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother?  The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event.  We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research.  These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars.  This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: Last week, the students learned about the French and Indian War which led to the taxes that were placed on the colonists.  The students learned about taxes, and the taxes that the colonists were required to pay.  This week they will learn how the colonists protested these taxes and the start of the American Revolution.

Spelling:
There is no spelling this week.

ISAT SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, March 6:  Session 1 for both reading and math
Wednesday, March 7: Session 2 for both reading and math
Thursday, March 8: Session 3 for both reading and math
  
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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 325 minutes for this month. The incentive will be sponsored by the Chicago Slaughter Professional Indoor Football Team along with Buffalo Wild Wings and GameWorks.  Students who meet their goal will receive 2 ticket vouchers to a 2012 Chicago Slaughter game, a free kid's meal courtesy of Buffalo's Wild Wings, a free game card from Game Works, and other prizes.  Since all reading must be done before Spring Break, and the month is shortened, the reading goals have been reduced.

LMC NEWS:
Young Authors entries are due on Thursday - late admissions will not be accepted, so bring them in on time.
We are looking for parent scorers for the Young Authors entries.  Reading will be done during the school day on Monday - Wednesday, March 5-7.  Parents can sign up to read at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4A4AB2EA13-readers
The Book Fair is coming!  Preview will be on March 7-9, with sales March 12-17.  We will be open during the Fun Fair!  Flyers will go home next week.  Our online homepage can be accessed directly by going to http://goo.gl/7jFU4 or go to www.scholastic.com/schoolbookfairs and follow the path to May Watts.

Important Dates:
ISATs Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
Math test Tuesday, March 13

Homework for March 1

Reading - Book Report due on March 22, Read 20 minutes

5P Math - Study Link 9.5, Study Link 9.6 for extra credit

5B Math - Study Link 7.3

5V Math - Study Link 7.2

Homework for Feb. 28

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due tomorrow, Alliteration book due tomorrow

Spelling - Contract & Test due tomorrow

5P Math - Study Link 9.4, Journal page 307 #s 2, 3, 4(select one), 6

5V Math - Study Link 7.1

Homework for Feb. 27

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29, Alliteration book due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

Newsletter for the week of February 27

Reading: This week in reading, we will work on nonfiction reading using a variety of stories.  Our skills will focus on: open ended questions, making connections, and working on inferences.  We will continue to work on test taking skills and go over the questions from the story Animals in Disguise.  The students will also be writing another extended response.

Book Report: Your book report for February must be a historical fiction. The presentation will be Wednesday, February 29. For this book report the you will create a book quilt, which should be a 3x3 quilt block with each of the squares being about 8x8. You should share something from the book in each of the 9 squares.  Some examples would be: character traits, setting, summary, illustration, conflict, solution, your favorite part, etc.  Make sure all 9 squares are filled in, and you will share your quilt with the class.

Math: In math we are working on unit 9.  The first two lessons focused on reading and plotting coordinate pairs.  The next lesson focused on the area of rectangles.  This week we will work on the area of triangles and parallelograms and the volume of prisms.  We will also continue to work on the extended response.

Writing: This week in writing the students will continue to work on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  The class will make two timelines.  The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event.  They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event.  Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like?  Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam?  Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother?  The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event.  We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research.  These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars.  This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: On Monday, we have our Harriet Tubman field trip.  On Tuesday, the students will learn about the French and Indian War which leads to the taxes that are placed on the colonists.  The students will learn about taxes, and the taxes that the colonists are required to pay.  They will also learn how the colonists protested these taxes.

Spelling Unit 21:
precede     predict     prefer     pretend     pretest     prevent     preview     previous     proceed
process     proclaim     professional     program     progress     project     promise     property
pronunciation     propose     protect     ceramic     opponent     aquarium     resources     prefix
acquaintance     prearrange     preparation     preserve     presume     process     profound
productive     prohibitive     proportional     hyperbole     personification     alliteration     simile
onomatopoeia     metaphor

ISAT SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, March 6:  Session 1 for both reading and math
Wednesday, March 7: Session 2 for both reading and math
Thursday, March 8: Session 3 for both reading and math
  
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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to the Kane County Cougars May Watts Night on May 24 & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.  The Kane County Cougars ticket includes a free hot dog and drink voucher, tshirt, and an opportunity to run around the bases.

LMC NEWS:
Young Authors entries are due on Thursday - late admissions will not be accepted, so bring them in on time.
We are looking for parent scorers for the Young Authors entries.  Reading will be done during the school day on Monday - Wednesday, March 5-7.  Parents can sign up to read at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4A4AB2EA13-readers
The Book Fair is coming!  Preview will be on March 7-9, with sales March 12-17.  We will be open during the Fun Fair!  Flyers will go home next week.  Our online homepage can be accessed directly by going to http://goo.gl/7jFU4 or go to www.scholastic.com/schoolbookfairs and follow the path to May Watts.

Important Dates:
Harriet Tubman field trip Monday, February 27
Spelling Test Wednesday, February 29
Book Report due Wednesday, February 29
Final manuscripts for young authors due on Thursday, March 1
Paw print redemption Thursday, March 1
No School Friday, March 2 Teacher Institute

Homework for Feb. 24

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29, Alliteration Book due on  Feb.29

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

Homework for Feb. 23

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29, Alliteration Book due Feb. 29

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Extended Response

Science Fair is tonight.

Homework for Feb. 22

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29, Alliteration Book due on Feb. 29

5P Math - Stduy Link 9.3

5V Math - Extended Response

P.E. Homework due tomorrow

Newsletter for the week of Feb. 20

Reading: This week in reading, we will work on nonfiction reading using the Time for Kids magazines.  Our skills will focus on: open ended questions, making connections, and working on inferences.  We will work ontest taking skills and go the questions from the story Ready, Set, Flop.  The students will also be writing another extended response.

Book Report: Your book report for February must be a historical fiction. The presentation will be Wednesday, February 29. For this book report the you will create a book quilt, which should be a 3x3 quilt block with each of the squares being about 8x8. You should share something from the book in each of the 9 squares.  Some examples would be: character traits, setting, summary, illustration, conflict, solution, your favorite part, etc.  Make sure all 9 squares are filled in, and you will share your quilt with the class.

Math: In math we started unit 9.  The first two lessons focus on reading and plotting coordinate pairs.  The next lesson will focus on the area of rectangles.  We will also continue to work on the extended response.

Writing: This week in writing the students will continue to work on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  The class will make two timelines.  The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event.  They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event.  Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like?  Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam?  Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother?  The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event.  We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research.  These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars.  This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: Last week in social studies we focused on the colonial trade routes and cities, towns and farms.  We also learned about slavery in the colonies.  This week we will learn about Frederick Douglass, the North and South growing apart, and Harriet Tubman.

Spelling Unit 20:
discuss     deduct     dismissed     develop     disease     discount    disturb     details    demand
determined    depressed     defense     disappointing     discouraged     disadvantage    
demonstrated     defeat     descent     disappear     disconnect     distract     decision     deliver
distressed     distribute     disable     describe     destroyed     disobey     disassemble     disagreed
discipline     discredit     delete     define     encyclopdeia     investor     interchangeable     reaper
stagecoach

ISAT SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, March 6:  Session 1 for both reading and math
Wednesday, March 7: Session 2 for both reading and math
Thursday, March 8: Session 3 for both reading and math
  
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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to the Kane County Cougars May Watts Night on May 24 & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.  The Kane County Cougars ticket includes a free hot dog and drink voucher, tshirt, and an opportunity to run around the bases.

Important Dates:
President's Day - No School Monday, February 20
Parent Teacher Conferences - No School Tuesday, February 21
Spelling Test Wednesday, February 22
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, February 23
Book Report due Wednesday, February 29
Final manuscripts for young authors due on Thursday, March 1

Homework for Feb. 16

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

P.E. homework due next week

Field Trip form due on Friday

Homework for Feb. 15

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

5B Math - Study Link 7.2

5V Math - Mathboxes

P.E. homework due next week

Field Trip form due on Friday

Book Order due on Friday

Homework for Feb. 14

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Test & Contract due on Wednesday

5P Math - Test Wednesday

5B Math - 2 Sheets

Field Trip form due on Friday

Book Order due on Friday

Homework for Feb. 13

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Test & Contract due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 7.11, Study Guide due on Tuesday, Test Wednesday

5B Math - Study Link 7.1

5V Math - Mathboxes 6.10

Field trip note due on Feb. 17

Newsletter for the week of February 13

Reading: This week in reading, we will work on nonfiction reading using the Time for Kids magazines.  Our skills will focus on: using skimming to preview reading materials and scanning to detect major visual patterns and identifying  text structure before reading, making connections to real world situations or related topics before and during reading, and working on inferences.  We will also review the use of figurative language in writing.  The students will also be writing another extended response.

Book Report: Your book report for February must be a historical fiction. The presentation will be Wednesday, February 29. For this book report the you will create a book quilt, which should be a 3x3 quilt block with each of the squares being about 8x8. You should share something from the book in each of the 9 squares.  Some examples would be: character traits, setting, summary, illustration, conflict, solution, your favorite part, etc.  Make sure all 9 squares are filled in, and you will share your quilt with the class.

Math: In math we have been working on unit 7.  The first two lessons focused on standard notation, exponential notation, and number word notation.  Last week the students learned about scientific notation and using parentheses.  They also learned about the order of operations.  The order is parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, and addition/subtraction.  The students made line graphs and worked on short answer responses.  Last week the students continued to work on order of operations, and adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers.  On Monday & Tuesday we will review the concepts that were taught during this unit, and on Wednesday they will take a test.

Writing: This week in writing the students will continue to work on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  The class will make two timelines.  The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event.  They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event.  Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like?  Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam?  Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother?  The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event.  We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research.  These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

Science: We have finished the digestion unit and our next unit will focus on stars.  This unit will be done after our unit in social studies.

Social Studies: This week in social studies we will be focusing on the colonial trade routes and cities, towns and farms.  We will also be learning about slavery in the colonies, Frederick Douglass, and the North and South growing apart. 

Spelling Unit 19:
remove     interview     repeat     interrupt     respect     interfere     represent     relocate     international
review     interpret     interstate     remarkable     intermediate     intersection     recommend     interject
intervene     resource     remained     interdependent     interconnect     recognize     reassure     recede
interact     reactivate     reinvestigation     recaptured     interdepartmental     interplanetary     intercostals
recuperate     recurrent     intergenerational     planetarium     neutral     telescope     photosphere
chromosphere
  
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.

READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to the Kane County Cougars May Watts Night on May 24 & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.  The Kane County Cougars ticket includes a free hot dog and drink voucher, tshirt, and an opportunity to run around the bases.

Important Dates:
Valentine's Day Parties Tuesday, February 14
Spelling test Wednesday, February 15
Math test Wednesday, February 15
Robert Crown Followup Thursday, February 16
President's Day - No School Monday, February 20
Parent Teacher Conferences - No School Tuesday, February 21
Book Report due Wednesday, February 29
Final manuscripts for young authors due on Thursday, March 1

Homework for Feb. 10

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Test & Contract due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Guide due on Tuesday of next week, Test Wednesday

Field trip note due on Feb. 17

Homework for Feb. 9

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Test & Contract due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 7.9, 7.10, Study Guide due on Tuesday of next week, Test Wednesday

5V Math -

Field trip note due on Feb. 17

Homework for Feb. 8

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

5P Math - Study Guide due on Tuesday of next week, Test Wednesday

5B Math - Study Link 7.1, Study guide, Test Thursday

5V Math - Study Link 6.9

Science - Test tomorrow

Field trip note due on Feb. 17

Homework for Feb. 7

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 7.8, Study Guide due on Tuesday of next week, Test Wednesday

5B Math -  Study Link 6.12, Study guide, Test Thursday

5V Math - Study Link 6.8

Science - Worksheet, Test Thursday

Field Trip form due on Feb. 17

Homework for Feb.

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 7.7, Study Guide due on Tuesday of next week

5B Math - Study guide, Test Thursday

Field Trip form due on Feb. 17

Newsletter for the week of February 6

Reading: This week in reading, we will work on nonfiction reading using the Time for Kids magazines.  Our skills will focus on: using skimming to preview reading materials and scanning to detect major visual patterns and identifying  text structure before reading, making connections to real world situations or related topics before and during reading, and working on inferences.  The students will also be writing another extended response.

Book Report: Your book report for February must be a historical fiction. The presentation will be Wednesday, February 29. For this book report the you will create a book quilt, which should be a 3x3 quilt block with each of the squares being about 8x8. You should share something from the book in each of the 9 squares.  Some examples would be: character traits, setting, summary, illustration, conflict, solution, your favorite part, etc.  Make sure all 9 squares are filled in, and you will share your quilt with the class.

Math: In math we have been working on unit 7.  The first two lessons focused on standard notation, exponential notation, and number word notation.  Last week the students learned about scientific notation and using parentheses.  They also learned about the order of operations.  The order is parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, and addition/subtraction.  The students made line graphs and worked on short answer responses.  This week the students will continue to work on order of operations, and adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers.  On Friday, we will work on another extended response. 

Writing: This week in writing the students will be working on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  The class will make two timelines.  The first showing how history really evolved with all the major events before and after the event.  They will also make a parallel timeline showing how the world might have been different if they could go back in time to change the event.  Imagine if JFK would have lived because you stopped Oswald... what would the next few decades been like?  Would the U.S. have gone to war in Vietnam?  Would RFK have run for president and been killed like his brother?  The final project will include these two timelines showing what the world was like and how it would be different and a written plan explaining how they would actually succeed in stopping the event.  We will also work on using the BIG6 steps for research.  These steps are task definition, information seeking strategies, location and access, use of information, synthesis, and evaluation.

Grammar:  Our focus for grammar will be identifying root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Science: In science we have started our digestion unit.  Last week the students learned about their teeth and oral health.  Last week they learned about their stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.  This week we will learn about the accessory organs.  These organs are the liver, gall bladder, and the pancreas.

Social Studies: We will start social studies after our digestion unit.

Spelling Unit 18:
nontoxic     income     unknown     unusual     involved     unlike     inspector     unless     indeed
nonprofit     invisible     nonsense     incredible     uncomfortable     inconsistent     unfortunately
nonfiction     nonviolent     uncover     informal     inexperienced     unproductive     unsightly
inspiration     nonrefundable     indescribable     inevitable     nonresident     invalid     involuntary
insurance     unhurried     unending     nebula     supernova     galaxy     Betelgeuse    
astronomical unit
  
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.

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 for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to the Kane County Cougars May Watts Night on May 24 & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.  The Kane County Cougars ticket includes a free hot dog and drink voucher, tshirt, and an opportunity to run around the bases.

NAPERVILLE READS 2012 - ANTONIO SACRE:
Free tickets are available for a presentation at Wentz Hall, North Central College, on Thursday, Feb. 9th at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at any Naperville Public Library or Anderson's Bookshop.  If you would like an autographed book, order forms are available on the May Watts Website.

MAY WATTS BOOK EXCHANGE:
Bring in gently used books, and receive tickets for "shopping" on Thursday and Friday.

Important Dates:
Spelling test Wednesday, February 8
Hill Super Bowl Math Night Wednesday, February 8
Science test Thursday, February 9
Paw print redemption Thursday, February 9
Robert Crown field trip Friday, February 10
Math test Wednesday, February 15
Book Report due Wednesday, February 29
Final manuscripts for young authors due on Thursday, March 1

Homework for Feb. 3

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Language Arts - A to Z due on Monday

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5B Math - Study guide

P.E. - Study your routine

Homework for Feb. 2

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Language Arts - A to Z Book due on Monday

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5B Math - Study Link 6.10

5V Math - Extended Response, Comparison Sheet

Homework for Feb. 1

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Feb. 29

Language Arts - A to Z

5P Math - Study Link 7.5

5V Math - Study Link 6.6

Science - Quiz over digestive diagram

Talk about events in history for the "worm hole"

Homework for January 30

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due tomorrow

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 7.3 & Mathboxes 7.3

Science - Quiz on Thursday, Stomach Worksheet

HILL FORM DUE TOMORROW

Newsletter for the week of January 31

Reading: This week in reading, we will finish the story Summer of Fire.  The students will learn how to make a timeline using the story and take a test over the story.  The rest of the week will focus on nonfiction reading using the Time for Kids magazines.  Our skills will focus on: using skimming to preview reading materials and scanning to detect major visual patterns and identifying  text structure before reading, making connections to real world situations or related topics before and during reading, and working on inferences.  The students will also be writing another extended response.

Book Report: Your book report for January must be a mystery. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 31. For this book report you will create a detective's report and treasure map. This should be done as you read. Don't wait until after you are finished with the book. You will be identifying clues to solve the mystery that is unfolding in your story. Keep notes. You will use your detective's report to create a treasure map. You will later turn in notes (detective's report) and the map. The notes do not have to be in final draft form.

You need the following information in your notes: the place where the main character starts (beginning setting), a list of where he or she goes, what clues are found there, where he or she ends up with the climax and solution of the story.

You will use your dectective's report to make your map. Draw out your character's path. As the path on your map continues, your readers will be unraveling the main events and the mystery!
Places and clues are marked with something to open. It could be a door, tree, book, or something that represents a clue.
On the door: the setting where the clue was discovered (ex. bookcase, a tree, a desk, an underground city)
Behind the door: phrase, picture, or word that represents the clue (ex. candlestick, "ran away")
Under the door: why it is important to the story (ex. "finds a note" or "locates a sound")

Math: In math we started unit 7.  The first two lessons focused on standard notation, exponential notation, and number word notation.  This week the students will learn about scientific notation and using parentheses.  They will also learn about the order of operations.  The order is parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, and addition/subtraction.  On Thursday, we will make line graphs and work on short answer responses.  On Friday, we will work on another extended response. 

Writing: This week in writing the students will finish "All About Me from A to Z" books.  This week in writing the students will also be working on researching an event in history.  Our prompt is: If you could go back in time and change an event in history what would it be.  They will have to research the event and create a parallel timeline showing how the "worm hole" can change the path of history. 

Grammar:  Our focus for grammar will be identifying root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Science: In science we have started our digestion unit.  Last week the students learned about their teeth and oral health.  This week they will learn about their stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the accessory organs.  These organs are the liver, gall bladder, and the pancreas.

Social Studies: We will start social studies after our digestion unit.

Spelling Unit 17:
engineer     dentist     librarian     director     customer     pioneer     counselor     tourist     scientist
visitor     investigator     senator     astronomer     character     refrigerator     guardian     commander
physician     leader     historian     performer     volunteer     disaster     spectator     electrician
custodian     aviator     chemist     philosopher     pharmacist     comedian     orator     veneer
genealogist     executive     legislative     judicial     statehood     Bill of Rights
  
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.

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 360 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to Great America & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.

Important Dates:
Book Report due on Tuesday, January 31
Open House Tuesday, January 31
Hill forms need to be turned in by Tuesday, January 31
Spelling Test February 1
Digestive system diagram quiz Thursday, February 2

Homework for Jan. 27

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

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

Science - Quiz on Thursday

Hill form due Jan. 31

Report Card Envelope if you have not turned it in

Homework for Jan. 25

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

Language Arts - 6 more letters

5P Math - Extended Response

5B Math - SL 6.8

Hill Form Jan. 31

Field Trip due on Friday

Homework for January 24

Reading - Read 20 minutes, book report due on Jan. 31

Language Arts - 6 more letters

Spelling - Contract & Test due tomorrow

5B Math - Study Link 6.7

5V Math - Math boxes page 207

Hill form due on Jan. 31

Field Trip form due Friday

Homework for January 23

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

Language Arts - 4 more letters

5P Math - Test tomorrow, Practice sheet with fractions

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

Science - Test tomorrow

Hill form due on Jan. 31

Field Trip form due Jan. 27

Newsletter for the week of January 23

Reading: This week in reading, we will focus on a nonfiction story about the great forest fires at Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1988.  We will be working on writing an ISAT style extended response.  The format of these answers will include answering the question with a blanket statement, finding all the evidence in the text to support the answer, interpreting the evidence, and a conclusion sentence that restates the answers using a synonym to avoid repetition.  Along with the extended response we will be working on test taking strategies using the end of the story quiz.

Book Report: Your book report for January must be a mystery. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 31. For this book report you will create a detective's report and treasure map. This should be done as you read. Don't wait until after you are finished with the book. You will be identifying clues to solve the mystery that is unfolding in your story. Keep notes. You will use your detective's report to create a treasure map. You will later turn in notes (detective's report) and the map. The notes do not have to be in final draft form.

You need the following information in your notes: the place where the main character starts (beginning setting), a list of where he or she goes, what clues are found there, where he or she ends up with the climax and solution of the story.

You will use your dectective's report to make your map. Draw out your character's path. As the path on your map continues, your readers will be unraveling the main events and the mystery!
Places and clues are marked with something to open. It could be a door, tree, book, or something that represents a clue.
On the door: the setting where the clue was discovered (ex. bookcase, a tree, a desk, an underground city)
Behind the door: phrase, picture, or word that represents the clue (ex. candlestick, "ran away")
Under the door: why it is important to the story (ex. "finds a note" or "locates a sound")

Math: In math we started unit 6. The first couple of lessons focused on using landmark data, which is minimum, maximum, median, mode, range, and mean and organizing the data. They organized the data by using graphs, line plots, and stem and leaf plots.  The students worked on identifying mystery line plots. They also investigated the relationship between sample size, reliability, and analyzed the data.  Last week the students continued to analyze data and worked on adding and subtracting fractions.

Writing: This week in writing will be spent on the final copy of "All About Me from A to Z" books.  There will be mini lessons on editing and elaboration.

Grammar:  Our focus for grammar will be learning about pronouns and prepositions.

Science: In science we will continue focusing on 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.  The students did two experiments focusing on static electricity. Then they learned that electricity flows and the materials needed to light a light bulb. Last week the students learned about conductors and insulators.  They also learned about parallel and series circuits and made a switch.

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

Spelling Unit 16:
capable     careless     desirable     admirable     restless     available     debatable     tasteless
helpless     senseless     priceless     useless     reliable     undeniable     excitable     believable
bottomless     comfortable     dampness     understandable     decorations     reciting
memorized     tongue     precious     agreeable     hopelessness     changeable     approachable
acceptable     adorable     profitable     valuable     thoughtless     fruitless     territory     veto
secretary     Supreme Court     amendment    

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.

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 360 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to Great America & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.

Important Dates:
Math Test Tuesday, January 24
Science Test Tuesday, January 24
Spelling test Wednesday, January 25
Watts Whirl Wednesday, January 25
Paw Print Redemption Thursday, January 26
Field Trip Form due on Friday, January 27
Book Report due on Tuesday, January 31
Open House Tuesday, January 31
Hill forms need to be turned in by Tuesday, January 31

Homework for Jan. 20

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

Language Arts - 4 letters for A to Z

Spelling - Contract & Test due Wednesday

5P Math - Study guide due on Monday, Test onTuesday

5V Math - Extended Response, Car Information

Hill Form due Jan. 31

Field Trip form due Friday, Jan. 27

                                 OPEN HOUSE

Dear Parents and Students:

You and your family are cordially invited to attend May Watts School’s Open House on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.   We are holding only one Open House this year.  To alleviate being overcrowded, we are asking families whose last name begins with “A thru L” attend from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Families whose last name begins with “M thru Z” are requested to attend from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  

This is an excellent opportunity for you and your family to see your children's work, meet your child's teacher and see your school.  All members of our support staff will also be available for you to visit.  Please be sure to stop by and visit with them. Due to the informal nature of the night, it will not be possible to conduct parent/teacher conferences.  Our next conference date is Tuesday, February 21^st,  or you can call the teacher anytime to schedule a meeting. 

There will not be a Book Fair during Open House this year.  We will be holding the Book Fair in March and more information will be forthcoming.

Please remember to check our "Lost & Found" which will be on display in the Office hallway during the evening.  Any items not claimed this evening will be donated to a charity.

We will open all outside building doors in order for you to enter the building so that you may park in the rear of the building.   Come on in.  We are looking forward to your visit.

Sincerely,

May Watts Staff

Homework for Jan. 17

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due Jan. 31

Language Arts - A to Z 5 more letters

5P Math - Journal page 185 & Study Link 6.6, Study Guide due on Monday, Test on Tuesday

5B Math - Study Link 6.2

Book Order due tomorrow

Hill form due on Jan. 31

Newsletter for the week of January 16

Reading: This week in reading, the students will continue working on their inventions.  On Friday, January 20, we will have an invention open house. The students will be able to go from classroom to classroom to see all the inventions. The students will need to include the following: the reason why it was invented, how it will help people/rationale, who will benefit from it, and a diagram/image of the item.  For the next two weeks we will also focus on a nonfiction story about the great forest fires at Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1988.  We will be working on writing an ISAT style extended response.  The format of these answers will include answering the question with a blanket statement, finding all the evidence in the text to support the answer, interpreting the evidence, and a conclusion sentence that restates the answers using a synonym to avoid repetition.  Along with the extended response we will be working on test taking strategies using the end of the story quiz.

Book Report: Your book report for January must be a mystery. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 31. For this book report you will create a detective's report and treasure map. This should be done as you read. Don't wait until after you are finished with the book. You will be identifying clues to solve the mystery that is unfolding in your story. Keep notes. You will use your detective's report to create a treasure map. You will later turn in notes (detective's report) and the map. The notes do not have to be in final draft form.

You need the following information in your notes: the place where the main character starts (beginning setting), a list of where he or she goes, what clues are found there, where he or she ends up with the climax and solution of the story.

You will use your dectective's report to make your map. Draw out your character's path. As the path on your map continues, your readers will be unraveling the main events and the mystery!
Places and clues are marked with something to open. It could be a door, tree, book, or something that represents a clue.
On the door: the setting where the clue was discovered (ex. bookcase, a tree, a desk, an underground city)
Behind the door: phrase, picture, or word that represents the clue (ex. candlestick, "ran away")
Under the door: why it is important to the story (ex. "finds a note" or "locates a sound")

Math: In math we started unit 6. The first couple of lessons focused on using landmark data, which is minimum, maximum, median, mode, range, and mean and organizing the data. They organized the data by using graphs, line plots, and stem and leaf plots.  Last week, the students worked on identifying mystery line plots. They also investigated the relationship between sample size, reliability, and analyzed the data.  This week the students will continue to analyze data and work on adding and subtracting fractions.

Writing: This week in writing will be spent completing the draft of our "All About Me from A to Z" books.  There will be mini lessons on peer conferencing and elaboration.

Grammar:  Our focus for grammar will be learning about pronouns and prepositions.

Science: In science we will continue focusing on 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.  Last week, the students did two experiments focusing on static electricity. Then they learned that electricity flows and the materials needed to light a light bulb. This week the students will learn about conductors and insulators.  They will also learn about parallel and series circuits. At the end of the week, the students will make a switch.

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

Spelling Unit 15:
translation     laziness     population     invention     generation     examination     situation
operation     sickness     kindness     closeness     forgiveness     pollution     imagination    
education     transportation     federation     subtraction     smallness     lateness     questions
science-fiction     air-conditioning     scientific     atmosphere     apprehension    
thoughtfulness     appreciation     illumination     comprehension     extension     falsification
affiliation     initiation     negotiation     mercenary     Loyalist     Patriot     commander
revolution    

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.

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 360 minutes for this month. The prizes this month will be a ticket to Great America & a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut.

Important Dates:
No School Monday, January 16
Spelling Test Wednesday, January 18
Report cards go home on Friday, January 20
Letter of intent to participate in the Young Authors Program due Friday, January 20
Math Test Tuesday, January 24
Watts Whirl Wednesday, January 25
Book Report due on Tuesday, January 31
Open House Tuesday, January 31
Hill forms need to be turned in by Tuesday, January 31

Homework for Jan. 12

Reading - Read 20 minutes, Book Report due Jan. 31

5P Math - Journal page 181 #'s 1, 2, 4, 5

Hill Packet due Jan. 31

Book Order due Jan. 14

Homework for Jan. 11

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

Language Arts - 5 more letters of the A to Z Book

5P Math - Journal page 179 #s 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6

5B Math - Test on Thursday, Study Link 6.1

5V Math - Mock Test due tomorrow (extra credit)

Book Order due next Wednesday

Hill Packet due Jan. 31

Tonight is Hill's informational meeting at 7:00.

Homework for Jan. 10

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

Language Arts - 5 more letters for the A to Z

5P Math - Study Link 6.4

5B Math - Study Link 5.10, Test on Thursday

5V Math - Finish Math Extended Response

Book Order due on Wednesday, Jan. 14

Hill Packet due on Jan. 31

Homework for Jan. 9

Reading- Read 20 minutes, Book Report due on Jan. 31, Think of an idea for an invention

Writing - 2 Letters for their A to Z Book

5B Math - Test on Thursday

Hill Packet due on Jan. 31

Newsletter for the week of January 9

Reading: This week in reading, the students will be creating their own inventions.  On Monday, we will read through a Time for Kids magazine which focuses on the coolest inventions of 2011.  Then the students will individually create their own invention that will be presented on trifolds.  This project will be worked on in class from Tuesday - Thursday and the following Tuesday of the next week.  On Wednesday, January 18, we will have an invention open house.  The students will be able to go from classroom to classroom to see all the inventions.  The students will need to include the following: the reason why it was invented, how it will help people/rationale, who will benefit from it, and a diagram/image of the item

Book Report: Your book report for January must be a mystery. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 31. For this book report you will create a detective's report and treasure map.  This should be done as you read.  Don't wait until after you are finished with the book.  You will be identifying clues of solving the mystery that is unfolding in your story.  Keep notes.  You will use your detective's report to create a treasure map.  You will later turn in notes (detective's report) and the map.  The notes do not have to be in final draft form.

You need the following information in your notes:  the place where the main character starts (beginning setting), a list of where he or she goes, what clues are found there, where he or she ends up with the climax and solution of the story

You will use your dectective's report to make your map.  Draw out your character's path.  As the path on your map continues, your readers will be unraveling the main events and the mystery! 
Places and clues are marked with something to open.  It could be a door, tree, book, or something that represents a clue.
On the door:  the setting where the clue was discovered (ex. bookcase, a tree, a desk, an underground city)
Behind the door: phrase, picture, or word that represents the clue (ex. candlestick, "ran away")
Under the door: why it is important to the story (ex. "finds a note" or "locates a sound")

Math: In math we started unit 6. The first couple of lessons focused on using landmark data, which is minimum, maximum, median, mode, range, and mean and organizing the data. They organized the data by using graphs, line plots, and stem and leaf plots.  Next week, the students will work on identifying mystery line plots.  They will also investigate the relationship between sample size and reliability.  On Thursday, they will work on adding and subtracting fractions.

Writing: This week in writing the students will be working on a book about them.  The book is All About Me From A to Z.  The mini lessons that will be focused on are word choice, voice, paragraphing, matching illustrations to text, editing and revising, and the use of a thesaurus and dictionary.

Science: In science we will focus on electricity. On Wednesday of this past week, the students learned about static 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.  On Monday and Tuesday the students will do two experiments focusing on static electricity.  Then on Wednesday, the students will learn that electricity flows and the materials needed to light a light bulb.  This week the students will also learn what conducts electricity and what does not conduct electricity.

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

Spelling:
There are no words this week.

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:
December 23 - January 8 No School - Winter Break
January 9 Classes Resume
Hill Parent Night Wednesday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.
End of 2nd Quarter Thursday, January 12
Paw Print Redemption Day Thursday, January 12
No School Friday, January 13
No School Monday, January 16

Homework for Dec. 22

Reading - Read 20 minutes

Homework for Dec. 21

Reading - Read 20 minutes

5P Math - Study Link 6.3

Science - Worksheet

Homework for Dec. 20

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

Spelling - Contract & Test for Wednesday

5P Math - Journal pages 166 & 172 #s 1, 3, 4, & 6

5B Math - Study Link 5.7

Homework for Dec. 19

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

Spelling - Contract & Test due on Wednesday

5P Math - Study Link 6.1

5B Math - Study Link 5.6

Science - Test tomorrow

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