Meet Your Teacher at the Movies!!

Hello kids and parents!  I was going to send a flyer home before break inviting the kids to meet me at Tinseltown to see the new "Yogi Bear" movie.  Unfortunately, due to all the snow and ice, I was unable to do that. 

If your child would like to meet me at the movies, Mrs. Thornton and I (...and Mr. Whitley and Corbin) will be at Tinseltown on Tuesday, December 21st at 4:30.  We will be seeing the 5:05 showing of "Yogi Bear."  Students from both of our classes are invited to join us, but they must have an adult chaperone to stay with them and to provide their movie ticket and snacks.  The chaperone can be a big brother/sister who can drive or your child can come with a friend as long as an adult is responsible for them and stays with them the whole time.  I know this is late notice, but if you think you can come I hope to see you there!  Please RSVP to me by e-mailing me at jennifer.whitley@oldham.kyschools.us no later than Monday afternoon, so I can know who to expect.  If I don't see you, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

*Movies over Winter Break sometimes sell out which is why we picked a late afternoon show and why we plan to meet 35 minutes before it starts.  Even so, you might consider getting your tickets online or early if you happen to be in the Springhurst area.  Looking forward to our movie date!

*This is not an official field trip and your child is not required to attend.  It is simply meant to be a fun outing.  :o)

Week of December 13-17

Happy Holidays!  It's going to be a fun last week before Winter Break!  Please read the following important notes about some things that may be confusing this week.

 

Important Notes:

We are having a used book exchange at our holiday party on Friday.  If your child would like to participate, he/she needs to bring in a wrapped used book to give to another student.  I'd also like the kids to write a few sentences to place inside the cover telling why they chose this particular book for the exchange.

 

Please send in a scarf and a pair of sunglasses for your child to wear to our Holiday Sing-a-Long tomorrow afternoon.  We will be singing "Feliz Navidad" as a class and we do a dance to it that requires a scarf and a pair of sunglasses.

 

We are also doing a Math Shopping Spree in class where the kids select a Secret Santa to shop for.  This is all pretend...no real money will be spent.  The kids are simply shopping in catalogs and cutting out what they would buy to paste onto a collage and a holiday card for their Secret Santa.

Here is what's coming up in class this week...

Upcoming Tests:

• Facts Tests
• Social Studies Test over chapter 10 (Tensions Leading to the Revolutionary War) on Friday

Math:  How do I calculate tax, percent, and total cost when completing the math shopping spree?

Reading:  How do I effectively complete a reading open response?

Social Studies:  What tensions lead to the Revolutionary War?

Writing:  How do writers narrate as a purpose for on-demand writing?

Week of December 6-10

Welcome to a new week!  I am looking forward to returning to school now that my family and I are finally feeling better!  I hope everyone enjoyed the field trips and I'm sorry I missed them.  Please remember, if you signed up for Girls' Night Out at the Harmony Harvest we are rescheduling for this Friday, December 10th.  Please plan to stay after school with me that day until 4:00pm for pizza, nails, and other fun girl stuff!

Reminders:

If you signed up to buy an item for our Husky-Helping House child, please send that item in by Monday, December 13 so the kids can wrap the gifts to be sent off later next week.  :o)

Here is what's coming up in class this week...

Upcoming Tests:

• Facts Tests
• Social Studies Test over Williamsburg on Wednesday
• Math Test over Fractions, Decimals and Percents on Thursday
• Word Study Quiz over prefixes un, mis, and im on Friday

Math:  How do I convert fractions and decimals to percents?  How do I read bar graphs and circle graphs to understand data?

We will be wrapping up our current math unit this week.  As always, the kids may take home one of the purple math books I have if needed, but the math notebook should also have everything they need to help complete assignments.

Reading:  What are literary devices and how they used in reading?

This week we will begin to examine literary devices and how they are used to make reading more interesting.

Social Studies:  What was life like in colonial Williamsburg?

Our test over colonial Williamsburg will be Wednesday, followed by a new social studies unit over the growing tensions between Britain and the colonies.  During this unit the students will have the opportunity to explore life as a colonist in the years prior to the Revolutionary War, so that they may understand why the colonists finally decided to declare their independence.

Word Study:  Why do we use the prefixes un, mis, and im?

Writing:  How do writers narrate as a purpose for on-demand writing?

This week the kids will have the opportunity to send their completed narrative articles to Kentuckiana Kids newspaper for a possibility of publication.  We will also begin learning how to respond to on-demand prompts that ask writers to narrate as a purpose.

Week of Nov. 29-Dec. 3

Welcome back, kids!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you thought about some of the learning we've done over the past weeks about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans so you can see what it is so very important that we give thanks for this wonderful country.  We have a lot going on this week including 2 lessons with Mrs. Hammons, publishing our narrative articles, and 2 field trips!  Also, if you signed up for the Whitley/Coomes Girls' Night Out at the Harmony Harvest please plan to stay after school with me this Friday until 4:00pm for pizza, nails, and other fun girl stuff!

*Kids, I am trying my best to upload your literature circle project videos and your brochure presentations to my blog, but I am having a lot of technical difficulties.  I'll do my best to get them on this week if the computer will cooperate.  :o)

Field Trip Reminders:

• Wednesday we are going to see "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at NOHS.  This is a walking field trip and we will return before lunch so no sack lunch is necessary.
• Friday we will be attending the performance of "Nutcracker in a Nutshell" at the Palace Theater in Louisville in which one of our talented classmates, Emma, will be performing!  Please bring a sack lunch and a snack.  We won't be eating until we return from the field trip around 12:30 so I am going to ask everyone to eat a snack around 9:00am before we leave.

Change in Homework:

         I want to explain a change I am making to the nightly homework.  In the past months I have been asking students to read and record their book title and pages read in their agenda followed by a parent signature each night.  Now that our first round of literature circles is over though and I have seen such great reading comprehension and hard work by our students, I would like to make an alteration.  I am still requesting that parents sign the agenda each night to indicate that you have seen your child's homework and any important agenda notes, but I am going to be sending home a weekly reading log to be completed a little each night (Monday-Thursday).  There are various tasks to do on the log depending on the day, but all are related to the thinking strategies and are meant to help the kids with their comprehension.  It will be a great way for the kids to communicate with me about what they are reading at home and I will be able to see whether or not they are comprehending what they read.  

Here is what's coming up in class this week...

Upcoming Tests:

Facts Tests

Math:  How do I convert fractions and decimals to percents?

This is still a continuation of our unit over fractions.  We will be testing over this unit next Thursday.  Once again, it has been a challenging unit, so please feel free to assist your child with homework at home.  They may take home one of the purple math books I have if needed, but the math notebook should also have everything they need to help complete assignments.

Reading:  What are literary devices and how they used in reading?

This week we will begin to examine literary devices and how they are used to make reading more interesting.

Social Studies:  What was life like in colonial Williamsburg?

During this unit, the students will get a chance to explore the life of a person living in Williamsburg, VA during colonial times by visiting various stations in class.  It is a very fun unit that allows the children to see how different colonial life was.

Word Study:  Why do we use the prefixes un, mis, and im?

Writing:  How do I complete and publish my narrative article?  How do writers narrate as a purpose for on-demand writing?

This week we will put our finishing touches on our narrative articles and mail them off for a chance at publication in Kentuckiana Kids newspaper.  We will also begin learning how to respond to on-demand prompts that ask writers to narrate as a purpose.

Week of November 15-19

Weekly Update

Reminders:

• This Wednesday a note will be coming home in the agenda regarding the viewing of the movie "Squanto."  It is a 5th grade tradition to show this movie to support our teaching about the first Thanksgiving on the last day before Thanksgiving Break.  Your child is invited to bring a snack and a pillow to enjoy the showing.  :o)
• BOB (Battle of the Books) is beginning this week!  The students have been now and early February to work with a team of students in class to read a list of 10 great novels.  The teams will compete in February to answer questions regarding their comprehension of these books.  Please encourage your child to read as much as possible to support their team!  Students who read 7+ books can also have the opportunity to go on to the individual district level competition!  We will use some of these books for our next literature circles in order to encourage the competition.  It is a fun, competitive way to encourage reading and to develop reading comprehension!  These books may also be used for nightly reading.  If you want to encourage participation, ask your child if his/her nightly reading book is a BOB book.  If not, encourage them to select one and bring it home to read each night.  Teams who do the best usually have members who read the most books.

Upcoming Tests:

Facts Tests

Friday:  Word Study (prefixes:  pre, re, in)

Math:  How do I use equivalency to compare and order fractions?

This unit has been very challenging for the kiddos.  Please do not hesitate to offer help at home.

Reading:  How do I effectively participate in literature circles?

This week we will have our final meetings and discussions over our literature circle books.  Literature circle projects and presentations are due next Tuesday.  Just as with the reading, this project is meant to be completed in class, but may be taken home if more time is needed.

Social Studies:  What hardships did Africans face when put into slavery?

This week we will examine the lives of African slaves from their life in Africa to their life working as a slave for plantation owners.

Word Study:  Why do we use the prefixes pre, re, and in?

We will practice using the prefixes to understand how they can change the meaning of words.  There will be a quiz on Friday.

Writing:  How do I finish drafting my narrative article and begin the revision process?

This week the kids will finish drafting and revise their narrative articles on the computer this week with a publication goal of next Monday.

Week of November 8-12

Weekly Update

Thank you so much to everyone who returned their field trip forms, money, and signed progress reports so quickly!

Reminders:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences:  Tuesday from 2:40-6:00pm.  If you have not signed up for a conference, but would still like to discuss your child's progress please contact me and let me know the best time to reach you for a phone conference.
• Early Release is at 12:25pm on Wednesday this week. 

Upcoming Tests:

Facts Tests

Tuesday:  Math Test (Dvision)

Friday:  Social Studies Test (chapter 7-Colonial Regions) and Word Study (prefixes and suffixes)

Math:  How do I divide whole numbers and decimals?

We will asses our understanding of division Tuesday.

How do I convert improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa?

Reading:  How do I effectively participate in literature circles?

This week we will continue reading and discussing our literature circle books.

Social Studies:  What were the colonial regions in the New World and how did they differ from one another?

This unit is a more in-depth study of the colonial regions among the 13 original colonies.

Word Study:  What are root words, prefixes, and suffixes?

This week we will begin a 3 week study of root words, prefixes, and suffixes and we will explore how adding prefixes and suffixes can change the meaning of root words.  The first quiz over this will be Friday.

Writing:  How do I begin drafting my narrative article?

This week the kids will continue writing to tell about a time when something happened in their lives to that taught them a valuable lesson.

Math Test Date Changed

Update: The math test has been postponed until next Tuesday, November 9.

Week of November 1-5

Sorry it has taken me a while to update the class blog.  Our family had a very busy weekend.

Here are some reminders about things coming up in the next couple of weeks.

1)  Parent-Teacher Conferences are Thursday, November 4 or Tuesday, November 9 from 2:40pm-6:00pm.  There are still spots available, so please sign up.

2)  Progress Reports go home Wednesday, November 3rd.
3)  November 10 is also our next Early Release Day.

4)  A field trip form will be coming home in the Wednesday folder for the production of "Nutcracker in a Nutshell."  Please send in your forms and money for this as soon as possible.  The show will be December 3rd.

Here is what's coming up this week in Mrs. Whitley's room!

Upcoming Tests:

Facts Tests

Thursday:  Social Studies Test (chapter 6-1st colonies) and Word Study (ed and ing)

Friday:  Math Test (Dvision)

Math:  How do I divide whole numbers and decimals?

We will continue to cover division of 1 and 2-digit whole numbers, estimation strategies in division, and dividing decimals.  Please learn those facts, kids!

Reading:  How do I effectively participate in literature circles?

This week we will continue reading our literature circle books.  The kids are doing great so far, though a few missed their deadlines for the first meeting.  This is a reminder to the kids that reading and assignments are primarily intended to be completed during class, but can be taken home to complete if necessary.  It is crucial that they complete their reading in order to effectively participate in the discussions.

Social Studies:  What were the first colonies in the New World?

We are finishing up our study of Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth and we will be testing on Thursday.  This unit will be followed by a more in-depth study of the colonial regions among the 13 original colonies.

Word Study:  How do words change when you add the suffixes -ed and -ing?

I felt the students still needed some extra practice on this and we added some more rules such as adding a k to words ending in the letter c.  For example, picnic becomes picnicked or picnicking.  Our quiz over this will be Thursday and we will make our own personal dictionaries during Word Study on Friday.

Writing:  What is a narrative article and how do I collect ideas for one?

With the first On-Demand writing unit complete, we will begin exploring narrative articles.  These articles are basically personal narratives the kids will write to tell about a time when something happened in their lives to that taught them a valuable lesson.

Red Ribbon Week Success!!

This week there was a competition between all the classes in the school to create and perform a song or cheer for Red Ribbon Week.  I am proud to announce that our class won the school competition!  Together we changed the lyrics to the song "Dynamite" to make our own song about choosing to be drug free.  We even put dance moves to it and it was super!  The kids were so creative and enthusiastic throughout the process and the performances for Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Pfaff, and Mrs. Hammons (our judges)!  When the announcement was made at the end of the day to say that we won the kids jumped up and down and screamed!  As a reward for winning they each received a Red Ribbon Week pencil, activity book, crayons, and a sticker.  The song will be broadcast on the school newscast for all students to see tomorrow!

The lyrics are below followed by the video of our performance.  :o)

Whitley’s Drug Free Song

(to the tune of “Dynamite”)

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes because I’m drug free

We are drug free

I want to celebrate and live my life because I’m drug free

We are drug free

We gonna just say no

We gonna walk away

We gonna just say no

Because we’re healthy

And we’re drug free!

Yeah we’re drug free!

Week of October 25-29

I hope everyone had a restful, fun, and relaxing Fall Break!  Welcome back!  There are a few important reminders for this week.

1)  It is Red Ribbon Week!  Don't forget to wear red on Monday!  Tuesday we will were hats, and Friday wear camoflauge!

2)  Picture Day is Thursday!  Dress appropriately...this image will be in the yearbook!

3)  Parents, please start calling now to sign up for conferences.  You can sign up for Thursday, November 4 or Tuesday, November 9 from 2:40pm-6:00pm.  I encourage everyone to please sign up.  I think parents and teachers have the best influence on children when we work together.

4)  Progress Reports go home Wednesday, November 3rd.
***5)  I was mistaken!  November 10 is also our next Early Release Day.

Here is what's coming up this week in Mrs. Whitley's room!

Facts tests!  Facts tests!  Facts tests!  We are starting a new math unit over division and you're not likely to be very successful with division unless you know those math facts, so we will be having lots more facts tests!

Math:  How do I divide whole numbers and decimals?

This week we will begin a 2 week unit on division.  It is going to move fast!  We will cover division of 1 and 2-digit whole numbers, estimation strategies in division, and dividing decimals.  Please learn those facts, kids!

Reading:  How do I effectively participate in literature circles?

This week students will begin reading their literature circle books and completing a variety of jobs requiring them to use and understand the story elements, to summarize what they read, and to participate in weekly discussions over their reading.  Perhaps the most important life lesson learned during literature circles though is time management.  It is important for students to complete all assigned tasks by each literature circle meeting.  Reading and assignments are primarily intended to be completed during class, but can be taken home to complete if necessary.

Social Studies:  What were the first colonies in the New World?

We will begin a new social studies unit this week examining the 3 original English colonies in the New World--Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth.  This unit will help students to understand why these colonies were successful or not as well as the hardships of creating a new settlement in a new land.

Word Study:  How do words change when you add the suffixes -ed and -ing?

Students will learn rules for adding suffixes to the end of words.  Please see the websites on my Links page for extra practice.

Writing:  How are we scored over On-Demand Writing and what skills do I need to work on in order to improve my personal On-Demand scores?

Students will look at their scores on the On-Demand Writing task they completed prior to the break and use the scoring guide to understand how to improve their writing.  They will also have individual conferences with me regarding their successes and their areas for improvement.

It's going to be a fun and exciting week with Red Ribbon Week upon us!  As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns!

October 11-15

I apologize for not updating the blog sooner.  It has been a busy week!
I have some great news!  Our field trip was a HUGE success!  The kids had a blast and they learned so much!  I also wanted to share with everyone that Mrs. Harris actually showed the students' cell newscasts that I added to the blog to our superintendent, Mr. Upchurch, because the kids did such a nice job.  I am very proud of them and if you haven't had a chance to view the videos, please do so!  They are uploaded to my previous post.  This group of kids is full of such hard workers and they get so enthusiastic about their assignments!

Reminders:
Fall Break is next week!  Relax and enjoy!

Conferences are coming up November 4 and November 9.  It is my intention to meet with every parent. I have so much to share with you about your child's learning and progress.  You may contact the office at your earliest convenience to schedule a confernce with me. 

Here is what we are learning this week.

Upcoming Tests:
Word Study Quizzes:  Wednesday and Friday over the geometric terms
Math Test:  Thursday over Geometry

Math:  This week we have had lessons over congruence and similarity.  Congruent shapes have the same size and same shape.  Similar shapes are different sizes, but the same shape.  They are proportionate to one another.  We will have a math test on Thursday, an open response on Friday, and a study guide to be completed by Wednesday so I can do any necessary reteaching before the test.  I have added several math links to my "Links" page that will provide students with extra practice for this unit over Geometry.

Reading:  This week we are learning about story elements including:  plot, problem and solution, characters, setting, moral/theme.  We are going to learn about each of these elements in preparation for our first round of literature circles which will begin right after Fall Break.  During the literature circles the students will be given "jobs" to complete with their reading of an assigned text to explore the story elements in depth.

Social Studies:  This week we are continuing to discuss the explorers including their futile attempts at finding a Northwest Passage and the positive and negative impacts they had from exploring.  Positives:  claimed land, established settlements, new information for maps; Negatives:  spread disease, killed/mistreated Native Americans.  The kids will also have the opportunity to learn about explorers by visiting various explorer stations this week to experience the tools used by explorers, journal entries by explorers, Native American reactions to explorers, and the important spices sought out by explorers.  This unit will culminate with an open response regarding the impact of the early explorers.

Word Study:  We are continuing to practice the geometric terms and the kids have a quiz over the newly highlighted words Wednesday.  The remaining words will be quizzed on Friday.  After some reflection I decided it would be simpler and easier on the kids to break the terms into three separate, shorter quizzes rather than one large test.  Students can go to any of the great math links I added to my website to practice these. 

Writing:  We began On Demand Writing lessons and discussed the key phrases that are commonly used when writers they need to persuade as a purpose during On Demand writing.  We will practice interpreting prompts, brainstorming, and collecting ideas for prompts this week.  We will also review the scoring guide used for On Demand Writing and have our first practice On Demand response the Monday following Fall Break.

October 6, 2010

We had so much fun in class today!!  Yesterday during Science/Reading the kids had to use non-fiction text features to gather information about certain topics related to cells and cell structures.  Once they finished gathering the information they were to take that information and organize it into a script for a news report on their particular cell topic.  A study guide went home today and this topic will be assessed on Monday when the students will have the opportunity to complete a multiple choice test and to create a model of a cell out of Play-Doh!  Watch below to see the kids' adorable videos!  Way to go, kids!!

Cells and Cell Theory

Structures of All Cells

Organelles

Structures Exclusive to Plant Cells

Week of October 4-8

Welcome fall!  Finally some fall weather and fall celebrations have arrived!  I would like to thank everyone who made it out the Harmony Harvest!  It was a huge success!  I know Corbin and Brennan had a blast!  I also want to thank anyone who bid on my auction items.  Girls' Night and Boys' Night are going to be fun times!  If you were unable to come to the Harmony Harvest, but we still like to be involved in Girls' Night or Boys' Night with myself and Ms. Coomes, please let me know.  The date has not yet been determined.

Please remember that we will be taking our first field trip this week to Riverside Farnsley-Moremen Landing to tour a historic plantation, participate in an archeological dig, and make our own bricks just like the builders of the orginal home did!  We will be leaving no later than 9:00am Friday and we will return to school at 2:00pm.  Dress comfortably and wear tennis shoes because we will be outside and you may get a little dirty.  Please remember to bring a sack lunch as well.

Upcoming Tests
Wednesday:  S.S. Test over Chapter 4 "Why Europeans Left for the New World"

Math:  What are polygons and quadrilaterals?

*We will continue to apply what we've learned so far in geometry about lines, points, and angles, to explore other geometric figures.
Writing: How do I carefully edit and revise my persuasive letter to prepare for publication?

*This week we will wrap up our persuasive letters and celebrate by addressing and mailing them on Thursday.
Social Studies:  What can we learn about early explorer's by examining artifacts from a sunken ship?

*Last week the kids did a pretend dive into a sunken ship to explore artifacts used by European explorers.  This week we will continue to discuss those artifacts and learn the explorer's motives.
Word Study:  How do we learn important geometric terms?
*This week the kids will receive a word study list to practice from now until October 15th when there will be a culminating quiz over all of the geometric terms and their ability to identify the figures they represent.
Science/Reading:  What are cells?
*This week we will continue reading non-fiction texts to gather information about cells.  There will also be some fun activities to go along with this unit including creating a cell from Play-Doh and making news reports on the parts of cells.

Week of September 27-October 1

I would just like to say that I was so impressed with these kids last week when they presented their advertisements for the 5 kingdoms of living things.  The assignment was to create an advertisement convincing a new species to join your kingdom.  There were five groups for the 5 different kingdoms and they had to create an informative, neat advertisement using at least one persuasive technique.  They all went above and beyond, basically making hilarious commercials with students playing roles such as "Dr. Scientist Dude" in order to use expert opinion to convince the species to join their kingdom.  The work they did was so phenomenal I even invited Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Clark to come see them perform.  Way to go, kiddos!  I am still so proud of you!


Please read below to see what we will be doing in science and other subject areas this week.


In other news, please note that this Wednesday is another Early Release Day so school will be letting out at 12:25pm.  Please send me a note if there will be a change in transportation that day.  Don't forget to send in your pledge forms for the Husky Hustle, which is this Friday!  This Friday is also the Harmony Harvest!  I'd like to see everyone there!  I will be there with my boys and that is the night you get to bid in order to sign up for the Whitley/Coomes Girls' Night or Boys' Night!  I hope you enjoyed the cooler weather this weekend...I'm looking forward to another great week!  :o)


Upcoming Tests
Monday:  Word Study Quiz over Pluralizing Nouns
Tuesday:  Social Studies Open Response over the Native American Cultural RegionsHere is what we will be learning this week!

Math:  How do we use tables to accurately interpret data?  How do we accurately draw and measure angles?
*This week we will be starting Unit 3 of Everyday Math over Geometry which also incorporates some data analysis skills.Writing:  What strategies do writers use to draft an effective persuasive letter?
*This week we will be using what we've learned about the art of persuasion to draft our persuasive letters.
Social Studies:  How did the Native Americans of various culture regions differ from one another in their way of life?  What can we learn about European explorers by examining artifacts from a sunken ship?
*We wrap up our unit about the 7 major culture regions of the Native Americans in North America and how the Native Americans used the natural resources in those areas in order to survive with an open response on Tuesday.  *We will also begin studying European explorers by pretending to be archeologists examining artifacts from a sunken ship and keeping a diver's log about what those artifacts tell us about early European explorers.
Word Study:  How do we change words from singular to plural form?
*Our word study quiz over the pluralization rules will be Monday followed by a study of irregular plurals for the remainder of the week.
Science/Reading:  How do scientists classify living things into kingdoms?
*We will continue to learn how and why scientists classify living things using various texts to gather and interpret information.