Week of October 29-November 2

I hope everyone had a safe and restful Fall Break!  We are approaching a very busy time of year filled with the election, progress reports, conferences, and of course, the holidays!  Read below for information about what's coming up.

 

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is an excellent tradition of teaching kids to be drug-free.  During this week we talk to the kids about the importance of saying no to smoking and peer pressure.  We teach them the importance of motivation and goal setting.  During this week, each day will have a different theme. 

Monday:  Wear school colors!

Tuesday:  Wear your favorite college, university, trade school, or military attire!

Wednesday:  Dress for success!  (business-like dress)

Thursday:  Dress for your future career!

Friday:  Wear red for Red Ribbon Week!

 

Pennies for Patients

This year, as a part of our Red Ribbon Week theme "Believe, Achieve, Succeed - Healthy!" we will also be collecting change to donate towards a children who suffer from Leukemia and Lymphoma.  Please send in any loose change you find.  The class who collects the most change will not only help sick children, but will also earn a pizza party!

 

Progress Reports

Progress reports will come home next Wednesday, November 7th.  Please check the Wednesday folder, review the progress report with your child, and sign and return the envelope.

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Please call the office at your earliest convenience to schedule parent-teacher conferences.  I will be holding conferences on Thursday, November 8th from 2:40-6:00pm and Tuesday, November 13 from 2:40-6:00pm.  It is my goal to meet with a parent for each child, but if you are unable to attend, please notify me personally to schedule a phone conference.

 

Election

This week we will spend our social studies time focusing on learning about the upcoming presidential election as well as the election process.  On Monday, November 5th, our students will host their own school-wide election with 2 5th graders representing the presidential candidates.  In preparation for the election our 5th graders will also be campaigning this week!  It should be an exciting and fun learning experience!

 

Here is what we are learning this week!

Social Studies:  With Election Day right around the corner, students will begin learning about elections from who has the right to vote to where the candidates stand on important issues.

Math:  We will continue to explore division of whole numbers and we will learn to divide with 2-digit divisors.  Keep practicing those math facts!

Word Study:  Students will learn to break down words into root words, suffixes, and prefixes to further their knowledge of the English language.

Reading/Writing:  Our focus this week will be on reading opinion pieces and learning to communicate our opinions through our writing.  This will also be tied in with our election plans as we ask the kids' opinions on election topics.

Science:  This week we will study plant and animal cells, their parts, and their functions.



Week of October 15-19

Husky Hustle
Many, many thanks to all those who donated money for the Husky Hustle!  Our class won the competition for raising the most money (over $2,000!) and therefore, we get a new iPad for our classroom!  Not only that, but all funds raised will go toward purchasing a class set of iPads to be housed in the library and checked out by teachers for classroom use!  I am so proud of all the kids who were so enthusiastic in this venture and helped us raise so much money for our school!

Harmony Harvest
Many thanks also to those who attended the Harmony Harvest on Friday evening!  I was there with my own kids and it was a blast!  If you were unable to attend, but still would like to sign up for one of my class auctions (Boys' Night Out or Girls' Night Out) please let me know.  The cost is $25 and it's not too late to sign up.

Fall Break
Fall Break is right around the corner!  Please remember that this week is only a 4 day week.  We will not have school on Friday.  I hope you all have a safe, fun, and restful break!  I know you've earned it!

Signed Tests
Please remember to sign and return your children's tests.  I am always careful to send them home on Wednesdays, so you'll know what day to be on the lookout.  This is one of the best ways I can communicate with you regularly regarding grades.

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing
Thursday's field trip was a HUGE success!  The kids had a blast and showed so much learning through their oral and written reflections!  Below are several pictures to show you what our day was like!  More pictures should be available on the facility's website in about a week at www.riverside-landing.org.  Just use the code HarmonyE1011201.

 Listening to the archeologist prior to the dig...

Kids digging and sifting through the dirt for artifacts!

 Listening to the speaker at the brick-making station.

 Brick making!

Here's what's coming up this week in our classroom.
Social Studies:  This week we will examine the motives and reasons for European exploration as the kids reenact an archeological dive for artifacts!
Math:  Our new unit on division begins this week with a focus on estimating and dividing by 1-digit divisors.
Word Study:  We will explore the various verb tenses as well as how and when they should be used.
Writing:   My goal this week is for everyone to type and publish their feature articles on a historical person of interest.
Reading:  This week we will analyze our reading notebooks and reflect on why we've been reading about so many Renaissance thinkers.



Native American Cultural Region Dwellings & Murals

Below you will find pictures of the kids working hard on their Native American cultural region dwellings as well as the finished product of their dwellings and murals for each region!  The kids worked so hard and all that hard work really paid off!  Ask your child about why each region had different dwellings and hopefully they will be able to tell you all about it!  :o) 

 

 

 California-Intermountain Range

Eastern Woodlands



 

Great Plains

 

Northwest Coast

 

Plateau

 

Southeast

 

Southwest

Week of October 8-12

This week is a big one!  It’s our last week to collect donations for the Husky Hustle!

Husky Hustle

Don’t forget about the Husky Hustle coming up on October 12^th!  This is an exciting and fun fundraiser where the kids collect donations from family and friends to raise money for our school.  The money goes to sponsor them as they participate in a walking/jogging event during Related Arts on October 12^th.  Our class is off to a phenomenal start and the class who collects the most money wins an iPad for their classroom!  Please encourage and support your child in collecting money for this exciting event, but please make sure they are not going door-to-door collecting money unless it is from people they know.

Harmony Harvest

Also occurring this Friday, October 12^th is the annual Harmony Harvest!  The event takes place from 6-9pm and includes carnival games, inflatables, face painting, food and drinks.  I will be attending with my two little boys in tow!  I hope to see you there!

Harmony Harvest Auction Items

There will also be teacher auctions at the Harvest.  If you would like your child to attend Boys’ Night Out or Girls’ Night Out with myself and Mr. Tilley, please sign up at the Harvest with a classroom donation of $25.  These two events will take place after school and will include pizza, drinks, and fun activities!

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

Please dress your child appropriately for our field trip on Thursday, October 11^th.  We will be digging in dirt to experience what it’s like to do an archeological dig and we will be outside most of the day.

Math Facts

I cannot stress enough the importance of regular math facts practice.  I still see students making mistakes in larger problems due to inaccuracy with their basic facts.  Please work with your child daily on his/her basic facts.  This can include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Practice can be done orally, on the computer, or by writing out problems.

Upcoming Tests

Weekly Math Facts Quiz

Preposition Quiz on Wednesday

Math Test on Friday (A study guide will come home this Tuesday.)

This Week’s Learning Plan

Social Studies:  This week we will continue to study Native American cultural regions and how the natives adapted using the natural resources around them.

Math:  This week’s focus will be a review of addition, subtraction, estimation and multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.  We will also review place value a little as well as the concepts of mean, median, mode, range, maximum, and minimum which have also been incorporated into this unit.

Word Study:  We will continue to learn about prepositions and how to use them correctly this week, and we will then explore appropriate verb tense toward the end of the week.

Writing:  This week we are collecting information and drafting feature articles about famous historical people, many of which we’ve been studying over the past few weeks.

Reading:  Students will listen to stories about da Vinci and Galileo and compare and contrast the stories as they explore the accurate and fictional portrayals of these people through non-fiction and historical fiction.  The goal if for the children to see that history can be learned through fiction as long as we can track that which is accurate and that which is fictional.

Happy October!  Can you believe it’s October already?  We have a busy and exciting month coming up!  Please read below for further information.

Husky Hustle

As you already know, the Husky Hustle is coming up on October 12^th!  This is an exciting and fun fundraiser where the kids collect donations from family and friends to raise money for our school.  The money goes to sponsor them as they participate in a walking/jogging event during Related Arts on October 12^th.  Our class is off to a phenomenal start and the class who collects the most money wins an iPad for their classroom!  Please encourage and support your child in collecting money for this exciting event, but please make sure they are not going door-to-door collecting money unless it is from people they know.

Harmony Harvest

Also occurring on October 12^th is the annual Harmony Harvest!  This is another fun and exciting event that raises money for the school!  I will be there with my own children and I’d love to see everyone there!  The even takes place from 6-9pm and includes carnival games, inflatables, face painting, food and drinks.  There will also be teacher auctions at the event.  If you would like your child to attend Boys’ Night Out or Girls’ Night Out with myself and Mr. Tilley, please sign up at the Harvest with a classroom donation of $25.  These two events will take place after school and will include pizza, drinks, and fun activities!

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

Our field trip to Riverside will take place on October 11^th!  Thanks to all who volunteered to chaperone!  If you were not contacted to be a chaperone (space is limited), don’t worry, other opportunities will arise.  :o)

Upcoming Tests

Math Facts Quiz on Wednesday

Preposition Quiz on Friday

What We’re Learning this Week

Social Studies:  Native American cultural regions will be the topic at hand as we read about and discuss how Native Americans in different parts of America adapted to their environment and created a life for themselves using the natural resources around them.

Math:  This week’s focus will be estimation and multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.

Word Study:  Prepositions will be the topic of discussion as we learn what prepositions are and how to use them correctly.

Writing:  We will begin exploring how to create feature articles about inventors and Renaissance people we’ve been studying over the past few weeks.

Reading:  Students will read a short story called Leonardo’s Wings, a historical fiction story to help them learn more about Leonardo da Vinci while also learning about the elements of a story including setting, characters, and plot.