Important Stuff You Should Know...

Hi Friends!
      We have some important things coming up that you should know about!  Please heed the following information!

• Progress Reports are going home today and need your signature.  This is pretty much how the report card grades will look with a few minor changes unless lots of late or missing work is turned in this week!
• Halloween is on Wednesday.  The Parade will start at 9 so come early to get a good seat!  Also, please make sure your child's costume follows the district dress code and doesn't involve a mask.  Our Halloween Party is that afternoon.  Our learning links mom thanks you for your $2.00 donations!
• The online scheduler for conferences is up and running but the last day to do so is this Wednesday, October 31.  After that, I will assign you a time that is left and send home reminders on Friday.
• We go off track next Friday Nov. 9 and will return, Monday, Dec. 3!  
• I am introducing our Service Projects today in class.  Your child will be sent home with a packet and all of the details.  It will be due in chunks so it isn't all due at once.  Below I will list the due dates.  This may be done in small groups (no more that 3 kids) and is a part of their social studies grade and High Flying Hawk.  Picking up trash is not considered a service project.
• Proposal- Due Wed. Nov. 7
• Plan- Due Wed. Dec. 5
• Oral Presentation/Poster- Due Thurs. Jan. 10
• Written Report- Due Tues. Jan. 15
• Group Evaluation form- Due Tues. Jan. 15
• Book Report #2 is due on Thursday December 13.  
• Book needs to be an award winning novel.
• Report is just an 3D ornament to represent the story/novel.
• Map Test for states and capitals on Friday, December 14.

It's been awhile!

        It has been a while since I have updated!  Our class has been very busy doing LOTS of learning.  The year is already 1/4 over!  I can't even believe it!  Well here's what's been going on around the classroom:

• In math... We have learned how to add and subtract fractions and decimals.  Currently we are multiplying fractions and will be moving onto dividing decimals after fall break!
• In Language Arts....   We have been learning and practicing identifying the elements of a story.  We've been enjoying our novels in guided reading.
• In Science... We have completed learning about Heredity and Adaptation, and are currently learning about Matter with Mrs. Sandberg!
• We have learned so much about Money, Jobs, and "Real Life" and it paid off when we went to BizTown last week!  It was such a blast! (Check Class pictures page for photos)

Coming up:

• Fall Break is Thursday Oct. 18 - Sunday Oct. 21 - do something fun!  No School!
• Halloween will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 31 ACTUAL HALLOWEEN!  The Halloween Parade will be at 9:00 (come early for a good seat).  Send your child to school in their costume.  Costume restrictions:  No masks, no weapons (fake or real) of ANY kind, no blood.  Hats, wigs, face paint, etc. are okay.  I make them take off their costumes after the parade so please send them with a change of clothes.
• Final States and Capitals Test on Friday December 14.  This is State and Capital matching, and geographical location of each state.
• Students need to be practicing their typing every week!  It is very important for their technology grade and their DWA writing test in February.
• Personal Service Project will be introduced this week.  Your student will come home with a packet telling you all of the information and dates of when things are due.  The final project will not be due until December.  I will post more info and specifics soon.
• Book Report #2- Due Thursday December 14.  Each student needs to read an AWARD WINNING NOVEL.  They will need to make a 3D ornament for our class Christmas tree that represents their book.  More details are in your child's binder and in your parent folder.  I will send home a rubric before we go off track.
• Conferences will be on Wednesday and Thursday November 7&8.  
• We go off track Friday November 9.  We will be back on Monday December 3.

Special Thanks!
        Special thanks to all of the volunteers that have been working in our classroom this year! 
Also, thanks to all of the parents who have come on our last 2 fieldtrips!  You were of great help!  And thanks to all the parents reading this!  Your support in your child's learning is the NUMBER 1 thing they need! 

Important!!!

Hi Parents!
     Just a reminder that if you are wanting to go on a field trip with our class (or any class in the school) this year, you need to get a background check done at the district. 
  
     I know this is inconvenient, but it was mandated by the district last year.  They are just trying to make sure that when a child is with a parent and not directly with the teacher, that they will be safe.  I know that's what we all want for our kids.

    If you were background checked last year or already this year, you are set.  The checks are good for 5 years. 

    I am not sure of the official procedure (where to go and when) but I will find out and let you know ASAP.  While we are off track would be a great time to get it done as we are out, but the district is still working. ;)  We also will have to have this done for any parent who is coming with us on our Cemetery Walk in September or BizTown in October.  They will be here before you know it!


Thank you so much!
I hope this doesn't discourage you from joining us!

Love,
Mrs. Allen  :)

Track off

Good Afternoon,
       We had a great day over here in the 5th grade!  I'm getting sad that we are going off track this Friday!  Can you believe it?  It has gone by so fast! 
       Our students have been working so hard and learning our classroom routines like champs!  I'm so proud of them.  We have an excellent class this year.  Lots of different talents and personalities that I KNOW will keep me laughing and on my toes. 
      Here's what's been going on these past 2 weeks:

• Students are learning all of my little quirks and are finding that I somehow have a story for EVERYTHING.  I don't know where they all came from!
• I think we all know each others' names.  :)
• We have been working on some really HARD math.  If your students have been coming home mentally exhausted, that's why!  But they are troopers!  They don't give up and are trying their best to do hard things!  
• We have been learning about explorers and the things they did and discovered.  This week, the students are in groups and have an explorer to research more thoroughly.  They then get to choose an artistic way to explain to the class about it on Thursday and Friday!  Some kids are doing plays, others murals, dances, and songs.  I'm so excited to see what they come up with!
• Beginning Persuasive Writing. We will be working on this most of the time until our BIG test in March! I stressed to the students today that I need them to practice their typing on the computer as much as possible.  (Look in the Websites for Kids section for free typing games online).  They will have to type their Persuasive Essay test on the computer, so the faster and more accurately they can type, the less stressed they will be.
• Having fun assemblies, class meetings, and laughing.  Lots of laughing.  

I'm so priviledged to teach such a great group of kids!  Lucky me!

Love,
Mrs. Allen  :)

Some of the Basics...

Hi Everybody! 
     Now that we are in the swing of things, I thought I would post a reminder of some of the basics that we all need to remember about our weekly routine.

Planners:

• Filled out each day
• Includes what to do for homework and things that are coming up
• Signed by parents/family nightly

Homework:

• Math homework will be sent home each night
• Students should NOT do the "Remembering" side at home- we do this in class
• Anything not finished in class should be done that night for homework
• Reading 100 minutes per week: remember to mark it on your reading calendar
• Practice your spelling and vocabulary every night

Classwork:

• Each week in language arts, your student is responsible for:
• 4 Spelling assignments (Sentences and 3 choices)
• Vocabulary packet (3 assignments)
• Journal Page
• ABC Book page (research, outline, 3 paragraphs, colored picture)
• These are all due on Thursday.  If they are not finished, the student will stay in for Study Hall and take them home for homework if necessary.

***Remember, that students will be docked 10% of their earned grade each day it is late.  Grades close on Fridays.

***If you student is absent, they get 3 school days from when they return to do their missing assignments as homework and turn them in.  (If they need help on assignments, they can come to me during Study Hall or after school, I'd be happy to help!)

Thanks for all that you do Parents!

Love,
Mrs. Allen  :)

Parent/Family Paperwork

     I know how much we all hate the dreaded beginning of the year paperwork but it is very important that you return it. 
     It is also essential to make sure you have registered your child online this year.  That online registration includes the form that allows your child to access the students computers.  We need to make sure this is done ASAP because your student will not be able to access them in the computer lab or on our classroom laptops to do research and projects when they need to! 
    Below is a list of all of the forms you need to make sure you have returned as soon as possible:

-White Card (Student and Family Contact Card)
-White paper 5th grade rules form (inside the "5th grade packet")  **rip it out and sign saying you   
         and your student understand all that 5th grade entails.
-Green "Think Time" paper (signed by you and your child)
-Blue skinny piece of paper (Emergency kit form***Please return this filled out and with a baggie
         with all of the items on the list for the PTA emergency kits)
-Medical Condition Blue Card (only if you have a medical condition that needs reporting)
-$4 dollars for planner or purchase one yourself (due this Friday)
-$5 BizTown money if you are able

Thank you so much for staying on top of things!  It makes my life so much easier!

Love,
Mrs. Allen :)

First Day of School

Wow!  What a fun day it has been!  I'm so lucky to have such a great class this year.  Today we got started by getting to know each others name with a name/adjective/action game.  My favorite was Quesadilla Quintus.  :)  The students got to know a little more about me personally and as a teacher.  We set up our class rules and learned about all of the "stuff" we will be using throughout this year.  I can't wait for tomorrow.  This is going to be a great year!

Parents, if you couldn't make it to Morning Mingle, shoot me an email and I'll send home the papers you missed with your student.

Coming up:
Planner or Planner Money                  Due: Friday August 3rd
Student and Family Contact Card       Due: Friday August 3rd
Green Think Time Contract                Due: ASAP
"Brown Bag It" Homework                Due: Friday July 27th 

Love,
Mrs. Allen :)