Shhhh! It's a secret for YOU! Please send a CLEAN jar (salsa sized jar's work best) to school with your child by Monday, December 7th!
Spelling: Spelling pre-tests are given each Monday. The students are to
create their lists from words that they missed on their pretest
and words of
their own choosing. Lists are to be reviewed and the Super Speller sheet
signed each Monday night. This ensures that their words are spelled
correctly and that you feel their individualized lists are challenging.
Their Spelling Jobs (homework) for the week should be on that sheet as
well. All jobs are due on Friday when students take their Spelling Tests.
Reading: & Writing: In the weeks before winter break students will be working on improving reading comprehension. We will have mini-lessons on the following skills:
Main Idea Cause & Effect
Summarization Fact & Opinion
Sequencing Context Clues
Inferencing
Students will be reading from different books for their book clubs, but each group will read an animal based story and writing in their reading response journals.
We will complete Daily Paragraph Edits each week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday students will edit paragraphs and Thursday's edits will be for a daily writing grade.
Students have received information to complete Book Bingo. These instructions are in their book bingo folder. Each student will read and complete two book bingos per nine weeks with the exception of the first nine weeks (they will complete one). The goal is to encourage students to pick challenging books, utilize the skills they will learn during the literary elements unit, and produce a quality product! Remember to follow instructions carefully from the folders. A few areas that often need attention are writing about the main characters, including a thorough summary of the plot, and including a theme statement. The students will learn about each of these characteristics during our study of "Literary Elements". They will be given notes that they may want to refer to! Please check your child's planner to ensure the book bingo due dates were recorded as they were instructed to do.
Book bingo #3 due December 14th.
Math: Students are continuing to focus on fractions. We will learn how to find equivelent fractons, simplest form, and to compare and order fractions. Students can now log onto the Pearson website for on line tutorials and extra problems from their math book on line.
Science: Earth science begins next week! We will investigate processes that change the Earth. Please look for a request on 12/4 for lab materials for this unit. Science is a fast 45min. daily. I strongly suggest students study vocabulary for each science unit nightly. We start each unit with vocabulary to allow for this. They should have it in their binders.
Social Studies: Please visit Ms. Walter's teacher web by going to the 5th
grade page on the Canyon Creek web site and clicking on her name. You can
add your email address to her list from her teacher web page.
Students are expected to read 15-20 minutes each night and complete their
reading log. Reading logs should be brought home each night in their
book bingo folders. Their reading logs not only improve comprehension skills, but show
which book they are currently reading for their Book Bingo! Each student
has a Book Bingo folder with SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS for successfully
completing this project! Book bingo #1 due October 14th.
Planners - The students each have a planner in their binder and they are to fill out
their homework during the day. Homework is posted in the classroom and available for
the student to copy daily. **Always check your child's planner for testing dates.
The students will know at least 4-5 days prior to testing.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure!"
We are now taking donations for our first auction!
Please help fill our treasure chest with "anything" you think the kids
would like for our class auction. They earn Comet Cash for good work and
behavior. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated. (Dollar store
trinkets are the best.)
Please check out the Canyon Creek PTA newsletter at:
www.canyoncreekpta.com/newsletter_oct07.pdf