* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

3rd Trimester Grading Policy

During the 1st trimester, the 5th grade team eased students into the new work load and allowed students to complete revisions on homework assignments for full credit, and complete test corrections for half credit. During the 2nd trimester, the 5th grade teachers allowed students with only failing grades to complete revisions on homework assignments and complete test corrections for half credit. For the final trimester, the 5th grade team agreed that it is time to start preparing the 5th graders for middle school. The new policy for the 3rd trimester is as follows: students with failing grades (anything below a 70%) on homework assignments will be allowed to revise their work and earn half credit, and test corrections will be completed for extra practice and must include a parent signature, however no points will be given for the corrections. Points will be taken off when assignments are turned in later than one day past the due date (if an assignment is due on Monday and a student turns it in on Tuesday, no points will be taken off. However, if an assignment is due on Monday and a student turns it in on Wednesday, or any day after, a point will be taken off). We are hoping students will show even more responsibility with grades and assignments this trimester! Middle school will be here before we know it! 🙂

March Is Reading Month

This year to celebrate March is Reading Month, our entire school will be reading “Spring According to Humphrey”. A packet was sent home with your child on Friday outlining the activities for the month of March. I have also attached the document below.

March is Reading Month Parents 2020

Week of March 9:

Read Chapters 5-8 in “Spring According to Humphrey”

Monday: Penny Wars – Bring in pennies for our class bucket and other bills and coins to negatively impact other classrooms’ buckets.

Tuesday: Unplugged Night – Turn off your technology and spend some quality time with your family.

Wednesday: Wear it Wednesday – Wear a T-Shirt with words.

Thursday: DEAR time in class

Friday: Flashlight Friday

If you are interested in being a Mystery Reader in our class, please email me to set up a day and time! We would love to have you. 🙂

*Thank you to Mr. Leavitt for being our first Mystery Reader!

Check out these super cool book characters from Wear It Wednesday!

Scholastic Book Orders

Scholastic Book orders will come home with your child on Monday, January 13th.  If you are interested in buying, you can do so 1 of 2 ways.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Daddy Daughter Dance forms were sent home with your student last week.

The theme for the dance this year is “Boots and Bling” and will be held on Friday, April 17 from 6-9 pm at Crystal Gardens in Southgate. Tickets are $35 per couple and $10 per each additional daughter. Tickets include dinner, music, and a professional photo. *Only CURRENT Arno students are able to attend.

You can sign up online by visiting https://arnopta.memberhub.store/shopping/categories/12516?fbclid=IwAR29TabD7CVszLyzEnUAnhkAaeZ1J4prPdEex5O5iIiQ5EPAoJmjlkVWtMg

You can also send the bottom half of the flyer to school with cash or a check payable to Arno PTA.

*Payment is due by April 1st. We will be at 5th Grade Camp the day of the due date. Please send in your payment prior to April 1st to ensure your spot!

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

M-Step Homework Packets

The first round of M-Step homework packets were sent home on Thursday. The 5th graders will bring home homework packets that cover a variety of topics very similar to the M-Step. Like the vocabulary packets, when your child earns an 80% or better on the homework packet, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. These packets will be coming home on Thursdays and will be due the following Thursday. Students will be receiving credit in the grade book for completing these packets!

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Elizabeth Winter anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 4 Lesson 19 – “Darnell Rock Reporting”

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Monday, March 16, 2020.

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We are Louis Gonzalez moving along in Chapter 9 where we are practicing multiplying and dividing decimals.

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit
• Convert from a smaller metric unit to a larger metric unit
• Solve real-world problems using decimals

Check out a video that explains how to divide decimals here!

In Chapter 9, we will be learning how to:

• Multiply tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by powers of 10
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Round quotients to the nearest tenth or hundredth
• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit
• Convert from a smaller metric unit to a larger metric unit
• Solve real-world problems using decimals

Science

Writing

The 5th graders ROCKED their animal research! This week, we will continue with United States research.

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be continuing an informational writing Fiona Fogarty piece on a student-chosen state. The students will research a certain state to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We will be editing and revising rough drafts this week and starting on writing final drafts to complete the state research lapbooks.

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Learning about the Southern Colonies, why they were settled, and their economy.

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Completing their final drafts of their Snow Globe writing, where they will practicing using a variety of grammar strategies they have learned.
• Learning about transitions words. 

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

March Is Reading Month

This year to celebrate March is Reading Month, our entire school will be reading “Spring According to Humphrey”. A packet was sent home with your child on Friday outlining the activities for the month of March. I have also attached the document below.

March is Reading Month Parents 2020

Week of March 2:

Read Chapters 1-4 in “Spring According to Humphrey”

Monday: Penny Wars – Bring in pennies for our class bucket and other bills and coins to negatively impact other classrooms’ buckets.

Tuesday: Unplugged Night – Turn off your technology and spend some quality time with your family.

Wednesday: Wear it Wednesday – Be a book character.

Thursday: DEAR time in class

If you are interested in being a Mystery Reader in our class, please email me to set up a day and time! We would love to have you. 🙂

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

M-Step Homework Packets

The first round of M-Step homework packets were sent home on Thursday. The 5th graders will bring home homework packets that cover a variety of topics very similar to the M-Step. Like the vocabulary packets, when your child earns an 80% or better on the homework packet, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. These packets will be coming home on Thursdays and will be due the following Thursday. Students will be receiving credit in the grade book for completing these packets!

5th Grade Camp Deposits

Final camp deposits are due by Tuesday, March 3rd!

If you are unsure of your balance, please send me an email and I will let you know what you owe!

* The 5th grade team is currently working to create room assignments and the camp supplies list. We are working to get the camp supplies list out as soon as possible!

5th Grade Camp T-Shirt/Sweatshirt Order Forms

If your child is attending camp, they received a green order form sheet on Thursday. We are selling 5th Grade Camp T-Shirts and Sweatshirts. These items are optional to purchase. If you are interested, T-Shirts are $15 and sweatshirts are $25. Sizes are adult sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL.

We are accepting cash only. Please send in exact change! 

Orders are due by Tuesday, March 3rd.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Stacy Stecconi anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 3 Lesson 18 – The Dog Newspaper (Cont.)

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

Spelling Strategy: Changing final y to i 

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We are Xander Mechanco moving along in Chapter 9 where we are practicing multiplying and dividing decimals.

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit

Check out a video that explains how to divide decimals here!

In Chapter 9, we will be learning how to:

• Multiply tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by powers of 10
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Round quotients to the nearest tenth or hundredth
• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit
• Convert from a smaller metric unit to a larger metric unit
• Solve real-world problems using decimals

Science

Writing

The 5th graders ROCKED their animal research! This week, we will continue with United States research.

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be continuing an informational writing Charlotte Tracz piece on a student-chosen state. The students will research a certain state to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We are almost finished with our states lap books. A research outline will be sent home this week! Outlines seemed to really help students when it came to writing their rough drafts. 

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Beginning to learn about the Southern Colonies, and why they were settled.

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Working on their rough drafts for their short story this week.
• When their rough drafts are completed they will take them home to revise and edit. Please go over them with your child. Help them with grammar, punctuation, spelling, and flow of the story. Their story should be 3 paragraphs, include some dialogue between characters, and have a problem and solution. Thank you for your support with your child’s writing!

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

A Message from Ms. Zuke

This is a very busy time of year as we start to prepare for testing. Our weeks are full of regular every day lessons, and “let’s squeeze in some important M-Step practice” lessons. Even though the kiddos let out a million groans before we start practice testing, they knock it out of the park and continue to impress me every day. In between this crazy schedule and these days that are flying by, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for raising such awesome 5th graders, and for your continued support in a number of ways. I am incredibly thankful to be spending my first year with such a fantastic group of kiddos (and parents)!

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

M-Step Homework Packets

The first round of M-Step homework packets were sent home on Thursday. The 5th graders will bring home homework packets that cover a variety of topics very similar to the M-Step. Like the vocabulary packets, when your child earns an 80% or better on the homework packet, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-Step charm necklace. These packets will be coming home on Thursdays and will be due the following Thursday. Students will be receiving credit in the grade book for completing these packets!

PTA – Spring Fever Basket

Each year the Allen Park PTA organizations from each school put together a Spring Fever event to raise money for scholarships that will be awarded to Allen Park graduating Seniors.The Allen Park PTA/PTSA Council is holding a Silent Auction on March 7 to benefit the scholarship fund.  Last year the $15,500 in scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors at Allen Park High School and Community School. 

The 5th grade from Arno Elementary will be donating a basket for the event.  Please check out the Sign-up Genius link to see what materials need to be donated.  If you would like to donate, just sign up for the item, and send it into school with your child by February 25!

We still need a volunteer to assemble the basket!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084aafa92fa3fc1-5thgrade1  

5th Grade Camp T-Shirt/Sweatshirt Order Forms

If your child is attending camp, they received a green order form sheet on Thursday. We are selling 5th Grade Camp T-Shirts and Sweatshirts. These items are optional to purchase. If you are interested, T-Shirts are $15 and sweatshirts are $25. Sizes are adult sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL.

We are accepting cash only. Please send in exact change! 

Orders are due by Tuesday, March 3rd.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Caden Negus anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 3 Lesson 18 – The Dog Newspaper

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Monday, March 2, 2020.

Spelling Strategy: Changing final y to i 

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We are Haley Kuryvial moving along in Chapter 9 where we are practicing multiplying and dividing decimals.

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Divide tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Round quotients to the nearest tenth or hundredth
• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000

Check out a video that explains how to divide decimals here!

In Chapter 9, we will be learning how to:

• Multiply tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by powers of 10
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Round quotients to the nearest tenth or hundredth
• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit
• Convert from a smaller metric unit to a larger metric unit
• Solve real-world problems using decimals

Science

This week, students will be introduced to the Earth’s orbital movement around the Sun, as a means of seeing why the constellations change. In the activity, Universe-in-a-Box, students make a paper model that helps them visualize the Earth’s yearly orbit around the Sun. They use this model to understand why some constellations are only visible during part of the year.

Check out our weekly mystery here!

Writing

The 5th graders ROCKED their animal research! This week, we will continue with United States research.

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be continuing an informational writing Caleb Tuxbury piece on a student-chosen state. The students will research a certain state to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We are almost finished with our states lap books. A research outline will be sent home this week! This seemed to really help students when it came to writing their rough drafts. 

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Beginning to learn about the Southern Colonies, and why they were settled.

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Beginning to practice the grammar rules we have learned with a writing project.
• Students will create a winter-themed short story. In this story we will focus on our use of complete sentences, compound sentences, dialogue, commas, semicolons, and verb tense.
• Our focus this week will be on brainstorming and beginning their rough draft.

Valentine’s Day Fun!

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a chain for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

January Super Cougar

Congratulations to Caleb Tuxbury on being January’s Super Cougar! Thank you for setting a great example of what it looks like to be respectful, responsible, and safe. 

Valentine Skating Party 

The Arno Family Valentine Skate Party will be held at Lincoln Park Skating Center on Wednesday, February 12 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Tickets are $7 and include admission and skate rental. You can purchase tickets at the door, by sending the money and form into school, or sign up online by visiting https://signupgenius.com/go/familyvalentineskateparty2020.

Classroom Valentine’s Day Celebration

On Friday, February 14, 2020, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in our class! Since it is a half day (11:30 dismissal) and we have gym in the morning, we will be very limited on time. Due to this, we will be having a small celebration.

If your child would like to bring in valentines for their classmates, please be sure to include one for each child so that no one is left out! We have 29 students in our class; 16 girls and 13 boys. I will send home a class list with the students on Monday. Due to limited time, please be sure to package everything to be able to send home!

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Morgan Leavitt anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 3 Lesson 17 – LAFFF (Continued)

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Monday, February 10, 2020.

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We quickly finished Chapter 8, which was an introduction to decimals. We are moving on to Chapter 9 where we practice multiplying and dividing decimals.

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Multiply tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit Alle Bailey whole number
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by powers of 10

In Chapter 9, we will be learning how to:

• Multiply tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by powers of 10
• Multiply tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by a 1-digit whole number
• Round quotients to the nearest tenth or hundredth
• Divide tenths and hundredths by 10, 100, or 1,000
• Divide tenths and hundredths by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000
• Estimate decimal sums, differences, products, and quotients
• Convert from a larger metric unit to a smaller metric unit
• Convert from a smaller metric unit to a larger metric unit
• Solve real-world problems using decimals

Science

This week, students will learn why our ancestors divided the day into hours and how clocks measure the Sun’s apparent movement.

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing Peyton West piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We are wrapping up our animal research writing this week and we will move on to United States research.

On Friday, we spent some time with our 2nd grade book buddies creating Valentine’s Day Haiku poems.

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the Middle Atlantic Colonies.
• Discussing why they were colonized and what the economy was like there.

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Practicing how to properly use commas and semicolons.

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a chain for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

NWEA Award Ceremony

On Thursday, students who reached their personal growth goal, or students who are at/or above grade level on their Winter Reading NWEA assessment, celebrated during an assembly and earned an extra recess, a certificate, and a star charm for their necklaces. In addition, the Top 10 students in 5th grade also received a gold certificate and a movie with Mr. Zielinski. We look forward to celebrating student progress again at the end of the year!

January PBIS Rewards

Congratulations to the students who earned January’s Zumba Reward. These students had 7 or less color changes in January.

Valentine Skating Party 

The Arno Family Valentine Skate Party will be held at Lincoln Park Skating Center on Wednesday, February 12 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Tickets are $7 and include admission and skate rental. You can purchase tickets at the door, by sending the money and form into school, or sign up online by visiting https://signupgenius.com/go/familyvalentineskateparty2020.

5th Grade Camp – Cabin Assignment Forms

Cabin assignment forms are due by this Friday, February 7th. A green “Student Preference Sheet for Cabin Assignment” came home with your student on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. This form is used for students to select their top 4 students that they would like to room with at 5th Grade Camp. Students also have the opportunity to choose one student from another school that they would like to room with. When filling out the form, make sure to list ARNO as the name of the school at the top of the list. Please make sure to include both the first and last names of all students. Once your child has chosen their potential roommates, please sign the bottom of the form indicating that you have reviewed their choices and approve of their requests.

**The 5th grade team can NOT guarantee that each student will room with their requested student roommates.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Julia Armbruster anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 3 Lesson 17 – LAFF

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Monday, February 10, 2020.

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Round decimals to the nearest hundredth.
• Rewrite decimals as fractions and mixed numbers in simplest form

In Chapter 8, we will be learning how to:

• Read and write thousandths in decimal and fractional forms.
• Represent and interpret thousandths in models or in place-value charts.
• Write a fraction with denominator 1,000 Cooper Obrycki as a decimal.
• Compare and order decimals to 3 decimal places.
• Round decimals to the nearest hundredth.
• Rewrite decimals as fractions and mixed numbers in simplest form

Science

We are starting a new unit called Spaceship Earth. This week, students will use their bodies as a kinesthetic model of the Earth to understand how the speed of the Earth’s spin affects the length of a day.

Check out our weekly mystery here!

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing Keira Workman piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We have started our outlines and rough drafts will be coming home soon!

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the New England Colonies
• Discussing why they were colonized and what the economy was like there

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Practicing how to use commas and semicolons

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a chain for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

Congratulations to the 5th graders who scored 80% or higher on their M-Step quiz and earned a star charm for their necklace!

5th Grade Camp – Cabin Assignment Forms

A green “Student Preference Sheet for Cabin Assignment” sheet is coming home with your student Tuesday, January 21, 2020. This form is used for students to select their top 4 students that they would like to room with at 5th Grade Camp. Students also have the opportunity to choose one student from another school that they would like to room with. When filling out the form, make sure to list ARNO as the name of the school at the top of the list. Please make sure to include both the first and last names of all students. Once your child has chosen their potential roommates, please sign the bottom of the form indicating that you have reviewed their choices and approve of their requests.

**The 5th grade team can NOT guarantee that each student will room with their requested student roommates.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

PTA Food Drive 

The Allen Park High School counseling department could use our support with the food pantry. The APHS Food Pantry confidentially provides food and necessities for families of AP students that are dealing with unforeseen circumstances, some of which have been tragic.

A box will be placed in our main office to collect items from Monday, January 13th through Friday, January 24th. Students and staff can drop donations off and a PTA member will transport it to the HS pantry as our box fills up.

I have attached the flyer below.

Food Drive

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Avery Bolley anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

* Instead of spending one week on each new anchor text, we will now be spending two weeks on each anchor text.

Unit 3 Lesson 16 – Lunch Money (Continued)

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson will be Monday, January 27, 2020.

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We needed a bit more practice before taking our Chapter 6 test. Chapter 6 test will be tomorrow – Monday, January 27th.

We will be moving onto Chapter 8: Decimals.

This week, we will be learning how to:

• Read and write thousandths in decimal and fractional forms.
• Represent and interpret thousandths in models or in place-value charts.
• Write a fraction with denominator 1,000 as a decimal.

In Chapter 8, we will be learning how to:

• Read and write thousandths in decimal and fractional forms.
• Represent and interpret thousandths in models or in place-value charts.
• Write a fraction with denominator 1,000 Ian Mazzoleni as a decimal.
• Compare and order decimals to 3 decimal places.
• Round decimals to the nearest hundredth.
• Rewrite decimals as fractions and mixed numbers in simplest form

Science

This week, we will start reviewing for our Unit Test on the Water Cycle, which will be on Thursday, January 30th.

• A study guide will be sent home tomorrow – Monday, January 27th.
• We will review the study guide together on Tuesday, January 28th.
• The Water Cycle Unit test will be on Thursday, January 30th!

Last week, we turned into engineers that worked together to save Beachtown from hurricane damage, while sticking to a budget. The engineers then presented their plans to the Beachtown Council for approval to build.

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing Nora Zakhar piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

We have officially started our research!

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the New England Colonies
• Discussing why they were colonized and what the economy was like there

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Identifying regular and irregular verbs

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Another round of M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a chain for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

5th Grade Camp – Cabin Assignment Forms

A green “Student Preference Sheet for Cabin Assignment” sheet is coming home with your student Tuesday, January 21, 2020. This form is used for students to select their top 4 students that they would like to room with at 5th Grade Camp. Students also have the opportunity to choose one student from another school that they would like to room with. When filling out the form, make sure to list ARNO as the name of the school at the top of the list. Please make sure to include both the first and last names of all students. Once your child has chosen their potential roommates, please sign the bottom of the form indicating that you have reviewed their choices and approve of their requests.

**The 5th grade team can NOT guarantee that each student will room with their requested student roommates.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

PTA Food Drive 

The Allen Park High School counseling department could use our support with the food pantry. The APHS Food Pantry confidentially provides food and necessities for families of AP students that are dealing with unforeseen circumstances, some of which have been tragic.

A box will be placed in our main office to collect items from Monday, January 13th through Friday, January 24th. Students and staff can drop donations off and a PTA member will transport it to the HS pantry as our box fills up.

I have attached the flyer below.

Food Drive

Book Orders

APHS NHS Tutoring

While the public library is under construction, APHS National Honor Society will be offering tutoring at the high school

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 – 5 pm

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Adrian Zamora anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

Unit 3 Lesson 16 – Lunch Money

Spelling Words

Our spelling test for this lesson has been moved to Monday, January 27, 2020.

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our spelling tests!

Math

We will review Chapter 6 – Area this week. Chapter 6 Test will be on Friday, January 24th!

• Finding the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths by Hailey Lewis counting square units, and by using a formula
• Identifying the base given the height of a triangle
• Identifying the height given the base of a triangle
• Finding the area of a triangle given its base and its height

Science

This week, students will continue to examine the causes of flooding using the real-world example of Hurricane Katrina. In the activity, Save Beachtown, students propose plans to prevent flooding and save historic buildings in a coastal town–all while staying within budget.

Check out our weekly mystery here!

We will start reviewing for our Unit Test on the Water Cycle.

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing Kaitlyn Choppa piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the New England Colonies
• Discussing why they were colonized and what the economy was like there

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Reviewing verb tense to help prepare for regular and irregular verbs next week

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash.

M-Step Vocabulary Packets

Our first M-Step vocabulary packets were sent home on Friday. The 5th graders will bring home 10 M-Step vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns an 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a chain for his/her M-Step charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home M-Step vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.

5th Grade Camp Health Forms 

Health forms are available on the school website (Click here for the Camp Health Form). Once at this website, you can click on the code for the google doc and fill it out about your students.  These health forms will go directly to the camp.  Health forms have to be completed before we attend camp.

The entire cost of camp ($220.00) has to be paid in full by March 3, 2020.  I sent home sheets back in November to let you know your balance.  Please let me know if you did not receive it.  You can send in the money any time from now until March 3!  I will send out a reminder again in mid-February.

PTA Food Drive 

The Allen Park High School counseling department could use our support with the food pantry. The APHS Food Pantry confidentially provides food and necessities for families of AP students that are dealing with unforeseen circumstances, some of which have been tragic.

A box will be placed in our main office to collect items from Monday, January 13th through Friday, January 24th. Students and staff can drop donations off and a PTA member will transport it to the HS pantry as our box fills up.

I have attached the flyer below.

Food Drive

Mother/Son Nerf Battle

The Arno PTA is hosting a Mother/Son Nerf Battle on Friday, January 17th from 6 – 9 pm at the Allen Park Community Center. The cost is $30 per couple, $5 per additional child (Advanced ticket purchase is required. Tickets will not be sold at the door).

*Includes pizza, Gatorade/water, and photographer

Game Times:

Group 1: PreK-2nd 6:30 – 7:15

Group 2: 3rd-5th 7:30 – 8:15

Everyone, regardless of group, should arrive at 6:00 pm.

To purchase tickets, please visit the Sign Up Genius Link here, send in cash in an envelope with your child’s name on it, or make a check out to Arno PTA.

December Super Cougar

Congratulations to Haley Kuryvial! Thank you for setting a great example for other students and being respectful, responsible, and safe!

Book Orders

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Xander Mechanco anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

Unit 3 Lesson 15 – We Were There, Too!

Spelling Words

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our Friday spelling tests!

Math

We are saying goodbye to algebra and Chapter 5. This week, we will start, and most likely finish, Chapter 6 – Area.

In Chapter 6 we will be:

• Finding the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths by Rene Smith counting square units, and by using a formula
• Identifying the base given the height of a triangle
• Identifying the height given the base of a triangle
• Finding the area of a triangle given its base and its height

Science

This week, students will examine the causes of flooding using the real-world example of Hurricane Katrina. In the activity, Save Beachtown, students propose plans to prevent flooding and save historic buildings in a coastal town–all while staying within budget.

Check out our weekly mystery here!

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing Elizabeth Winter piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the European colonization of North America by focusing on some of the permanent New England Colonies

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Learning about subject and object pronouns and practicing using them correctly
• Practicing our Lesson 15 Spelling List

* I am encouraging both parents and students to read the weekly blog posts. If you see your student’s name in the middle of a sentence, it is there for a reason! Have your student tell me that they found their name in the blog and they will receive Cougar Cash. 🙂

Holiday Cheer

Thank you to all who donated to our classroom! We had an awesome holiday celebration! Check out some pictures from our week of fun. 🙂

Check out our friend Caleb being a Dreidel champ! Thank you for sharing this awesome photo celebrating your special holiday traditions!

Reading

Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the Charlotte Tracz anchor text will be assessed on Wednesdays and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week with Mrs. Garza. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

Unit 3 Lesson 14 – James Forten

Spelling Words

* Please make sure you are studying spelling words with your student every day to prepare for our Friday spelling tests!

Math

We are continuing with Chapter 5 this week. We are going to review everything we learned before break. More homework assignments with both letters AND numbers will be coming home!

This week we will be:

• Recognizing, writing, and evaluating simple algebraic expressions in one variable
• Simplifying algebraic expressions in one variable

In Chapter 5 we will be:

• Identifying and extending number patterns
• Identifying the relationship between two sets of numbers
• Recognizing, writing, and evaluating simple algebraic expressions Fiona Fogarty in one variable
• Simplifying algebraic expressions in one variable
• Writing and evaluating inequalities
• Solving simple equations
• Solving real-world problems involving algebraic expressions

Science

We are back on track and continuing with the unit: The Water Cycle and Earth’s Systems. This week we will be exploring how it rains by making a model that produces rain.

You can take a peek at our weekly mystery by following the link below

Can we make it rain?

Writing

Our present wrapping writing taught the students a lot about how important informative details are! We will continue to work on informative writing this week. 

When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of Louis Gonzalez the points on our informative writing checklist. This week, we will be starting an informational writing piece on animals. The students will research an animal to find facts and information. 

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

Social Studies

This week with Ms. Higgins, students will be:

• Continuing to learn about the European colonization of North America by focusing on some of the permanent New England Colonies

Grammar

This week with Mrs. Garza, students will be:

• Practicing using direct quotations in writing.

ONLY 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL WINTER BREAK!

Arno’s Countdown to Winter Break

To count down the days until winter break, we will be wearing different holiday attire every day!

Monday: Wear your craziest holiday clothes for the school sing-along

Tuesday: Wear your favorite holiday hat, headband, or tree topper

Wednesday: Wear Hawaiian shirts, hula skirts, sunglasses, etc. to celebrate Christmas vacation

Thursday: Light up your wardrobe with holiday lights, tinsel, light up necklaces, etc.

Friday: Wear your jammies to school

Holiday Celebration

We will be having our holiday celebration on Friday, December 20th. We will be decorating sugar cookies in the morning, and we will spend our afternoon watching a movie and having some treats. You are welcome to send in some holiday treats with your student. Please remember that our classroom is peanut and tree nut free! We have 29 kiddos in class.

Parent Volunteers

If you are able to volunteer in the classroom please make sure you fill out a volunteer background check form. You can find the attachment linked below. I am still looking for volunteers to come in to help wrap presents on Wednesday, December 18th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. 

Volunteer Background Check Authorization Form

Reading

We will not be reading a selection from Journeys this week, which means no comprehension quiz, no vocabulary quiz, and no spelling test! We will be taking a break from Journeys to complete some holiday reading activities. 🙂

Math

We are starting Chapter 5 this week. Chapter 5 is an introduction to algebra. Get ready for some math homework assignments with numbers AND letters!

This week we will be:

• Identifying and extending number patterns
• Identifying the relationship between two sets of numbers
• Recognizing, writing, and evaluating simple algebraic expressions in one variable

In Chapter 5 we will be:

• Identifying and extending number patterns
• Identifying the relationship between two sets of numbers
• Recognizing, writing, and evaluating simple algebraic expressions in one variable
• Simplifying algebraic expressions in one variable
• Writing and evaluating inequalities
• Solving simple equations
• Solving real-world problems involving algebraic expressions

Science

Last week we learned why snow was white and made wax paper snowflakes. Check out some of our cool creations!

Writing

* To introduce informative writing, we will be writing a “How to wrap a present” piece. To show how important sequencing of events, details, and examples are, we will actually be using our writing pieces to follow the directions and wrap a present. The 5th grade teachers will be providing the empty boxes to wrap, wrapping paper, and tape. If you are able, we are asking for a $2.00 donation per student to help cover the cost of materials. Thank you in advance!

I am still looking for volunteers to help with this project on Wednesday, December 18th from 1:30 – 3:00. 

We will begin working on Informative Writing this trimester. When we are writing, it is important that we make sure we are including all of the points on our informative writing checklist.

Informative Writing Checklist

• Introduce your topic in the topic sentence
• Give 3 supporting details using facts, examples, and definitions
• Include a closing sentence that restates your topic/draw a conclusion 
• Use complete sentences
• Use linking works to connect your ideas (such as: another, for examples, because, also, in addition)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

When rough and final drafts are sent home, please feel free to work with your student to revise their work! This will make it easier when it comes time to complete the finished piece of writing. 🙂

Thank you for your help with revising the “How to” writing pieces!

Social Studies

We will not be switching this week.

Grammar

We will not be switching this week. 

Best Wishes to All

Every school year at this time while students are creating lists of toys,  I enjoy creating a mental list of student accomplishments and lessons learned. There is so much to be proud of, yet so much more to work on. We are all “works in progress” and use each day as a gift to accomplish more.

The holiday sure did approach quickly. We have managed to tie a few loose ends before the break, and hopefully we will return with lots of focus. I’d like to wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday. Enjoy the time with friends and family, and I will see all of you next year…January 6, 2020!

Ms. Ciara Zuke

*Please feel free to send me photos showing how you and your family celebrate the holiday. It could be a special family tradition or even just a tumble down a snow hill followed by sweet hot chocolate. I’d love to share these moments in my next blog post when we return.