Saturday, May 20, 2017

May 22-26


Field Day Fun

Mon -
Tues -
Wed - EOG dance during Enhancements; Be sure your child gets a good night's rest and eats breakfast in the morning.
Thurs - Reading EOG
Fri - Math EOG



With the EOGs on Thursday and Friday this week and Thursday of next week, I have a few simple requests.

  • Please, if at all possible, do not send your child with their cell phone or any electronic device (no fitbits that might buzz, watches that beep, or cell phones that buzz or ring). If they do bring something, I will ask them to show me that it is off and have them leave it in their cubby, but I would much prefer for it to NOT be in the classroom at all.
  • PLEASE keep all of the fidgit spinners at home on these days!  The students have not figured out how to use them appropriately yet and they are more of a hinderance to them staying focused than a help.  For most students, they are simply a cool toy and the kids will even admit to that.
  • Getting a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast in the morning is important.  That doesn't mean send them to bed at 5:00 but making sure they get a solid night's sleep would be helpful to them being able to focus for long periods of time.
  • Avoiding sunburns and poison ivy (and other allergy issues) is helpful too.  No one likes to sit for 3 hours with a constant need to scratch an itch.
  • Give your child a big hug and tell them how much you love them and that you're proud of them each morning before the test.  This is great to do EVERY morning but hearing these words on a stressful day can really make a difference in how they head into the test.

End of year Treats Sign Up:
If you haven't already, please check out the Sign Up Genius link to get supplies to provide treats to our students after they complete their EOGs.  These are stressful times and they deserve a small treat after testing all morning.  Thanks for your support with getting these supplies.  Let me know if you need to send in items ahead of time.  We can store items in the cafeteria's freezer but I need to know what's there for my class and it needs to be clearly labeled.

Notes to my students:
I've told my students this in various ways but this letter (below) says how I feel about the EOGs and my students.  It is just one piece to the puzzle of who they are and doesn't define who they are as an individual or as a student.  Each of my students will also be getting a personalized note from me the morning of the Reading EOG telling them how special they are and to just do their best.

Dearest Students,

Next week you will take your EOG test for math and reading. I know how hard you have
worked, but there is something very important you must know.

The EOG tests do not assess all of what makes you special and unique. The people
who create these tests and score them do not know each of you like I do, and certainly
not the way your families do.

They do not know that some of you speak two languages, or that you love to sing or
draw. They have not seen your natural talent for dancing. They do not know that your
friends count on you to be there for them, that you laughter can brighten the darkest
day, or that your face turns red when you feel shy. They do not know that you
participate in sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes you help with your little
brother or little sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy, and
thoughtful… and every day you try your very best.

The scores you will get from these tests will tell you something, but they will not tell you
everything. These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU
are smart! You are enough! You are the light that brightens my day and the reason I am
happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all of these tests, remember that
there is no way to “test” all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU.
All I ask is that you do your personal best and do not give up. You have been working

for this since Kindergarten and are ready! I believe in you!

Friday, May 12, 2017

May 15-19

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Logs; Mr. Lincoln's Drummer project due!; Mr. Lincoln's Drummer test (study guide)
Wednesday -
Thursday - Spelling Sort Quiz
Friday - Field Day; all students' library books must be returned by today

We have been having some issues with a lack of respect towards staff and fellow students again.  This has been addressed with students but your support at home is always appreciated.  It ranges from silly play in the bathroom, to talking in the halls, to blurting out answers over other students and the teacher, to mocking students and teachers, to blatantly ingnoring what they are asked/told to do.  We realize they are ready for Middle School but we still need them focused and respectful as we finish Elementary School.

We will be doing EOG review/practice in all classes.  We will be making it as fun as possible but it is still important that students take their time and really think through these problems.  Now is their chance to get any concepts or skills clarified or retaught.  Please continue to reinforce these skills at home.

In Mrs Ellison's Reading class, we will be reading a fun, short book about Economics called Lawn Boy.  They will have some tasks to complete about the book as we work through it.  This will be one of their last Reading assignment grades.


Friday, May 5, 2017

May 8-12

Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts you sent in for Teacher Appreciation Week.  It really made me feel SPEACIAL and APPRECIATED!

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Log, Progress Reports
Wednesday - SS Civil War test (open notes so be sure the journal is up to date - study guide, ch 20 notes, ch 21 notes)
Thursday - Spelling: Geek and Latin Sort #2 def Quiz
Friday - Mr. Lincoln's Drummer project due (if they are not ready to turn it in on Friday, they may have until Tuesday but there is be no more classtime to work on it); Latin Word Parts choicboard due (given out on Friday but will have time in class all week to work on it - several students asked to have it ahead of time over the weekend); Force and Motion Unit Test (study guide , vocabulary cards , and graphing data explainations and practice)

*Free Enterprise - Students are working in homeroom small groups to come up with a product to make that they can sell to classmates and other fifth graders for coupons.  They should be discussing their ideas with their parents.  The group ideas should be decided and signed off by all group members' parents by MAY 12.  They may NOT begin production of the products until all parents have signed off AND I have signed off on it.

Dates to Remember to Mark on your Caledars:
May 19 - Field Day (new date)
May 25 - Reading EOG
May 26 - Math EOG
May 29 - No School - Memorial Day
June 1 - Science EOG
June 5 - Free Enterprise at 2:30 - parents may come shop too (we'll provide you with coupons)
June 6 - Auction 10-12 noon
June 7 - 5th Grade Awards/Promotion Ceremony 1:00 pm
June 8 - Last Day of School - Early Dismissal at 1:30 pm (report cards can be picked up at 12 noon)

Friday, April 28, 2017

May 1-5

Image result for teacher appreciation week






Monday - Math Enrichment Project due
Tuesday - Reading Log
Wednesday -
Thursday - Spelling Def. Quiz; Science Quiz (know the vocabulary and key ideas from in class experiements with our cars); Mrs. Ellison's Homeroom goes to the Book Fair (3:15-3:30); Book Fair is also open for Family Night 4:00-6:00 pm
Friday - Greek Words Choiceboard due; Mr Lincoln's Drummer (journal entries done through ch. 10); Field Day 12:45-3:00 (information)
*Target Due Date for the Mr. Lincoln's Drummer Novel Project is Friday, May 12.

*We will be discussing our End of Year Free Enterprise activities with the students this week.  They will get into small groups to create businesses.  They will need to come up with a "product" to "sell" (must have a recycled component to it).  The manufacturing of the product will be done outside of school.  We will be discussing Economics Concepts and then creating advertising for their products in class closer to the end of May.  We are introducing it now so that they have plenty of time to discuss, get approval, collect materials, and make their products.  They should not begin making anything until ALL group members have their product idea approved by their parents AND teacher! Concept ideas are due for approval by May 12 and actual products are due June 5 (Free Enterprise is June 5 at 2:30 - parents are welcome to come shop, we'll provide you with the coupons to shop with - NO REAL MONEY).

Important Links Below:
Volunteer Opportunities:
   Book Fair
   Field Day Volunteers
   Field Day Supplies
   Teacher Lunch Duty coverage - May 3
Teacher Appreciation list of all teachers' likes
End of Year Activities Calendar (a copy of this will be in the Tuesday folder for you to keep)
Auction Supply Needs/Wants (a copy of this will be in the Tuesday folder for you to keep)


Friday, April 21, 2017

April 24-28

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Logs; Buzzwords Quiz - Verbs #2 (carried over from last week)
Wednesday - Antonyms & Synonyms Choiceboard due
Thursday - Spelling Sort and Definition Quiz; Precept Paragraph
Friday - Buzzwords Quiz - ALL Verbs

*Students should have read chapters 1-3 in Mr. Lincoln's Drummer this past week and be reading chapters 4-9 this week.  (I only have one class set but they can listen to the chapters in Google Classroom if they fall behind or have been absent and need to catch up.) They must write a journal entry (from the main character's point of view) for each chapter as they read it.  There are other task they need to work on but most of these can't be done until we finish the book.  They will have time in class to work on the assignments but may choose to do some work outside of class.  A due date is not set yet, since I need to see how long it will actually take us to read the book.

**We are still in need of glue sticks for the classroom.  We also could use some bags of Skittles for EOG review games that I have planned.

Monday May 1-Friday May 5 - Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday - May 5 - Science Vocabulary Quiz
Wednesday - May 10 - SS ch 20 & 21 Civil War Test
Friday - May 12 (target date) - Force and Motion Unit Test

Other Dates to make note of:
Friday - April 28 - Walk2School Day
Friday - April 28 - 4:30-7:30 pm Powhatan Palooza! (Book Fair will be open)
        Use this LINK to sign up to help at the Palooza!
Monday May 1 - Friday May 5 - Book Fair is open 
Thursday May 4 - Powhatan PTA mtg and Strings Concert (Book Fair is open 4-6 pm)
Friday May 5 - Field Day (K-2 is 9-11:30 and 3-5 is 12:30-3:00)
Tuesday May 9 - Progress Reports go home (not many grades after this!)

Thursday May 25 - Reading EOG
Friday May 26 - Math EOG
Monday May 29 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
Thursday June 1 - Science EOG

?? Monday June 5 - Free Enterprise @ 2:30 pm (watch for more information about this)
?? Tuesday June 6 - Auction 10-12:00 (we need parents to donate items if possible)
Wednesday June 7 - 5th grade Awards 1:00 (please do not check out elementary school age siblings to bring to the ceremony - space is limited and this is a special time for your 5th grader!)
Thursday June 8 - Last Day of School - early dismissal and report cards go home (report cards can not be given out to students until after 12:00 noon - if you check your child out early, you will need to stop by the school over the summer to pick up the report card in the office)

Friday, April 7, 2017

April 17 - 21

*Remember to sign your child's agenda.  Behavior stickers were placed in there this morning.
Monday (April 17) - Report Cards go home
Tuesday (April 18) - Reading Logs
Wednesday (April 19) - Reading iReady Spring Diagnostic Test; SS ch 18 Test (study guide & notes)
Thursday (April 20) - Math iReady Spring Diagnostic Test
Friday (April 21) - Buzzwords Verb #2 Quiz

**Please make sure that pictures and/or picture money is turned in as soon as possible.  The packet of pictures sent home is NOT free.  If you are not purchasing them, you do need to return them to the school.

**Square1Art orders are due Monday April 24.

**Make sure you've marked you calendars to come out and enjoy the Powhatan Palooza on Friday April 28.

If you are able to send in some glue sticks, the students would greatly appreciate it.  They're having to do a lot of sharing with the last few glue sticks in our bucket.

I hope everyone has a restful and relaxing Spring Break.  Enjoy time with your family.  Please make sure your children come back to school focused and ready to finish their elementary school career strong!

Friday, March 31, 2017

April 3-7

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Log
Wednesday -
Thursday - precept paragraph; Spelling Definition Quiz
Friday - Buzzwords Quiz #3 (verbs)

Spring Break is from April 8-16.  Relax and enjoy the time with your family.  Make sure your child is ready to come back focused and ready to work hard for this last grading period.

Report Cards go home Monday April 17.