Oct. 21 - Nov. 4

Monday - students DO have school
Tuesday - Reading Logs, SS ch 4 test for Mrs. Ellison's homeroom
Wednesday -
Thursday - Spelling Sort and Definition Quiz
Friday - Math Enrichment Project due

We are starting a new Science Unit about Heat Energy Transfer.  Please make sure your child has a copy of the Study Guide in their Science Journal as soon as possible.

SS ch 5 will start this week.  It will be VERY important that students have this study guide in their journals.  There is A LOT of information about 8 explorers in this chapter.  This test will be open notes but this only helps if they have AND know where the information is in their journals.

**If you are unable to print the study guides at home, please let me know and I will get copies for your child.  Please email me or write a note to let me know if this is the case.

** We have started a Independent Reading competition at school.  Students are tracking their INDEPENDENT reading in class (not at home).  When they reach certain benchmarks, they get to move their person to the next milestone marker.  Most students have already met the Mile Run (100 minutes) and several have completed the 5K (310 minutes).  Be sure to ask your child how they are doing and have them show you their certificate if they've met a benchmark.  The further along they go, the harder the benchmarks are but it gets them working towards a goal.  The triathlon requires them to pass 5 Close Reading passages in iReady so they may be asking to spend some time on this at home.  Please encourage it!  This is meant to be a self motivating competition, but several students are striving to keep up with classmates so some peer competition is welcome too.

If you are on Twitter, I've set up an account and you are welcome to follow me @kellison3443.  I'm still learning how to tweet and use hashtags (they're still pound/number signs to me) so be patient with me if you are a fluent tweeter.

October 24-28

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Logs
Wednesday - Math division Quiz
Thursday - Spelling Sort and Definition Quiz; Mrs. Ellison's HR - Science Matter Unit Test (The Science study guide looks like a lot of material but it is just reexplaining the experiments that we've already done and learned about in class. I told my students to read over and THINK about the concepts each night to help them build their understanding. Do not try to memorize it all the night before the test! Powerpoints for our notes can be found in their Google Classroom.)
Friday - Math Order of Operations Quiz; Mrs. Askew's HR - Science Matter Unit Test

We do have school have on Monday Oct. 31 (Halloween).  We will NOT be dressing up during school hours.  Please limit the amount of candy that comes in to school for snacks and lunches.

Students should have their SS ch 4 study guide in their notebooks.  The target test day for Mrs. Ellison's homeroom is Tuesday Nov. 1.  Mrs. Askew's homeroom is probably going to be the following day.

Information about Make-Up Days/Times:
Traditional Calendar

• Adding 10 minutes to the instructional day effective October 24, 2016
• October 18, 2016, now a full day since we will operate on a 2 hour delay
• October 31, 2016, now a regular student day

This means that our dismissal times will be backed up by 10 minutes each day, starting Monday October 24.  Fifth grade will be using this time for students to read independently (ask them about our competition) and will allow us time to work with students individually if they need help with specific skills or concepts.  

Oct. 18-21

I hope everyone made it through Hurricane Matthew's flooding without too much difficulty.  I am sure everyone is ready to get back to normal.  Tuesday will be a 2 hr Delay INSTEAD of a 2 hr Early Release.  School will begin letting students in at 10:20 am (students are tardy if they arrive in the classroom after 10:50) and we will dismiss at normal time.  Changes to the school day will be shared with parents after the School Board makes a final approval of the plan for the Make Up days.

*No Spelling Sort or Definition Quiz this week.  I want to make sure the internet is back up and is
consistent and reliable before assigning one.

* The Boosterthon's Fun Run has been rescheduled for later in November.  More information will be sent home once new dates are finalized.

Tuesday: 2 hr delay
Wednesday: Spirit Night at Char Grill (this could change - be on the look out for more information)
Thursday: SS ch 3 test (students will be allowed to use their notes for this since we've been out for over a week and the material is not fresh but they shouldn't be dependent on this) study guide & notes
Friday: Figurative Language Test and RCD Unit 1 Post Assessment (be able to use these graphic organizers)

Next Thursday (Oct. 27) - Science Matter Unit Test - study guide

Oct. 10-14

Monday -
Tuesday - Reading Logs, Boosterthon Pep Rally (I was a week ahead of myself last week)
Wednesday - Reading RL 5.2 Theme/SummaryTest (be able to complete these graphic organizers for a given story, write a summary, and answer questions about the text)
Thursday - Spelling Definition Quiz, SS ch 3 Test study guide
Friday -

Be on the look out for more information about our Boosterthon Backyard Box Office!

Mark your calendars:
Tuesday Oct. 18 - Early Release
Wednesday Oct. 19 - Chargrill Spirit Night
Thursday Oct. 20 - Fun Run (5th grade runs from 1:15-2:15 pm - come cheer us on)