Happy Mid-Term

     Hi there parents and students.  I hope all of you are enjoying the school year thus far.  I know that I sure am.  I can't believe it is mid-term already.  Time does fly when you are having fun.

     Parents, please make sure you check with your child to see if they have finished their first book for their Reading Revolution book report.  The first book report is due tomorrow, Sept. 17th.  If they are not quite done with their book, they can take the time to finish it, but will have to hurry to get another one done by the end of the quarter.  If your child is reading their 20 minutes each night, this should be very easy for them to do.

     We will be going on our first field trip next Friday.  As you know, we will be going to Mammoth cave, so make sure your child is dressed appropriately for this activity.  We will be doing some other hiking, as well, so a couple of water bottles would be great to send.  This field trip fits into our curriculum by learning about the land forms that are created through plate movement and weathering and erosion.  It's a great time.

     We will be having our first Worker's Holiday on Monday, Sept. 20th.  This activity will be for those who have no missing assignments and have an 80% or better.  The students will be playing a kickball game and doing fun outdoor activities for their award.  Students have until tomorrow, Sept. 17th to get their missing assignments into me to qualify for this Worker's Holiday.

     In each of our subjects we are getting more involved with our units within our curriculum. In Reading we are reading stories that go along with the Theme "Who Am I".  We do a lot of activities with setting, plot and characterization.  We also are practicing our fluency, as much as we can.  We are building our stamina in reading to self and to someone.  In Science, we are finishing up with plate movement,earthquakes and volcanoes.  We will start weathering and erosion, next week.  In LA we are finishing up with our thinking hat skills that help us with our writing and in grammar, we are learning about simple subject and predicates.  In S.S. the students are learning about the early settlers.  In math students are moving into  multiplying whole numbers.  They just finished up with adding and subtracting with decimals.  So, as you can see, we are staying real busy.

     I will catch you up in a couple of weeks on what to expect in October.  Thanks for all of your help, and until next time, take care and keep smiling.  Sincerely, Mrs. Little

      

Happy Fall

     Hello there everyone!

     Well, school has gotten off to a great start.  I love all of your children.  We are all going to have such a fun and exciting year!  

     You should be receiving your child's first progress report today.  If he/she is missing anything, they will have a bright yellow missing assignment's sheet attached to the front of their progress report.  If your child does have any missing assignments, he/she will need to have those missing assignment completed and turned in within the next two weeks.  Along with the progress report, you will also have a newsletter and a spelling letter.  The newsletter will let you know of the events coming up in the next month.  The spelling letter will let you know more about our spelling program for this year.  You will also be receiving your child's four pretests that he/she has taken.  I encourage the students to write the words they missed, on any of the test, 10 times each.  If they do this, they can change their score to 100%, if all words are spelled correctly.  If your child chooses not to do this, that is their choice and they keep the score they already have.  The students are welcome to do this with the fifth grade spelling tests, as well.  I do, however, need all four tests turned back to me by the end of September.

     We are still covering the same items in each subject area, but just in more depth.  Spelling will be changing next week.  We will be getting into the fifth grade words and tests will be given on Fridays.  Other than that, things are still pretty much the same.

     Please make sure to sign the planner coming home each week, with the total reading time minutes.  I am getting a lot handed into me, with no parents signatures.

     I do appreciate that all of you get signature notes signed and turned back to me, promptly.  I can't remember a time when parents have been so efficient.

     If you have any questions at any time, feel free to call me, or email me.  

                                                                                                           Sincerely, Mrs. Little 

Welcome Back

     Hi there everyone!  I hope you are all ready to get back into the groove of things, because I sure am.  I can't wait to start school this year!  We are going to have so much fun!  Be ready to learn lots of fun stuff, and be prepared in having fun while doing it.

     On the first day of school we will be discussing rules and consequences, rewards, classroom schedules etc., and you will be receiving the materials you will need from me to get started.  It is going to be more or less of a lecture day, and so it will probably get kind of boring at times, but please know that not every day is going to be like the first day of school, where I'll be talking the whole time.  You will find that you will be doing most of the talking and showing me how you learn things.   Please bring a bottled water when you can, because our room can get kind of hot at times, and I want you to stay hydrated.

     We will be jumping right into our subjects on the second day of school, so you will know what to expect out of each subject area.  You will also get an idea of how your daily schedule will go.

     Parents, I do want you to know that I do allow healthy snacks in my classroom and the students are allowed to have them at any time, as long as they are healthy.  I do this for numerous reasons and hope that all of you are okay with it.

     I do want to let you know what we will be learning in each subject area, for the first quarter.  In Writing, we will be learning about the Six Thinking Hats.  We will be starting with Ideas in the Six Traits of Writing, and we will be starting our Four Square Writing method.  In Math, we will be starting out with place value  and comparing and ordering numbers.  In Reading, we will be staring off with the Theme "Who Am I" and reading stories pertaining to this theme.  We will also learn about fluency and decoding words.  In Science, we will be learning about Land Forms and how they are formed.  In S.S. we will be starting off with learning about the early Explorers.  We will be testing the words learned in 2nd through fourth grade for the first two weeks of spelling.  Students will need to know these words in order to do their dictation sentences for their fifth grade spelling tests.  If you ever have questions about what is being taught in our classroom, please feel free to email, or call me at any time.

     I am looking forward to a great year with you and your child and can't wait to get started.

     Thanks for taking the time to read this and once again, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.   Sincerely, Mrs. Little

     Well hello everyone.  Well, we are down to the last 20 days of school.  I can't believe how this year has passed us by.  I cry every time I think about this class moving on without me.  I have really enjoyed teaching this group of kids this year.  

     Anyways, I wanted to let you know that we have finished the Language part of the End of Level testing.  I think the students did great.  They all took their time to get through the questions and from what I could tell, they all really felt good about the test.  We start the Math tests next week and we will be taking those on Monday, May 3rd and Thursday, May 6th.  The last test day will be on Monday, May 10th and that test will be on the Science we have learned this year.  Thank you for having your kids here every day, it is so very much appreciated. 

     Be sure to watch for the newsletter coming home next Wednesday.  It will have all of our end of year activities on it, so if I happen to miss something in my Blog, you can read it in the newsletter.

     Some of the most recent activities coming up are:  The Root-beer float party for the students that took the UTIPS tests will be on Tuesday, May 11th.  The Middle School Tour will be Thursday, May 13th.  Our Zion Field Trip will be Friday, May 14th.   Orchestra students need to remember their concert on Tuesday, May 18th at 6:00, at Cedar High School.  On Wednesday, May 19th we will be holding our annual Wax Museum from 9:00 to 11:00.  We will be having an ice cream party for the Judicial award for Reading Revolution, on Wednesday, May 20th.  On Friday, May 21st we will be celebrating the Congressional award  with a movie and popcorn party.  We will also be performing our Memorial Day program on this day, for parents and the school.  The program will be at 2:30.  Hope of America winners will be recognized at this program, as well.  On Monday, May 24th we will be having our Field Day.  On Tuesday, May 25th there will be breakfast in the park for the Presidential winners.  On Wednesday, May 26th we will be celebrating our last Worker's Holiday.  We will be having a tent day.  On Friday, May 28th we will be having our last day of school.  School will let out at 2:30.

     I know there is a lot to remember, but letters will be coming home to remind you all of the upcoming events for the rest of the year.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Thanks for all of  your help this year.  It has been a pleasure getting to know all of you and I hope all of you have a great summer. (If it ever gets here.)  Take care.  Sincerely, Mrs. Little 

     Oh my heck!  Did I forget I had a blog?  Well yes, I think I did.

     I am so sorry to the parents that actually read this thing.  I have been so busy being over the Science Fair and other things that I completely spaced other obligations, my blog being one of those obligations, and I am so sorry.  Do know though, that I haven't neglected your child; I promise.

     Well, it is that time of year where everything hits at once and we don't know if we are actually coming or going.  I would like to fill you in on the events that are coming up for the rest of April.

     We will begin our End of Level testing April 26th and end the testing on May 10th.  The students will be doing the tests online again this year.  The week of May 26th, the students will be taking the Language test Monday at 10:00 and on Thursday at 10:00 and 11:00.  On Monday May 3rd, students will take their fist math test at 10:00 and finish math test 2 on Thursday from 10:00 to 11:45.  On Monday, May 10th, students will finish up with the Science test at 1:00.  If you know your child will be gone any of these days, please let me know, so I can get them tested some other time.  It is very important that each student takes their end of level tests.    Right now, we ask that all students take the initiative to take as many U-tips tests as they can, so they can better prepare themselves for end of levels.

     On Friday, April 16th we are having our annual Maturation program.  This program starts at 2:00 and ends at 3:15 or right at 3:30.  Please try to make this if you can.  It always makes the students feel a little more comfortable if their parents are here to help with questions they might have.  Reading Revolution #1 for fourth quarter is due this day, as well.

     In our subject areas right now we are covering last minute standards that still need to be covered.  In reading we just finished up with our last novel and will be doing one last Theme for the year, which is, Images and Imaginings.  We will also continue to work on fluency and comprehension.  We will be doing our last dibel's testing starting next week.  In math, students have been working on probability and will be finishing it up this week.  In Science, students are well into their Heredity unit.  Right now, they are studying traits that are inherited and traits that are learned.  In Social Studies, students are learning about the Civil Rights movement.  Students are done with their spelling program, but still review the words quite a bit.  In Grammar, students are learning the difference between object pronouns and subject pronouns. We try to fit writing in whenever we get the chance.  We just got done learning about how to use our voice in writing.

     I can't believe it is all going to be over soon.  I am so sad.  I just love this group of kids and don't ever want to let them go.

     Thank you parents for all of your help and support you have given me this year.  You have all been great.  

     Be looking for a new blog to come out around the 10th of May.  I will let you know about the end of the year events then.  Thank again.   Sincerely, Mrs. Little

     

     Hello there parents.  I wanted to let you know about some events that are coming up. 

     We will be having a Valentines Party on Friday, February 12th.  Remember if your child brings a Valentine for any friends, they must bring one for the whole class.  This way, no one gets their feelings hurt.

      Remember that Monday, February 15th is President's Day, and there will not be any school that day.  

     Tuesday, February 16th, the first Reading Revolution, for third quarter, is due.    

     On Wednesday, February 17th, a Progress Report and a Newsletter will be coming home.  Please make sure you look over your child's Progress Report with them.  If your child is missing any assignments please help him/her get their missing work in by Friday, February 19th.  All students will need their missing work turned in by this date, with a 80% or better to qualify for Worker's Holiday.  Our Worker's Holiday will be Monday, February 22nd.  It will be in the afternoon and we will be playing some fun games in the gym. 

     I sent a registration form home for the Science Fair, today (Wed., Feb. 10th).  Please, make sure that your child fills the information out that they need to on it, and make sure that it comes back to school by Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.  I told my students that the sooner they get back, the better off they will be.  Students need this form in order to participate in the Science Fair.  All fifth graders are required to do the Science Fair.  The Science Fair will be March 26, 2010.

     Be looking for a SEOP sign up sheet to come home, with the Progress Reports next week.  I will try to keep the same times as the Fall SEOP schedule, but if we need to make changes, we certainly can.  SEOP's will be in three weeks, on Monday, March 1st through Friday, March 5th. 

     Here is what we are doing in each subject area, for right now.  

     Math- Students are still working on fractions.

     Reading- Students are starting a new Theme, which is "Looking below the Surface", and reading some stories dealing with this Theme.  Students are still working on their fluency and sometimes, get a chance to read to themselves, out of their own individual book.

     Science- Students are just starting Static and Current Electricity.

     S.S.-  Just finished the Gold Rush and now students are getting into the Civil War.

     L.A.- Students are still working on Verbs, in the grammar part of language and we are practicing our 4 square writing in writing persuasive essays.

     Spelling-  We are working on list 17 words.

     Dictionary skills-  Homographs and multi meaning words.

     I will try to keep you updated as events come up each month, so you know ahead of time what is coming your way.  It is the end of the year and as we all know, time does sneak up on us, so be prepared for lots of activities to be coming your child's way.

     Thanks for all of your help and support.  

                                                                              Mrs. Little

     Hi there!  Well, we are well into third quarter, and can you believe it?  I can't...  This year is almost over.  What a terrible thought that is.  I don't want this group of kids to go.  They have been so much fun to teach and they are all so sweet and nice.  You have all done such a great job raising your children.  Thank you.

     Anyhow,  some dates you need to be aware of for the next couple of weeks starts with this Friday, Jan. 29th.  We will be walking to the Heritage Center for a presentation.  We will be leaving the school right at 9:00, so please have your kids to school on time.  On Thursday, Feb. 4th, we will be having some speaker's coming into our class to talk to us about Winter Survival.  On Friday, Feb. 5th, we will be going over to the Cal Ranch hill to play some winter games with the students.  A letter will be coming home next week, explaining more about this activity.  We will be having a Valentine Party on February 12th.  I will be sending home a class list next Wednesday.  If your child wants to pass out Valentines, they need to make sure he/she makes one for all the students in the class.  Remember there will be no school Monday, February 15th. 

     Please look for a progress report to come home next Wednesday, Feb.3rd.  Where we are just starting a new quarter, please make sure that your child is staying caught up from the get-go.  It is a lot easier that way.  Thanks for all that you do.  

                                                   Sincerely,

                                                   Mrs. Little