End of Year 2016

Thanks for a GREAT year!

Remember to keep reading over the summer.

Check out some of the sites below to find some good books to read.
http://www.educationworld.com/summer_reading/5th_grade.shtml
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/36230.5th_Grade_Summer_Reading_List
http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2015/04/5th-grade-summer-reading-list.html
http://www.ala.org/alsc/2015-summer-reading-list
http://www.greatschools.org/gk/book-lists/favorite-books-for-fifth-graders/

May 23-27

It is that time of year and we are about to take our End of Grade tests in Reading, Math, and Science.  Please help your child be prepared for these tests by making sure they get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, and feel relaxed and loved as they head off to school.  I will remind them that this is only one "piece to the puzzle" of who they are and how they did in 5th grade, but it is an important piece and needs to be taken seriously.  Please make sure that your child knows as long and they "do their individual BEST" then you and I are proud of their efforts.  They should not be comparing themselves to anyone else.  Dressing with layers (short sleeved shirts with a light sweater or sweatshirt) will help your child be comfortable in the classroom since the temperatures tend to vary from room to room throughout the day.  Also, please try to make sure your child does not get sun burned, eaten up by mosquitoes, or break any bones in the next few days...these all lead to miserable testing conditions.

Monday - all library books need to be turned in
Tuesday - Reading Log, Venero's Spirit Night (5-9 pm), get a good night's sleep
Wednesday - Reading EOG, get a good night's sleep
Thursday - Math EOG
Friday -

Monday, May 30 - No School, Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 31 -
Wednesday, June 1 - Science EOG
Thursday, June 2 - start bringing in Free Enterprise items
Friday, June 3 - Free Enterprise in the morning, Field Day in the afternoon (12:00 - 2:35)

Monday, June 6 - auction in the morning *We still need LOTS of items for the auction.  Students are given bonus coupons for bringing in items.
Tuesday, June 7 - ice cream sundaes and yearbook signing (12:30-1:30)
Wednesday, June 8 - 5th grade Awards at 9:30 am in the cafeteria

May 16-20

Monday:
Tuesday: Reading Log due
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Economics and Lawn Boy test (Economics Vocabulary & Lawn Boy Study Notes)

As we near the EOGs we are declaring the week of May 16-20 to be Spirit Week.  Show your school spirit each day by participating in each day's theme.  I will be giving out bonus coupons to those who participate each day!

Monday-Team Day - Dress to show off you favorite team!

Tuesday-Crazy Socks Day - Wear your zaniest socks to school!

Wednesday-Dress To Impress Day  - Show us your BEST!

Thursday-Crazy Hat/Hair Day! 

Friday-Powhatan Pride Day! - wear PES gear or black and gold

May 9-13

Thank you for all of the Teacher Appreciation gifts.  It felt great to be showered with gifts of love and appreciation from my students and their parents! 😍

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope your kids shower you with the love you pour out for them on a daily basis. 🌷

Coming up this week:

Monday - 

Tuesday - reading log due, research paragraph check (students should have their handwritten rough drafts of 6 paragraphs - 4 core paragraphs, an introduction, and a conclusion)

Wednesday -

Thursday - Buzzwords Quiz 

Friday - paired text worksheet due (to be done in class - they can finish for HW on Thursday if they are behind on it); tentative due date for final draft of Ecosystem research paper 

May 2-6

Remember that Teacher Appreciation Week is this Week!
Monday:
Tuesday: Reading Log due, Buzzwords Quiz
Wednesday: Reading iReady Diagnostic Test
Thursday: Math iReady Diagnostic Test; Progress Reports go home
Friday: Reading Passage (Hydroelectricity) w/s due, Math Minute due (?); PRIDE Friday - wear Spirit Wear

This week we will be:

• taking our time and working carefully during our Reading and Math iReady Diagnostic tests!
• working on EOG practice passages in class to help the students practice testing skills (highlighting to show where the answer can be found in the text and key words in the questions, omitting obviously wrong answers, checking to see if answers actually make sense, not leaving anything blank, and staying on track with bubbling in answers on scantron sheets, etc)
• going back to Spelling sorts and Definition quizzes in Google Classroom - hopefully they don't lose these like they did their choiceboards!  These sorts will be practicing some of the skills they worked on with the choiceboards.
• starting to write the actual paragraphs for our research paper.  I do not want this done at home ahead of time.  
• practicing vocabulary and comprehension skills using Paired Texts about Using Resources Wisely
• finishing up our Civil War unit with the end of our Simulation activity.  If you haven't already heard about it, be sure to ask you child about their "experience" in the Civil War.  He haven't "lost" any of our soldiers but a few have experienced some "injuries" during our battles.  Your child's Soldier's Journal is due on Monday after our final activity.
• starting to talk about Economics in Social Studies.  We will start our Free Enterprise talks on Tuesday.  Watch for information coming home about that in your child's Tuesday Folder.

Fifth Grades Dates to Know!

These dates are hot off the press... so be sure to mark you calendar!
Friday June 3 (am - exact times to be determined) Free Enterprise (more information coming next week) - we would love for you to come spend some time with your child by helping out/shopping at Free Enterprise
Friday June 3 (pm 12:30-2:45) Field Day for grades 3-5
Monday June 6 (pm 12:30-2:30) Auction - I could use a couple of parents to help count coupons and one to be an auctioneer
Tuesday June 7 (12:30-1:30) ice cream social and yearbook signing - we will need some supplies and 1-2 parents to help set up and clean up
Wednesday June 8 (9:30-10:30) Fifth Grade Awards and Last Day of School - just come and celebrate your child!

Fifth Grade Signature T-shirts!

Here is the order form if you would like to order a Signature t-shirt for your fifth grader (all of the fifth grade students' signatures are on the front and staff signatures will be on the back).  The cost is $10.  The shirts will be gold/yellow with black print.  Copies of the order form will be coming home in your child's Tuesday Folder this week.  ALL orders must be returned by Monday May 9.