The Putney Post
West Homer Elementary--5th Grade
Dates to Remember
March 26- Science Fair Exhibit 4:30-6:30pm
March 26- Family and Friends Night in the WHE Library 4:30-6:30 (drop in at any time)
March 29- Dress Up as a Character Day
April 2, 3, 4- Standards Based Assessment (SBA Testing)
April 12- Islands and Oceans Field Trip "Landscapes Over Time"
April 19- Vacation Day, No School
May 1, 2, 3- Fifth Grade Field Trip
Classroom Happenings
Seeing everyone's smiling faces (and sleepy eyes) early Monday morning was wonderful! I missed your kids over Spring Break and am so happy to have them back for the remaining quarter of their fifth grade year. I hope you were able to enjoy some extra time with your child during their week off. I truly enjoy working with your kids!
This past week we continued with our units of study and began our concept review for SBA testing. In reading students selected a topic related to Yellow Fever in the late 1700's and completed a research study. Cindy Denny, a district technology specialist, shared a presentation on using World Book and other online resources. Students applied the knowledge gained from Cindy's presentation during their Yellow Fever research.
In writing we wrapped up our persuasive unit by writing letters to our parents, trying to persuade them to change a rule or give us special permission to do something that we can't usually do. This letter writing experience gave students an authentic purpose to their writing and real audience: YOU! Students were asked to include the three approaches of argument discussed in our persuasive unit within their letter: logos, pathos, and ethos. Feel free to respond to your child's letter when it comes home!
In math we continued our work with multiplication/division of whole numbers and decimals. Students practiced double-digit division as well as dividing decimals. The multi-step process of division can be challenging to memorize, but after much repetition we are beginning to master division!
Finally, students took the SBA math practice test. The practice test reviews math concepts, but more importantly the practice test gives the students an opportunity to discuss test taking strategies. You may want to consider talking with your child about test taking experiences you have had in the past. What strategies did you use to earn your best possible test score? How did you deal with test anxiety? These are some of the test taking topics we will be discussing together in class over the next week.
What's Next?
This week we will be closing up our work with Fever 1793. Students will continue reading with their partner and responding in their reading journal. This week we will be discussing fact vs. opinion within the context of our reading. In math we will continue with our division practice. Students with explore different ways to express remainders when dividing. We will be dividing by decimals as well as whole numbers. Finally, in writing students will practice test taking strategies when writing to a prompt.
Quarter 3 Report Cards
Report Cards were sent home last Thursday, March 21st. If you need additional copies don't hesitate to ask.
Also, if you didn't receive your child's persuassive letter please let me know!
Standards Based Assessments
The SBA's are coming up quickly! In two weeks your child will be taking three state tests: reading, writing and math. The SBA tests are one tool that our school uses to discover what students know and are able to do. It is also a tool that our principal uses to know what all students in our school need. The tests are designed to be a comprehensive learning assessment of a student's fifth grade year. Therefore, we take the tests quite seriously and do our best to ensure our students are successful.
One way to make the testing experience more enjoyable for students is to provide healthy snacks during testing breaks. The testing periods are long and a light, healthy snack is one way to boost students' energy. I am looking for two parents per testing day to provide healthy snacks for our class. Water, juice, cheese sticks, fruit, nuts, salmon and crackers, trail mix...there are many healthy snack options! If you are able to provide snacks during one of our testing dates please let me know. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Extra Magazines?
Our class is in need of magazines for an upcoming art project. If you have magazines that you would be willing to donate please send them to school with your child. Of course, the content in the magazine must be fifth grade appropriate. If there are advertisements or articles that may not be appropriate, please tear them out before sending them in to school with your child. Thank you!
Science Fair
Thank you for the time and support you provided in order for your child to successfully complete their Science Fair Project.
Be sure to stop by West Home this coming Tuesday to attend our Science Fair from 4:30-6:30pm. Every student in the school will have a project displayed in the gym or art room. The Scholastic Book Fair will also be set up in the library during that time.
March 25 and 26--- Science Fair Projects displayed in gym for public view
Quarter 4 Book Report: Sandwich Report
For the final book report of the school year your child will be creating a seven layered sandwich. Each layer of the sandwich will cover a different story element. The outline for each of the sandwich pieces (bread, tomato, onion, lettuce…) was sent home last week. It is your child's job to insert the story element information onto each of the sandwich pieces. They will also color and cut out each of the sandwich pieces.
Your child has a month and a half to complete their book report. At this point your child should be selecting the book he/she wants to read for the book report.
Spring Pictures- April 12th
Library News
Tuesday March 26th 4:30-6:30 is Family and Friends Fun Night at the Book Fair with door prizes and refreshments during the Science Fair. Come one and all and help support the library and enjoy your student’s Science Fair projects on display in the gym!
There will be books, science kits, notebooks, posters and more—something for everyone! We will have lots of fun!!!!!!!
You can go to the following link and look at our Scholastic Book Fair Web Page:
http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/publish/westhomerelementary. You can order books on line too!
See you there,
Lisa Whip
Cheryl Illg
West Homer Library
IXL Math Practice
Spelling and Vocabulary Practice
http://www.spellingcity.com/eputney/
Play games and get extra practice with our weekly spelling and vocabulary words on SpellingCity.com. If you need your child's password please let me know!