The Putney Post
West Homer Elementary--5th Grade
Dates to Remember
November 18- Read-a-Thon Pledges due
November 20- Early Release @ 1:45
November 22- Spirit Day: Dress Like Your Role Model
November 22- Read-a-Thon Activity Night 6:30-8:30pm
November 28 and 29- Thanksgiving Break
December 10, 11, 12- AWA Testing
December 10- Christmas Concert 6:30pm @ Mariner Theater
December 12- Quarter 2 Wooden Spoon Book Report due
December 12- Islands and Oceans Field Trip 12:00-2:00
December 13- Spelling Bee
December 20- Winter Break Begins
Early Release this Wednesday at 1:45
Classroom Happenings
The holiday season is quickly approaching. This past week we worked on creating gifts for our parents. We want to keep the actual product a surprise, but we will let you know clay was involved. Students had a great time molding a special gift for you throughout this past week.
In reading we brought closure to our Blood on the River reading experience by taking a comprehension test and building a block structure with teams to represent the setting of the book. As students built the block structures they had peers guess what the block structure represented within the book.
This week our math learning was devoted to dividing by double digit divisors. Students have the process of division mastered, but adding the double-digit divisor proved to be a challenge for many students. Guessing and checking is hard work! We will continue to practice and build confidence throughout the coming days with double digit divisors.
In writing this week we explored the difference between the organization of expository and narrative writing. Students completed their final narrative and transitioned into expository. Our first expository writing assignment is to write a letter to Elisa Carbone, the author of Blood on the River, describing our likes/dislikes/curiosities regarding her work.
Walking to the Pratt Museum
Blood on the River Block Structure
What's Next?
This next week is our last full week before Thanksgiving break. On Friday students are encouraged to dress as their role model. Friday night is the Read-a-Thon activity night. We are working towards our school-wide Spelling Bee in December. I have been printing the 5th grade practice Spelling Bee words on the back of the weekly spelling homework for students interested in participating in the Bee.
Quarter 2 Book Report- Wooden Spoon Character Puppet
Last week your child came home with a wooden spoon, character trading card, and book report directions. Although responding to reading is the primary goal of our quarterly book reports, time management is also a part of the learning process. I am encouraging students to complete their book report in the four steps laid out on the assignment directions over the course of the next month. Your support in this project is greatly appreciated.
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies: BIRDS
Free Workshop
Wednesday, November 20th
Early Release Day
1:30-3:30
Grades K-12
Come and learn about our neighbors!
Who's here all year long?
Make a feeder to bring home!
Bird crafts!
Use binoculars to look for birds in our trees.
IXL- Math Practice Site
To get your child started on your home computer, please follow these steps:
1. Go to www.IXL.com/signin/westhomer
2. Enter your child’s username and password and click Sign in.
Username: firstinital,lastname@westhomer (EX: eputney@westhomer)
Password:firstinital,lastname (EX: eputney)
3. Choose 5th grade.
4. Find a skill to practice that relates to what we have been covering in class.
IXL Skills to Practice This Week: H10, H11, H12, H13