Daily homework

Please don't worry about homework tonight, except for spelling. I know most of the kids will be busy trick or treating. If they are behind on their novel studies, you could encourage them to read, but we can read in class tomorrow too.

We have a math test tomorrow, but we reviewed today and I think they're ready.

Conference Schedule

7:45	Arielle
8:00	Maliya
8:15	Josef
8:30	Madison
8:45	Abbie
9:00	Lively
break
10:00	Josue
10:30	Maire
10:45	Emma
11:00	Bellamy
11:15	Benjamin
11:30
11:45	Ryan
2:15	Gabby
2:30	Alexa
2:45	Tyler
3:00	Madeline
3:15	Olivia
3:30
3:45	Kristin
4:00	Parker
4:30	Julien

 Wednesday Nov. 6

                       

                Thursday Nov 7

7:45	Julia
8:00
8:15	Delany
8:30	Hannah
8:45	Nick
9:00	Kyler
9:15	Kai
10:30	Marianna
10:45	Nishanth

Daily homework/conferences info

We added a few words to the spelling list: exercise, soccer, were, where, wear, allowed. These will be tested on Friday.
Writing: Paragraph 2 of Explorers report
              3rd paragraph of Daily writing
Novel Studies: all groups are finishing by next Monday, and packets must be complete.
Spelling: Chapter 7 due Friday.
Math: Study Link 3-8 involves finding tesselations (tiling patterns) in clothing, magazine pictures, fabrics, etc.  There is a double sided blue sheet as well.

Conferences: I will be sending home conference reminder slips on Friday. I will also post the schedule on the blog again. There are 2 families that have had changes in their plans and need to reschedule, so that's why there are only 28 students on the list. I have contacted those two families separately.

Daily Homework

Introductory paragraph about students' explorer.
1 paragraph of Daily Writing.
Novel Studies.
Chapter 7 spelling due Friday.

An interesting website is Allaboutexplorers.com!! Check it out and see what information is true and what is intended to fool school children. It's a website created by teachers to teach that all website information is not credible.  For example, in All about Explorers/Champlain, did you know he went to Disneyworld to celebrate his achievements? He received an award for "New World Fort of the Year"--- don't be fooled!

Daily homework

Spelling: Ch 6 due tomorrow
Math: double sided facts sheet. We are working for speed! (and accuracy of course.)
Writing: Narrative paragraph due.
Reading: Novel studies.

Daily homework

Daily writing informative paragraph(s) due tomorrow
Novel studies continue
Ch 5 due Friday--spelling
Math: "Lesson 3-5" side only
Final timeline (explorer) due tomorrow

Daily writing plan

I introduced a new writing plan to the kids today. Basically, after I introduce them to the three types of writing, they will write three separate paragraphs per week, one of each type of writing-- narrative, informative and opinion.  Today we worked on informative writing. A bit later I will provide them with the official scoring guide for 5th grade writing.

I've attached the information here. (The kids also have a hard copy in their new daily writing folders.)

Daily writing:

Choose something you learned today to write at least a paragraph about. This can be “informative” writing, “opinion” writing or “narrative” writing. Each paragraph should include an introduction sentence (a topic sentence) and a concluding sentence.

·      Informative writing requires a main idea and details. You are TEACHING what you learned in an interesting way. You need to use specific words you learned about the topic, and transitions between your ideas. Informative writing needs a quotation.

·      Narrative writing tells a story. You will write about something that happened to you today at school. You should use dialogue and be sure to tell about the events in sequence. Use concrete details to create a picture or movie in the reader’s mind.

·      Opinion writing states an opinion that you can support with evidence. Give your logical reasons for your opinion with details that show why your opinion is correct. Using evidence or expert knowledge makes your opinion stronger.

Guidelines:

Each week you will write one paragraph (or more) of each type of writing.  Use the appropriate colored paper for each type of writing. A good rough draft with spelling and grammar checked is good enough, but messy work is not acceptable.

All three papers are due on Fridays, or the last day of the school week. You will share your writing with a small group and receive feedback from them.

Your homework writing has two purposes:

1. Practicing the types of writing and specific skills you are learning in school improves your writing skills.

2. Writing about the content you are learning helps you remember it better.

This must be all your own work. Please do not ask your parents for help. Tell them the work will not be “scored” but will help me plan lessons. It will also help you do better on writing assessments in school that are scored.

Apologies

I'm sorry about the difficulty logging into the encyclopedia website. Of course it worked just fine from my school lap top, and I didn't think a bit about a log in. Usually our librarians would give all the families a flyer at Curriculum Night that had the log in information, but now we don't have librarians. I'll see what I can find out. In the meantime, please don't worry about the assignment.

Daily homework

Spelling Ch 6 due Friday
Reading--Novel study work due on assigned dates.
Explorers:

 Go to BSD website, students tab, http://www3.beaverton.k12.or.us/bookmarks/student.html

Then click on READ and Sexton Mountain. Open a student encyclopedia and search for your explorer. Print out information, including bibliography information. Bring in to school tomorrow. If you can't print information at home, take notes at home, and note the website address.

Math: Study Link 3-4 and blue sheet.

Daily Homework

Ch. 6 spelling due Friday.
Math Study Link (2 sides) 3-3 due tomorrow. Blue sheet due tomorrow.
Reading: Wayside School groups meet tomorrow. All groups have novel study work to do.

Homework and conference schedule

Reading: Novel group work--reading and packet
Spelling: Ch 5 due tomorrow
Writing: Final draft Native Americans' comparison essay due tomorrow
Math: 2 sided facts sheet. Vocabulary and Ch 2 tests tomorrow. Review addition, subtraction, multiplication of whole numbers and decimals. Story problems. Partial sums addition and trade first subtraction.

The conference schedule has been sent to all parent by email.

OBOB news

Hello Fourth and Fifth Graders!

Oregon Battle of the Books is a reading program that exposes kiddos to a great variety of books and rewards close reading. The kiddos, ages 9 - 11, read 16 books (both fiction and non-fiction) and then face a number of matches with their teams, answering Trivial Pursuit-like questions. The winning team from our school goes on to face other teams from other elementary schools across the region.

We are trying to raise money so that we can reward all our participants and our winners. I would like to be able to give each member of our winning team a Powell's gift card (Who wouldn't want that?!), and I would REALLY love it if we could reward each person who reads all 16 books (even if they are not on a team) with a prize. A party for all participants (maybe with an author?!) is a stretch goal.

To that end, I've created a cool t-shirt with an excellent quote ("Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home." — Anna Quindlen (How Reading Changed My Life"), and the lovely people at Bonfire Funds will print up these t-shirts for anyone who donates $15 or more. They will also accept donations for us in ANY amount. I'm told that these t-shirts are deliciously soft and yummy to wear.

Will you consider donating and/or purchasing a t-shirt to support our cause?

https://www.bonfirefunds.com/sexton-mountain-elementary-battle-of-the-books/?r=15247

is your special link to get there. Entering "gxf2u2659" will enable you to receive free shipping, but the shirts will be delivered to Sexton Mountain. If 50 t-shirts or more are ordered, the shirts will be delivered by mid-November.

Thanks for reading!

Jen Fife-Adams, OBOB Chair

Daily homework

Astronomy Night was great! I was so happy to see so many students and parents last evening. We will keep an eye on the weather, and perhaps can do another evening when the meteor shower comes through next month.

Tonight's homework:

Rough draft: Native Americans essay
Novel Studies: 3 groups meet tomorrow
Spelling: Ch 5 due Friday
Math: Study Link 2-10 and blue sheet

Upcoming: Math test and vocabulary test on Friday.

Astronomy night?

If the moon is visible at 6:30, we will be at school, near the bus entrance by the soccer field. If the moon is not visible, the Astronomy night is postponed.

Homework:
Math sheet 2-9, plus blue sheet
Writing: 2 paragraphs comparing Native tribes (they have a comparison grid we worked on in class to provide the information they need, and a starter essay that they may use to get started on their paragraphs)
Reading: Novel study work
Spelling: due Friday

Daily homework and Astronomy NIght info

The children each have novel study work to do. They have been assigned to a small literature circle based on their current reading levels. They will be able to bring their novels home with their lit circle packet. I impressed upon them that lit circles work ONLY if everyone in the group has done the reading and completed their "job," so please encourage them to get their work done by the due date.

 I will be meeting with kids in the different job categories in the next two days, so hopefully that will avoid the panic that comes from being assigned a new job.

Chapter 5 spelling is due Friday.

Study Link 2-8 (one side only) due tomorrow, plus blue sheet for challenge group. Math vocabulary quiz Thursday, math test Chapter 3, Friday.

Tomorrow evening, Tuesday,  between 6:30 and 8,  is Astronomy Night IF the sky is clear and the moon can be seen. We will be looking for the darkest part of the school property. I will update you tomorrow about which area has been chosen. I encourage you to bring a flashlight.

Astronomy Night Tuesday Oct 15

The next science unit we will be studying is Earth and Space science. Mr. Golliver has a Dobsonian telescope (look it up on the internet to see what this is!) that he will bring to Sexton Mountain next Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We will be able to get a great view of the moon, assuming the forecast for clear weather holds.

Please stop by if you can to get a peek at our beautiful moon! If you have your own telescope you would like to bring, please feel free.

Daily homework/conference info

Today I forgot that we had the extra specials at the end of the day, so we didn't get a chance to complete our planners.

The important item is that Bridge to Terabithia folders are due tomorrow.

Spelling is due Thursday, and don't forget to read!

Conference information:

Please send in your request for an approximate conference time. I have already had more requests for 7:30 a.m. than I can accommodate. I was intending to include children in the conferences, unless you specifically want a conference without your child.

Conference requests

If your family has a particular conference time request, please let me know right away as I am starting to plan my schedule. Conferences are on Wed. Nov 6 and Thursday Nov. 7. My hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wed, and 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday. Please do not request a time outside of those hours.

Many of you have more than one child at Sexton Mountain. If you let me know generally what time of day is good for you, I can work with the other teachers to coordinate conferences.  I cannot usually guarantee an exact time, but I can work with a range of times.

Please respond by email.

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Daily homework

Our new student, Bellamy, joined us today! Welcome to Bellamy, who recently lived in Florida.

Letters to Bellamy are due tomorrow morning.
Read 30 + minutes.
Bridge to Terabithia folder due Wed. Use the check sheet to make sure you have done all the work.
(Today we worked on the Title page artwork.)
Math, Study Link 2-5 (both sides)
Spelling due Thursday (ch 4) since there is no school Friday.

Challenge opportunity

We are starting our explorer unit, and some of the kids have mentioned they would appreciate a challenge opportunity. Here is it:

Using credible research materials (library books, websites from trusted encyclopedias or other sources), choose an explorer to learn about.

Find out these things:

Name, nationality, dates of famous explorations, where he went, why he went those places, what he discovered there, find a picture or photo of the explorer, what was the result of the expedition, etc.

Decide on a way to share your information--here are some options: write a short paper, create a small poster, make a powerpoint slide show, etc. (Ask for paper in school if you need it.)

Be as creative as you can be! But remember your information must be accurate, and your work must be neat and easy to understand.

Have fun exploring!

Daily homework and request for help

Final 3 paragraph essay is due, handwritten by child, please no spelling/grammar help!

Bridge to Terabithia--book finished, Blue folder finished by Wed. next week.

Math--Study Link 2-4.

30 minutes reading.

Spelling--Ch. 3 due tomorrow.

We need volunteers for Tuesday and Thursday running club. It's less than a 2 hour commitment (mid-day), but there are not enough volunteers, so Mrs. Hough says we might not be able to run twice a week this year. We have more than enough classroom volunteers, so if you want to switch to running club, our class would really appreciate you! We love to run! We ran 119 laps today.

Daily homework

Writing: 3 paragraph essay, rough draft is due
Reading: Finish the book by Friday
Spelling: Ch 3 due Friday
Math: "Lesson 2-4", (page 44), but NOT the study link on the back.
Blue sheet for advanced students.

Daily homework

Writing: 2 paragraphs of a 3 paragraph essay built on one of the three writing prompts we worked on last week is due tomorrow. Your child has an instruction sheet (should be in the expandable), which says you can help discuss his/her ideas, but you may not give any specific wording.  This essay is a build up to next week's in-class assessment. The rough draft will be due Thursday, and the final on Friday. Time is provided during the day too.

BTT worksheet 10-13 due Thursday

Spelling due Friday.

Math, S-L 2-3 (2 sides) due Wed.

We started our Explorers unit today. Ask your child what he or she is curious about!