5th grade at Sexton Mountain receives BEF grant funds!

Right before school started, I applied for a grant from the Beaverton Education Foundation on behalf of Sexton Mountain's 5th grade teachers and students. I requested $1000 to enable our four classes to attend "We the People" Day in Salem, Oregon on May 28, 2014. School buses are always tricky for such long trips, so the purpose of the grant was to enable us to rent "real buses" to make the trip. Yesterday I received notice that the full $1000 had been granted!

The students will spend the spring preparing for the WTP hearings--they will become experts in American history and the Constitution, and then prepare speeches in small groups to present in the Capitol Building in Salem to panels of community people with an interest in civics (legislators, award winning high school students, etc.) This is a dress up day, and parents are definitely invited along (although you'll have to drive separately.)

5th grade is also planning a major evening event before the trip to Salem, where we will gather our own panels of community leaders to listen to our students' speeches and ask them probing questions. This will enable all parents to observe what their children have learned and participate in our celebration of civic pride!

We made our running goal!

Our class set a goal to run 500 laps in September and today we made it! The kids all ran, from 1 to 10 laps today, setting a class record of 134 laps.

Homework is light tonight--

I handed out EverydayMath passwords and log in names so the kids can go on the website and hopefully play an appropriate game. If they can't get on the site, I suggested they (with your help) google worksheets for something they want to work on (for example, speed for multiplication facts, or division facts). There are many free resources you can print out, and they should bring in what they finish.

Spelling is due tomorrow, and of course 30 minutes of reading. Those who have not finished Chapter 9 in Bridge to Terabithia brought their books home so they could finish.

We had a great time trying to make a model of a robotic arm today. Lots of good scientific thinking and teamwork was displayed.

Next week the kids will take their unit A test in science. It would be a good idea to go online (myscienceonline.com) and review the important vocabulary and concepts. Their log in names are generally their first and last names, sometimes with a 1 following, and their passwords are their student id numbers with first initial (nothing capitalized.) I handed out the individual log in names and passwords at Curriculum Night.

Daily homework

Write a paragraph about a topic of your choice (do not make the topic too broad, it's only 1 main idea with 3 or more supporting detail sentences and a concluding sentence.)

Math: Play a math game on EM math. Complete 50 multiplication problems sheet--work for speed and accuracy.

Spelling: due Friday

Reading: Worksheet from Bridge to Terabithia, 30+ minutes of reading.

Daily homework-- math test tomorrow

Writing: a paragraph about Leslie (a character in Bridge to Terabithia)
The paragraph needs a topic sentence, and then at least 3 sentences with details that relate to the topic sentence, and then a concluding sentence

Reading: 30+ minutes

Spelling--Lesson 2 due Friday, 10 more words on challenge sheet. Anyone who got 100% on the regular test last week should prepare for the challenge words.

Tomorrow is the math test--I assigned a math review sheet. Also study the vocabulary words!

Planning for next week

Most students completed their state poster projects by Friday. I will assess them over the weekend, and parent volunteers will post them in the hallway so they students can share their work with our school community. Thank you Parents for letting your children do their own work! If you get a chance to look at the projects, you will see there is a range of expertise in our class, and each child can build on what he or she already knows.

We have a math and vocabulary test on Tuesday. I have two review sheets that we will work on Monday and then send home for further study. I let my students use their homework sheets and Student Reference book during math tests. The only restrictions are no looking on other students' papers, and no using calculators when the test says "no calculators." The fifth grade teachers are still considering how to grade the assessments with the new "proficiency grading."

I have started DRA's (developmental reading assessments). This will take another 2 weeks to complete, so the students are working on a novel study (Bridge to Terabithia) at the same time.

Most students did very well on the first Spelling test, so I welcome your comments about the necessity of sending home weekly packets for spelling. I hear that some families expect weekly spelling and others hate it! Please weigh in.

Have a great weekend!
Karen Stratton

Daily homework

Math: Practice multiplication facts for speed and accuracy--use the Everyday Math website or another one or flash cards.

Social Studies: Have all your pieces of the State Poster project ready to glue tomorrow.

Science: Bring in large washers if you have them.

Math and vocabulary test is next Tuesday. Practice your words!

Spelling is due Friday.

Read 30+ minutes.

Daily homework

Rough draft of paragraph for State project due tomorrow
Spelling due Friday (challenge packet--first 10 words)
Math--Study Link 1-7, not the back side.
Read 30+ minutes.

Passport Club starts next Wed. Since this is not part of our learning targets, your child's participation depends on whether you want to require it. It's a great program, with lots of important information for children to learn about the world. I encourage you to consider studying with your child at home. Only children who have studied at home will go to Passport Club check.

The yearly fundraiser went home today. If you decide to keep the book, you need to send in money for it.