5th Grade Team Newsletter

Wheatridge Middle School

Miss Chance Mrs. Oberhelman

Mrs. Stutheit

Mrs. Scheuer

Mrs. Toman

Issue Date: November 14, 2014

Daily
Schedule
Fifth Grade Schedule
8:10-9:15 Whole Group Reading
9:17-9:38 Reading Tier
9:40-10:40 Math
10:41-11:11 Lunch
11:13-11:23 Flex
11:25-11:45 Math Tier
11:45-12:00 Recess
12:02-1:36 Electives
1:40-2:25 Guided Reading
2:27-3:05 Social
Studies/Science/Writing
3:05-3:15 Dismissal Procedures

Academic
Updates
Reading: In lesson 13 we will
read the tall tale story
Stormalong. We will practice
the common core strategy of a
close reading of the text. The
students will focus on the skills
of cause and effect and using
graphic organizers. Please note
the vocabulary words on the
back of this newsletter. Thank
you for helping your child with
the vocabulary words. Using
them in casual conversation or a
quick quiz in the car can help
your child fully understand
these important words.
Language Arts: Please note
the list of spelling words in
this newsletter. Your child will
know which spelling list (a or b)
they will use each week. Please
help your child prepare for the
spelling test that will be given
on Friday, November 21st.

Challenge words are worth

extra credit.
Math: We will finish Unit 4 in
the upcoming week. Our Unit 4
test is Monday. Our classes will
be practicing multiplying whole
numbers and decimals. In
addition, we will be learning to
estimate products to see if our
answers are reasonable. Would
you like to practice multiplying
decimals with your student this
week? Try this game!

Multiplication Decimal
Deliberation.

Materials: deck of cards

(without face cards), scratch
paper, partners, 2 decimals.
Player 1 draws 3-5 cards, and
then player 2 draws 3-5 cards.
The order of the cards is the
order of the numbers. Players
put the decimal anywhere in
their number. Then put the 2
numbers together and multiply.
Whoever multiplies it correctly
first, wins!
On Tuesday, we will start Unit
5. Unit 5 focuses on dividing
whole numbers and decimals.
Science:
In Science, students will learn
about the water cycle, climate
and the rock cycle. Activities
will include webquests and
hands-on experiments.
Social Studies:
We will be finishing up our
Ancient Indians unit, and
moving to Native Americans!
We will begin to learn about the
Native Americans by the region
they lived in through different

activities, class discussion, and

regional map. Ask your child
which region they found most
interesting!
Writing:
In writing class, students will
learn how to effectively
respond to written work.
Reading, taking notes and
analyzing the authors written
piece will be the focus for this
unit. Students will also learn
about effectively organizing
writing and ways to enhance
their message through dynamic
sentence fluency.

Week at a
Glance
Monday 11/17:
School in Session
Unit 4 Math Test
Tuesday 11/18:
School in Session
Wednesday 11/19:
School in Session
Thursday 11/20:
School in Session
Friday 11/21:
School in Session
Reading Test
Spelling Test
5th Grade Party
3:15-5:00

Monday 11/24:
School in Session
Tuesday 11/25:
School in Session

Wednesday 11/26:
No School
Thursday 11/27:
Happy Thanksgiving!
No School
Friday 11/28:
No School

News worthy
Notes
*As the weather becomes
cooler, please help ensure your
student as a jacket or coat for
recess each day.
* Novel Navigators is beginning
soon! Students form their own
teams of 2 to 5 students, plus
an adult coach. The coach can
be a parent or teacher. Teams
then read from a list of 10
books over the course of a few
months. Teams compete in a
trivia contest against other
teams in the school. A school
winner is determined. All team
are invited to celebrate at the
end of the season with a party.
All forms are due to Mrs.
Hawkins by November 25th.
*Please turn in the Science City
field trip permission slip and
payment of $7 to your childs
homeroom teacher all forms
and money were due November
10th.
* November 21st will be the
fifth grade party. The party
will be at WMS from 3:15-5:00.
Admission will be $3.00.
Tickets will be sold by
homeroom teachers. The
proceeds will help fund our
field trip.
*The Leadership Club is
sponsoring a food drive for the
Gardner Multi-Service Center.
We will be collecting
nonperishable food items from
Nov. 14th- December 4th. Your
students can bring the food to
their homerooms
*Please check your childs daily
folder for important notes and
incomplete work. An adult
signature is required each
night.
*Communication Notice: If you
need to contact your childs
teacher during the school day,
please feel free to email or call.
If you have an urgent message
that requires action to be taken

that day (change in after school

plans, pick up time for an
appointment, picking up absent
work or other similar
situations), please contact the
school secretaries. Teachers
may be unable to answer emails
or check voicemails until after
school.
*Phone Note: If you call and
leave a voicemail, please include
the following things in your
message:
Your Name
Your Childs Name
Reason for contact
Your phone number
*Please check your childs daily
folder for important notes and
incomplete work. An adult
signature is required each
night.
* If you have questions or
concerns about your student,
please contact your childs
teacher by email or phone:
Miss Kelsey Chance
chancek@usd231.com
913-865-2964
Mrs. Jessica Oberhelman
oberhelmanj@usd231.com
913-856-2913
Mrs. Amy Scheuer
scheuera@usd231.com
913-856-2936
Mrs. Kylee Stutheit
stutheitk@usd231.com
913-856-2947
Mrs. Jennifer Toman
tomanj@usd231.com
913-856-2938

Spelling Spot
Week 13

dependable
portable,
gullible
credible
Challenge Words
rewrap
unspeakable
nonessential
reassemble
unsightly

*Challenge words are worth extra credit

Robust
Vocabulary

Bellowing: a loud, low-pitched

sound to show distress
Outcast: someone who has been
rejected or driven out by
others
Reputation: what someone is
known for
Betrayed: when you let
someone down who trusted you
Yearning: a great desire to have
something that you may never
be able to get
Withered: something that is
dried up and faded
Escapades: carefree,
mischievous, or reckless
adventures
Unfathomable: something that
cannot be understood or known

Parent
Spotlight

Test Date: 11/21/14

development (a/b)
dispensable (a/b)
enjoyable (a/b)
digestible (a/b)
divisible (a/b)
irresistible (a/b)
admissible(a/b)
appointment (a/b)
argument (a/b)
payment (a/b)
amazement (a)
priceless (a)
judgment (a)
resentment (a)
embarrassment (a)
boundless (a)
ageless (a)
aimless (a)
motionless (a)
worthless (a)
Challenge Words:
meaningless

Spotlight on Reading
*Visit the nearest public library
with your child and encourage them
to use their IPICK strategy for
choosing a Just- Right book.
Remind them that they can use any
reading material during Daily 5 for
their Read to Self time!