Achieving Be a 5th Grade Star Newsletter

Excellence Every
Day
Issue 1 October 5, 2016

Happy Birthday to the

following birthdays.

We have really enjoyed getting to know your August

children. We are off to a great start to our new 4 Isabell Bryan
year! Expectations have been set in the 15 Dominic McCormick
classroom and we have established our routines.
We have been enjoying our iPads in the
18 Rochelle Ahwireng
classroom and have been exploring ways to use 22 Devon Clark
them. 22 Mackenna Mantz
29 Mason Clark
It has been a busy beginning, but the year is
rolling right along! Thank you for your home
support, in all you do in checking reading logs, September
math facts practice tests, signing planners, and
seeing that homework is completed. Together
4 Brett Carter
we are a team in your childs education! 7 Payton Dietrich
22 Alyssa Aikens
In science class with Mrs. Trader we have 22 Kate Marquiss
been studying brightness of the sun and stars is due
to their distances from the Earth. We are also
beginning to look at patterns of daily changes in length
and direction of shadows, day and night, and the
seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.
During social studies with Mrs. McNairn we have Attendance is important in 5th grade!
worked on geography, regions, natural resources. We
are beginning to learn about The Constitution and how If your child is absent and they are able, please
our government works.
have them log on to Google classroom to check if
they have any assignments that
can be completed from home.
Want more practice at home?
Check out Stride Academy at https://classroom.google.com/h
www.stridestart.com
Each student has their own log on and password.Just use the class
Codes: Trader: KCC85514 McNairn: KCC53863

 Important reminder:

The fifth will be going to Outdoor School on November 29 - December 2nd.

We are looking for chaperones who can stay the entire duration of the trip. There is a
MANDATORY training that chaperones will be required to attend, as well as fill out paperwork to
be on OFE's volunteer list. If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone, please jot Mrs.
McNairn or Mrs. Trader a note in your child's planner. Once you contact us we can give you the
training dates/information. Thank you!

There will be paperwork for ALL students coming home in Friday Folders for registration and
other health forms. Please have those papers back by Wednesday, November 9th. Please note
any student who takes medication on a daily basis, or at any point, whether it be for allergies,
illness, etc., this includes inhalers, over the counter medications for headaches or colds, MUST
have a form filled out by a doctor. If there are any dietary needs please see the registration
packet for additional information.

The cost of the trip is based on your lunch status at school. Regular price is $32.30, if you qualify
for free and reduced lunch there is no cost.

Pokemon cards have become a real distraction for students.

We tried to allow students to use their cards at recess, but
they started coming out at other times of the day. We have
needed to take them away during instructional time. Please
help us by keeping all cards at home. Thank you for your
assistance.

The Reading Nook

Way to go! We are off to a good start with our reading at home, remembering to log our minutes, and having
our parent sign our log. Our goal is to read 100 minutes or more per week. For our first, 4 week reading log,
we totaled 26,033 mins. Lets see if we can beat that total next time! Remember that the time that you
read can also be counted toward Ms. Peakes Reading Challenge!

The more you read, the better you get.

In reading we have been focusing on identifying overall text structure, self-selecting

graphic organizers to organize information, authors purpose, and we have just started
analyzing multiple perspectives Our classes have really been enjoying our read aloud,The
Kid Who Ran For President, by Dan Gutman.This has been a fantastic way for me to
combine social studies and reading. It has also be a great way for us to discuss our current
presidential election. We will continue this discussion as we approach election day.

Math Matters

Please remember to study your math facts nightly. Our facts assessments
have 20 facts to complete in one minute to be considered fluent and
completing them at mastery level. There are also 30 levels. Those who have
passed level 30 will be challenged with 100 problems in 5 minutes, and
working on reducing our time to 3 minutes. Fact fluency is vital for 5th
grade math, particularly our work with whole number computations that
we have currently been working on, and with fractions that we will be
engaging in the upcoming marking period. Each week students are given a
fact paper on Fridays, for practice at the next level they will be assessed on. Practice tests
should be completed within their assigned time; papers should be returned daily as part of
their homework.

Try out practicing facts online at: http://www.mathsisfun.com/timestable.html

In math class we have been working on a variety of strategies for multi-digit multiplication
and division. Students should have examples in their Math Notebook, to utilize as a resource
when completing their homework. We will be applying our multiplication and division skills
when solving problems with decimals and whole numbers. We have also done a lot of work
with place value relationships and working with powers of ten.

Classroom Highlights:
Classroom Highlights:

Pinwheels for PEACE made in Art Class. Students conference to revise and edit.

 Classroom Highlights: Classroom Highlights:

Students earned a game of big ball dodge We loved making our getting to know you
ball for filling their jar of pom-poms. posters at the beginning of the year!

Classroom Highlights:

It was such a treat to

have grandparents visit
our school!

Classroom Highlights:

We love practicing on
Stride Academy!