...After Labor Day

Wow - 2 full weeks of school down!  Things are going well.  5th graders continue to learn where to be and when.  We continue to strive to get a little quicker at our lockers and off to class.  No worries - it will happen.

We have had our first social studies test and are on well on the way to finishing the read aloud novels in literature.

Here are some upcoming events and notes to know.

I have handed back the student's social studies tests.  They should bring them home and go over them with you.  We have talked about my correction policy.  Please look on this blog under social studies for an understanding of this policy.  There is a  great opportunity for students to make corrections on their tests and improve their grade.

We have begun chapter 2 in social studies focusing on Native Americans.  During this chapter we will complete our first group research and presentation.  Check back with the blog in a week for those directions.

5th grade literature:  We will be finished reading Maniac Magee next week.  We are using this novel to learn the elements of literature and practice completing reaction journals, comprehension questions and vocabulary.  Much of this work we are beginning and completing together in class.
There will be a final test for Maniac Magee.  I will notify you when the study guide comes home.

After we finish this novel, we will be doing a literature set.  There will be 4 available books in 5th grade for students to read.  They will choose 1 book.  I will post the books under Language Arts and a great website if you would like to look at a review of the books.  I also have copies available if you want to check out a book before your student makes the choice.
We will read these novels and incorporate all the elements we used while reading Maniac Magee.

6th grade literature:  We continue to read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AVI.  The students are so engaged in this awesome novel.  We are using it to explore the literary elements of setting, characters and plot.  We will investigate theme and symbolism as well.
We have completed reaction journals, comprehension questions and vocabulary.

This novel will springboard us into a class literature set.  There will be 4 books to choose from.  I read several of these books this summer and am excited about their content.  I will post the books on this blog under 6 lit and a website that allows you to look at a review.  Or you may borrow a copy of a book from me to look at.

I hope to see everyone Tuesday, September 2nd at Taste of Middle School.  I will have a syllabus for the year for each class I teach available and will go over some basic information.

A New Beginning

Well - here we are at a new beginning to the school year.  For some of you it is also a new beginning to our school, to the middle school, maybe even a new house and a new city.

Blessings to all of you on all of those new beginnings.

For me, the new school year brings fresh starts, lots of new goals, along with new students, and many new possibilities.

In these first few weeks, if you are feeling that you do not know what is going on, you feel a little lost, please email me and let me know, so we can fix that.
We will work very hard to make sure your children do not feel that way.

My Blog throughout the year will contain updates from time to time on what is happening.  I will not do a weekly newsletter due to the variety of classes and grades I teach.

However you can always check the tabs and look for special directions for projects we may be working on.
The 5th grade spelling, grammar and reading workbooks are on line.  The memory book is on line as well.

So while you may not check the blog weekly, please check it anytime you have a question about directions for a project or timeline of events for a certain class.  I encourage you to sign up for email which provides an email notice when I make a change or update to the blog.
And as always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

I hope to see everyone at Taste of Middle School on September 2nd.  I will hand out and go over the syllabus for the year for each class.

Thanks for entrusting your child to me for this new beginning.