Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Game of Life Project

This week we are really getting the foundation set for our Game of Life project.  The students chose a career from a list.  They interviewed for three possible jobs, and they were selected for one.  We had a great discussion about how to interview, how to introduce yourself, shake someone's hand, They will use the sample salary to set a budget.  They will house shop and car shop with their budget and income in mind.  They are learning some great life skills.  Ask them about it at home.

We continue to read Tuck Everlasting in the classroom.  We have another vocab quiz on Monday 10/6.  We will soon start writing a biographical narrative as well.  Things are going great in the fifth grade!

Have a great week.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Economics Project

What a great day in fifth grade today!  We took a Tuck Everlasting Vocabulary quiz, learned 10 new words for next week's quiz, worked on our personal narratives, and learned the rules to play the game of Life.  Thank you to the Dales, the Wadsworths and the Sorensens who sent in their games for us to use.  We are taking good care of them.  We are also being introduced to many real life decisions that come up in that game, such as, should I go to college or start right in with a career?  Should I use my money to make a long-term investment?  What if it doesn't pay off?    This is our entry event for an economics project we are starting this week.  We will also get new vocabulary words for that unit as well, but not until Wednesday.   This might bring up some great dinner table conversations for this week.

As far as assignments for this week, we have a personal narrative due this week, our first one of the year.  This one will be done totally in class, but you may want to ask your student about his or her topic.  We will continue reading Tuck Everlasting this week, with another vocab quiz next Monday morning. We are having a great time in the fifth grade.  You have great students who are working hard!


Monday, September 15, 2014

New Tribes, Picture Day, and Vocab Quizzes

This week we have new seats, or tribes.  The students work cooperatively on many tasks in the classroom, so they should get to know the members of their new group.  We are doing some activities this week where they will get to know their new tribe members and where they will learn strengths of their new group members.  It is always fun to see students work together and develop leadership within their tribe.

Picture day is Wednesday.  Susan Robertson does a lovely job on these portraits!  If you send in your money early we will keep it in the classroom. Our time was moved from 3:00 to 10:00, which is good news for keeping students looking neat for their picture.

In reading this week, we will start reading Tuck Everlasting.  This is a great book that has a powerful message and is beautifully written.  With this lovely writing style, there are many vocabulary words we will study over the next three weeks.  We will have a vocabulary quiz each Monday for the next three weeks.  Your child will make a study guide in class and will have a few minutes each day to study, but should really prepare at home as well.

Overall, things are going great in the fifth grade!  This is a great group of students.  I love spending my day with them!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Walking Field Trip, Afternoon Snacks, and Project Presentation

Our class will be walking on Thursday, September 11, to City Hall for the Fallon City 9/11 Memorial Program.  We will leave at our morning recess time (9:20) and will be back in plenty of time for lunch at the school at our normal time.  Please make sure your child is dressed with comfortable shoes for walking.  Sunscreen or a hat may be appropriate, check the weather.  This is a respectful event and the city goes to a lot of work to make it nice for all who attend.  We will review our behavior expectations before we go, but you may want to talk to your child about this event, as it will probably bring up some questions.  


In class, we take a few minutes for our GO time (Get Organized time) at the end of each day.  I am allowing students to eat a snack during this time, so you may want to pack an extra item in the lunch for an afternoon snack.  We don’t have a sink in the classroom, so it should be a relatively neat snack, and just nutritious foods, no super sugary foods or candy at this time please.


In academics this week, our first project is coming to a close.  We will have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday and will present our regional maps, slide shows, and graphs on Wednesday.  This has been a fun project, be sure to ask your child about his or her region. Next week, take a look at the maps that will be on display in the hallways.
 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

US Regional Map Project

We are working hard on our United States Regional Map project.  Each group of four students is making a political or physical map of a region of the United States.  As part of this, each group is deciding on some information about the region they can share in a chart or graph.  Be sure to ask you child about his or her region and what cool facts they will share on their graph.  We had a lot of fun deciding!  The students will create a short slide show of attractions in their region.  The maps and graphs will be displayed in the hall for the other Oasis students to learn from and enjoy.

On weekends with a holiday, we do not do Parent journals, so don't worry if you didn't see it come home.  We are sending home the first Monday folder on Tuesday this week because of Labor Day.  Confusing, I know, but we have graded work to send home.  Usually that folder will come home on Mondays.  Just initial in the 9-1 box and send the empty folder back tomorrow.

Have a great week!