April 16, 2012
The state tests are here. We've spent some time practicing for them- we'll all be glad when they are over! We're trying to keep our days as normal as possible during the test weeks. In ELA we are trying our first graphic novel. It's called "The Sons of Liberty". It takes place during the Revolutionary War, but focuses on slavery, so we're using a lot of that information as we move toward the Civil War and the years leading up to it. In Social Studies, we are learning about the pioneers and their movement west. Shortly we will be doing some very exciting things with the Civil War. In science, the students finished up the unit on the Human Body by creating a PowerPoint presentation on an organ of the Human Body. Now we are starting our unit on Soil. Check out the video of our initial soil observations on the pictures page.
Congratulations to Joseph C., who was our March student of the month for the character trait of Cooperation.
Congratulations to Joseph C., who was our March student of the month for the character trait of Cooperation.
March 2, 2012
We have finished up our study of the Revolutionary War. In ELA we read "The Fighting Ground" by Avi. This historical fiction book tells the story of 13 year-old Jonathan, who is very excited about war and can't wait to take part in a battle. He gets his wish and his view of war quickly changes. The book has many things that we learned about in social studies, including Hessians, Tories, and Johnny Cakes. Also in ELA the students wrote a research report on a topic related to the Revolutionary War (the topics were the Boston Tea Party, the ride of Paul Revere, the Declaration of Independence, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battle of Saratoga, and Valley Forge.) This was a huge undertaking, and the students can be really proud of their final results! In Social Studies we learned about the causes of the war, some of the major battles, the advantages and disadvantages of the Continental Army and the British Army, along with much more. Today we made Johnny Cakes- check out our video on the pictures page.
In science we are now on our unit about the Human Body. So far we have done an introduction to the different body systems, learned about cells, and started our in-depth look at the digestive system. Next we will look at our circulatory system. We will finish off the unit doing a technology based project on an organ of the body.
Congratulations to Cierra M., who will be representing the NCS 5th grade at the Fulton County Spelling Bee in about a week. She was the top finisher in 5th grade and 2nd overall in our school bee!
Congratulations also to Jessica M. who was our February student of the month for the character trait of Courage.
In science we are now on our unit about the Human Body. So far we have done an introduction to the different body systems, learned about cells, and started our in-depth look at the digestive system. Next we will look at our circulatory system. We will finish off the unit doing a technology based project on an organ of the body.
Congratulations to Cierra M., who will be representing the NCS 5th grade at the Fulton County Spelling Bee in about a week. She was the top finisher in 5th grade and 2nd overall in our school bee!
Congratulations also to Jessica M. who was our February student of the month for the character trait of Courage.
January 31, 2012
We finished up our Historical Fiction book projects. Check our the pictures page to see the fantastic projects!
Congratulations to Austin A. who is our January student of the month for the character traits of Fairness and Justice.
Congratulations to Austin A. who is our January student of the month for the character traits of Fairness and Justice.
January 6, 2012
In science, we are starting our Rocks and Minerals unit. Students will be given 21 rock and mineral samples to identify using different tests. Through this unit we will also learn about the rock cycle. In social studies we are learning about the 13 colonies- how they started and what life was like in them. This will, of course, lead us to the Revolutionary War in just a few weeks. In ELA and math we are continuing with our series. The state tests are approaching- both will take place in April.
This month we welcome a new student- Jenna F. Congratulations to Adeline C. who was our December student of the month for the character traits Caring and Kindness.
Check out a few new links on our links page! The SpellingCity one is a great way to practice the spelling words.
This month we welcome a new student- Jenna F. Congratulations to Adeline C. who was our December student of the month for the character traits Caring and Kindness.
Check out a few new links on our links page! The SpellingCity one is a great way to practice the spelling words.
December 4, 2011
I just added a video of the students making their buzzers for our electromagnetism unit in science. This week we will begin making motors. They are really enjoying this unit! In social studies we are ready to begin the race back to Spain with riches from the new world. The 3 Spanish Galleons will be attempting to avoid the English Privateers who will be trying to rob them of their gold. The log entries that the students have written with this unit have been exceptional! We have also made maps and done group projects on European explorers.
Congratulations to MacKenzie C. who was our November student of the month for the character trait Citizenship.
Congratulations to MacKenzie C. who was our November student of the month for the character trait Citizenship.
October 23, 2011
We are finishing up our science unit on experiments using mealworms. Checkout the video I added on the pictures page. The students did a fantastic job of writing and carrying out their own experiments. Through this unit they have learned about coming up with a hypothesis, what variables in experiments are, how to record data during the experiment, how to analyze that data, and finally they were able to reflect on their experiment. In Social Studies we are learning about the European explorers and how what they did changed the world. In reading, we are working on many skills through our series. We also just finished the novel Tuck Everlasting- the students really enjoyed it! Individual students are working on additional skills that they need extra work with such as comprehension and fluency. In Language Arts we are doing something called Grammar Zone. Right now, the students are in Noun Town attempting to solve a mystery. They receive clues based on both individual assignments and cooperative group work involving nouns. Later this year they will purchase and run shops on Adjective Avenue, vacation in Verb Valley, and climb Adverb Bluff.
Congratulations to Trey A. who is our October student of the month for the character trait Trustworthiness.
Congratulations to Trey A. who is our October student of the month for the character trait Trustworthiness.
October 10, 2011
Friday was our annual Fire Prevention Day. We spent an hour outside talking to people from the State Police, the Fulton County Sheriff's office, the Northville Volunteer Fire Dept., the Northville Ambulance squad, and firefighters from Hagaman who brought their Fire Prevention Trailer. We also got to watch the Life Net helicopter land on the soccer field. Check out the video I added to our pictures page. I also added a picture of our Life Count projects and a video of us checking out the new netbook computers.
On the schedule page I've added a link to Mrs. Casey's web page. Please check it out if your child is in band!
A belated congratulations to Nate R. who was our September student of the month for the character trait Falcon Pride.
On the schedule page I've added a link to Mrs. Casey's web page. Please check it out if your child is in band!
A belated congratulations to Nate R. who was our September student of the month for the character trait Falcon Pride.
September 23, 2011
We have had a great first couple of weeks! We've been learning and practicing all the routines and procedures that will help our classroom run smoothly this year. Thank you parents for reading all of the paperwork that has come home! You are such an important part of your child's success in school, and I really appreciate the time you have taken to go over this paperwork, and to establish a home routine with your child for going over planners, homework, and studying. Please also make time each day to read with your child. Just 15-20 minutes a day makes a difference in their success in school!
If you check out the pictures page, you will see a video of us meeting our super mealworms. Don't all the students look like diligent scientists?! The mealworms are part of our current science unit that teaches us how to recognize and create quality experiments. Be sure to ask your child often what we are doing with them! In Social Studies this year we will be learning about the history of the United States. We have started by looking at how the first people came to the Americas and we have been learning about groups like the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas. Next we will look at Native American groups that lived in what is now the United States. In math we are getting into a routine with our Saxon program. You should have noticed a lot less math homework coming home this year. If the students are diligent, they should be finishing and correcting the majority of their math work in school. Some math might be coming home, but it shouldn't be the whole lesson (unless your child missed math that day because of a band lesson.) In Reading and Language Arts we are also getting into the routine of our series. During these classes we do spelling, reading comprehension, grammar, and writing. Ask your child also about "Tuck Everlasting". This is a fantastic novel we are reading and writing about. I'm hoping to have the students create some multimedia projects revolving around this novel. When we do, I'll post them here.
Please check back here often. I will be letting you know what's going on in the classroom and posting videos and pictures so you can see what your child is doing in school. I'm a parent also, and I know that it's sometimes difficult to get kids to tell us what they did in school each day! This is my attempt to give you a peek into our classroom!
If you check out the pictures page, you will see a video of us meeting our super mealworms. Don't all the students look like diligent scientists?! The mealworms are part of our current science unit that teaches us how to recognize and create quality experiments. Be sure to ask your child often what we are doing with them! In Social Studies this year we will be learning about the history of the United States. We have started by looking at how the first people came to the Americas and we have been learning about groups like the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas. Next we will look at Native American groups that lived in what is now the United States. In math we are getting into a routine with our Saxon program. You should have noticed a lot less math homework coming home this year. If the students are diligent, they should be finishing and correcting the majority of their math work in school. Some math might be coming home, but it shouldn't be the whole lesson (unless your child missed math that day because of a band lesson.) In Reading and Language Arts we are also getting into the routine of our series. During these classes we do spelling, reading comprehension, grammar, and writing. Ask your child also about "Tuck Everlasting". This is a fantastic novel we are reading and writing about. I'm hoping to have the students create some multimedia projects revolving around this novel. When we do, I'll post them here.
Please check back here often. I will be letting you know what's going on in the classroom and posting videos and pictures so you can see what your child is doing in school. I'm a parent also, and I know that it's sometimes difficult to get kids to tell us what they did in school each day! This is my attempt to give you a peek into our classroom!
September 2011--Welcome Back!
Welcome to a new school year! I'm very excited about what's going to be happening in 5th grade this year! With this website, I hope to keep you up to date and involved in your child's education. I will try to add information often, as well as pictures and videos of what we are doing in the classroom (check out the picture link above). This website is organized so that the most recent information will always be on top. A lot of my communication happens through your child's weekly progress report, but I will be able to provide more detail on here, so if you're able, it's a good idea to check back here often. Also, the schedule page helps you remember when things like gym clothes or band instruments are needed. This year I will also be starting a blog for the students so they can start posting some of their work on the Internet. I'll let you know when I have this up and going. Please feel free to contact me in whatever way you feel most comfortable-- check out the contact link above. I hope to see you at Open House on Thursday, September 15!
