WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1

Too Good For Drugs
During our 7th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about alcohol. Students received a fact sheet that should be shared and discussed with a parent.

Trade Fair Reminders
Here are just a few reminders about our Trade Fair on Friday to ensure its success.
*A student must bring at least one item to participate.
*If a student is trading any type of food product, it must not contain nuts, and must be packaged in some way.
*All trade products will go home with students at the end of the day.


Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will continue our theme Nature's Fury. Students will move from a focus on earthquakes to hurricanes this week. As we read about hurricanes, we will discover how they form and how they can be disastrous. The Word Work List #7 assessment is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2.
• Science - We will begin our Earth Science unit next week. Chapter 11 is about weather and the water cycle. The first lesson explores the layers of the atmosphere, the uneven heating of the earth, and local and prevailing winds.
• Social Studies - Don't forget that our trade fair is scheduled on February 5th! As students finish their preparations for this at home, we will continue to learn about life in the colonies. We will compare and contrast life in colonial towns, cities, and farms.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - as we begin Unit B - Topic 5, students will learn how to multiply fractions and whole numbers, and multiply fractions by fractions. We will use visual models to gain an understanding of these concepts before looking at how to calculate using numbers.

Mark Your Calendar:

Feb. 3 - Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

Feb. 5 - Classroom Trade Fair

Feb. 5 - January PRIDE! Awards

Feb. 5 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 8)

Feb. 11 - District Spelling Bee

Feb. 11 - Valentine Party

Feb. 12 - No School

WEEK OF JANUARY 25

Too Good For Drugs
During our 6th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward shared a power point presentation about tobacco. Students learned different ways people use tobacco and how each of those uses negatively affects the human body. Students received a fact sheet about tobacco and a survey to complete as homework.

Our Spelling Bee Winners
Congratulations to Joe for winning our classroom spelling bee, and kudos to Ryan as runner-up! Both of these fine spellers will represent our class in the 5th grade level bee on Wednesday. We wish them the best of luck!

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will continue our theme Nature's Fury with a focus on earthquakes. We will search for answers to questions we have added to our K-W-L chart like, "How are earthquakes measured?" We will also identify the cause of earthquakes as a series of related events, or cause-effect chain.We will continue to work with List #7 word parts with an assessment planned for the end of the week, and we will work on writing using what we have learned so far about natural disasters.
• Science - We are learning how people can affect ecosystems both positively and negatively as we come to the end of the chapter. The Chapter 6 Test is scheduled for Thursday, January 28.
• Social Studies - Students will continue to learn about life in the colonies. We will hold our very own trade fair on February 5th to help us better understand trade, supply and demand, and creating a product by hand. Students will receive information about expectations and deadlines on Tuesday.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We will finish up our work with two-variable relationships with a Topic 4 Test on Wednesday, February 27. Then we will move into Unit B - Topic 5. Students will learn how to multiply fractions.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 22 - 2nd Trimester Midterm

Jan. 25 - PARCC Parent Night (6:00-7:00 p.m. at LV)

Jan. 27 - 5th Grade Spelling Bee (9:15 a.m.)

Jan. 29 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 7)

Feb. 3 - Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

WEEK OF JANUARY 18

Too Good For Drugs
During our 5th session of T.G.F.D., Deputy Seward discussed how the decisions we make are influenced by friends and family, as well as our own personal values. Although students did not receive a homework assignment, I encourage families to share with each other about times when important decisions had to be made and how others influenced those decisions.

Upcoming Spelling Bees
We will hold a classroom practice spelling bee on Tuesday. Then we will hold our official Classroom Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 20th to determine our two top spellers. These spellers will participate in the 5th Grade Level Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 27th. The top spellers from each grade level will be invited to compete at the District Spelling Bee set for February 11.

Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We will continue our theme Nature's Fury. We will work with key vocabulary, read and respond to passages about natural disasters, and add to our K-W-L chart. We will also begin working with List #7 word parts and continue our work with personification.
• Science - Students will review what we have learned about primary and secondary succession. Then we will take a look at how people affect ecosystems.
• Social Studies - Students are learning about working and trading in the English colonies. Ask your child what it was like for children during colonial times - either working as an apprentice or working on the family farm.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - As we continue looking at two-variable relationships, we will relate tables and graphs to equations. Students will also apply their work with tables, graphs, and equations to problem solving.

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 18 - No School (M. L. King, Jr. Day)

Jan. 20 - Classroom Spelling Bee

Jan. 22 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 6)

Jan. 22 - 2nd Trimester Midterm

Jan. 25 - PARCC Parent Night (6:00-7:00 p.m. at LV)

WEEK OF JANUARY 11

Too Good For Drugs
During session 4, Deputy Seward discussed peer pressure and the difference between positive and negative pressure. Students learned and practiced many strategies for dealing with negative pressure, such as the "broken record" and "state the facts." Students received a role-play assignment at the end of the session that should be completed with their families.

M.A.P. Testing
Our class will be taking the M.A.P. tests for Math and Reading on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please encourage your child to do his/her best!



Subject Update:

• ELA (English/Language Arts) - We have begun our next theme Nature's Fury. We will be making inferences about natural disasters, working with some key vocabulary, and identifying the use of personification.We will also continue working with List #6 word parts. A quiz over List #6 is scheduled for Friday.
• Science - Students will learn about primary and secondary succession in Lesson 2. Succession refers to how an ecosystem changes over time. We also hope to begin taking a look at how people affect ecosystems.
• Social Studies - The Chapter 5 Test is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th! Then we will take a closer look at life in the English colonies.
• Mrs. Strong's Math Class - We have begun Topic 4 about two-variable relationships. Students are learning how variables can be related unknown quantities in the first lesson. Then we will analyze patterns using tables and graphs, and relate those to equations. 

Mark Your Calendar:

Jan. 12 - MAP Testing (Math)

Jan. 13 - MAP Testing (Reading)

Jan. 13 - Too Good For Drugs (Session 5)

Jan. 15 - Spirit Day - Wear Your Favorite Comfy Sweatshirt!

Jan. 15 - Early Dismissal (11:35 a.m.)

Jan. 18 - No School (M. L. King, Jr. Day)