Updates Week of September 30-October 4, 2013

Well, the Fall weather sure came and tickled the senses this weekend.  It is hard to believe that October begins this week!  Students are still working in their novel study of The Lightning Thief.
They are getting to some exciting parts of the story.  Ask them about Percy's problem in the story.

You should have also seen your child's progress report  last week.  I am still waiting on the results of one  final pretest.  If I see any concerns I will be contacting parents for conferences to make a plan to help your child be successful in fifth grade.

Reading
This week students will continue to read their novel furthering their understanding of the problem in the story.  We will wrap up our focus on story structure and the elements of story with a test on Tuesday.  Students will then continue in their novel and using the maps and setting along with the visualization strategy to understand why authors use certain text features and how they can enhance and help understanding of the story.

Students should be continuing to read and log in nightly.  This is their reading practice as well as the way they will meet their reading goal of 25 books this year.  Students can still earn their reading ball cap by reading 10 books. Remember books need to be on the students reading level and every 100 pages equals 1 book.  So a book with 275 pages would earn them 3 credits toward their goal.  Ask your child how they can earn a pin for their hat!

Writing
Students began planning with their chosen groups articles, pictures, features for a Camp Half-Blood newspaper.  Students will use events from their novel study to write from the perspective of a character in Camp Half-Blood or the book.  They are having fun planning their section of the newspaper.  Ask your child what section they chose and what articles and features they are putting in their section.

Spelling
This week students will have an opportunity to go to rotations during reading class. One of which is Spelling.  This week students will take words from their novel and write the base word and then try to make other words with the base word adding prefixes and suffixes. 



Dates to remember:
Oct. 9.........................Early dismissal
Oct. 23.......................Early dismissal
Oct. 25.......................No School -Planning Day

Until next time,
R. O'Steen

Update Week September 23-27, 2013

Progress reports went home Friday.  At this point I am very proud of the grades students are achieving in their Language Arts class.  We have had a test on characters from our novel study The Lightning Thief which was not reflected on the progress report.  Students will continue to have more tests, reading logs, and class assignments due which will effect their grade.  Please continue to check the planner nightly for important reminders students should be copying from the board.  If there is nothing written in the planner then he or she is not copying reminders as everyday I write something for them to copy.

Reading
This week we will focus on story structure.  Students will use the elements of story: character, setting, problem/ solution, rising action, climax and resolution to help them understand what they are reading.  Students will read stories in class and work on story maps to show their understanding of the story they read. By the end of the week we will move to the theme of a story.  Ask your child what stories they have read and what it was about.

Student have also begun a vocabulary project.  This project is connected to the novel study.  Students will make a glossary of words they don't know while reading The Lightning Thief.  Most of the work will be completed in class, however they may need to look up words or complete glossary entries at home.  This will be due by the end of the nine weeks.  Ask your child what words they have learned so far!

Writing
Students have been writing in their writing journals so far this year.  We will soon begin writing a narrative or story soon.

Spelling
Students worked with prefixes and suffixes last week and will continue to work with base words, suffixes, prefixes and root words in class rotations.  Ask your child what the difference between a base word and a root word is :)

Dates to remember:
Wednesday, September 25..................Early dismissal

Until next time,
R. O'Steen

Open House

What a great turn out for Open House tonight!! I thank all those parents (and students :) that came out to see what our class is all about! What an awesome group of parents and students we have this year.   I can tell this is going to be a GREAT year!

Please remember if you have any questions or concerns just let me know.  Thanks again for coming out to the school!

Until next time,
R. O'Steen

Updates September 9-13, 2013

I can't say how proud and impressed I am with both classes this year.  The students continue to move right along with our daily routine.  They had their first reading journal and reading log check this week and I think just about everybody had theirs and were doing great!   Keep checking reading logs nightly and ask your child what they are reading about everyday.

Reading

We have begun our reading in our novel, The Lightning Thief.  Students will continue to read in class and read their choice of book for their reading log.  Students will have in-class activities and quizzes on the novel. 

You should have seen the reading log coming home this past week.  Students are assigned to read 5 times throughout the week.  Most students did very well on their summaries this week and kept up with their reading.

Writing

Students have been working on details, elaboration and conventions of writing for the last couple of weeks.  We will begin narrative writing soon.

Spelling is incorporated into their grade through application in their writing.  Students will also have other spelling activities during class throughout the year.

Dates to remember

Early Dismissal.............Wednesday, September 11
Open House...................Thursday, September 12
Late night book fair.......Thursday, September 12th 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Until next time,
R. O'Steen

Updates Week of Sept. 2-6, 2013

I can't believe we are already beginning our third week of school!  I can tell already this year is going to fly!!  Students are settling in nicely and I am very proud of the progress they have made learning the school and classroom rituals and routines. Students have also been putting forth tremendous effort on their beginning of the year assessments.  These assessments are of great value to me because it will let me know how to better plan for my lessons and how to help the students become better readers this year in fifth grade. And I have to brag and say, they have also already impressed me with their first group project!  I can tell this is going to be a great group of students :)

Reading

This week in reading students will set up their home learning reading logs.  They will be expected to choose a book on their independent level.  I will go over in class how they can choose a just right book.  You should start seeing the reading logs coming home as of Tuesday, September 3.  Students will be expected to share their logs with a parent and get a parent signature each night.

We will also begin our novel study, Percy Jackson and the Olympians-The Lightning Thief. Students have spent the last week building background knowledge on the Greek gods and goddesses so they will better understand the characters and plot of the story. 

Writing

Students have been participating in quick writes and descriptive paragraphs so far this year.  We will begin shortly with narrative writing.

Dates to remember-
Stay tuned for the Open House date and time

Until next time,
R. O'Steen