After marking all of the tests, exams, folders, speeches and reports I believe that the students are going to be quite happy with the results!!! I was blown away by the biographies...their writing really has come a long way from the start of the year! I look forward to diving into their novels tonight and tomorrow.

Please make sure to keep studying hard for Science and Social Studies tomorrow...one more day.

I wanted to remind the students that I will be bringing supplies to have a "make your own sandwich" bar for Friday's lunch. They are invited to provide snacks (such as chips, fruit, vegetables  and crackers) as well as drinks.

I look forward to seeing most of you Friday at 8:30 am, and the rest of you on Monday morning for the graduation ceremony.

Today in 5th grade we...

- Had a final day of working on our end of quarter projects. 

- Practiced for graduation.

Homework:
- The students are aware of the fact that they need to finish all three final projects tonight. They are due first thing in the morning tomorrow, and the speech presentations will begin at 8:40 am sharp! 

Extras: 
- Please note that the costume for the speech do not need to be elaborate, but they should show that the student has knowledge of the person they were assigned, and it should enhance the speech. 
- I sent out a message to all the parents on class dojo today. For those of you who don't check class dojo this is what I wrote:

Hi Parents, 

DISK administration would like to ask you to please join us for a short graduation practice this Friday morning. It is important that the parent who will be walking the student down the aisle, and collecting their gifts and diplomas know the order of the day, and where they need to be at what time. 
I know that a lot of you work, and are busy through-out the day, so we have tried to make it as convenient as possible. 
We would like you to be here this Friday, May 27th at 8:30am - 9:00am. I hope one parent can make it. Please let me know. 

Also, of course each member of your family is invited to attend the graduation on Monday, May 30th. Right now we are trying to figure out the seating plan for the gym, to make sure that the parents of the graduates get a good seat. Could you please tell me how many parents will be attending on that day (one or two)? Once I know the exact number I can make room for you. 

Thanks! 

- Miss. Johnson

Tonight the 5th grade students should continue to work on their end of year projects. At this point they should have finished researching for their biography, and should be beginning to write their report. They should also be able 1/3 to 1/2 of the way done their chapter summary folder. They must keep in mind that exams are coming up soon and the need to save time to study for those. 

It is crunch time now, and it may seem extremely busy...but the end is in sight!!! 

Good luck with everything!!!

Today in 5th grade we...

- Started approaching the end of our personal novels. 

- Prepared for our final book club meeting. 

- Explored how to find equivalent ratios. 

- Wrapped up Social Studies by discovering facts about some of the greatest thinkers the Western world has ever known and investigating their achievements. 

- Finished our unit on sound and light and began reviewing it in order to prepare for our final Science exam. 

- Completed our Greek myth vases. 

Homework:
- Work on final projects 

Please check out this website to see some examples of the matchbook summary folder:

http://www.gottoteach.com/2015/04/matchbook-chapter-summaries-for-novel.html

Today in 5th grade we... 

- Worked on finishing our book club novels. 

- Explored why Alexander the Great was given his title. 

- Learned about ratios and how we write them and say them. 

- Discussed all of the final projects. 

- Watched channel one news and discovered new laws being passed in the United States.

Homework:
- Knowing that the novel, the summary folder, and the biography report and speech are due on March 24th the students have a choice of what to work on tonight. Each night they should spend a good portion of time making progress on each project. 

Extras:
- Congratulations to all of the 5th grade recipients from this morning's award ceremony!! 

Yesterday in 5th grade we...

- Attended our closing mass. 

- Wrote our second last spelling test. 

- Wrote our chapter 17 math test. 

- Learned about different types of lenses, how they are shaped and how their shape affects light that passes through them. 

Homework:
- Write at least 1000 MORE words for your novel. You should be reaching your climax this weekend. 
- Design the border for your yearbook page with pictures and designs that represent you. It MUST be hand drawn. 

Extras:
- During Monday morning assembly all homeroom and specialty teachers will be handing out their class awards. Each homeroom teacher will hand out three awards, and each specialty teacher will hand out one award to one student from each grade that they teach. Please come join us in celebrating all of our hard working, well behaved, and helpful students at DISK on Monday morning at 8:30!!!

- In the afternoon I explained all of the fourth quarter summative projects and exams to the students. For Social Studies, students will be writing a short biographical report, as well as presenting a speech (in character costume with props) to show what they have learned about ancient Greece, and the Greek world. In addition to this they will write a chapter 9 test on Thursday May 26th. For Reading, they will create a matchbook summary folder based on the novel they are reading in their book club group. For Language, they will write a vocabulary test on Wednesday May 25th. The other part of their mark will be based on their final copy of their novel. For Math and Science students will write regular  quarterly exams.

Math - 30% quarter exam
Science - 30% quarter exam
Language - 10% vocabulary test & 20% final copy of the personal novel
Reading - 30% summary folder
Social Studies - 10% chapter 9 test & 20% biographical report/speech

*Summary Folder project: To manage your time well, you should try to write about 3 chapter summaries each day (starting Monday May 16th) so that you will be done the summaries early enough to focus on studying. 

All rubrics (except for the novel) were handed out at the end of the day on Friday. The novel rubric will be handed out Monday morning. More details will be given about the biographical report/speech and the matchbook summary folder in class on Monday. Once you begin these projects, please make sure to follow the rubrics carefully to achieve a good result. 

Quarter 4 Major Subject Exam/Project Schedule

Wednesday May 25th and Thursday May 26th
*Please note that both of these days will be half days. School will be dismissed at 11:45 am and no lunch will be served.

*On Tuesday May 24 at 8:35 am the following projects are due:

Social Studies Biographical report/speech (presentation will be on this day)
Reading Summary Folder 
Language Novel

Wednesday May 25th

8:35-9:15        STUDY/REVIEW PERIOD

9:15-10:00       VOCABULARY TEST 10%

10:00-10:15     BREAK

10:15-10:45     STUDY/REVIEW PERIOD

10:45-11:45     MATH EXAM 30%

DISMISSAL

Thursday May 26th

8:35-9:15       STUDY/REVIEW PERIOD

9:15-10:00     SOCIAL STUDIES TEST 10%

10:00-10:15    BREAK

10:15-10:45     STUDY/REVIEW PERIOD

10:45-11:45     SCIENCE EXAM 30%

DISMISSAL

Today in 5th grade we...

- Worked on our writing stamina by continuing our novels. 

- Read a variety of Goosebumps. 

- Learned how to use the formulas for area and volume. 

- Celebrated Andrew's birthday!!

- Explored the similarities and differences between Sparta and Athens. 

- Discovered the different properties of light. 

Homework:
Math - Study chapter 17
Language - Study lesson 28 vocabulary
Social Studies - Complete section 2 of the study guide

Extras:
- Please come to school in your proper uniform for mass. You may bring your own clothes to change into after mass (no PE uniform required). 

Today in 5th grade we...

- Practiced using our 5 senses to describe places and things. 

- Met for our second last book club meeting.

- Learned what light is, how it travels and where on the electromagnetic scale different types of light fall. 

- Practiced for graduation. 

Homework:
- Lesson 3 brain check

Today in 5th grade we...

- Showed what we picture in our minds while reading our book club novel.

- Discussed the Persian Empire and what lead to the Persian wars.

- Learned how to find the surface area for a 3D figure.

- Worked on our paper mache Greek vases.
Homework:
Math - workbook p. 115
Social Studies - Section 1

Today in 5th grade we...

- Learned how to properly add dialogue to our novels.

- Conducted our book club meetings.

- Learned how to identify nets, and how to draw a net based on the 3D shape we see.

- Explored how sounds travels through different types of matter such as a wall, a desk, a cup of water, and a tunnel of air.

Homework:
Math - Workbook p.114
Language - Write 600 - 1200 words for your novel (typed)

Today in 5th grade we...

- Learned how to describe characters with fantastic descriptor words. 

- Worked on typing up our novels. 

- Created a 3D cube, and discovered how to calculate the volume and surface area. 

- Started to explore ancient Greece during the Persian Empire. 

- Explored what sound is, how it is measured, and how it travels through solids, liquids, and gas. 

- Watched gender specific videos about puberty. 

Homework:
Language - Study for vocabulary test
Math - Finish interactive math lesson
Science - Finish brain check 

Today in 5th grade we...

- Continued reading our book club novel. 

- Reviewed what parts make up an atom and learned what is the atomic theory. 

- Learned how to identify different solid figures, and how to count their faces, vertices, and edges. 

- Started typing up what we have written for our novel so far. 

- Wrote the chapter 8 Social Studies test.  

- Reviewed unit 13 in preparation of our Science test tomorrow. 

Homework:
Math - workbook p. 112
Science - Brain check #1-3 and unit review (not #21)

Extras:
- Today I sent home the results of the ITBS test for each individual student, as well as a letter outlining the average for Grade 5. Please take a look at it, and if you have any questions on how to read the results, or specific questions about your child's results please do not hesitate to ask me. The 5th graders did great overall!!!