Math quiz FRIDAY!

We will have a quiz over the order of operations, exponents, and the distributive property on Friday, Dec. 16. Here are some additional resources to have your student practice:

PEMDAS game

Millionaire game

Robot game

Sign Up Genius for Winter Party

Winter Party Link

News: Week of Dec. 5th

This week was so busy and so fun! Emily Arrow made her appearance and the students LOVED it....don't let them tell you any different!

Here's what we've been doing this week:
Math: We've been working on Order of Operations. For the most part, students have been doing really well with this topic. We have done lots of extra practice with each lesson to ensure understanding. The date of the test is not yet determined but I will communicate that when it is established!
Reading & Writing: We've been working hard to research our colonial jobs for informational writing. It is interesting to see the interest level of this topic for the students. We will begin the writing portion after winter break. As of now, we have researched and organized our notes.
Social Studies: We've been working on preparing for our BizTown field trip that will be in January. Students will be learning how to write checks, run a business, and work at an assigned job. I am excited about this trip! More information to come after break.

Important Dates: 
Thursday, Dec. 15: No choir practice, Secret Santa gift due, Start wrapping desks 
Friday, Dec. 16: Schoolwide Ugly Christmas Sweater day
Tuesday, Dec. 20: Secret Santa Reveal and 5th Grade Winter Party 

Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Winter Break
Jan. 4: Return to School 
Jan. 5: No Choir

Topic 7 Post Test

Parents,
I am offering the opportunity for students to retake the Topic 7 Math Test over Multiplying and Dividing Decimals and Powers of Ten. If your student received an A or B on the test, I will not make them retake the test. However, I would encourage the extra practice of retaking the test because I will be taking the best score as the final score. Some of the tests were signed and returned. Please talk with your child about his/her score. We will be reviewing for the test today during math.

-Mrs. Sanders

Pajama Day!

Tomorrow, November 15th, will be pajama day in our classroom. The end of the day caught up to us, so please remind your student!
-Mrs. Sanders

News for this week

We are nearing the end of our first trimester! I am excited to meet with every family next week at conferences. Please make sure you have your conference date and time. If you need a refresher, please email me.

This week in math, we’ve been practicing multiplying decimals. The students were hesitant at first, but we are starting to get the hang of it. It is a difficult concept to grasp, even for adults, so I have been impressed with their hard work and perseverance this week!

In literacy, we have been focusing on close reading in our small groups. Students have been learning how to answer questions but restating the question, highlighting important parts, and obtaining fluency throughout the reading. We have also been talking about diversity in writing, and students will have a diversity writing assignment coming home next week to work on. It is a short week, so there will not be a homework packet. Please make sure your student is studying spelling words every night! We test on those words on Fridays.

We have finished our health unit focused on drugs. We will be taking the test tomorrow, Friday, 11/4/16. Students have a review to be studying for homework!

Thanks for everything! I look forward to seeing all of you next week at conferences! Please visit our book fair in the library during conference week!

-Mrs. Sanders

This week in Trailer C...

Hello, Parents!
I am hoping everyone was able to make it to the Chicken BBQ last weekend. The turnout was awesome and I know we raised a lot of money for a great year at RBE! Here are a few updates from this week:
Math: Students took the Topic 4 & 5 (combined) test today. I have not gotten to look through them yet, but I was confident in the effort and understanding the students expressed prior to the exam. I am hoping to get those graded and sent home by Tuesday to be signed and returned.
Literacy: Book projects are due next Friday, October 28th. If you have not heard anything from your child about the book project, please check with them. I have checked in with every student and have sent home supply request forms, so please look those over and sign & return them. This lets me know that every parent is able to support the project. If there is any doubt about access to materials, let me know and I can help with that! Also, we have finished our personal narratives and have moved on to Monster narratives. The kiddos made some pretty unique monsters in class, and are having the opportunity to write a narrative about their monster. I am excited to see what they come up with. Please remember that we will be having our Writer's Celebration & Brown Bag Lunch next Friday, October 28th. We hope to see you there!
Science: We have started our drug education unit entitled "I've Got the Power." Students seem to be enjoying the discussion and projects we have tied into this unit. I hope this can be an educational opportunity for them to understand the effects of drugs and alcohol.
Miscellaneous: 
1. I sent home a parent-teacher conference form for you to circle your preferred meeting times. Please get that back to me as soon as you can. It can be a hectic time of year, I understand, but the sooner it is returned, the better!
2. A LOT of students have been struggling to get their homework packet and agenda signed. Every night it is expected that students get agendas signed. Before the homework packet is due, it also needs to be signed. I am pushing this really hard this year to prepare them for the responsibility of work for next year. Please help me in this effort!
3. Don't forget, next Friday, Oct. 28th is our fall party and Writer's Celebration/Brown Bag Lunch. Please see the link in the post below to sign up to bring/donate items to our party! The lunch will start at 12:30.

Have a wonderful Homecoming weekend!
MIZ!
-Mrs. Sanders

Fall Party Planning Time!

It is almost time for our Fall Party! Our party will be held on Friday, October 28th. Please follow this link to sign up for donations. All classes will be participating in this fun tailgate party!
Let me know if you have any questions!
-Mrs. Sanders


Fall Party Sign Up

Book Project Rubric

Hello, families!
Our first Independent Book Project is due October 27. These projects will be done at home in addition to any homework assigned for the week. I will post the rubric on here and make sure to meet with all students about their plans. They will be coming home with a sheet for you to sign that informs you about the project choice the students are thinking about. This is so there is ample time to get supplies and create the project.

Thanks!
Mary Sanders

Happy Friday!

This week, we have been wrapping up our narrative writing. Next week we will be publishing those pieces and beginning a quick, fun Monster Narrative. In reading, we have been working in small groups for intervention and skill practice. I have noticed a lot of students really getting excited about the reading groups. Yeah!

In math we have been dividing numbers using word problems. Ask your student about our division method! It is so intriguing to see the students teaching.

In social studies we are finishing up our Native Americans project. The project was mainly completed in class, with a few artifacts being created at home. Thank you to the parents that allowed this to be a success. It was awesome to see the creativity and knowledge altogether in one big project.

In the silent auction at the Chicken BBQ, be sure to check out the “Teacher Table” that will have prizes from a day long experience on the STEAM bus for one class, to a grade level picture that will be sold for $5.00. Please consider donating or pitching in with other parents in our class to make the day-long STEAM bus possible for our class. The kids LOVE it!

As always, if you have any questions, please email me.

Have a wonderful weekend!
-Mrs. Sanders

SPIRIT DAY LIST!

We will be having a spirit day every month. Here is the link to the list of fun days that our RBE service club has come up with!  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NGSwzW3Hkwe-mriqUAnpOKt9RwhVK7-Di7iW7xE5TVo/

Book Project Due Dates:

October 28

December 2

January 27

March 24

Friday Newsletter 9/23/16

Good Afternoon! Happy Friday!!

We have had a wonderful week in Trailer C! We have learned so much about multiplying multi-digit numbers by other numbers. It has been awesome to see the students’ progress just from the beginning of the week until the end. WOW!

Here are a few updates:

MATH: We have been working really hard on multiplying whole numbers. We have used the regrouping strategy as well as the box method. I will post some practice sites (under resources & handouts tab) that students can reference for extra practice next week and over the weekend if they choose! I am planning to have our topic 3 test next Friday, September 30.

SOCIAL STUDIES: We have started our Native American unit. The students have been assigned a group and region to study. They have enjoyed researching their region and coming up with information. We have used our social studies textbooks, guided reading texts, and kid-friendly links provided to research.

READING: We have worked on summarizing this week. We also started a mock book project about our first read aloud book. All students are completing the mock project at school to learn about the expectations for the independent book projects that are due throughout the year. The individual book projects are to be completed at home. There will not be time allotted in class to complete the book projects. As a reminder, the due dates for those projects are listed below. I will also post the Book Project ideas page under “Handouts and Resources”.

WRITING: We are still working on our narrative writing pieces. Students will begin publishing next week! We will be typing these pieces on Google Docs and printing them off to showcase them! After the personal narratives are finished, we will be writing Monster Narratives in lieu of Halloween coming up.

WORD STUDY: Thank you to the parents that have helped their students study word study words. I can tell that the students are learning and improving in spelling. Thank you for the support.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• If you are able to donate AAA batteries, please have your student bring them in next week. These will be used for our class set of wireless keyboards to type our narrative writing.

Thank you for reading!

-Mrs. Sanders

msanders@cpsk12.org

Important Dates to Remember:

-Sept. 26: No school, Teacher Workday

-Sept. 27: PICTURE DAY (we will be taking pictures before we have PE, FYI)

-Sept. 30: Favorite Color Day-Students wear their favorite color to school for a spirit day

-Oct. 3: Student flu vaccine clinic 8:00-10:00 AM

-Oct. 4: McTeacher Night at the Nifong McDonald’s 4-8pm

-Oct. 15: RBE Chicken BBQ 4-8pm

Math Test TOMORROW!

Here are some fun math games we played to review in class that may be helpful at home!
Rounding Numbers Soccer Game
Adding Decimals Dog Bone Game

We didn't use these, but they may be helpful for your student!
Subtracting Decimal Practice
Subtracting Decimals Basketball
Rounding Soccer Game #2

Thank you for taking time to study with students!
Math tests will be sent home later this week for a signature.

-Mrs. Sanders

News from Trailer C: Sept. 9 Edition

It’s been another great week!

This week we have accomplished so much in so little time! I am so proud of all of my hard working students! In math, we’ve been working on rounding numbers and adding decimals. We also took the STAR math test this week. I am pleased with the effort and progress that we have overcome this week in math. During reading, we have been working on questioning this week. Students have been practicing asking questions of all kinds as they read. We talked about thin questions (who, what, where) and THICK questions (why are the characters upset? What is triggering that specific behavior?). Encourage your student to ask questions as they complete their reading activities for homework this week.

In writing, we have been working on planning out our narrative writing. We worked on “hooking” our readers this week in a variety of ways. We have discussed the importance of grabbing the attention of the reader and pulling them into the text. Students have been enjoying building their narratives. We have also been using our spelling words in writing during word study choice time. The class tends to enjoy choice time because it allows a chance to be creative with the words they are using by writing a story, making a grocery list, writing a letter, or making a book cover.

In social studies, students have been working on states, abbreviations, and capitals of the midwest region. Please note that all students are on the same states and capitals map. The quizzes will come home the following week in Friday Folders. Although we have time in class to practice these facts, please make sure your student is studying the states and capitals each evening as part of the homework packet. Practice makes perfect!

In science, we’ve been focusing on variables and experimental design. This week we were able to do a few experiments that the students enjoyed including the bubble gum experiment and a paper towel absorbency experiment. If your students begin telling you what brand of paper towel to buy, don’t blame me. :)

As always, please let me know if I can do anything to make your student’s experience better at school. It is important that we communicate regularly to solve any problems that may exist.

Have a great weekend, Go Tigers!

-Mrs. Sanders

Important Dates to Remember:

-Tuesday, September 13: PTA Meeting 6:00 pm

-Thursday, September 15: International DOT Day, Make your Mark!- Wear your polka dots!, Choir Practice 2:45-3:45

-Friday, September 16: Walking School Bus 2:40-3:15

-Monday, September 26: No School

Parents & Families, 

We had our very first math test on Tuesday over topic 1: place value. Those tests will be coming home this evening to be signed by YOU: a parent/guardian, and be returned by the end of this week. Please review the test to see what your student needs to work on. I have provided some resources below to reference if students feel they need extra practice:

Lessons 1.1 and 1.2 Practice: Place Value to Billions Place (whole numbers)

Lessons 1.3 and 1.4 Practice: Place Value to the Thousandths Place (decimals)

Here are some online games they can play to help them review.
Golfing with Place Value
Place Value Playoff
Online Place Value Practice Quiz
Place Value Pirates

This is content that will be used all throughout this year and upcoming years. I want students to grasp the ideas and feel comfortable with them this year before heading to middle school. I will also be sending home some paper copies of extra practice in Friday folders this week that will differ from the activities provided above. 

Please email me with any questions or comments you may have!

msanders@cpsk12.org 

Thank you for your interest in your student's education!

-Mrs. Sanders

Happy (almost) weekend, families! 8/26/16

It has been another great week in Trailer C! I am continually amazed at the hard work and perseverance that my students have. We have explored many of the different aspects of fifth grade, and they are all doing great with it. Here are a few updates from this week and for upcoming weeks:

Math: We have finished the content of Topic 1: Place Value in our math curriculum. As some students were confused with place value to begin with, most students were able to work through the difficulty and learn and understand the topic. We spent Friday reviewing with a Jeopardy game and we will be doing a review packet on Monday. The Place Value test will be Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Reading: We have been working on building stamina when independently reading, and as a class we have done great! We all earned PBIS stickers for our sticker charts on Wednesday because we have done so well this week. We also have been doing DRA testing, which the students have been VERY patient with.

Writing: We have started our narrative writing unit. This week we have been focusing on brainstorming using mentor authors to think about times we felt strong emotions toward something, special people in our lives, special places, and first times that we have experienced something unique. The kids are off to a great start! Stay tuned for great narrative writing updates. :)

Science: We started science stations this week to move around and practice collecting and graphing data. The students seemed to really love the activities. Next week we will be starting variables and experimental design.

Thank you all for your continued communication and support. I am amazed every day at the abilities that your kiddos bring to my classroom. Teaching is such a fun job!

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Sanders

THANK YOU to all of my families that have returned the Contact Information & Parent Homework! I have learned so much about these kids already, and I appreciate your commitment to your student's education.
Have a great night!
-Mrs. Sanders

Transportation Home from School

Parents,
Please make sure your student knows how to get home tomorrow after school and other days after school. I will need a note, email, or call to the office if there is a change in transportation on any given day. Please send back the Parent Contact Information Sheet that was given to you on Thursday as it lists the normal mode of transportation.

Thanks!
-Mrs. Sanders

Meet the Teacher Night!

Thank you to ALL of our families from Trailer C for making it out to Meet the Teacher Night! I saw every student last night and I am so excited for this year! It is going to be a wonderful year!

Just a reminder:
-If your student did not bring supplies last night, he/she can bring them on the first day so that we can label them
-I will be using Blogger AND Remind as forms of communication. I check my email throughout the day, so please feel free to email me: msanders@cpsk12.org

I look forward to a great year!
-Mrs. Sanders