Parents:
Attached you will find information about our Alaska Unit. Please review the packet with your child and talk about the due dates below. After you have reviewed the packet, please sign the parent notification slip below. You will receive two list of due dates. One copy is for you to keep at home and the other is for your child to keep in their homework folder.
We will spend most of this week and next week working on the notes for the 14 paragraph report. The actual typing or writing of the report will be done at home using the notes your child has written in class.
Until your child has completed the 14 paragraph paper, he or she will not be able to say they don’t have any homework.
Due Dates are as follows:
March 10: Return this form with parent signature.
March 28: Notes for 14 paragraphs are due. Sources for information must be included. (We will start this at school, but some may have to finish this for homework.) This is when we come back from Spring Break. If you are going away for break, please have the notes done by March 17th. That is still plenty of time. I will also have nightly goals that count as homework grades while we are doing the paragraphs.
April 1: Check to see that you have the first 9 paragraphs done. I will send home a note for your parents to sign. You do not have to print off your paper at this time.
April 11: Final Copy of report is due with bibliography.
TBA: Iditawagon Race around school grounds. In order to participate in the Iditawagon, you must have a completed paper.
*Cut and Return Bottom Portion only.
Child’s Name: _______________________
I have read the due dates and have reviewed this packet with my child:
__________________________________
Alaska Paper
Paragraph 1: Intro
Paragraph 2: Alaska at a glance. General facts, capital, symbols, flag, motto, etc.
Paragraph 3: History: How did Alaska become a state? When? What number?
Paragraph 4: Land, Climate, Wildlife
Paragraph 5: History of the Serum Run
Paragraph 6 and 7: Iditarod Now: route, mileage, checkpoints
Iditarod Now: interesting facts, prizes, etc.
Paragraph8: Mushers: what is life like for a musher? Famous mushers? Qualities of a musher?
Paragraph 9: Sled Dogs: breeds? famous dogs? Qualities of a sled dog? Lifestyle?
Paragraph 10: Places to visit, National Parks, Tourism
Paragraph 11: Pick 1:
Paragraph 12: Oil in Alaska, Exxon Oil Spill, Pipeline
Paragraph 13: Pick 1:
Paragraph 14: Closing
Pick 1 Topics: Famous People from Alaska, Native Alaskans, Preserving Alaska, Gold Rush of Alaska, Earthquake of 1964, Wildflowers of Alaska, Junior Iditarod, Alaskan Totem Poles, Mount McKinley, or Coast of Alaska. If you have another idea, talk to me about it.
For the month of March, the subjects we study in fifth grade are going north to Alaska! In reading, we will discover a great deal about the great state of Alaska and learn the proper way to construct an informational report with sources. In math we will solve problems associated with Alaska and sled dog races. In Social Studies we will be creating maps and drawing our very own racing sled. We will also watch videos and of course participate in our own Iditawagon Race.
Each student will be assigned a real musher in the real Iditarod Trail Sled dog Race that starts from Anchorage the first Saturday in March. You will follow that musher the whole race and keep track of his or her progress on the Internet. Hope for a winner!
The major requirement for you during this unit will be your 14 paragraph paper. This paper is required for you to complete if you would like to participate in our Iditawagon Race. It will also count as a major part of your reading grade. Attached you will find an outline to help guide you through the paper. At school you will be writing notes to include for each paragraph. At home you will need to put those notes together to create 14 interesting paragraphs to become your paper on Alaska. The Internet will be a great place to find resources, just make sure to include the site on your Bibliography. Also, Do Not Plagiarize!!! It is very important to put the information in your own words. By the time you finish this assignment you will be an Alaskan Expert!!
Make sure you follow the timeline given and do your best work on this project. Have fun learning about one of our most interesting states.
Your Paper Must Have:
* Title Page * 14 Paragraphs *Typed
*Good Spelling and punctuation * Bibliography
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Quick News - September 2010
1. Mathematics:
I just wanted to remind everyone that we take an End-of-the-Month Test in math each month. That means that our first test will be September 30. In order to help students get ready for the test, I gave them page and problem numbers from the math book to review. Students do not have to complete all these problems. They just need to know how to do each of these types of problems for the test. I gave the list to students in math class today, but I thought I would also send you the list. These pages will also be listed on our class web page.
1. P. 4 & 5, # 1 – 20
2. P. 10, # 21 – 32
3. P. 7, #1 – 3, 9 – 10
4. P. 27, # 6 – 13
5. P. 519, # 7 - 14
6. P. 521, #15 – 18
7. P, 534 # 50, 51, 52
8. P. 533, # 1 – 4, #22 – 25, #32 – 35
9. P. p. 537, #7 – 26
10. Addition and subtraction problems
2. Book Orders
If you would like to send in book please do so as soon as possible. Mrs. Steffen is hoping to get a class room set of The BFG with bonus points. If you would like your student to have their own personal copy, the book is only $1.00 in the book orders.
3. Picture Orders
Please send back picture order forms by Tuesday, September 22. That is our school’s picture day. Even if you choose not to purchase any pictures, please send the form back.
Thanks for all your help and support this year.
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August 23, 2010
Other News…
Assignment book - Each student will be expected to keep an assignment book listing each day’s assignments. Please ask to see the assignment book every night and sign it each weekend so that I know you have seen it. Students will be expected to take their books home each night, even if there are no assignments for that day.
Fifth Grade End of the Month Math Tests – There will be a math test at the end of each month in fifth grade. These tests will review all the material we have covered up to that point in math. In order to help students study for these tests I will give students a list of page and problem numbers that they can study to help them prepare for the test. This list will be given out about a week before the test date. Please encourage your student to spend some time reviewing the problems on the list before the test.
End of Unit Science and Social Studies Tests – The week before a science or social studies test students will bring home a unit review sheet. This study guide will help prepare your child for the science or social studies test. Both subjects will be taught in three to four week units. Your child will only be learning one subject at a time.
Fifth Grade Book Reports – Mrs. Steffen will be assigning a book report at various times during the school year. The students will prepare a different activity for the book report at home. Mrs. Steffen will explain the activity or project for each book report well in advance. In this way, students can begin working on their book report early. All book report projects will be done at home. The books used for book reports should always be an AR book. This allows the students to accomplish two goals at one time.
Spelling – Each week students will be given a packet with their spelling list words on Friday. Students will be expected to complete the packet by Thursday. In addition, students will need to write ten sentences using the list words and complete the practice explained on the first page of the packet also by Thursday. The spelling test will be on Thursday of each week. We have our weekly spelling list on the web at Spellingcity.com. At this site students can play games, take a practice test, and learn about each word. It is a fun way to study. You can get to the site two ways. Go to our class webpage and click on Spelling under the Language links, or you can go directly to: www.spellingcity.com. Our username is: fifthgradeolynorth and our password is: spellingcity.
Daily Journals – In order to encourage students to become fluent with written language, they will be given a topic each day to write about. At this time, students should write at least a half page for each topic. The Daily Journal topics are listed each day on our classroom web page.
Late Assignments – Assignments are considered late if they are not complete at the start of class. The best grade I will give on a late assignment is a C. Please encourage your student to complete work on time.
Web Page – Our Fifth grade class has a class web page. This page contains lots of information about our class including a list of daily assignments, newsletters, links to interesting sites, photographs of students, and Mrs. Steffen’s and Mrs. Rocke’s e-mail address. To find this page go to www.olympia.org Then click on Olympia North. On the drop down menu select “teacher pages”. Follow this to our class page.
Progress Reports – Our district is starting a new grading program. We will need a couple of weeks to fully understand the program and how best to report student progress to you each week. Please look for weekly progress reports in the coming weeks.
Student Leaders – This program rewards students that follow school rules, are respectful, and complete assignments on time. Student Leaders get extra privileges. For example, one thing they will be allowed to do is go to lunch, music, PE, and other places in the school without walking in a line with a teacher. PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN UP TO HELP WITH THE PARTY SUPPLIES.
Homeworkoploy – As part of our Student Leader program we will be playing Homeworkopoly. Every two weeks we will celebrate our fifth grade students that have remained Student Leaders. We will play the game “Homeworkopoly”. Students will role the dice and move around the board earning fun prizes. We will also be serving snacks, having free time, and listening to music. Let us know if you would be interested in providing a snack for one of the parties.
Snacks and drink bottles – Lunchtime for fifth graders is not until 11:50. Because of this, they may bring nutritional snacks. Please do not let them bring candy or snacks which contain a lot of sugar. Popcorn, fruit, chips, or crackers are some suggestions. Snack time is not sharing time. Please send only enough for your student to eat. Drink bottles (water only) may be kept on the students’ desks. Make sure the bottle isn’t breakable and has a lid to prevent spills.
After School Routines – If your child needs to change his or her routine after school, you must send a note. Last minute changes can be called into the office. Be sure to leave a message with the secretary, not my voice mail. I am not always able to check my voice mail before the end of the school day.
Birthday Treats – We would love to celebrate your child’s birthday at school. Just bring in the treats on a day that is convenient for you. We will have them sometime during the school day. Please remember to send all supplies for your treat (napkins, etc.) Please do not send cake. It is too messy, and I do not have the supplies to cut it. Please do not send birthday invitations unless you are inviting the entire class or all the boys or all the girls.
Book Orders – Book orders will be sent home every once in a while. Bonus points are earned from your orders and are used to buy books for our classroom library and reading groups. All orders need to be paid with a check made out to Scholastic. Even if there are several book orders at one time, one check to Scholastic is fine.
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August 19, 2010
Dear Parents,
I’d like to take a moment to welcome you to fifth grade and to introduce myself. My name is Judy Rocke. I have lived in Danvers for 31 years. I have taught fifth grade for the past twenty years. Before that, I worked as a substitute teacher at Danvers.
I am very interested in making this a successful and happy school year for you and your child. To ensure this success, we must keep the lines of communication open. I respect the fact that you know your child very well, and so when either you or your child fell worried, please contact me. Likewise, if there is an activity or project that you enjoy, please let me know. I will be contacting you throughout the year about projects, upcoming events, the nice things I see you child doing, and problems, if any arise.
On Thursday, September 3, starting at 5:30, our school will have its annual Parent Orientation. At that time I will discuss in detail the academic program, our class web page, my discipline procedures, the Student Leader program, grading, progress reports, and my goals and expectations for this year. I encourage you to attend this special evening because it will give you an opportunity to understand the fifth grade program and to become better acquainted with the room and materials that your child will be using throughout the coming year.
I look forward to meeting you on September 3.
Sincerely,
Judy Rocke
