Thanks so much for coming to conferences!!  I thoroughly enjoyed our visits.

Here's a list of the upcoming events during
December.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Friday, December 2:  No school

Dec. 23-Jan. 2:  No school

Jan. 16-17:  No school

*Please ask your son or daughter about their homework and day at school each night. Checking their planners really helps you stay in tune with what they are studying. Be sure to sign their planner each evening and take time to discuss their day and assigments with them. If you have questions, you can reach me at 251-7936, ext. 4713 or at debra.hoye@isd742.org.

**We really appreciate all of your help and support. Your children are very special and I'm really enjoying them . They are truly wonderful!!


INDEPENDENT READING:
Encourage your child to read at least 30 minutes a day at home. Students should record the time read on their Independent Reading Calendars. Parents: Be sure to sign it at the end of each month. If they need suggestions of excellent books to read, have them ask me, their homeroom teacher, or Mrs. Hollenkamp. We'll have lots of suggestions!!

Life Books:
I've asked the children to purchase a composition notebook plus an inch and a half 3-ring binder with about 50 plastic page holders in it. We will be using both of these extensively in our writing this year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Reading:
We will be reading many excellent novels. You're welcome to read along with us. I bet your child will be eager to tell you about the story they're reading. This is also a great way to discuss life issues with them.


CURRENT UNITS OF STUDY:

READING:  

We have just finished studying science fiction novels.  We read Memory Boy, by Will Weaver, a Minnesota author and then chose a science fiction novel to read and discuss in literature circles.  Currently we're engaged in studying realistic fiction novels and are reading Petey, by Ben Mikaelsen.  This is a story that deals with disabilities/diseases/prejudice and love/friendship.  It's a novel that will really touch your heart.  I encourage you to read it with your child.

Independent Reading:
Please encourage your child to continue reading books by the authors that I introduce to them.We just  found out about the Maud Hart Lovelace books for this year through a book talk given by Mrs. Hollenkamp.   The children certainly have a WEALTH of EXCELLENT BOOKS and AUTHORS at their fingertips!!


SPELLING:
Students have a spelling list of 20 words plus 5 challenge words each week!!!! Usually our tests will be on Fridays.
Join them for study sessions on these words!!!

SAT WORDS: We also have SAT WORDS that we study in units of ten words. At the end of each unit, students are tested on the spelling, the definition and how these words are used in sentences. We started these in October.  We will alternate between our 5th grade lists and the SAT words. 

WORDMASTERS: We will be challenging ourselves with three sessions of Wordmasters this year. We will begin our first round of competition in November.  OUR FIRST TEST WILL BE ON DEC.  14.    ***Notice the FABULOUS links called First Wordmasters Quizlet.com listed on my link section. It's a LOT of FUN and will help you learn your Wordmaster words!! Be sure to study this Wordmaster links for TEST #1!!


WRITING:
We've gone to the BIG WOODS to create two essays (summer and autumn) inspired by this beautiful place. Please encourage your child to write in their LIFE BOOKS (writing journals) at least THREE TIMES a week...or when they have something to journal about.


MATH:
Terrific resource: classzone.com (See the link on my LINK listing area. Use this at home to reinforce the concepts that we are studying.

*****NUMBER SENSE: Your child MUST have an EXCELLENT grasp of their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. This is a MUST!! Without this, your child will most likely struggle in doing their math work.

CURRENTLY we're exploring Unit 5 in our Math books. This unit deals with FRACTIONS. 

SCIENCE:
We're currently studying ENVIRONMENTS. We'll be participating in many experiments dealing with the various environments...and seeing what impact we have on maintaining our world.  All of our 5th graders were able to take a field trip to the St. John's Arboretum on October 7th.  It was a marvelous experience that fit perfectly with our Environments unit.