Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Fifth Grade Happenings

We have successfully moved in to the new rooms! We are very excited about this, but it will take some time getting used to. 😀

All home rooms would like to make sure students have either a pencil case or box to keep supplies in because we have cubbies, and don't want anything falling out. 

Don't forget about early dismissal on Thursday, November 5th!

Social Studies: There will be a quiz on Friday, November 6th over Native American vocabulary. This will be coming home today, November 4th.

Conferences are next week! If you would like a reminder, teachers will be happy to write it in students' planners. 

Please encourage your child to show you their planner each night. There will be important information in there, as well as what they might have due.


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Science

In science, students have been learning about nutrients necessary to the human body. This week, we are finishing up a review packet, writing about our observations about our own food choices, and discussing influences that affect our food choices. Please watch for the packet to come home on Thursday as well as a packet about reading nutrition labels. Students will have an extra long weekend and can study for the test which will be November 6th. Students will have to copy the whole packet again if they lose it, so please help them to be responsible. 


Friday, October 16, 2015

What's Going On . . .

Health/Science:  Fifth grade is learning about nutrition in Health class. What are nutrients and what do they do for the human body. Students will keep track of their food for five days and then evaluate their nutrition in a paragraph. There will be a test at the end of the unit which will be the first Friday of November.

Reading: Students are given time nearly every day to read independently. They will be working on building stamina while they read. We will also start guided reading groups on Monday, which will allow students to get more individual and small group support in class.

Social Studies: We have been learning about Native Americans. Students will have a couple of fun projects coming up to show what they've learned. Information will be sent home soon explaining each project. They will be completed at school. 

Writing:  We are beginning our last narrative essay before the post-test coming up the last week of October.  When we finish the narrative unit, we will move onto Informational (research) writing.  

Math: Students are working on long division and learning the steps to take in the process of solving problems.

Parents: Please make sure conference forms are returned by Monday, October 19th.  Behavior contracts were due today, please make sure they are returned by Monday.  Thank you!  You can see each of these forms below.

Fifth Grade Behavior Contract 2015-2016

Fifth grade is a year of change for many students.  Students are growing up, learning who they are, given more opportunities (1:1 iPads), and are getting ready for middle school.  With these opportunities, come more responsibilities.  We want students to become leaders both in and out of the classroom.  Students who choose not to be good citizens make the choice to forfeit some of the opportunities that come with being a fifth grader.

Below are the consequences for poor choices:

3 Think Sheets will result in 1 red card
1 RED card (office referral) between field trips/parties will result in not being able to attend the field trip/party

Fifth Grade Students will be enjoying a Fall Party on October 30th. If they have 1 red cards (known also as office referrals) they may not go and will stay in a classroom/library with one teacher-   
 When walking the trail in the mornings, if a student receives 3 Think Sheets, then they will be off the trail for 2 days.
We are being proactive in helping students be good citizens.  If students cannot be safe at school, we are concerned for their safety and others on field trips or at a classroom party.
Please sign the form below and return with your student.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
The Fifth Grade Team
Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Aguilar, Mrs. Butcher, & Mrs. Fitzpatrick  

October 15, 2015


Dear Parents & Guardians,

Conferences are just around the corner!  They will be held on Wednesday, November 11th and Thursday, November 12th.  Each conference will be approximately 15 minutes in length.  Fifth grade conferences will look different than the traditional homeroom conference.  Since we teach all students as a team, we will be hosting conferences in one classroom, Room 15 (Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s) in the new addition.  

On the back, you will find options for teacher, date, and time.  Please note that you will not meet with all the teachers, only one.  However, all teachers will have access to your child’s work/progress in each class and will have it available to discuss with you at that time.  If a teacher has too many requests, we will assign you to an available teacher.   If you choose the “no preference” option, then a teacher will be assigned to you for the conference.  A note will be sent home letting you know your confirmed time and teacher. If the teacher you requested is booked at your requested time, you can always contact the specific teacher to set up a conference for a later date. We feel this will be the best way to accommodate all concerns in subject areas.

**If you are a parent of siblings, please make sure to check the appropriate spot in regards to scheduling sibling conferences.**

Please return by Monday, October 19th.  Thank you!

Sincerely,
The Fifth Grade Team

Child’s Name: ____________________________________________

Parent’s Name:  __________________________________________


Teacher Request:   ____ No preference
      
       ____ Aguilar (Science)    ____ Butcher (Reading/Social Studies)

       ____ Fitzpatrick (Writing)   ____ Hamilton (Math)
______________________________________________________________________________

Date: *If either day will work, please check both.

   ____ Wed., Nov. 11th        ____ Thurs., Nov. 12th


______________________________________________________________________________

Time:  Please choose a range of time.  If possible, check more than one.
       
Wednesday, November 11th Thursday, November 12th
 
 ___ 3:40-4:10 ___ 3:40-4:10

 ___ 4:10-4:40 ___ 4:10-4:40

 ___ 4:40-5:10 ___ 4:40-5:10

 ___ 5:10-5:40 ___ 5:10-5:40

 ___ 5:40-6:10 ___ 5:40-6:10

 ___ 6:10-6:40 ___ 6:10-6:40

______________________________________________________________________________

Siblings?    ___ Yes       ___ No

If there are siblings in another grade level, do you prefer to have them back-to-back?  

___ Yes    ___ No preference

Thursday, October 1, 2015

We strongly encourage students to read at least 20 minutes each night.

Keep practicing those math facts!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

In science, students are studying the solar system and moon phases in preparation for our trip to the planetarium. The students have a moon phase strip to study this week, with the quiz on Thursday. Students also have a retake opportunity for the quiz on the solar system from last week if they want to improve their grade. The first test was on the IPAD and the second one is on paper. I wanted to give both modes as a choice as many students are still learning to use the IPAD. Our next unit will be Nutrition, starting next week.

Homework is a worksheet about variables and is due Thursday.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Math Test Wednesday, September 23rd:  Adding & Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimals
Parents, please make sure you review the below contract with your child.  There will be a contract coming home between each field trip and party.  There will be approximately 6 more contracts coming home throughout the year.  Please be on the look-out for them. We appreciate your support with this. 

Fifth Grade Behavior Contract 2015-2016

Fifth grade is a year of change for many students.  Students are growing up, learning who they are, given more opportunities (1:1 iPads), and are getting ready for middle school.  With these opportunities come more responsibilities.  We want students to become leaders both in and out of the classroom.  Students who choose not to be good citizens make the choice to forfeit some of the opportunities that come with being a fifth grader.

Below are the consequences for poor choices:

3 Think Sheets will result in 1 red card
2 RED cards (office referrals) between field trips/parties will result in not being able to attend the field trip/party

Fifth Grade Students will be going to the Planetarium October 13th and 14th. If they have 2 red cards (known also as office referrals) they may not go and will stay in a classroom with one teacher- Fifth grade teachers will rotate and stay behind if the group is large.
When walking the trail in the mornings, if a student receives 3 Think Sheets, then they will be off the trail for 2 days.
We are being proactive in helping students be good citizens.  If students cannot be safe at school, we are concerned for their safety and others on field trips or at a classroom party.
Please sign the form below and return with your student.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
The Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Aguilar, Mrs. Butcher, & Mrs. Fitzpatrick

Friday, September 18, 2015


Fifth grade had a very, very busy week! We hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Please check Friday folders for information about picture day next Thursday, September 24th, checklists, and states/capitals map study guide.  

Please join us next Friday, September 25th for our Leadership Luncheon at 12:55! Be ready to be PROACTIVE as that is our Habit this month!

From Mrs. Aguilar:

In science, students have been practicing experimental design which includes data tables and graphs. Next week there will be an assignment regarding a “pretend” experiment and students will set up a data table and graph. It will be due Wednesday so students will have two evenings to work on this assignment.
Parents, expect notebooks on Monday to come home as well for you to sign on the last page of notes.
Students are very excited to have Ipads in the classroom and have made their first set of e-flashcards to practice their solar system vocabulary. We started a Planets and Moon unit this week to prepare for our trip to the planetarium in October. Thank you for helping your child be successful. Please continue to sign homework papers.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Happy Friday!

Lots of information coming home this weekend!  Please be on the look-out for the following:
  • Fifth Grade Behavior Contract (see below, but there is also a paper form coming home that will require a signature)
  • A note regarding some changes being made on Monday, September 14th.
  • Weekly checklist
  • A note regarding After School Clubs
Please return the Behavior Contract signed along with the checklist, and the After School Club sign-up sheets if you are interested in joining a club.  It is a first come - first serve basis for the clubs.

We continue to have problems with the following in fifth grade:  hoodies, hats & sunglasses. Students are choosing to play with them, wear them when asked not to, and taking them from each other which causes chasing on the trail.  So, hats & sunglasses are NO LONGER allowed at school.

iPads will come out to students in the classroom next week.  They will not come home until after winter break, if the teachers decide to do so.  

Have a great weekend!



Fifth Grade Behavior Contract 2015-2016

Fifth grade is a year of change for many students.  Students are growing up, learning who they are, given more opportunities (1:1 iPads), and are getting ready for middle school.  With these opportunities come more responsibilities.  We want students to become leaders both in and out of the classroom.  Students who choose not to be good citizens make the choice to forfeit some of the opportunities that come with being a fifth grader.

Below are the consequences for poor choices:

3 Think Sheets will result in 1 red card
2 RED cards (office referrals) between field trips/parties will result in not being able to attend the field trip/party

Fifth Grade Students will be going to the Planetarium October 13th and 14th. If they have 2 red cards (known also as office referrals) they may not go and will stay in a classroom with one teacher- Fifth grade teachers will rotate and stay behind if the group is large.
When walking the trail in the mornings, if a student receives 3 Think Sheets, then they will be off the trail for 2 days.
We are being proactive in helping students be good citizens.  If students cannot be safe at school, we are concerned for their safety and others on field trips or at a classroom party.
Please sign the form below and return with your student.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
The Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Aguilar, Mrs. Butcher, & Mrs. Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

GIRLS ON THE RUN
Would you like your daughter to be confident, courageous and  have a CAN DO attitude? Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade. The program teaches life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

If you want your girl to be a Girl on the run please register her TODAY at https://www.raceplanner.com/register/index/GOTRfall2015 . Practices will be held at Shepard on T/Th from 3:30-5:00 pm and begin THIS Thursday! The cost for the program is $150 which provides 10 weeks of lesson programming, a t-shirt for your girl, snacks at each meeting and enrollment to participate in the celebration 5k at A.L. Gustin Golf course on the MU campus on Saturday, Nov. 14! Scholarships are still available at https://www.raceplanner.com/register/index/fall2015scholarship.
Registration closes Weds, Sept. 8 at 10pm!

Friday, September 4, 2015

Happy Friday!  

A few things coming home:

1. Math tests are being returned, and must be signed by a parent by next Tuesday, September 8th.

2. Please sign checklists

3. States & Capitals study guide for #21-30 will be sent home today, because we have no school on Monday.


Please remember that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, September 7th.  

The iPad information meeting is next Wednesday, September 9th at 7:00am or 1:00pm.  Please be sure to attend one of these times.  The meeting will be held in the Media Center.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Monday, August 31, 2015

Monday, 8/31

Science article for homework tonight. Parent signature is required.

States & capitals #1-10 grades coming home, along with study guide for States & capitals #11-20!


MATH CHAPTER 1 TEST on Thursday! Study guides are coming home today.

No excuse word list coming home tonight. There will be a 100 word spelling test on Wednesday on the words under the 2nd-7th grade word list. See below.


That's it from a fifth grade Monday and the last day of August!




Friday, August 28, 2015

8/24-8/28

We have made it through a whole week of fifth grade! All of the fifth grade teachers are proud of the hard work and respect we are seeing! However, we are experiencing some disrespect in the classrooms, playground, and when walking the trail. There have been multiple reminders of what it takes to be a leader in fifth grade at Shepard. Some students will be coming home with a Think Sheet tonight. A Think Sheet is what we give out as a reminder of the rules and the student gets to write about what happened. It is a warning, instead of a referral. Please have them complete it, both parent and child sign, and return on Monday. Thank you!

FRIDAY FOLDERS: Some students will have math sheets to fix and return ( they will get 1/2 credit for each corrected problem) and they must be signed. PTSO letters, September menu, and an iPad letter that needs to be signed and returned will all be included! Also, please make sure to go over the checklist with your child, and  sign your initials at the bottom. Thanks!

This week students learned about the following:
Math: Place value
Reading: Independent reading expectations, text resources, and non-fiction text features 
Science: Pendulums and how they work...students had a practice quiz on Thursday, but can expect the real thing next Friday!
Social Studies: We had out first States & Capitals test, learned about geography and landforms.
Writing: Nouns: plurals, possessives, common and proper...and letter writing

NEXT WEEK: Be on the lookout for States & Capitals #11-20, Chapter 1 math test on Thursday, cursive handwriting sheets for homework and any other things that may be included in your child's white folder.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Science & Social Studies

Be on the lookout for a science worksheet tonight!  This is science homework. Students may complete it during study hall today, but they must bring it home for a parent signature tonight.  Please make sure to include your name, complete sentences, and your class (5H,5A,5B,5F).  

STATES&CAPITALS:  Quiz this Friday on #1-10!

              Our caterpillars became chrysalides this weekend in the science room!



Friday, August 21, 2015

We all survived the first week!  It's hard to believe that our fifth graders already have one week of school in the books!  This week we have spent time learning routines, expectations, rotation of classes and discussing what the year will be like in fifth grade.  

Students: The late lunch at 1:00 is something to keep in mind.  Please remember to bring a snack, and you may also carry a water bottle with you.