Ms. Strickland's Blog

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS SPELLING BEE WINNERS, ISABEL AND CLAUDIO. They did a wonderful job representing out class in the school Spelling Bee!! Way to go!!

What We Are Studying

Reading: Hollis Woods culminating projects- Our story map projects will be completed on Wednesday. Students should be working on 1 additional project at home, which is due Friday. Extra credit options are available and are also due on Friday. The class really enjoyed this novel study (and the movie). I can not wait to see the projects!

Language Arts: Informational Writing

Math- Estimating and determining the area of a polygon

Science- Electricity and Magnatism

Upcoming Events/Important Dates

• Please return the signature card that was sent home with the report card.
• Red Folders will be coming home on Tuesday.
  
• Ford Bingo Night is Friday, January 20.
• Our reading goal this marking period is 7 chapter books. Please make sure that your child is reading a chapter book nightly. Remember: Each student who reads a total of 25 chapter books will be invited to attend a celebration dinner in May.
  

 

Can you believe that it's November? Our year is flying by so quickly and we have been very busy learning! Read below to see all of the awesome things taking place in our classroom.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING:

Reading- This week we are reading a Jr. Great Book, "Lenny's Red Letter Day". Ask your child to tell you about the story and the great discussions that have been taking place. After the Thanksgiving Break will we begin a novel study using the book Pictures of Hollis Woods. Feel free to purchase your child a copy of the novel if they want to have one of their own, but don't read ahead! This book is sure to be one of their favorites!

Language Arts- We are focusing on Narrative Writing for the next two weeks. As I mentioned during conference week, I keep all major writing assignments and send them home at the end of the year.

Science- Continue working on the Matter Learning Contract. Vocabulary is due on November 9. Please remember that a definition and a hand drawn illustration must be included for each term. A recipe card showing a chemical or physical change is due on November 14. Make the item and bring to class for extra credit!! Workbook pages for Chapter 3 Lessons 1-3 are due November 16 and the acceleration option is due November 17. This unit will conclude on November 17.

Our class is doing a super job using First In Math. Although this site has wonderful learning games to play, please encourage your child to complete the Skill Sets also. I am asking that each student work on First In Math for a minimum of 30 minutes a week. Most students are doing much more! Way to go team!!!

Thank you for all of the wonderful treats and goodies that were provided for October. The students really enjoyed the special snacks, drinks, and art projects that were donated!

I am happy to announce that WE WON THE BOX TOP CONTEST!!! WAY TO GO, TEAM!!! We will enjoy a pizza party on November 10 at 12:30. Please bring a soda or a drink to school that day. Two pieces of pizza and brownies will be provided, so pack a lunch from home if your child wants more to eat.

CAN DO Food Drive begins November 4th. Mr. Scott Roma is challenging our school to donate 2500-3000 items. I know we CAN DO it!!! I will have a box in the classroom to collect these items. Publix has a BOGO special on canned goods right now!

IOWA TESTING: Monday, October 10- Friday, October 14. It is important that your child has a good breakfast and arrives to school on time. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00. Please encourage your child to do their very best on each test. Thanks in advance for providing "brain food" for the kids after testing. Please refer to the letter that was sent to you from our room mom. Homework will be minimal next week.

5th GRADE "LOCK UP": Friday, October 14. This sounds like a blast!! Please send those permission slips in so that your child can be part of the fun. Can't wait to see all of our class "Locked Up"!!

SPECIAL THANKS: We had our first mystery reader today. Leslie Norden read Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt to our class. This is a picture book that supports our Civil War study of the Underground Railroad.

Thank you for sending in supplies for our class pumpkin and scarecrow! We have some very creative moms who worked with our class to make this project successful. Chrissy Garrison organized the "Humpty Dumpty" class pumpkin. Leslie Norden, Kathy Borman, and Lisa Plato worked with our class on our knight themed scarecrow. Thank you all!!!

25 BOOK CELEBRATION: October 14. We will be celebrating the students that have read at least 6 chapter books this marking period with an ICE CREAM party!!! At this point in the school year, all students should have completed at least 6 chapter books.

I am proud to announce that Depew Orthodontics will be sponsoring our class this year. What that means is that once a month Dr. Depew or a staff member will come to our class as a guest speaker. Today, Dr. Depew talked to us about substance abuse since Red Ribbon Week is coming up. They also brought goodie bags and cookies for us to enjoy! Special birthday goodie bags, including a movie ticket, were given to August, September, and October birthday students!! WOW!!! We are very lucky to be partnering with such a wonderful office.

 

 

Upcoming Events and Important Dates:

• 5th grade yearbook dedications/photos are being accepted. Information was sent home in the red folder. The deadline to purchase an ad is November 18. Please let me know if you need another copy of the order form.
  
• PTSA Reflections projects are due October 10. The 2011-2012 theme is "Diversity means..." Although I am not asking that each student turn in a Reflections project, extra credit will be given for those who participate. I encourage all students to participate! Email questions to steveandlinda10@bellsouth.net
  
• IOWA testing will take place the week of October 10-14. Please make sure your child arrives at school on time. Testing begins promptly at 8:00.  Mrs. Garrison will make a snack schedule for our class. Thank you in advance for donating snacks and drinks for our class to enjoy after testing.
  
• Keep selling those fundraiser items.
  
• Ford Bingo Night is September 23 at 6:30.
  
• PTSA "Spooktacular" is October 1. Tickets are currently on sale. Check the email I sent out earlier from Leslie Norden. We are in need of donations for our scarecrow. Thanks in advance!!
  
• Ford Elementary Family Science Night is Tuesday, October 4, from 6:00-8:00. Extra credit point will be given to all who attend.
  
• Keep sending those box tops in!!! We are currently in the lead....WAY TO GO!

 5th Grade T-shirts:

• Order forms will be stapled into the agenda on Tuesday, September 27. Please return the order form and payment envelope no later than Friday.  This will be the only opportunity to purchase our class shirt. We will wear these shirts numerous times throughout the year.
  

25 Book Campaign:

• All students should be reading a chapter book at home. We will have our first "25 Book Celebration" on October 14. Each student who has read 6 chapter books will be invited to a ice cream sundae party. Please encourage reading at home!  

Progress Reports:

• Progress reports will be stapled into the agenda on Friday. Please sign your child's progress report and ask them to complete the reflection question at the bottom of the sheet. The reflection piece needs to be written in a well developed paragraph. Continue to look for graded papers to be sent home each Monday.
  

HATCHET:

• We just completed our novel study. The class is busy working on culminating projects. Stop by our room late next week to see the display on the wall outside of our classroom.
  
• SO MANY students are hooked on this book! I wanted to let you know that Hatchet is the first book in a series that your child may want to read. Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, The River, Brian's Hunt, and Guts are all books in the Brian series that are grade level appropriate. PLEASE encourage your child to complete this series. Gary Paulsen is the author.    
  

 

 

 

 

BUCKETS OF BOXTOPS CLASSROOM CONTEST:

(Sept. 12-Oct. 21)

Send Box Tops to school in a Ziploc bag or envelope labeled "Mrs.  Strickland". Two winning classes will be selected from third-fifth grade will receive a free Chick-fil-a biscuit certificate! Yummy!

OPEN HOUSE IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, FROM 6:30-7:30.

FORD FAMILY BINGO NIGHT IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, FROM 6:00-9:00.

Reading- All students should be reading at least 2 hours a week. Record the name of the book and the amount of minutes read each night in the agenda. After Open House we will log our reading somewhere else.

The Strickland Scoop

What We're Studying:

Language Arts- Descriptive Writing/Narrative Writing/The Six Traits of Writing                                  Sentence Types- Sentence Fragments/Run-On Sentences

Reading- Novel Study/Hatchet by Gary Paulsen                                                                                                          Making Connections/Predictions/Visualizing/Predicting

Math- Number Sense/Factors/Multiples/Divisibility Rules/Prime and Composite Numbers

Science- Constructive and Destructive Forces

Important Dates:

9/2    Science Vocabulary Cards are due.

9/9     Science Acceleration Activity & Workbook pages 2-27 are due.

9/15     5th grade Open House (6:30-7:30) PTA meeting at 6:00.

A Few Reminders:

• All students should be reading a minimum of 2 hours a week (Monday-Sunday)
• First in Math: Students were given their username and passwords this week. Each student needs to be working on this website for 30 minutes a week. I have a link to this website under the "pages" area on this blog.
• Red Folders will be sent home each Monday. Please sign the behavior sheet, review all graded papers, and return the folder on Tuesday.
• Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!

Textbook Links

MATH: www.eharcourtschool.com

SST: www.eduplace.com/eservices

SCIENCE:  www.kb.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.