Sunday, December 13, 2009

WEEK 17-Last week of the year!

Dear Parents,
Did everybody enjoy the wet weekend? I wanted to fill you in on everything that is happening this last week before our break.
* A BIG THANKS goes out to Gina Wheeler for organizing the party on Friday and all of the parents who provided tasty treats for the class.
* I hope every 5th grader enjoyed their Family Heritage Reports. Many students have been coming up to me saying, "Guess what Mr. Sweet...I'm related to _____________, or, "My dad was stabbed in a peace rally!" I can't wait to hear a bunch more family stories this week.
* All of this week we will be learning about the holidays: Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Saturnalia and Christmas. The spelling words will all be about the holidays.
* This week our class will be finishing the Saxon Math Book and will be using the HM Book after our return from the break.
* On Thursday of this week I'll be sending home each student's progress report. Please check it over and return it on Friday. You may look online to see their progress in Accelerated Reader. Keep in mind that the trimester began on November 5th and it ends March 5th.
* On Friday our class will be having a "White Elephant" Gift Exchange. I do this every year and my classes love it. Make sure not to spend more than $15 and try to make the gifts something both boys and girls would like.
* If you haven't done so, please check the blog from last week because I have shared a Newspaper Book Project from last year. The link describing the project is on the blog on the lower right portion. Students will be learning how to type in columns like in a real newspaper. Also, they will be bringing home their favorite colored construction paper from class.These projects are not due until Friday, January 22nd. The reason I assigned it prior to the break is that many students get bored over the three weeks and it will give them a chance to get it done, if they wish.
* On Friday of this week the 5th graders will be turning in their Colony Museum Exhibit Projects. We have been working on these in class and they will be finishing them up at home. This creative project will take the place of a Social Studies Test. (The class was very happy about this!)
* Finally, on Monday I am sending home a Mission San Juan Bautista Field Trip form for the 4th graders along with an Ano Nuevo Field Trip for everybody. The Mission trip costs $1 and the Ano Nuevo trip costs $2. Please sign and return the form + $ and let me know if you would like to drive by signing the attached paper.

It should be a great last week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Mr. Sweet

"Where kind hearts and open minds rule."

HOMEWORK MONDAY
READING-Optional
Math L116
Practice Heritage Speech
Social Studies Test on Thursday-4th Grade-Study Guide sent home Monday
Colony Museum Exhibits Due Friday-(Mostly done in class)

HOMEWORK TUESDAY
Reading-Optional
Math L118
Practice Heritage Speech
4th Grade-Study for Social Studies Test
5th Grade-Finish Colony Museum Exhibits-Due Friday.

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Finish Colony Project
Practice Speech
Get White Elephant Gift
BRING BACK PROGRESS REPORT WITH PARENT SIGNATURE

Monday, December 7, 2009

WEEK 16



NEWSPAPER PROJECT EXAMPLE
Homework Monday
Reading-4th Grade-20-4-1-A.R. Book
5th Grade-Finish Crispin and write a summary about the end of the book
CHOOSE A BOOK by Friday for our exciting Newspaper Book Project (Click on link at the lower, right portion of the blog)
It is due on Friday, January 22nd.
MATH-L104
Coordinate Plane Graphing-Create four of your own designs (At least 5 sets of ordered pairs for each graph)
Due Thursday
FAMILY HERITAGE REPORT DUE NEXT MONDAY-DECEMBER 14th
No Spelling this week!
CANNED FOOD DRIVE

Homework Tuesday
Reading-4th Grade/5th Read 20 min.
CHOOSE A BOOK by Friday for our exciting Newspaper Book Project (Click on link at the lower, right portion of the blog)
It is due on Friday, January 22nd.
MATH-L106
Coordinate Plane Graphing-Create four of your own designs (At least 5 sets of ordered pairs for each graph)
Due Thursday
PRACTICE POETRY RECITATION-Memorize by Friday's recital
FAMILY HERITAGE REPORT DUE NEXT MONDAY-DECEMBER 14th
CANNED FOOD DRIVE

HOMEWORK WEDNESDAY
CHECK OUT PICTURE ABOVE OF NEWSPAPER PROJECT
NO READING OR MATH
Practice Poem
Heritage Report
Bring Canned Food
BRING $2 for class party on Friday

HOMEWORK THURSDAY
Practice Poem-Recitals tomorrow + Heritage Report Due Monday
Bring $2 for party (13 students still haven't brought it)