Parents:
I hope you are finding the beginning of school in fifth grade as exciting as we are. The children are enjoying changing classes and are settling into a routine. I will be posting the weekly assignments on our blog. I hope you will find this helpful. When students are absent due to illness, remember to pick up their materials and daily assignments from the counter in the Lower School Office after 2:30 P.M.
Language Arts & Bible Assignments for August 23-27
Wordly Wise: Lesson 1 grade on Tuesday, Aug. 24
Students need to study their definition cards and go over Lesson 1 (A, B, C, D, and E) in their Wordly Wise book. These tests are all application of the word meanings which is practiced in the book exercises. Wordly Wise is a great way for your child to increase his/her knowledge of vocabulary. Students have already found many of Lesson 1's words in their AR books.
Basic Reading Skills:
We will begin reading the story, "Earthquake Terror" from the basal reader. Students will have vocabulary words and skills which will be tested as well as comprehension. Testing for this assignment will be announced later next week.
Accelerated Reader Testing:
Students are expected to read one AR book by midterm and a second book by the end of the 8th week of the nine weeks period. Two books is the minimum! Many have already started testing. Of course, I encourage each student to challenge himself/herself to read many more than two books. Each book they read is counted as one book only, no matter how many pages it has. Most books appropriate for fifth graders have 180 pages or more. Many students read books of 300 pages or more and love the reading challenge.
*Remember! All AR testing must be done in the fifth grade classrooms. Students may come into the rooms in the mornings prior to 7:45 and test in a quiet environment. If a student cannot get here in time to test in the mornings, then we will find a time during the day for him/her to test.
Spelling: Lesson 2 grade on Wednesday, Aug. 25
Students need to practice writing correctly the basic, review, and challenge words in each lesson. Students will show their knowledge of the basic spelling words in a multiple
choice visual format, while the review and challenge words will be written.
Each week we will go over the new spelling list, skill exercises, proofreading, and practice work on Thursday and Friday. Students have until Wed. of the next week to be ready for the spelling grade. Spelling grades are always on Wed. unless otherwise announced.
English: Chapter 1 (Lessons 3-5) grade on Thursday, Aug. 26
Lessons 3-5 (Pages 36-41) will be covered in class this week. Students are studying sentence structure in the first chapter. After practicing and testing on correct sentence structure, students will do their first piece of process writing, an opinion paragraph. We will be alternating the grammar study with its application through process writing throughout the year. We will also do some creative writing just for fun!
Bible: Lesson 2 grade on Friday, Aug. 27
Each week we will read the scripture and do the lesson material in the Bible Guide together in class. Sometimes students will receive extra handouts with study material for the lesson. Students need to study the lesson material in the Bible Guide and any handouts for the Bible grade. We will also do a lesson review before a Bible grade is given. Students will not be using their Bible Guide to assist them in taking a Bible test.
Memory: The Ten Commandments is due by Aug. 27.
Students should practice this at home until they know it well. Students are also expected to know the scripture reference. Students may say memory work before the due date as I have time to listen to it.
Monday Folder:
Students will bring their graded papers and a field trip sign up sheet home in the Monday folder on August 23. Parents, there will be stapled papers from each teacher in the folder so please put a full signature on the first paper of each set. Return the folder with signed papers inside to your child's homeroom teacher. Fill out your requests on the field trip sheet and return it also in the Monday folder. You will sign up for parties at the Parent
PTO meeting on Monday night at 7:00 P.M.
Parents and students, thank you for a great beginning of school! I am thoroughly enjoying teaching these children. If you have any questions about assignments posted on the blog, please e-mail me at gsmith@trinitywildcats.com. I look forward to a great year!
Gidget Smith
