January 22nd through 26th

Keenoy’s Pups News                                1-26-18

Dear Families,

It was so nice to have a full week of school!  It is amazing what can be accomplished when there are minimal interruptions and distractions.  Students earned a celebration for reaching our class goal of 700 Keenoy Pup Cash.  A letter with more information about the celebration will be coming home today.  Congratulations Pups!

Hopefully if your child is interested in playing an instrument in middle school, he/she could attend one of the try-out nights. If you could not attend AND your child is interested in band/orchestra, please send me an email as soon as possible.  The band teachers from Smithton are willing to come over to Paxton to sign up students that didn’t get a chance to go to one of the try out nights. We want all students that are interested to have this incredible opportunity. Please don’t let cost influence your decision either. Dr. Stiepleman assures us that any student that wishes to play an instrument will be able to play an instrument!

Pup of the Week-Hillary A.

Hello, my name is Hillary.  I am an only child and I have many pets-4 cats, a dog, a hermit crab and a lizard-not all at the same house.     I really like school and my favorite subject is reading.      I like to play basketball and my games are on Saturdays in the winter time.   

The next Pup of the Week is Wesley V.  Please bring any pictures or items that you would like to put on our bulletin board that is located outside of our classroom.

Shakespeare’s Pizza PTA Fundraiser

Another letter will be going home today with information about this Fundraiser.  Please consider participating to help our school.  If every fifth grader sells only 3 pizzas, then we will earn almost $2,000!  This money will help improve the end of the year fifth grade activities.  Thank you!

Valentine’s Party and Exchange

Our valentine party will be Friday, Feb. 9th from 2:15-3:00. Any parents that are helping with the party may begin setting up at 2:00. Students may bring valentines for their classmates. This is not required. However, if students choose to bring valentines, there should be one for each student in the class. Attached to this newsletter is a class list. While we will not decorate bags/boxes at school, students are more than welcome to do this at home and bring to school for exchanging valentines.

I’ve also included an email note from Mrs. Allen for volunteers.  It sounds like we still need a photographer and a game volunteer.  Thanks for considering donating your time for their last party of 5^th grade.

Math

Students will be taking the Unit 4 Test next Wednesday.  We will spend Monday and Tuesday reviewing concepts taught during the unit.

Reading

I started a new plan for students writing down their thinking about their reading.  Instead of writing their thinking in their reading notebook, I’ve asked students to write their ideas on a sheet of paper.  This paper is then turned in each day and returned the next day with an effort grade.  If students are writing their ideas clearly, neatly, and supporting their thinking with a text detail then they are earning a plus. 

The comprehension strategies that we will continue focusing on include:

*Theme

*Comparing and Contrasting

*Point of View

*Cause and Effect

*Main Idea

Informational Writing

Last week and early this week, I provided students more time to research information about their charity.  I shared a Google Doc with them that provides several helpful sites to gather information.  Although students can branch off this list, most students are finding the information needed within the sites provided. 

While students were taking notes about the subtopics that they selected, we also looked closely at the rubric expectations for organization and beginnings. We then graded several non-fiction beginnings to help students better understand how writers start their informational stories.  I also gave them a recipe for how to write an effective non-fiction beginning.  We will continue drafting our story next week, and I will continue conferencing with students each day.  Students should leave each writing conference with a goal for improvement. 

Science

In science, we will finish up with our experimental design unit.  Students will conduct an experiment by testing the amount of force needed to pull a bag of sand across three different types of surfaces.  Our next unit in science will focus on matter. 

Social Studies

We will pick back up with Social Studies next week by learning about The Early Republic in Chapter 10.  This chapter focuses on The Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812, and the Trail of Tears.

Word Study

We are starting back up with our word study cycle.  Students will have 10 words to study next week.  Please take some time to quiz your child from their word list.  I will have students write the list of words in their planner today.  The list focuses on words that make the long e sound unless alternative words were given.

Upcoming Dates

*Feb. 5 … No School - Teacher Workday

*Feb. 6...Baby pics due for yearbook

*Feb. 9...Shakespeare’s Pizza fundraiser forms due

*Feb. 9...Valentine Party 2:15-3:00

*Feb. 12-16...Conference Week

*Feb. 16...No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences

*Feb. 19… No School - President’s Day                                                      

Class List for Valentines (if participating)

Hillary A.

Woodley B.

Kyah B.

Taylor B.

Brody C.

Luke E.

Noah E.

Abbie F.

Sabrina H.

Bradley H.

Hattie H.

Gaon J.

Briana J.

Thang K.

Parker K.

Lilly M.

Alex M.

Rashad N.

Henry S.

Wesley V.

Jackson W.

Tristan W.