What to do over Winter Break?????

Students will have a winter break packet to complete. The packets are due on January 4th. Items that are to be turned in by this date have been given out during the last two weeks of school for December.

Here is a list of what is due...

1. Notecards for state report (all research must be done over the winter break) We made outlines in class and they have plenty of handouts to help! (We started on this on December 9th)
2. Winter Break Reading Packet (20 questions- must use strategies) (To be given on Tuesday, December 15th)
3. One Home Reading Log for the ENTIRE BREAK- only has 5 entries! (given on Monday, December 14th)
4. Flip Book- December Book Response Activity(Was given on December 10th)

Great Websites for State Reports

Blank Outline State Maps50 States...maps

Explore the Stateshttp://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es

Facts About the StatesClick on any state or on the list below for data and facts galore!Population figures come from the 2000 U.S. census. Numbers in parentheses after Population, Area, and Entered Union show the state's rank compared with other states.http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/states.html

Fun Facts about the States...http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/funfacts/funfacts.html

Netstate Information Site...great site to get detailed information about your state. http://www.netstate.com/states/

OnLine guide to the States...http://americasroof.com/usa.shtml

Quick Facts: Learn About Your StateDo you know your state's motto, bird, or when it became a state? Do you know your Congresspeople or how to contact them? Choose a state from the map to find out!http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/state/

Reference: learn about the United States on Yahool http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/around_the_world/u_s__states/

State & County QuickFacts http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/

State Fact SheetsState fact sheets provide information on population, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for each state in the United States. This information was last updated on November 6, 2003. http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/

State Factshttp://www.abcteach.com/States/StateTOC.htm

States, Capitals and much more! http://www.50states.com/

The Fifty States...http://www.infoplease.com/states.html

The States of the United Stateshttp://www.usconstitution.net/conststates.php3

The US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/

The US50 The US50 is an extensive guide to history, outdoors, tourism, events and attractions for the fifty states. http://www.theus50.com/

United States - Facts and Statisticshttp://www.teachervision.fen.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2383.html

US State FactsWelcome to the World of Education's US State Facts. Find out quick facts and information about the fifty states and Washington, DC. Complete with state maps and flags, the E-World US State Facts is great for students and educators, homework and trivia. http://library.educationworld.net/statefacts/

KUDOS to .....

CONGRATS TO OUR PRELIMINARY ROUND SPELLING BEE WINNERS!
Keegan
Deavien
Anthony
Kaitlyn
Shelby
Carolyn
Andrew S.
Michael
Raine
Sean

Study hard and get ready for that next round in January! I am super proud of you guys! You make your "SCHOOL MAMA" happy!!!!!!

Macon has arrived!

Hi guys! 

I hope you are all doing well in class and being on your best behavior! I miss all of you terribly and am assuming that you are giving 110% in all that you are doing for Mrs. Gustin and Mrs. Schermann. I have attached a picture of Macon so you could all see! I think he is quite the cutie! Progress Reports went home Friday and there are a couple of you who I know can do much better.  A majority of those grades were from the assignments you completed with me while I was there. I spoke with Mrs. Gustin about Home Reading Logs and the Monthly Book Count that was turned in yesterday. She informed me that most of you are doing really well with these assignments. I was very happy to hear this! I do hope those of you who are not turning in assignments find them and get them in as soon as possible. Don't forget our classroom homework policy. Silly zeros can pull your grade down very quick! 

Anyway, keep up the good work that you all are doing and I will be checking in with Mrs. Gustin and Mrs. Schermann again soon for an update on your grades, behavior, homework, and more! 

I miss you all tons! 

Mrs. Lammi :)

DRA levels, Information, and Ways to Help at Home

Diagnostic Reading Level (DRA) Information was written in your child's agenda today. The DRA is a letter that is used to describe your child's reading level when using the classroom library. Students should be reading leveled books as of today. The level was recorded in the agenda. Please use the websites I have listed below to view some titles that are on your child's reading level when visiting the public library. I have listed the sites by grade level so you can see what grade level your child is currently reading on. Right now, entering the fifth grade, your child should be reading on at least a level Q or R. This puts them on track to be able to transition through reading levels before FCAT and have a higher success rate on this test. Please note that any level lower than a "O" is considered 3rd grade.

Grade 4
http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/gradefour.html
Grade 5
http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/gradefive.html
Grade6
http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/gradesix.html

HOW CAN I HELP AT HOME???

• Read with your child at home.
• Have your child listen to you read.
• Make sure your child reads at least 15-20 minutes each day.
• Ask your child to tell you about what they read.
• When watching TV with your child, ask them what the show your watching is about so far during the commercial breaks. Who are the main characters? Where is the setting? Make sure they tell you in great detail when answering.
• Have an older sibling read to them who has great fluency when reading.
• Check over their Home Reading Logs and READ what they are recording. Currently, we are working on connecting to what we have read. Students should write down their reflection. A reflection is what they connect to on the pages they read and why they connect that way. It should be three to five sentences long. It must include details.

BOOK RESPONSE FOR SEPETEMBER

Book Response Information came home today. It is due along with the Monthly Reading Log that is located in the back of the agenda. This will be turned in on Spetember 28th.

Upcoming Dates

(copied from the Pawprint Newsletter sent home on Spetember 1st, 2009)


September 3 – Girl Scout AND Boy Scout Round-up (See Pawprint for more details)
September 7 – Labor Day Holiday- No School
September 9 – Early Dismissal
September 10 – OPEN HOUSE – 6:30 – 8:00 (Food will be available for purchase)
September 18 – PTA Dance
September 23 – Early Dismissal
September 24 – Individual Student Picture Day