Congratulations Student of the Month and Life Skill Winners

Our Student of the Month was Emma Lane. She has really shown that she is serious about 5th grade. I would also like to conratulate our September Life Skill Winners for Responsibility: Emma Lane, Lauren McCabe, and Ben Kibiloski. They have really proven to be very responsible when it comes to doing the right thing, getting work completed, and working in groups.

The Westing Game

In the Westing Game we learn that Samuel Westing has written a will and has 16 heirs. All of these heirs are very interested to learn what Sam Westing has left them. If you were to write your own will, what three items would you include to leave to someone else? What makes these three things so important to you? Who would you give each of these items to and why?

Read Across America

I am so happy to see so many students really diving into our reading program this year. Many students have already completed bookmarks and are on their way to getting their Read Across America map completed this year. I would love to hear about some of the books that you guys are reading. Feel free to comment at anytime to this post and let me know about a book you are reading or one that you suggest your classmates read.
Mrs. K

Read Across America

Just some info on our reading program this year. We are doing something called Read Across America. Basically your child has a map of the US and each state is a different book genre, type of reading, or books by certain authors. Students need to be reading at least 20 minutes every night and writing down what they are reading on their reading log. They need to always fill in the dates column and all other columns when the are reading a new book. Reading logs are due every Friday and I check that they have read the required minutes and a parent has initialed. Students should be reading a book for one state at a time. Only reading completed at home for homework counts toward weekly reading assignment. Students can also write down their biography book and the Chains book from Social Studies on their log and count it toward a state covering those genres, just initial that you know that they have read them. If you have any questions, please email me at school.
Thanks,
Mrs. K

First Days of School

I am extremely excited about my new class this year. So far everything has been going great. We have been working hard to get used our new classroom, getting to know everyone, and developing a positive classroom environment.
Mrs. K

10 Days of Poetry

Last day of poetry:

1. Look over your observations from Nothing Ever Happens at Centerfield. Pick a word, phrase, situation, or thought that really sticks to you. Use this word, phrase, situation, or thought to write a new free verse poem. Try to be descriptive as possible and use a few tools from you poetry toolbox to make your poem great.

10 Days of Poetry

Just Because....

Just Because... poems ask you to describe yourself in the first line of the poem. The next three lines in each stanza tell what you are NOT. The final line restates the first line and adds a tag directing the reader to do something.

Student Example:

Just because I'm an only child
I am not a freak
I'm not shy

Just because I'm an only child
I'm not lonely
I'm not selfish
I'm not spoiled

Just because I'm an only child
I know I'm not perfect
I can't always be the best friend
I'm not a nerd

Just because I'm an only child--let me be me

10 Days of Poetry

Using Refrain:
-Repetitive line found throughout the poem
-Is usually found in the same place in each stanza
-Similar to the chorus in a song

Try using one of these refrains in at least a three stanza poem with 4 lines in each stanza:

On my way to school today
I think I’ll stay in bed
And that was that
If you ask me
Why does it have to be me?
I laughed and giggled all day

Student Example:

Why Me?

It's me when I
have to pick up dog poo.
It's me when I have to take
out the trash.
Me, me, always me
Why does it have to be me?

It's me when I have company.
It's me when I have birthdays.
Me, me, always me
Why does it have to be me?

It's me when I am late.
It's me when I have
a bad grade.
Me, me, always me
Why does it have to be me?

by: Darrrah Anderson

10 Days of Poetry

Someday Poems:
Begin each line with the word Someday.... and complete it with a wish you have. Make the first two or three lines say something about your everyday wishes and slowly move away from yourself to the world in general. You may end the poem with the word Someday....

Student examples:

Someday
Someday I will play the guitar
Someday I will have a job
Someday I will get married
Someday I will have kids
Someday I will be rich
Someday I will be noticed

10 Days of Poetry

Sense Poem:
Think of a place that is special. Form an image in your mind of that place of it you can go there. then complete the following statements.

I see ___________________ I see the sage-covered desert
I smell __________________ I smell the freshness of morning
I hear __________________ I hear the scream of the hawk
I feel ___________________ I feel the caress of a breeze
I taste __________________ I taste the dew on the wind
I think __________________ I think the new day is born

After you have written out the sentences, remove the pronouns, verbs, and articles as you need to:

Example:
Sage-covered grass
freshness of morning
scream of the hawk
caress of a breeze
dew of the wind
new day born

10 Days of Poetry

"Where, What, and When" Haiku:
Decide on a topic, make a list of phrases that tell where the action is occurring, make a list of phrases that tell what is happening, make a list of phrases that tell when the action is taking place. Then, use you list to create a 3 line Haiku with a syllable count of 5, 7, 5. Remember the thought should come first, then worry about making it fit. Use powerful, descriptive adjectives and verbs.
This is a Haiku poem that we learned how to write in class. Many students shared their Haiku's today. Please post any that you want to share with the class.

10 Days of Poetry

Diamonte:
The French word diamont means diamond. A Diamonte poem is a seven-line poem that gradually changes from one idea to a direct opposite idea. When it is completed, its total appearance is diamond shaped.

There are two patterns you can follow in writing a diamonte.

Pattern #1:
Line 1= noun
Line 2= adjective, adjective
Line 3= verb, verb, verb
Line 4= noun, noun, noun, noun
Line 5= verb, verb, verb
Line 6= adjective, adjective
Line 7= noun

Pattern #2:
Line 1= opposite of line 7
Line 2= describe line 1
Line 3= Action about line 1
Line 4= 2 nouns about line 1, two nouns about line 7
Line 5= action about line 7
Line 6= describe line 7
Line 7= opposite of line 1

Student example:

Love

Bright, Passionate

Charming, Drifting, Growing

Cherish, Infatuation, Antipathy, Uncaring

Animosity, Falling, Dead

Dark, Disgust

Hate

10 Days of Poetry

I Don't Understand....
Begin the poem with "I don't understand..." List three things you do not understand about the world or people. Name the thing you do not understand most of all. End the poem with an example of something you DO UNDERSTAND.

Student example:

I Don't Understand....

I don't understand

why people dislike me

why people can't get along

why dogs are colorblind and cats aren't

But most of all

why people are prejudiced

why people move away

why people argue over stupid stuff

why there is wars

What I understand most is

why trees grow

why birds chirp

why the sun shines

why the car goes

10 Days of Poetry

Three Word Forms:
Each Line is made up of three words. The last two words become the first two words in the next line. In the poem, there will be a progress of images and a story will be told.

Student Examples:

Mornings

sleep, alarm, awake

alarm, awakes, shower

awake, shower, clothes

shower, clothes, shoes

clothes, shoes, dog

shoes, dog, run

dog, run breakfast,

run, breakfast, sunrise

breakfast, sunrise, car

sunrise, car, work.

Football

ball, snap, run

snap, run, tackle

run, tackle, sack

tackle, sack, pass

sack, pass catch

pass, catch, 1st down

catch, 1st down, touchdown

10 Days of Poetry

List poems- there are so many things that can be written about in lists, that sometimes we cannot think of a thing to write. To help, ideas for lists are below.

The Sources of :
softness, redness, squeaks, cold, sights

Things that:
ring, you find in the grocery, hear in your house, smell in school, are round/square

Things:
to do waiting for the bus, to do trying to fall asleep, you should have done, you should not have done, that make you feel tall, that make you feel small, that you tell your mother


Lists can be either rhyming or not. it is up to the writer to decide which style he/she uses. You are going to write two poems, in at least one of the poems you write, make the list humorous or far-fetched. Then in the final line, give the poem a serious turn.


Student Example:
Things Kids Say When They Want to Get Out to Play
I did all my homework.
I picked up my toys.
I emptied the trash.
My bed is made. No, there are no lumps.
I ate all my vegetables.
But everyone else is.
Bobby's mom doesn't make him.
But, Mom.
No, my dirty clothes aren't under the bed.
Yes, Mom, I'm sure.
Yeah, I'll be careful.. No, I won't poke an eye out.
Oh, please!

10 Days of Poetry

Synonym poetry- choose any word. Write that word in capital letters on the first line. In a thesaurus ( http://www.m-w.com), look up the word and find three to five synonyms for it. Write the synonyms on the second line. On the third line, write a descriptive phrase about the word. The last two lines of the poem should rhyme.

Students example:

LOVE
Attachment, adoration, warmth,
adore
Love is so pure, right down to the
core.

NOISE
Clamor, uproar, hullabaloo.
These things can really annoy you.

10 Days of Poetry

Concrete poetry is the use of words and their physical formation to convey meaning. This may done with color, the shape of the letters, and/or the arrangement of words.

Directions: Graphically create a scene using only words that relate in some way to your object. From a distance this will look like a picture, but up close it will consist only of words and phrases. No extra lines or shapes should be used. A light pencil might be drawn first as a guide. Use color, shapes, and sizes that will enhance the meaning of the words.

Blog Check

We are reading many novels in our classroom and participating in book clubs. Please leave me a post letting me know what you think of your book so far and how you are enjoying being part of a book club? Those who participate will earn a reward.
Mrs. K

Read Across America

Since I have not had much class participation in the latest reading challenge, I've decided that only students who particpate will get a chance to have pizza and a movie with three friends. Unless your entire class participates. I have extended the challenge until the end of this week due to snow days, so get those book marks turned in. Right now the leader is Emma DeBurger with 13 book marks.

Read Across America

We are having another Read Across America "Book Mark" Challenge for the next two weeks. The class with the most book marks turned in by Friday, Feb. 19th will get a pizza party and movie in Mrs. K's room. So, get those book marks filled out and turned in to get credit.
Mrs. K

Read Across America Challenge

Read Across America Challenge: This week's challenge is to read books for the state of Georgia, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. The class with the most people to read these states and filled out a bookmark this week, will earn tickets for the class drawings.

Mrs. K

The Good Harvest

The Warrior Dance

The Grass Dance

The Rain Dance

The Good Hunt

Students really worked hard on their Native American Unit. They had to choreograph their own Native American dances that included locomotor and non locomotor movements, as well as, many elements of space, time, and force. Students also had to create a Native American Mask that using three different mediums and that showed cultural influences. They did an excellent job.

What's Going on in the Classroom

Students are now back in the swing of things after our long holiday. I really happy to see that students are becoming much more responsible and committed to being a outstanding student. Right now we are focusing on many new concepts in class.
Social Studies: students are learning about events leading up to the revolutionary war and recently experienced what it was like to be taxed without representation.
Math: students are learning all about fractions and how to reduce them to their simplest form.
Science: students are learning about motion and forces and have been doing some great experiments with their lab partners to support these concepts.
Language Arts: students have been developing their writing skills and working with Mrs. Heim to write a terrific exploded moment for their personal narratives. They have also been working on their open response and on demand writing skills. We will soon be working in book clubs on some great novels and we are focusing on asking questions while we read.

Check out this great Dr. Seuss website that Mrs. Blake found.

http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject

Life Skill and Student of the Month

Congratulations January Life Skill winners and Student of the Month

Life Skill- Initiative

• Hart Hillerich
• Alex Taylor
• Peyton Aston

Student of the Month

• Haley Webb