Wow...
Approximately only 6 weeks left. We have officially started talking about preparing for next year already- I can't believe the year is almost over...
Currently we are working on writing memoirs in Writing, and I am soooooo excited about their progress so far. I highly encourage that you take the time to talk to the kids about their topics- any sort of memories or perspective that you have on what happened in their lives can help give them a big picture. Or whipping out the good ole' photo album is always helpful. We are hoping to have the Memoir unit finished by the end of May, and that will be our final writing unit.
I am so proud of how much they have accomplished this year- and they are trucking through this unit very well.
For reading, we are working on understanding the true meaning of books, but using our interpreting skills. We should be done with that next week, so we can start reading fantasy books. Currently, we are reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke as our read aloud, so that should jump start their understanding for fantasy.
Other major announcements is that our kids finished marvelously with Badger Assessments- we had everyone finish in two days or less- which is awesome considering the type of testing as well as the amount of kids having to take the test.
But even though one set of testing is finished, we still have our final round of Fountas and Pinelle testing (reading assessments) and Spring MAPS testing. The window for both of those will be starting up next week already, so be prepared for our final round. It is because of this that I am foregoing social studies/science test.
Also, on May 19th we are going to have a WEB leaders field trip to Parisi Park, so please make sure you turn in a permission slip.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Starting the Last Laps
Welcome back from spring break!
I hope everyone enjoyed the family time and the extra sleep! I know I really enjoyed the rest. Especially after the Basketball team's success over Kentucky Sunday night. And thank goodness for wonderful kids to help distract me from the depression that followed Tuesday morning. Gotta love being a Badger Fan.
Gah.
On Wisconsin!
Winter is coming 6th Grade is coming!
The big message I have been preaching about this week has been that these are the last laps of the run. We are less than 9 weeks away from these 5th graders officially being 6th graders. This means that I am going to really push these kids to work on being more organized and prepared for class and for the transitions. I have noticed that many of you have already purchased an expanding file or binder- this is awesome. It makes the kids keep their essentials together as much as possible, and not have to go to their lockers as often throughout the class period. . I highly encourage this so kids can reduce their transition time looking for a pencil. Yippe!!
( see if you can decode the hidden message in this paragraph for something else really exciting this weekend, for all you book worms out there!)
State Testing/ Badger Assessment
Coming up next week is the first round of our state tests, the Badger Assessment.
On Tuesday, April 14th, the kids will be working on the chromebooks from 11:40-1:20 on the English/Language Arts portion of the test. These tests are VERY different than the MAPS or anything they have taken before. We have spent a few hours already looking through the practice test online and the tutorial, but I encourage all of you to go on the DPI website and look at it/practice it yourselves...it's super intense. On April 21st, the 22 and the 23 (the following week), the students will be doing their Math portion of the Badger Exam. It is spread over three days because on the 22nd, teachers are instructing the students with something called a "performance task". It is a scripted mini lesson that teachers will take to instruct and work with the students, so on the 23rd, the test will refer back to that task the day before.
Originally, the ELA portion was to have this as well, equating to almost 9 hours of testing, but about a month ago, the state removed this portion to shorten the amount of time being spent.
The worst part about all this, is that next year this test will be completely different most likely...
Engineering Expo
On the 16th of next week, students will be headed to the Engineering Expo. we will be leaving from the school at 8:30 and arriving around 2:15-2:30. I will send out another email on Monday with more information for chaperones. The big thing is that the kids will need to carry with them their sacked lunches, and there are a lot of freebies that will be passed out to the kids. If you have a string backpack, or a small backpack, please have your child bring that with them on the trip so it is easy to carry.
Human Growth and Development
Students will be taking part in Human Growth and Development classes next week, if you DO NOT want your child to take part in the class with their peers during phy ed time, please inform me now so I can send you the permission slip as soon as possible.
Grades
are posted in the Parent Portal. :)
Zachary Howe
Shout out to a great friend of mine, Zachary Howe, who came in Monday morning and talked about being an author. He just self-published his first novel, The Heir of Olympus and the Forest Realm in February. Zach and I have known each other since we were 13, and it was quite a surprise to find out that he had been working on publishing a book. He told the story to the kids about how he hated school growing up and how reading the Harry Potter series changed his life and inspired him to write. He also talked about how to be motivated for writing, and how important reading and writing work together. He also spent a good chunk of time talking about Greek mythology, which was fascinating! It was a great activity for the first day back from break, and a great learning experience for everyone. I was so impressed by how many students really knew so much information about mythology. They even had a few minutes to work on their own ideas for a myth. I think a lot of the kids really learned a lot from his message, and enjoyed his presence.
Here are some photos that I took of the kids with Mr. Howe:
I am currently reading the book when I have some free time (which is quite rare) and I highly advise for an audience of 15 and up. :) It's awesome so far- and I am only on chapter 5!
Let me know if you have any questions. I can't believe we are running out of time already!
:(
-Ms. Davidson
I hope everyone enjoyed the family time and the extra sleep! I know I really enjoyed the rest. Especially after the Basketball team's success over Kentucky Sunday night. And thank goodness for wonderful kids to help distract me from the depression that followed Tuesday morning. Gotta love being a Badger Fan.
Gah.
On Wisconsin!
The big message I have been preaching about this week has been that these are the last laps of the run. We are less than 9 weeks away from these 5th graders officially being 6th graders. This means that I am going to really push these kids to work on being more organized and prepared for class and for the transitions. I have noticed that many of you have already purchased an expanding file or binder- this is awesome. It makes the kids keep their essentials together as much as possible, and not have to go to their lockers as often throughout the class period. . I highly encourage this so kids can reduce their transition time looking for a pencil. Yippe!!
( see if you can decode the hidden message in this paragraph for something else really exciting this weekend, for all you book worms out there!)
State Testing/ Badger Assessment
Coming up next week is the first round of our state tests, the Badger Assessment.
On Tuesday, April 14th, the kids will be working on the chromebooks from 11:40-1:20 on the English/Language Arts portion of the test. These tests are VERY different than the MAPS or anything they have taken before. We have spent a few hours already looking through the practice test online and the tutorial, but I encourage all of you to go on the DPI website and look at it/practice it yourselves...it's super intense. On April 21st, the 22 and the 23 (the following week), the students will be doing their Math portion of the Badger Exam. It is spread over three days because on the 22nd, teachers are instructing the students with something called a "performance task". It is a scripted mini lesson that teachers will take to instruct and work with the students, so on the 23rd, the test will refer back to that task the day before.
Originally, the ELA portion was to have this as well, equating to almost 9 hours of testing, but about a month ago, the state removed this portion to shorten the amount of time being spent.
The worst part about all this, is that next year this test will be completely different most likely...
Engineering Expo
On the 16th of next week, students will be headed to the Engineering Expo. we will be leaving from the school at 8:30 and arriving around 2:15-2:30. I will send out another email on Monday with more information for chaperones. The big thing is that the kids will need to carry with them their sacked lunches, and there are a lot of freebies that will be passed out to the kids. If you have a string backpack, or a small backpack, please have your child bring that with them on the trip so it is easy to carry.
Human Growth and Development
Students will be taking part in Human Growth and Development classes next week, if you DO NOT want your child to take part in the class with their peers during phy ed time, please inform me now so I can send you the permission slip as soon as possible.
Grades
are posted in the Parent Portal. :)
Zachary Howe
Shout out to a great friend of mine, Zachary Howe, who came in Monday morning and talked about being an author. He just self-published his first novel, The Heir of Olympus and the Forest Realm in February. Zach and I have known each other since we were 13, and it was quite a surprise to find out that he had been working on publishing a book. He told the story to the kids about how he hated school growing up and how reading the Harry Potter series changed his life and inspired him to write. He also talked about how to be motivated for writing, and how important reading and writing work together. He also spent a good chunk of time talking about Greek mythology, which was fascinating! It was a great activity for the first day back from break, and a great learning experience for everyone. I was so impressed by how many students really knew so much information about mythology. They even had a few minutes to work on their own ideas for a myth. I think a lot of the kids really learned a lot from his message, and enjoyed his presence.
Here are some photos that I took of the kids with Mr. Howe:
I am currently reading the book when I have some free time (which is quite rare) and I highly advise for an audience of 15 and up. :) It's awesome so far- and I am only on chapter 5!
Let me know if you have any questions. I can't believe we are running out of time already!
:(
-Ms. Davidson
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Spring is here!!
I don't know about all of you, but I know I am just loving this beautiful sunshine!
Since spring is officially right around the corner, here are a few things to be on the lookout for:
1. The Engineering Expo on April 16th.
The entire 5th grade is heading to the UW and hanging out in the engineering part of campus. We are so excited to spend the day learning and exploring together. We will be having lunch- so we do ask that you either sign up for a sacked lunch from the school, or bring your own healthy (NO NUTS) lunch. I also can bring about 3-5 parent volunteers ( I have one signed up!) if any one is interested.
2. Human Growth and Development
Click this link for the official letter being sent out:
http://goo.gl/LfCYDT
This is the only time we are doing Human Growth and Development in 5th grade. Students will not be missing classes, they will be doing it during their phy ed encore time. If you do not want your child to participate with the group, you need to send in a permission slip by Friday, April 10th.
3. Lots of BOOKS!
Our library has expanded greatly! It's a new project for me to make sure we have good, leveled and interesting topics for our kiddos to read consistently. However, I have noticed that the library has dwindled. If you see a book laying around at home that has a dot sticker in the corner with a letter written in it, please make sure your son or daughter brings that back!
.
Since spring is officially right around the corner, here are a few things to be on the lookout for:
1. The Engineering Expo on April 16th.
The entire 5th grade is heading to the UW and hanging out in the engineering part of campus. We are so excited to spend the day learning and exploring together. We will be having lunch- so we do ask that you either sign up for a sacked lunch from the school, or bring your own healthy (NO NUTS) lunch. I also can bring about 3-5 parent volunteers ( I have one signed up!) if any one is interested.
2. Human Growth and Development
Click this link for the official letter being sent out:
http://goo.gl/LfCYDT
This is the only time we are doing Human Growth and Development in 5th grade. Students will not be missing classes, they will be doing it during their phy ed encore time. If you do not want your child to participate with the group, you need to send in a permission slip by Friday, April 10th.
3. Lots of BOOKS!
Our library has expanded greatly! It's a new project for me to make sure we have good, leveled and interesting topics for our kiddos to read consistently. However, I have noticed that the library has dwindled. If you see a book laying around at home that has a dot sticker in the corner with a letter written in it, please make sure your son or daughter brings that back!
.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
March Madness
It has been such a crazy few weeks- I can't believe it's March already!
Spirit Week is underway and it is going amazingly well. The class chant for our class is "Cougars show me 5- 04! We want more!" and "KMS- is the Best! Rawr!"
Today, some of the MHS pep band and the 8th grade students came and performed some awesome pep songs for the kids. We even had a surprise visit from "Bristy" the MHS Cardinal (we named it Bristy as of today if it hasn't been named yet, after Bristol Street. I was vying for Chuck, but I was vetoed.. ) Bristy and the kids had a blast listening to the band, and we even got an entire 5th grade conga line to dance for the last song. Unbelievably, there were no injuries or fights. Gotta love a little conga!
Tomorrow, I am super excited for our guests to come. We have the Green Bay Packer drum core coming to perform, as well as THE Buckingham Badger.
Should be a blast.
So for all of you parents who are coming for parent teacher conferences tomorrow night- it's going to be a fun day to come afterwards. As the schedule stands, I have a very booked day- with only about 15 minutes for dinner. So please, if you have anything you want to discuss with me, please let me know now so we do not go over our allotted time. I am very excited to touch base with all of you! It's been an incredible quarter (or two)!
Spirit Week is underway and it is going amazingly well. The class chant for our class is "Cougars show me 5- 04! We want more!" and "KMS- is the Best! Rawr!"
Today, some of the MHS pep band and the 8th grade students came and performed some awesome pep songs for the kids. We even had a surprise visit from "Bristy" the MHS Cardinal (we named it Bristy as of today if it hasn't been named yet, after Bristol Street. I was vying for Chuck, but I was vetoed.. ) Bristy and the kids had a blast listening to the band, and we even got an entire 5th grade conga line to dance for the last song. Unbelievably, there were no injuries or fights. Gotta love a little conga!
Tomorrow, I am super excited for our guests to come. We have the Green Bay Packer drum core coming to perform, as well as THE Buckingham Badger.
Should be a blast.
So for all of you parents who are coming for parent teacher conferences tomorrow night- it's going to be a fun day to come afterwards. As the schedule stands, I have a very booked day- with only about 15 minutes for dinner. So please, if you have anything you want to discuss with me, please let me know now so we do not go over our allotted time. I am very excited to touch base with all of you! It's been an incredible quarter (or two)!
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