It has been fun and interesting to watch the kids invent new games to play at recess. One is "Straightjacket Tag."  J 

I've had to stand guard to make sure things don't get out-of-hand, and also to relieve anxieties of the other teachers on recess duty. I'm erring on letting the kids create and invent vs. squelching their ingenuity. 

Students may enter the AGATE Scholarship opportunity. Winners are awarded $400. I shared with the students a winning entry from the 7^th or 8^th grade level. It takes a LOT of thought and preparation. The link to access the application is http://www.mtagate.org/scholarships/summer_scholarship.html. If you have a child in high school or middle school that has been identified as gifted, they, too, can apply for their grade level. AGATE does not receive as many applications from those grade levels as we do from the elementary level.


The annual Read-a-thon kicked off on Friday, January 20^th. Each student has a packet. Please look over the envelope with your child.

Talent Show try-outs will be February 2 for 4-6 in the library at 3:00.

Report cards came out Thursday, January 19th. Please sign the envelope and return it. 

Reminder: You can check your child's grades online at any time. If you need the instructions again, just shoot me an email. 

READING

Students have begun reading their new novels. The groups have a mix of 5^th & 6^th graders in them.

MATH

More and more fractions  (m/ 4  ¾ =  38 )  & fraction story problems.

LANG

Writing and diagramming.  

LWR: I'll put it up later. I forgot to bring it home.

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Slavery

SCIENCE

January 30^th: Science Fair question, background, and hypothesis  is due. http://www.billingsclinic.com/scienceexpo

Newton's Laws and analyzing data. Lots of whacking, tracking, and speeding balls!

LWR  psych

Prefix

Root


psycho     mind, spirit
bio            life
graph       write, written
metr        measure
nom         law, order
somat      body

Suffix

-ic                like, related to
-ology          study of, science
-osis            condition

SPELLING

5th grade

U 22 Suffixes: -ful, -ly, -ness, -less, -ment

Dictation Sentences

1.   Did Mac speak calmly or nervously?

2.   The songs made the play delightful!

3.  Don’t fear that harmless snake.

Basic:

watchful, countless, forgetful, effortless, plentiful, lately, steadily, noisily, settlement, closeness, government, agreement, cloudiness, tardiness, forgiveness, enjoyment, appointment

Challenge:

suspenseful, merciless, seriousness, contentment, suspiciously

Real World Vocabulary  Science: Snakes

slither, constrict, burrow, venom, fangs, viper, poisonous, antidote

U 23 Suffixes: Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences

1.  A siesta after lunch restores energy.

2.  The tsunami was a wave fifty feet tall.

3.  Sam wore dungarees instead of slacks.

Basic:

mattress, tycoon, poncho, lasso, cargo, plaza, hammock, burrito, bandanna, tomato, patio, vanilla, iguana, caravan, pajamas, tortilla

Challenge:

mosquito, cathedral, alligator, tambourine, sombrero

Real World Vocabulary  Music: Music Appreciation

concert, quartet, harpsichord, oboe, viola, congas, accordion, harmony

6th grade

U 22 Plurals

Dictation Sentences

1.   We ate fish, spinach, and potatoes.

2.    Artists are working in their studios.

3.    She ate both halves of the pear.

Basic:

solos, cliffs, pianos, sheriffs, cellos, ratios, stereos, studios, echoes, heroes, potatoes, volcanoes, tomatoes, halves, leaves, scarves, calves, wolves, yourselves, bookshelves

Challenge:

vetoes, mosquitoes, avocados, wharves, sopranos.

Real World Vocabulary: Math  Probability

mathematical, outcome, likely estimate, prediction, proportion, inequality, occurrence

U 23 Prefixes: dis-, ex- inter-

Dictation Sentences

1.    Grains of salt will dissolve in water.

2.    The cord won’t extend any farther.

3.    Search by computer on the Internet.

Basic:

disobey, dispute, distract, dispose, distress, discount, experience, exactly, experiment, extreme, exclaim, expensive, explanation, interview, interest, interact, interstate

Challenge:

extinct, distort, intermediate, expiration, dissent

Real World Vocabulary  Life Skills Road Map Key

legend, federal, toll road, multilane, secondary, interchange, junction, gravel