ALL TREATS ARE TAKEN CARE OF!! 
Muchas gracias!


NWEA TESTING SCHEDULE

Monday AM, April 2nd:  Language Test

Wednesday AM, April 11th: Reading Test

Wednesday AM, April 25th: Math Test

The days we have the fewest specialists to schedule around are Mondays and Wednesdays. There are also other teachers who are scheduling the mobile labs as well. So, instead of one week with all the tests, we have 3 weeks with one test each week. I will be gone the afternoon of Wednesday, April 11th - Friday, April 13th to the state gifted convention in Great Falls. I cannot have a sub give tests on those days.  Make up tests will begin Tuesday, April 24th and continue as needed through that week.


If anyone would like to provide snacks for NWEA testing, let me know. Suggestions: 1/2 bananas or orange slices, granola bars, trail mix, Ritzbitz, etc. You have always made great choices in the past!

GOOD LUCK to CW @ the State Geography Bee this Friday, March 30th!! We'll be rooting you on!!!!

Congratulations to MW, ASr, ASt, and CW for the awards they won at the Billings Deaconess Science Expo last weekend!! Every one of the students who entered received recognition (and most of them got some $$, too!)

Weren’t those 6^th graders something?!

And speaking of 6th graders: The middle schools are wanting us to fill out a form for 6th graders. I need to know if your child will be taking a music ALL YEAR, EVERY DAY (band, orchestra, or chorus) OR taking a SEMESTER OF ART and then a SEMESTER OF FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE. These would be everyday, also. Those are the only 2 choices: either a type of music or the semester of art and then a semester of family consumer science (cooking and sewing). They would like this ASAP. Please discuss this with your son/daughter and let me know either via email or by a note in their assignment notebook. THANKS!

Report cards go home this week. Please sign the envelope and return it. You may keep the report.

Important Dates:

LAST WEEK OF MATH CLASSES IN THE AM AND DURING LUNCH!!

Friday, March 30^th: Last day for Girls BB & Poly Spirit Day

Tuesday, April 10th: 6th grade to Alberta Bair (I will stay with 5th graders) PERMISSION SLIPS need to be turned in

Wed, Th, Fri, April 11, 12, and 13^th: I’ll be at the state gifted conference in Great Falls, MT

READING—novels done!

MATH           Graphing & Probability

LANG

Writing—writing an opinion paper on The Freedom Riders.

Diagramming sentences
Clauses, commas, figurative language

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Chapter 14 The Constitution

SCIENCE

Ribbons will be given out this week.

We’re hitting science this week with Newton’s Laws again. We’ll be determining speed; discussing velocity & acceleration, looking at what forces act on pendulums, whacking balls, and sending sheep in a jeep down Hot Wheels tracks. It will be a nice change!

LWR – a surprise from Mrs. Cosgriffe (our MSU-B junior field teacher)

  

Root

Suffix

SPELLING—U 29

5th grade—

U 31  Prefixes: con-, com-, pre-, pro-

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Ty’s boss gave him a promotion.

2.   Eat a preflight meal before traveling.

3.   The sirens made a loud commotion.

Basic: produce, protect, progress, prospect, provide, propose, preview, prejudge, prefix, contain, contest, confide, convince, confirm, computer, combat, company

Challenge: concurrent, conscious, commercial, compete, conversation

Real World Vocabulary Social Studies: Aircraft

ascend, altitude, descend, biplane, cockpit, aviator, taxi, turbulence

6th grade-

U 31  Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences:

1.    A plaque tells who made this statue.

2.   He tilted his beret toward one ear.

3.   We hiked until fatigue overcame us.

Basic: opera, vague, antique, drama, tornado, debut, stampede, gourmet, unique, academy, sonnet, mosquito, diploma, fiesta, debris, cafeteria, quartet

Challenge: bonanza, rendezvous, et cetera, battalion, engage

Real World Vocabulary Music: Singing

Classical, soloist, aria, maestro, mezzo-soprano, alto, bass, baritone

Math classes in the middle schools (next year): Many of you have asked about placement in advanced math classes  for next year. I have some information for you.


Current 5th graders: In order to qualify for placement in a middle school math class (7th grade math as a 6th grader), the math score on the NWEA must be a 259 or higher. The student must also have a "grade of 90% in previous math course". 


Current 6th graders: I am awaiting clarification. I'll post it as soon as I get it.


Enriched English classes in the middle schools: 

For current 6th graders only:  This requires 2 scores, one in Reading and one in Language.

• Reading NWEA spring 2012: 234
• Lang NWEA spring 2012: 232

6^th graders: On March 22^nd, all Poly Drive Elementary 6^th grade students will participate in Night of the Notables. Students research a notable person, living or dead, dress up like them, and share a bio poem. This takes place in the evening in the gym. Students will memorize the bio poem. The audience gets to actively participate by guessing who the notable is. I am looking forward to it!  All 6^th grade students have been given a scoring guide (rubric).

Morning math resumes this next week.

Important Dates:

Thursday, March 22^nd: Night of the Notables 6:30 PM Poly Gym

Wednesday, March 28^th: Last day for Boys BB

Friday, March 30^th: Last day for Girls BB

READING—novels done!

MATH           Ratios, Rates, and Proportions

LANG

Writing—writing an opinion paper on The Freedom Riders

6^th graders: Those who had their papers (biographies) turned in on time received their evaluations on Friday, March 16, 2012. There are 3 who did not get their evaluations yet. I’ll be bringing those over to their homes this weekend after I evaluate them.

Students who received a grade of a C or lower have the opportunity to bring it up IF it is turned in Monday. I gave specific feedback to the students on what needed to be improved. If your child received a C or lower and you do not want them to redo it, I need a note or email from you stating this. Otherwise, I expect those papers to be rewritten.

LWR—below

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Chapter 13

SCIENCE

Display boards can go home. Due to illnesses and other unforeseen events, we have not had all the science projects presented. When all are presented, I will present awards.

We’re hitting science this week with Newton’s Laws again. We’ll be determining speed; discussing velocity & acceleration, looking at what forces act on pendulums, whacking balls, and sending sheep in a jeep down Hot Wheels tracks. It will be a nice change!

LWR – geo

  

Root

gen                 birth, produce, race

centr              center

chron             time

geo                  earth, ground

graph                        write, written

therm                        heat

Suffix

-al                   like, related to

-er                   one who, that which

-ous                having the quality of

-ic                   like, related to

-ology                        study of, science

-y                    state, quality, act

SPELLING—U 29

5th grade—

U 29  Suffix: -ion

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Did you vote in today’s election?

2.   The guilty person  wrote a confession.

3.   Try to relax if you feel tension.

Basic: elect, react, reaction, confess, express, expression, connect, connection, tense, decorate, decoration, pollute, pollution, imitate, imitation, educate, education

Challenge: fascinate, fascination, construct, construction

Real World Vocabulary Math: Learning Algebra

equation, variable, solution, operations, intersect, axis, ordered pair, coordinate

U 30 is a review unit. We skip review units.

6th grade-

29  Prefixes: de-, trans-

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Tadpoles transform into frogs.

2.   We discussed a business transaction.

3.   Miners descend deep into the earth.

Basic: transmit, transfer, transcript, translate, decrease, determine, decision, demonstrate, deposit, detach, debate, defense, describe, decline, detour, definite, decay

Challenge delegate, transition, delinquent, transfusion, deliberate

Real World Vocabulary Social Studies: Books

scribes, quill, lampblack, parchment, vellum, vibrant, lettering, illuminated

U 30 is a review unit. We skip review units.

U 31  Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences:

1.    A plaque tells who made this statue.

2.   He tilted his beret toward one ear.

3.   We hiked until fatigue overcame us.

Basic: opera, vague, antique, drama, tornado, debut, stampede, gourmet, unique, academy, sonnet, mosquito, diploma, fiesta, debris, cafeteria, quartet

Challenge: bonanza, rendezvous, et cetera, battalion, engage

Real World Vocabulary Music: Singing

Classical, soloist, aria, maestro, mezzo-soprano, alto, bass, baritone

CONGRATULATIONS TO CW! He was our Poly Drive Geography Bee winner. He has now qualified to compete at the state level at the end of March. We're all cheering for you, Collin!!!

MontCAS testing: Make up tests will be the week of March 12^th.

6^th graders: On March 22^nd, all Poly Drive Elementary 6^th grade students will participate in Night of the Notables. Students research a notable person, living or dead, dress up like them, and share a bio poem. This takes place in the evening in the gym. Students will memorize the bio poem. The audience gets to actively participate by guessing who the notable is. I am looking forward to it!  All 6^th grade students have been given a scoring guide (rubric).

There will be NO MORNING OR AFTERNOON MATH CLASSES THIS NEXT WEEK.

Important Dates:

Monday, March 12^th: Last day for chess club

Thursday, March 15^th: Skate night  5pm- 8 pm

Monday, March 19^th: Spring Pictures

Tuesday, March 20^th: KC Club 8:05

Thursday, March 22^nd: Night of the Notables 6:30 PM Poly Gym

Wednesday, March 28^th: Last day for Boys BB

Friday, March 30^th: Last day for Girls BB

READING—finishing up novels this week

MATH           Ratios, Rates, and Proportions

LANG

Writing—working on the trait of VOICE. Final copies due this week.

Writing—writing an opinion paper on The Freedom Riders

LWR--below

SOCIAL STUDIES

5th grade: Chapter 12

SCIENCE

We still have one project left to present. Then I will hand out grades and awards.

Force and Motion will continue.

LWR – phon

  

Prefi

sym-              with, together

Root

gen                 birth, produce, race

homo             same

path               feeling, disease

phob               fear

phon/o          sound

poly                many

tele                 from afar

Suffix

-ia                   condition

-ic                   like, related to

-ology                        study of, science

-y                    state, quality, act

SPELLING—U 28 & 29

5th grade—

U 28  Prefixes: in-, un-, dis-, mis-

Dictation Sentences:

1.    I don’t like to misspell words.

2.   It is a disgrace to be caught lying.

3.   Her hasty apology seemed insincere.

Basic: mislead, mistreat, mislaid, informal, incomplete, insecure, indirect, discover, disagree, dishonest, disaster, dismiss, unwise, unstable, unequal, unknown, unable

Challenge invisible, mishap, unfortunate, discourage, unnecessary

Real World Vocabulary Science: The Moon

elliptical, revolution, rotation, crater, spacecraft, probe, astronaut, hydrogen

U 29  Suffix: -ion

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Did you vote in today’s election?

2.   The guilty person  wrote a confession.

3.   Try to relax if you feel tension.

Basic: elect, react, reaction, confess, express, expression, connect, connection, tense, decorate, decoration, pollute, pollution, imitate, imitation, educate, education

Challenge: fascinate, fascination, construct, construction

Real World Vocabulary Math: Learning Algebra

equation, variable, solution, operations, intersect, axis, ordered pair, coordinate

U 30 is a review unit. We skip review units.

6th grade-

U 28 Word parts

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Air is crucial for existence.

2.   Is this unbelievable story true?

3.   Noise wrecks my concentration.

Basic: refreshment, convention, intermission, uneventful, perfectly, completion, improvement, information, attendance, reversible, invention, development, respectful, unhappiness, preparation, irrigate, disagreement

Challenge acquaintance, prosecution, precision, immeasurable, reputation

Real World Vocabulary Drama: The Theater

Usher, box seats, mezzanine, curtain call, backstage, emcee, box office, foyer

29  Prefixes: de-, trans-

Dictation Sentences:

1.    Tadpoles transform into frogs.

2.   We discussed a business transaction.

3.   Miners descend deep into the earth.

Basic: transmit, transfer, transcript, translate, decrease, determine, decision, demonstrate, deposit, detach, debate, defense, describe, decline, detour, definite, decay

Challenge delegate, transition, delinquent, transfusion, deliberate

Real World Vocabulary Social Studies: Books

scribes, quill, lampblack, parchment, vellum, vibrant, lettering, illuminated

U 30 is a review unit. We skip review units.

U 31  Words from other languages

Dictation Sentences:

1.    A plaque tells who made this statue.

2.   He tilted his beret toward one ear.

3.   We hiked until fatigue overcame us.

Basic: opera, vague, antique, drama, tornado, debut, stampede, gourmet, unique, academy, sonnet, mosquito, diploma, fiesta, debris, cafeteria, quartet

Challenge: bonanza, rendezvous, et cetera, battalion, engage

Real World Vocabulary Music: Singing

Classical, soloist, aria, maestro, mezzo-soprano, alto, bass, baritone