Shopping with Frost, Huizen & Noble $$$$

Students shopped today! They had lots of fun spending their money! We will shop one more time before break. The students really do like buying toys and games...please consider going through gently used toys and games and donating them! Why wait to have a garage sale when you could make our 5th grade friends so happy? One person's junk is another's treasure! Here are a few of our happy customers holding/wearing some of their purchases!

Math Update

We have been working our way through Unit 3~Decimals and Graphs.  As mentioned at conferences, each child has a math note book that we use each and everyday to help us with organization and study habits. Thus far, we have learned how a decimal and a fractions are a part of a whole. We have worked on fractions as a decimal, less than, greater than and equal to, comparing to decimals, money, fractions, writing out decimal numbers in word form, word form to decimal numbers, adding and subtracting decimals (tricky lining those decimal up)!  But, most of all a lot with place value!!!  Keep practicing those multiplication facts at home:)

First Snow

As an adult I see snow and think of shoveling, driving on icy snow covered roads, and extra stuff (hats, gloves, snow pants, boots). However, children see those first snowflakes fall and there are gasps of excitement and anticipation! The holidays are coming, snowball fights, snowmen, sledding :) We often think of 5th graders as big kids, too big for so many things. They are not too big to be ecstatic about snowflakes :) If only as adults we could look as these simple things through the eyes of a child.

Force and Motion Experiments in Action

Our current science topic has been Force and Motion. We have spent the past weeks conducting experiments to better understand force, motion, friction, gravity, inertia, static electricity, magnetism, speed, and distance. All 3 classes have had fun with these hands on explorations of Force and Motion.

Upcoming Assessments!

Tomorrow (11/2/11) the students will have a Math Assessment on Area and Perimeter.

The students will have a Social Studies test on Africa on Thursday (11/3/11). Please look for the yellow Study Guide. The students should have this signed and return it to school on Thursday. To successfully study the students were told to use 3 things- the yellow study guide, their packet, and the blue questions that can be cut into flash cards for studying! All students should study both tonight and tomorrow night :)
Thanks for your support!

Factor the Footprints

Recently your child brought home a paper gameboard. The gameboard was taken from the Math Resource book. Your child should have also brought home the directions. :) In case you do not have the directions here they are!
Game Rules:
1. One player will follow the trail of dark footprints, and the other will follow the trail of light footprints. Placing the marker
(penny, paper clip, etc) on the first footprint, the first player names all the possible factor pairs for the number shown.
The factor “1” is not permitted!
2.The factors should be given in equation form for example, 3 x 6 = 18.
3. The player moves forward 1 space for each correct equation named.
4. The second player does the same, following a different trail.
5. The first player to reach the “Finish” wins the game!
Playing the Game:
Player 1 has landed on a footprint marked 12. He says, “6x2=12 and 4x3=12.” He has given 2 equations so he moves ahead 2
spaces. (Reversing the order of the factors to produce another equation is not allowed!)
It is now Player 2’s turn. She landed on a footprint marked 40. She says, “8x5=40 and 2x20=40.” She also says,
“4x10=40.” Generating factors that are not part of the multiplication chart is allowed, so she moves ahead 3 spaces.
Losing turns/Disputed Equations:
If 1 player gives an equation that the other player believes to be incorrect, they can consult the Multiplication table or
check by using other learned strategies.
A player who gives an incorrect equation loses that turn. Players who land in one of the 2 mud puddles on the board also
lose a turn!

Nature Center Trip

Today we had our trip to the Nature Center! Everything went smoothly. The students had a great time exploring some traditional Native American games, making a beaded necklace, reviewing facts about Native American life and traditions, and exploring Native American artifacts. The students also were able to see how Native Americans started their fires.

We would like to thank all the volunteers that were able to join us! Your help is always greatly appreciated!

Math Mania

Our new math program is excellent! It really opens math concepts up to all students by offering many different ways to get to the same answer. Students have choices...in math :) There are many cool math websites that would be great for your child to use at home. Click on any of the following links and give them a try! Multiplication.com, ixl.com, freerice.com, Houghton Mifflin Math Expressions for Families

Can you spell success? Spelling

Our spelling words can also be found by clicking here on Spelling City a website that helps students learn their spelling words while having fun at the same time. I will put my spelling list on Spelling City and your child can review the words and play spelling games to reinforce the learning process. Here’s how to help your child master his or her spelling words: Simply go to www.spellingcity.com to see how the site works. To get started, click on “Sample Lists” and choose any list you like. Then try the Teach Me, Test Me, or Play A Game link. You can find our class spelling list by simply clicking on “Find a List” and typing in my name, MaryLyn Frost. (My name must be spelled correctly and with the correct spacing and capitalization in order to work). The list will appear and your child can immediately start practicing his or her words. Many kids enjoy building their spelling skills with Spelling City.
There are many other ways your child can study spelling words. Some fun activities include: spelling the words while doing jumping jacks, writing them in ABC order, creating puzzles like word searches, etc. Any creative way your child chooses to study will help!

Field Trip to Nature Center

Our up coming field trip had to be rescheduled! Please make sure you check your child's backpack for a note explaining this and mark the change on your calendar! If you volunteered to join us on this trip please be sure to let your child's teacher know that you are still able to attend. A note in the planner will suffice! Thanks for your cooperation and understanding regarding this matter!

Internet Safety

Today's child is exposed to technology in a variety of ways. They have internet access on computers at home and school. They can participate in online gaming at home, or at a friend's house. It is becoming more and more common for children to have cell phones allowing them to text message or instant message others. With all this technology comes great opportunities to do amazing things. While these opportunities are exciting and fun for children, they can present many dangers that most children are not aware of.
We talked briefly last week about internet safety. Many of the students conveyed they were not aware that it is dangerous to give others their name, age, location, and/or school name. I found a great site with some video clips related to internet safety click
here to check it out. We will watch a few of these and continue our discussion about this highly important topic this week. We want to know that our students are safe and making net safe choices. Please take time to check out the great parent information when you have time.

Behavior Management

$ Frost $ Huizen $ Noble $

Behavior Management

In order to promote positive behavior choices we will be using a money system.  Your child can earn $ for their efforts by being a responsible respectful student.  Here is an outline for some of the ways in which this money system will work.  Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions.

Ways to earn Money

*Student Planner initialed = 1$

*Homework completed = 1$

*Notes and permission slips signed and returned=1$

*Personal Best effort on in class assignments

*Using LIFESKILLS and Lifelong Guidelines

*Good behavior 

*Good manners 

*Above and beyond to be helpful

We reserve the right to award money for other things as we see fit :)

Pay up

*Forget homework pay 1$ 

*Forget student planner initials pay 1$ 

*Poor behavior choices or attitude pay 1$ or more

*Behavior issues in specials, or at recess pay 1$ or more

*Forgotten Library books or P.E. shoes pay 1$ 

We reserve the right to ask students to pay for other things as we see fit :(

The money earned can be used to buy things- such as computer time, homework pass, extra minutes of recess, and other special extras...sometimes goody box items.  A chart will be posted in the classroom so that students will know how much certain rewards cost.

If you are interested in contributing to the goody box we would greatly appreciate donations.  

A few desired items are :

individual pieces of candy or snack sizes

fruit snacks

fun pencils, pens, or markers

small note pads

erasers

stickers

book marks

small trinkets

post it pads

*anything your child would like to receive as a small reward :)

If you have questions about this please contact us :)

Welcome!

We are eager to share an exciting year with you & your child! We will use this blog as a place for us to share pieces of our classroom.  We also hope to include extensions of our learning through different links & resources for you. We encourage you to log in and "follow" this blog on the sidebar.  Being a “follower” will make sure you are notified when updates have been made.  If you have questions/concerns don't hesitate to contact any of us!  mnoble@khps.org  chuizen@khps.org  mfrost@khps.org