Homework for Wed. 8/31

Social Studies: Chapter One Lesson Two Think About It Questions 1-5 on Pg. 15. We read the lesson in class today, but your child might need to re-read it before answering the questions.

Spelling- Go on Spelling City.com for 15 mins to practice spelling words.

Get Ben & Me Test signed by Parent and Return tomorrow.

Homework for Tues. 8/30

Social Studies Homework- Tuesday August 30, 2011

Research and tell me 5 facts about Hawaii. Also tell me who the first natives of Hawaii were and 2 facts about them.

Spelling-  Chose one activity from your spelling sheet and complete with your Unit 2 words.

If you have extra time study your spelling words on spellingcity.com.
Have a great Tuesday!

Homework for Monday 8/29

Homework assignments for tonight were:

Reading: Study Chapters 1-3 on Ben & Me for Test tomorrow. Please use the review to study.

Social Studies: Use the internet to research and answer the question given on the Statue of Liberty.

New York Harbor has a special statue called the Statue of Liberty or Miss Liberty. Tell me what to does Miss Liberty Represent?

Sign Progress Report if haven't already. Sign Spelling Test from last week and return.

Good Luck studying! I know all of you will do wonderful on the test tomorrow.

Homework for Weekend

The students will be having a quiz over Chapters 1-3 on Tues. August 30th. I have handed out a review and we have went over all of it except the last 4 questions. I have asked the students to complete and review it over the weekend. We will review in class on Monday also. I would suggest having your student read outloud chapters 1-3 to you this weekend before the test.

Have a wonderful weekend.

BEN & ME REVIEW SHEET

Define and know these words for your quiz next week.

1.      Androil

2.      Anvil

3.      Franklin Stove

4.      Vestry

5.      Maxim

Also be able to answer the questions below:

1.      Who is the narrator in the story?

2.      How many children were in Amos family and where did they live?

3.      Why did Amos leave his home?

4.      What are some professions of Benjamin Franklin?

5.      How does Amos describe Doctor Benjamin Franklin?

6.      What maxim did Ben say to Amos about putting wood on the fire?

7.       What do you think this maxim means?

8.      What did Ben and Amos build?

9.      What was the purpose of this invention?

10.  What did Amos mean when he said to Ben “In some ways Ben, You’re fairly bright but in others you’re just plain dull. The joy of creating may be meat and drink to you: but as for me, a bit of cheese.”

11.  In Chapter 3 Ben and Amos are talking about inventing the Franklin Stove and how Amos helped Ben.  Ben announces to Amos “The Laborer is worthy of his hire.” What is Ben saying to Amos?

12.    What were the specifics between Ben and Amos?

13.   What did Ben and Amos name their invention?

14.   What did Ben wear all the time?

15.  What improvements were made to the fur cap for Amos?

Homework for Thurs. 8/25

Reading Homework is posted below.

What do you think Ben meant?

Ben Franklin wrote many words of wisdom. He used his printing press to share his wisdom with his fellow Americans. He hoped that his wise sayings would give people guidance for living their daily lives. Read some of his thoughts from "Poor Richard's Almanack" and decide what you think they mean. Then select three maxims and write them on the attached worksheet and what you think it means.
An empty bag cannot stand upright.
Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle.
Cheese and salty meat should be sparingly eat.
The Doors of wisdom are never shut.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Full of courtesy, full of craft.
God helps them that help themselves.
Hunger never saw bad bread.
If you'd have a servant that you like, serve your self.
If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.
Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.
A Lie stands on one leg, the truth on two.
A Man without a wife is but half a man.
Nothing but money is sweeter than honey.
One today is worth two tomorrows.
Pay what you owe and you'll know what's your own.
A Quarrelsome man has no good neighbors.
The Rotten apple spoils his companion.
Speak little, do much.
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
Up, sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.
Visits should be short, like a winter's day.
Well done is better than well said.
A good example is the best sermon.
You may delay, but time will not.
There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies.

---

Spelling:
Study for your spelling test tomorrow. Spellingcity.com is  a great way to study!!

Homework for Wed. 8/24

First off we have a new student to our class today. Welcome David M. We are so excited to have you as an explorer to explore 5th grade with us.

Our homework tonight is :

Social Studies-
Answer in complete sentences with 3 facts-
Unit- Human/Environment Interaction
How did people change the landscape of Alaska?

Spelling-
Write a story using all your spelling words.

Homework for Tues. 8/23

Social Studies-
Answer the question in sentence form. Please tell me at least 3 facts.
Why is Niagra Falls different from other places?

Spelling-
Chose one activity from the spelling 9 weeks sheet to complete tonight with your spelling list. Remember Spelling Pretest is tomorrow! Study!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Specials Schedule

Mon./Wed.
10:30-10:45 Snack/Recess
10:45-11:40 Science (Wed. Only)
12:30- 1 Lunch/Recess
2:50-3:20 Computers

Tues/Thurs.
10:30-10:45 Snack/Recess
10:45-11:40 Science
12:30- 1 Lunch/Recess
1:25-2:20 PE
2:30-3:00 Spanish

Friday:
Early Release at Noon

Homework for Monday 8/22

Students were given Ben & Me books today.  Each child recieved thier own copy- in which they are responsible for bringing home and back to school each day.  I have been reading daily outloud to the students. But, I want the students to re-read pages 1-15 tonight. We are working on vocab and questions over the chapters in class and there will be a quiz later this week if not next week (depending on how fast we progress).

In addition, I have asked the students to check out our class website (which you are reading) and play spelling games on www.spellingcity.com.

Here is the letter describing spelling city and directions:

This year, we will be using VocabularySpellingCity.com in our classroom. SpellingCity is a website that helps students learn their weekly spelling and vocabulary words while having fun at the same time.

As a teacher, I will put up the spelling/vocabulary list weekly and your children can review the words, and play spelling/vocabulary games that reinforce the learning process.

Here’s how to help your child master his or her spelling/vocab words:

Simply go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ to see how the site works. To get started, click on “sample lists” and chose any list you like. Than try Teach me, test me or play a game link.

You can find our class list by using the tab “FIND A LIST” and searching by typing my name Tricia Embley, or you can go directly to my homepage which is:  http://www.spellingcity.com/embleytricia . You can bookmark the URL so you can find it easily for next week’s list too!

Many kids enjoy building their spelling skills with spellingcity.com. Please encourage your child to spend about twenty minutes, two nights in a row before our weekly test. Let’s work together as a team to ensure that your child becomes an independent, lifelong learner!

Mahalo,

Mrs. Embley

SpellingCity.com is a fun way to reinforce spelling skills in addition to their weekly spelling homework and lessons in class.

Have a great Monday evening!

Newsletter & Parent News

Click on the link http://www.reddschool.com/pdf/August2011News.pdf and you will see the newsletter from the school on what is happening right now!

Also your child should be bringing home a t-shirt order form tonight. T-shirt forms and money are due Thurs. August 25th. T-shirts are required for field trips and optional on Mustang Madness Fridays.


I also sent home a letter about spelling for the next weeks. It is pasted below:
Aloha Parents:

In the next few weeks, your fifth grader will be learning to spell words using the Scott Foresman Spelling Program. The words for the lessons will be presented to your child in unit form every Monday. You can help your child practice these words at home. I will be sending home spelling strategies that your child will need to choose for homework once a week to practice their spelling.  They will have 9 spelling activities to choose from and each week they will chose a different activity.  Be sure your child is doing a different spelling activity each week.  Once they have completed one spelling activity, they can mark it off on their spelling sheet for the 9 weeks. Another activity you can help your child study their words in addition to homework and teaching in class is listed below.

        Dictation: Read out loud each spelling words. Have your child repeat the word, use it in a sentence, and then spell it correctly.   Check to make sure that your child has spelled the word correctly. If any words are misspelled, help your child figure out a strategy to use that will make it easier to remember the correct spelling.

Thank you for your help- it takes a village to raise a child and a village to teach them! Here’s to a great first 9 weeks of spelling!

Mahalo,

Mrs. Embley

I also will be posting an exciting link to spelling city which is a website the students can go to play games to learn vocabulary and spelling words.

Hope everyone  is having a great second week back to school! Our first week was superb!!

Homework over the weekend

Homework assigned to the students this weekend was to bring 10 pipecleaners to school on Monday so that we can start our math games.

Also the students were to answer the questions below:

Ben & Me Homework- Benjamin Franklin

Due August 22

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper please answer the questions below. You might need to use the internet or an encyclopedia to answer them.

1.       Where was Benjamin Franklin born?

2.       In what state is Boston located in?

3.       What is the weather like in Massachusetts during all seasons?

4.       What is the terrain (landforms) like in Massachusetts?

5.       What is the national bird and flower of Massachusetts?

6.        What are some historical events that happened in Massachusetts?

Have a great weekend and we had a awesome first week.

Scholastic

Today there will be a handout going home with our class code. Please save this form so that you can order online for scholastic books. Reading is so important and after classwork the students are expected to read quietly. I do have a small class library, but there might not be your child's book of interests at school. So please allow them to explore reading.

I do not accept cash/checks for book orders because we had issues with it last year with mailing money to scholastic. I prefer parents to order and pay online. Ordering online is fast, easy and secure. We know that money will not be lost getting to school or in the process of mailing to scholastic!

Here are the directions for the website and our class code..
Directions:
Sign into www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Make an account as a Parent (if you already have an account from last year please just update your classcode to our account).
Enter our class activation code to order:  GWVTD
Pick the catalog and order your books!

The catalog due dates are listed online. Our first order is due by Sept. 30, 2011. If you place your order today and pay today than the order ships with in two days. Orders ship in two business days they don't wait till the catalog closes.

Have fun ordering and reading!!

Handouts Taken Home-8/17

Yesterday your 5th grader should have brought home a student handbook, registration forms, two field trip forms, and an expectation sheet. If you would please fill them out if you haven't already and return to school as soon as possible. I know many of you have already filled them out for prior years but we must have updated new forms each year. Thank you and I appreciate you completing your homework ;)

Meet The Teacher Handouts

 Below you will find the hand out I gave out on 'Meet the Teacher'. I also  have a form for each parent to fill out regarding their child. If you didn't receive it, I will send it home later this week. I am also looking for room mom/dad this year, if you are interested please come see me before/after school or shot me a quick email.Let's have a great school year!

August 16, 2011

Aloha Parents:

Welcome to 5^th grade!  I hope you had an enjoyable summer, I am very excited to start the new school year off and happy to be your child’s teacher at Redd School. I anxiously await the opportunity to get to know your child. I want his/her experience in my classroom to be a positive one that will enhance their love of learning and growth in education.  I will try my best to make this a successful and rewarding year for everyone.

Regular attendance is important to your child’s academic success. In the event of an unforeseen circumstance or illness causing your child to miss school, make up work will be provided.  Make up assignments should be completed in a timely manner, students will be given one day per absence to complete assignments. I will clearly communicate this in writing and contact you if additional assistance is needed.

In an effort to maintain a pleasant and safe environment, I have implemented a classroom management plan. Please see the attached outline. It includes behavior expectations, class rules, rewards and consequences. Please take a moment to review these with your child. I will also introduce this plan on the first day of class and reinforce it throughout the remainder of the school year.

It is my goal to keep lines of communication open, as your child’s academic development relies on our combined efforts. A few weeks into the school year, I will begin sending home a weekly behavior progress note as well as assignments completed to be signed. In general, you will receive the progress note on Friday and it should be returned signed by Monday. I will not be sending home academic progress notes as that our grading system is online thru Oncourse and it is available all hours of the day for parents to see their child’s success.  I strongly recommend that you stay up to date on your child’s grades online as well as our class website which will have our newsletters and homework posted on. I will send home your passwords and log in within the first couple of weeks for the grading system.

Please feel free to go online and check out our class website at http://reddschoolexplorers.blogspot.com/.  I strongly encourage you to contact me with any questions that may develop. Please contact me at 281-440-1106 or by email.

Thank you for sharing your child with me. I look forward to visiting with you at our Open House in a couple of weeks.

Mahalo,

Mrs. Embley

pembley@reddschool.com or embley.tricia@yahoo.com

Mrs. Embley’s Classroom Management Plan:

Expectations for Academic Success:

-       Be kind and get along with others.

-       Keep your desk neat and clean.

-       Take care of your supplies as well as class supplies.

-       Listen and Follow Directions.

-       Be ready to learn.

-       ALWAYS do your best work.

Classroom Rules:

1.    Stop, Look and Listen when the teacher is speaking.

2.    Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

3.    Be kind with your words and actions.

4.    Use quiet inside voices.

5.    Wait your turn to speak.

Rewards for appropriate behavior:

1.    Praise

2.    Leadership roles in the classroom

3.    Happy notes home

4.    Class Points

5.    Class Parties

Daily Consequences:

First Time: Verbal Warning

Second Time: Student will sign the conduct journal and sit out 5 minutes at recess.

Third Time: Student will sign conduct journal and sit out for 10 minutes at recess.

Fourth Time: Student will sign conduct journal and sit out all of recess. Student will be required to write an action plan that will make them responsible for improving behavior. I will review the plan and send a copy home.

Fifth Time: Referral to Office, Call Home.

Conduct will be recorded daily and conduct notes will be sent home weekly. Students will be able to track their infractions by moving their clip down our behavior chart so that they feel responsible for their behavior.

This year we will be using Oncourse Grading for fifth grade, which is online grading portal. I will be able to put all your students’ grades online. Parents will be given a log in and password to be able to view grades. A packet will be going home in the next week or so with your log in, passwords and in depth directions.

Welcome!

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME!!

STUDENTS:
Are you ready for fifth grade? Are you ready to explore learning?

I know summer coming to an end is sad- but this year I have great things in store for our class. I also know we are going to have a wonderful time getting to know each other and exploring learning!

This blog is where you can find out all the ins and outs of what is happening in our tropical getaway (also known as our classroom- but is just one destination on our journey through 5th grade). You can also come here to find the latest assignments and the latest events happening at school. Everyone leads a very busy life outside school  and I thought this would be a great way for all of us to stay in touch. The best part is it is green for the environment- we are saving paper by communicating over the internet.

Parents-
As you all know we also have our grading online- just like in 4th grade. At the start of the year you will get a password for your child and all grades will be listed by subject on the portal. Please stay up to date on the grading portal and our blog- Communication between parent, child and teacher equal a great learning environment!

If you ever need to reach me after school hours please feel free to reach out to me via the blog or my school/personal email. Please keep in mind that I can only check my school email while at school- so after hours preferably email me at my personal email of embley.tricia@yahoo.com. I am always available and my goal is to help your child succeed!

So let's have an awesome year! Let's ROCK 5th grade by exploring Social Studies, Language Arts & Math with Mrs. Embley and of course yall- The Fantastic Explorers!