Miss Bower's 5th Grade

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: My students have been learning how to identify congruent polygons as well as learning how to find the area of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangles, and irregular polygons. We will continue reviewing these skills next week. Please continue to review at home with your child.

Reading: We have been reviewing figurative language and sound devices in order to help us uncover meaning in poetry. My students should be able to explain the following types of figurative language and give examples of each type: similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperboles. Your child should be able to explain the following sound devices: onomatopoeia, alliteration, and rhyme scheme.

Language Arts: During Language Arts, my students have been learning about adverbs. We have also begun our Persuasive Writing unit. Please ask your child to tell you his/her persuasive topic he/she will be writing at school.

Science: We have begun our Electricity and Magnetism unit. I hope your child told you about our static electricity stations he/she participated in during Fun Friday last week. My students will learn how to make an electric circuit and be able to distinguish between conductors and insulators by the end of the week. Next week, my students will learn about bar magnets and electromagnets.

Looking Ahead

January 19th- CRCT/Curriculum Night

January 26th- iMoms

February 2nd- Cosmic Bowling (more information to come)

February 9th- All Pro Dads

School Wide Reminders

1. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas.

Reminders to Parents

1. Please encourage your child to put his/her name on homework assignments. We do this at school, but I still have at least 4-5  "No Name" papers for each assignment I give. This worries me for middle school.

2. Please encourage your child to check his/her homework to ensure he/she has completed every question. I have many papers that are turned in, and they are incomplete. This has turned into a big problem in our classroom. My students are aware of it, and I have been giving "Captain's Consequences" to help my students learn from their mistakes. If they are not checking over their work, they are not following my verbal directions and this concerns me.

Crew Compliments!!

I would like to congratulate my crew for EXCEEDING our class goals for our Language Arts and Math Benchmark scores. I am so proud of their hard work and determination!

I would like to congratulate Kade D. and Victor O. for representing our class as Safety Patrols.

I would like to compliment my crew members for coming back from winter break and choosing to follow school rules and remembering the high expectations I have for each one of my crew members.

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please engage your child in a conversation every night about the skills he/she learned that day. They can use their agenda to help them remember everything we learned that day.

2. The following websites are good resources to help your child:

adverbs

http://www.ezschool.com/Games/Adverbs.html

figurative language

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/simile.html

sound devices

http://interactives.mped.org/preview_mg.aspx?id=736   (onomatopoeiaa)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/english/spacespins.shtml (alliteration)

congruent figures

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/weblessons/congruentconcentration/default.htm

 

Lisa Bower

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: We completed our Fraction Unit this week. My students learned how to model the multiplication and division of fractions. We will begin reviewing for our 2nd nine week Math Benchmark test next week.

Reading: We have begun reading chapter books duirng Guided Reading, and my students are enjoying their books. Please ask your child to summarize what he/she has read so far. We have been reviewing our literary elements (characters, setting, and conflict in plot), and we will be identifying the theme after we have finished reading the books.

Language Arts: During Language Arts, my students have continued working on their animal research papers. We will be finishing up our research papers this week, and we will begin our how-to writing next week. My students have also reviewed adjectives and learned how to identify and use apostrophes. Your child should be able to identify the adjectives in the following sentences:

1. The tired baby fell asleep on the soft blanket.

2. The quiet students were taking a difficult test.

3. The little puppy ran fast.

Social Studies: We have been learning about World War I, and my students should be able to discuss the following questions:

1. What led the United States to enter W.W. I against Germany?

2. How did the United States contribute to W.W.I?

3. What was the impact of The Treaty of Versailles?

4. How did Langston Hughes, Charles Lindbergh, Louis Armstrong, Babe Ruth, and Henry Ford contribute to society in the 1920s?

Looking Ahead

December 8th- 5:30-7:45 (Dinner-$3.00; 5:30-6:30) Performance @ 6:45

December 23rd- No School

December 24-January 9th- Winter Break

January 10th- 1st Day back from Winter Break

School Wide Reminders

1. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas.

Reminders to Parents

1. Please encourage your child to put his/her name on homework assignments. We do this at school, but I still have at least 4-5  "No Name" papers for each assignment I give. This worries me for middle school.

2. Please encourage your child to check his/her homework to ensure he/she has completed every question. I have many papers that are turned in, and they are incomplete. This has turned into a big problem in our classroom. My students are aware of it, and I have been giving "Captain's Consequences" to help my students learn from their mistakes. If they are not checking over their work, they are not following my verbal directions and this concerns me.

Crew Compliments!!

Our fabulous 5th graders received compliments on their great behavior on our Performing Arts field trip today! Our class also received a compliment for our appropriate bus behavior!

I would like to congratulate all of my students who performed at Barnes and Noble night. You sounded great!

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please engage your child in a conversation every night about the skills he/she learned that day. They can use their agenda to help them remember everything we learned that day.

2. The following websites are good resources to help your child:

apostrophes and contractions

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/apostrophes_con_poss/eng/Introduction/StarterActivityPart2.htm

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/apostrophes_con_poss/eng/Introduction/MainSessionPart1.htm

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/apostrophes_con_poss/eng/Introduction/MainSessionPart2.htm

 adjectives

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/caerphilly/adjectives/

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/english/monmouthshire/choose_adj_monmouthshire.html

 

Lisa Bower

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: We are in the middle of our Fraction Unit, and my students are doing an amazing job learning our fraction standards. They have developed great fraction sense, which is helping them as we proceed with adding and subtracting fractions. My students should be able to explain the following questions.

1. How can I simplify fractions?

2. How can I find common denominators?

3. How can I compare fractions and justify the comparison?

4. How can I add/subtract fractions with unlike denominators?

Reading: We have been reviewing how to identify topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences in our informational guided reading books. My students will begin writing topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences for their research papers.

Language Arts: During Language Arts, my students have been learning about the following word parts: prefixes, root words, and suffixes. Your child should be able to identify if words have prefixes and suffixes, and he/she should be able to tell you what the following prefixes and suffixes mean.

                                              Prefixes: re, dis, un, im               Suffixes- ful, less, ed, es or s

Your child should be able to use prefixes and suffixes to figure out unknown words. For example, your child should be able to figure out the meaning of the following words based on their knowledge of the above prefixes and suffixes.

1. recapture                        2. uncommon                               3. disloyal                                  4. impatient

1. delightful                         2. turkeys                                      3. restless                                    4. watched

Social Studies: We have begun our next social studies unit about how our nation changed after the Reconstrution time period. My students should be able to discuss the answers to the following questions:

1. Whydid African American men decide to become Black Cowboys?

2. How did the Black Cowboys get the cattle to the railroads?

3. How did westward expansion impact the lives of Native Americans?

Looking Ahead

November 21st-25th- No School/Thanksgiving Break

December 1st- Barnes and Noble Night

December 8th- 5:30-7:45 (Dinner-$3.00; 5:30-6:30) Performance @ 6:45

School Wide Reminders

1. Be sure to become a PTA member for only $5.00 to help our school.

2. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas.

Reminders to Parents

1. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note.

2. Please send in the permission slip for Performing Arts.

3. Please encourage your child to put his/her name on homework assignments. We do this at school, but I still have at least 4-5  "No Name" papers for each assignment I give. This worries me for middle school.

4. Please encourage your child to check his/her homework to ensure he/she has completed every question. I have many papers that are turned in, and they are incomplete. This has turned into a big problem in our classroom. My students are aware of it, and I have been giving "Captain's Consequences" to help my students learn from their mistakes. If they are not checking over their work, they are not following my verbal directions and this concerns me.

Crew Compliments!!

The "Turkey Dressing" projects are FABULOUS! I am very impressed with the amount of effort and creativity that was put into disguising the turkeys. I am proud of all of my crew members!

I would like to congratulate my crew for earning their 2nd round of 20 Brownie Points. Great job!

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please engage your child in a conversation every night about the skills he/she learned that day. They can use their agenda to help them remember everything we learned that day.

2. The following websites are good resources to help your child:

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/dolphins/index.html (equivalent fractions)

http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_TugTeamFractions.html (comparing fractions)

http://www.mathplayground.com/Triplets/Triplets.html (equivalent fractions)

http://www.mathplayground.com/HauntedFractions/HFGameLoader.html (reasoning with fractions)

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/show_me/e622.htm (simplifying fractions)

 

Lisa Bower

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

I would like to thank everyone who attended your parent-teacher conference. I really do appreciate your time and support!

Math: We finished up our Data Unit and have begun our Fraction Unit. We have been using fraction bars to help us develop our "fraction sense." My students have learned that fractions with big denominators are small fractional parts and fractions with small denominators are big fractional parts, and my students have learned how to use the fraction bars to find equivalent fractions. Your child should be able to explain and show you how to do the following:

1. How can I identify mixed numbers and improper fractions when given a picture?

2. How can I use mixed numbers and improper fractions interchangeably?

3. How can I change a fraction to a decimal?

4. How can I find equivalent fractions?

Reading: We have been learning how to locate answers in informational texts. My students have been learning a reading strategy called the QAR (Question and Answer Relationship strategy), which teaches them the four kinds of questions and how to locate answers to those questions. My students should be able to tell you the difference between "Right There" questions, "Think and Search" questions, and "Author and Me" questions. My students are working on identifying and answering these questions as we read our guided reading books about physical and chemcial changes.

Language Arts: During Language Arts, we have been learning how to vary our sentence structure in our writing. My students have been learning how to distinguish between simple setences, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences. Identifying these types of sentences is difficult for my students, and we will continue working with this skill. My students have begun revising, editing, and publishing their fictional narratives. They have been working really hard to add similes, personfication, different types of sentence structure, strong verbs and strong adjectives to their stories.

Science: We have begun our Matter Unit during Science. My students have been participating in science experiments for the last two Fridays during Fun Friday to preview this unit, and it definitely has been exciting for them. I hope they told you about making candy apples and grilled cheese sandwiches as well as their mosaic pumpkins. During these experiments, my students have learned the difference between physical and chemical changes in matter. My students should be able to explain and discuss the following:

1. What is matter?

2. What is mass?

3. Which has more mass...an elephant or a deer? Why?

4. If you weigh a ball of clay and then flatten it like a pancake, does it weigh the same? Why?

5. What is a physical change? Name three examples and tell why they are physical changes.

6. What is a chemical change? Name three examples and tell why they are chemcial changes.

Looking Ahead

November 8th- No School/Teacher Workday

November 10th- All Pro Dads

November 21st-25th- No School/Thanksgiving Break

School Wide Reminders

1. Be sure to become a PTA member for only $5.00 to help our school.

2. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas.

Reminders to Parents

1. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note.

2. Please send in the permission slip for Performing Arts.

3. Please encourage your child to put his/her name on homework assignments. We do this at school, but I still have at least 4-5  "No Name" papers for each assignment I give. This worries me for middle school.

4. Please encourage your child to check his/her homework to ensure he/she has completed every question. I have many papers that are turned in, and they are incomplete. This has turned into a big problem in our classroom. My students are aware of it, and I have been giving "Captain's Consequences" to help my students learn from their mistakes. If they are not checking over their work, they are not following my verbal directions and this concerns me.

Crew Compliments!!

I would like to congratulate my class for winning our school Box Top Competition for grades 3-5. Thank you, parents, for collecting box tops and helping our P.E. Department earn money to buy equipment for our school.

Chloe D. is doing a great job on our morning announcements!

Jasmine, Lauryn, Melanie, Abigail, and Bianca did a great job singing last week along with the other Honors Chorus members!

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please engage your child in a conversation every night about the skills he/she learned that day. They can use their agenda to help them remember everything we learned that day.

3. The following websites are good resources to help your child:

 http://media.emgames.com/emgames/demosite/playdemo.html?activity=M5A006&activitytype=dcr&level=3 (mean, median, mode, and range game)

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/math/meanmedianmode.html (mean, median, mode, and range)

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/memory_fractions3.htm (mixed numbers)

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/memory_equivalent1.htm (equivalent fractions)

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/equivalent_fractions_shoot.htm (equivalent fractions)

 

Lisa Bower

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: Last week, we finished learning our 1st nine week standards, and my students took their Math Benchmark. This assessment covered all of the math standards I taught during the 1st nine weeks. I will be sharing your child's results at our parent-teacher conference.

Reading: We have been reading non-fiction during reading and learning how to identify main idea and details in our guided reading books. Identifying main idea and locating the topic sentences in paragraphs is a very difficult skill for 5th graders. Please continue working on this skill with your child.

Language Arts: During Language Arts, we learned about conjunctions as well as simple and compound sentences. We have begun our fictional narratives for our narrative writing unit. After my students write, revise, and edit this piece of writing, they will choose which narrative they would like to publish. We also completed the Language Arts Benchmark, and I will share your child's results at our parent-teacher conference.

Social Studies: During Social Studies, we finished learning about the important people and events of the Civil War as well as the effects of the war on the North and South. Your child should be able to answer/discuss the following items with you.

What role did Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis have during the Civil War?

Describe the following events: Attack on Fort Sumter, Battle of Gettysburg, Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the Surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Looking Ahead

October 14th- International Family Fair (6:00-8:00)

October 21st- 5th Grade Field Trip to The Mable House (9:00-1:00)

October 21st-October 28th- Book Fair (7:15-3:00)

October 24th-October 28th- Conference Week; Early Dismissal @ 12:15

October 28th- Fall Festival (5:00-8:00)

School Wide Reminders

1. Be sure to become a PTA member for only $5.00 to help our school.

2. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas.

Reminders to Parents

1. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note.

2. Please read the following information for Dowell's "Box Tops" competition. Please send them in with your child as soon as possible.

BOX TOPS COMPETITION

The P.E. department has started their school wide box tops competition. The class that collects the most box tops in K, 1^st, and 2^nd as well as the class that collects the most box tops in 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade will win a popcorn party and money for free play equipment!!!

All you have to do is cut off the box tops on products you already have in your house like cereal boxes, pop tarts, yogurt, soup, paper products, school supplies etc. and give them to your teacher.

The money we raise with box tops is used to buy equipment for you to play with during P.E. and field day. The competition ENDS OCTOBER 19^th so start collecting and bring in those box tops!!!!!

3. Please send in the permission slip for The Mable House and the donation as soon as possible.

4. Please send in the permission slip for Performing Arts.

Crew Compliments!!

Bianca and Garrett helped keep Dowell safe by helping students in the halls.

Dantez did an outstanding job on morning announcements for the past nine weeks!\

Lauryn, Micah, Abigail, Amaya, Chloe D, and Victor S. have been reading with 1st graders every morning.

Nina and Noah have been doing a great job helping Mrs. O with getting the preschoolers to class safely.

Our chorus crew members did a great job at the Sing-a-thon on Friday. You sounded great!

Our crew received our 15 spoons for our appropriate cafeteria behavior. We are going to try to get a spoon every single day from now on!

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please continue reviewing multiplication facts with your child. Mastering multiplication facts is necessary for your child to have success with 5th grade math skills. Your child would benefit from reviewing these facts (0-12) every night for at least 20 minutes.

2. Please encourage your child to read for 30 minutes every night to help them achieve their A.R. goal this year. They must read 100 books in order to attend our end of the year A.R. party. Please ask your child to share how many books he/she has read so far.

3. The following websites are good resources to help your child:

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/mainideap24.cfm (identifying main idea)

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/mainideap3.cfm (identifying main idea)

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/book_buddy/rosie/skill_pre.html (identifying main idea)

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/causeandeffectl.cfm (cause and effect)

http://www.quia.com/mc/20632.html (cause and effect)

 

Lisa Bower

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

A Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: Last week, my students learned how to find factors and multiples of numbers, they learned how to classify numbers as prime or composite as well as odd or even. In order to be successful at these skills, my students must learn their multiplication facts in order to be able to classify numbers into groups based on their characteristics. Please continue to practice multiplication facts at home. This week, my students have begun learning how to model the multiplication of a decimal by a whole number as well as how to model the multiplication of a decimal by a decimal. They have learned how to model the multiplication as well as how to explain the process of multiplying decimals.

Reading:  We have been learning how making inferences when we read help us understand the story better. Your child should be able to explain how to make an inference. Please ask your child to share how I introduced the lesson to our class. They really understood the skill after I demonstrated it for them! They need to be able to make inferences while reading because authors cannot write down every detail about the story elements in a book. Making inferences help children comprehend what is happening in a story. We use the following three column chart to help us make inferences:        

                         What I Read in the Text    +   What I Already Know =       What I Infer

My students have been actively participating in our Reader's Workshop which consists of guided reading groups as well as independent reading time and independent workstations. I hope your child has told you about their guided reading groups and the books that we have been finishing up this week.

Language Arts:  My students have been learning how to "hook" someone into reading their writing pieces. So far, my students have picked their topics for their personal narratives they will be writing this nine week period, and they have begun completing their graphic organizers. Next, my students will write "hooks" or "grabbers" in order to persuade the reader to keep reading their papers. Next week, we will begin the "drafting" stage of the writing process. This week, my students learned a chant to help them remember the four types of sentences. Please ask your child to share the chant with you and to tell you the four types of sentences.

Science: During Science, we have learned how our Earth can be changed by constructive and destructive forces. Your child should be able to show you the difference between constructive and destructive forces. Last week, we learned how earthquakes, faults, deposition, and volcanoes can be constructive forces. Your child should be able to complete the following:

Deltas and Sand Dunes are formed as a result of ______________________.  

Earthquakes can form ________________________.

A crack in the Earth's surface is called a ___________________.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed as a result of ______________________.

Looking Ahead

September 15th-            Open House

                                    5:30-6:15    Session 1 (All Grades)

                                    6:25-6:55    PTA Meeting/Title 1 Info.

                                    7:00-7:45    Session 2 (All Grades)

 School Wide Reminders

 1. Be sure to become a PTA member for only $5.00 to help our school.

2. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas. 

 Reminders to Parents

 

1. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note. 

2. If you have not sent in all papers that needed to be signed and returned, please do so as soon as possible.

3. Please sign your child's agenda daily in order to monitor his/her homework assignments and any notes I may write in the agenda.

4. I usually update this blog weekly; however, there will be times when I update it bi-weekly. I will try to remind my students to write in their agendas when it has been updated. 

5. Please send in school supplies for your child as soon as possible. We have begun to use many of the supplies. The supplies we will use daily are: 6 composition notebooks, glue sticks, paper, pencils, 7 colored folders, and black dry erase markers. If you are able to donate any of the above supplies, our crew would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance for your donation! 

 Ways to Help at Home

 1. Please continue reviewing multiplication facts with your child. Mastering multiplication facts is necessary for your child to have success with 5th grade math skills. Your child would benefit from reviewing these facts (0-12) every night for at least 20 minutes.

2. Please ensure your child reads at least thirty minutes each night. This will help your child maintain or improve his/her reading level. You can read to your child or with your child. I have read many books aloud already this year, and my students enjoy being read to in class!

3. Please review your child's homework every night to ensure your child understands the specific skills. If your child is having difficulty with his/her homework, please send me a quick note or tell your child to ask for help as soon as he/she arrives at school. I am able to give individual attention to students from 7:15 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. because my students do not have morning work. This time is reserved for any students who may need extra help with homework.

The following websites are good resources to help your child:

multiplication facts:

http://www.multiplication.com/

http://www.mathplayground.com/balloon_invaders.html

 If you ever need to contact me by email, please contact me at lisa.bower@cobbk12.org. Please do not send any time sensitive emails. Please notify the office of any last minutes transportation changes.

I am looking forward to working with each one of you to ensure your child has a successful 5th grade year!

Thank you! 

 Lisa Bower 

Crew News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

 

I cannot believe we have almost completed our second full week of school. I have enjoyed getting to know your children! I am very impressed with the appropriate school behavior I have observed so far. I have a great group of children, and I am looking forward to a great year!

A Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

Math: Last week, we reviewed place value and value of whole numbers and decimals as well as how to express and model decimals. This week, we learned how to create equivalent decimals, compare and order decimals, and we learned the importance of divisibility rules and how to use them. We will have a math quiz on Friday over these concepts.Your child should be able to identify where digits are located on a place value chart, he/she should be able to write whole numbers and decimals in standard form, word form, and expanded form, he/she should be able to tell you how much a digit is worth (value) , he/she should be able to model what a decimal looks like, he/she should be able to create equivalent decimals, compare/order decimals, and should be able to use divisibility rules for 2, 3, 5, and 10.

Reading:  My students have been learning  routines and procedures concerning our Reader's Workshop, they learned how to use my classroom library, when to abandon a book, and they learned how to choose "just right" books. We have been learning about the following elements of a story: setting, characters, character development or how a character changes, the plot of a story, and conflict in plot. Please ask your child to discuss these story elements with you by choosing one of the books below. He/she should be able to tell you about the setting of any of the books, he/she should be able to describe the characters,and  he/she should be able to describe the plot as well as describe the conflict in the plot.

Books: Thank You, Mr. Falker, The Ugly Duckling, and The Summer My Father Was Ten

Language Arts:  My students reviewed the writing process by watching a three minute video that compared the writing process to digging for gems.Please ask your child to tell you the five steps of the writing process and to explain how each step can compare to digging for gems. I read The Summer My Father Was Ten in order to introduce personal narratives to my students. We have begun the" Prewriting" step of the Writing Process. I taught my students the writing strategy: "Writing from a list." We will finish up the graphic organizer for our narrative writing this week and will begin the "Drafting" step of the Writing Process next week. As for our grammar component, we reviewed nouns, verbs,  verb phrases, and verb tenses.

Social Studies: During Social Studies, we learned how to distinguish between rights and responsibilities, due process, and The Bill of Rights. Please ask your child to tell you about these three skills. They have really enjoyed learning about these this week.

Looking Ahead

August 26th- Movie Night (7:00-10:00)

September 5th- Labor Day (No School)

School Wide Reminders

1. Parents and students are not allowed to return to the classrooms after dismissal. My students have ample time to pack up and write in their agendas. 

Reminders to Parents

1. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note. 

2. If you have not sent in all papers that needed to be signed and returned, please do so as soon as possible.

3. Please sign your child's agenda daily in order to monitor his/her homework assignments and any notes I may write in the agenda.

4. I usually update this blog weekly; however, there will be times when I update it bi-weekly. I will try to remind my students to write in their agendas when it has been updated. 

5. Please send in school supplies for your child as soon as possible. We have begun to use many of the supplies. The supplies we will use daily are: 6 composition notebooks, glue sticks, paper, pencils, 7 colored folders, and black dry erase markers. If you are able to donate any of the above supplies, our crew would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance for your donation! 

Ways to Help at Home

1. Please begin reviewing multiplication facts with your child. Mastering multiplication facts is necessary for your child to have success with 5th grade math skills. Your child would benefit from reviewing these facts (0-12) every night for at least 20 minutes.

2. Please ensure your child reads at least thirty minutes each night. This will help your child maintain or improve his/her reading level. You can read to your child or with your child. I have read many books aloud already this year, and my students enjoy being read to in class!

3. Please review your child's homework every night to ensure your child understands the specific skills. If your child is having difficulty with his/her homework, please send me a quick note or tell your child to ask for help as soon as he/she arrives at school. I am able to give individual attention to students from 7:15 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. because my students do not have morning work. This time is reserved for any students who may need extra help with homework.

The following website is fabulous for practicing multiplication facts:

                                                        http://www.multiplication.com/

If you ever need to contact me by email, please contact me at lisa.bower@cobbk12.org. Please do not send any time sensitive emails. Please notify the office of any last minutes transportation changes.

I am looking forward to working with each one of you to ensure your child has a successful 5th grade year!

Thank you! 

Lisa Bower 

Team News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

A Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

As we are approaching the last three days of school, I would like to thank everyone for a great year. I am glad I was given the opportunity to work with all of you and your children. This year has been enjoyable and memorable! Your children should be proud of themselves because they have worked hard this year! I am so proud of the growth I have seen with my students (both emotionally and academically)! It has definitely been a pleasure to teach each and every one of them!

**We have been finishing up assessments as well as reflecting over the past year we have spent together. It is great to hear the conversations my students are having with each other. They are a very compassionate group of kids, and they have built some great relationships with each other this year. I did an activity with my students that my volleyball coach did with us when I was in high school. This activity involved everyone having a sheet of paper, and every student wrote down a compliment for each of the other students. After reading the compliments they gave each other, I was emotional myself. They have really grasped the concept of teamwork, which is the one goal I had for Team Bower. This was definitely accomplished with this group of children!  This is very important because "Together, Everyone Achieves More." I will be sending these home in the report card envelopes because I do not want them thrown in their backpacks as we clean everything. Please ask your child to share them with you!

Looking Ahead: Please See the "End of School Year Reminders" sheet in your child's agenda

May 24th-Awards Day (8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.); Early Dismissal at 1:30

May 25th--Last Day of School; Walk of Honor (1:00); Early Dismissal at 1:30

Reminders to Parents

1. Please help your child look for any of my books that may still be at your house. I am still missing books that I had at the beginning of the year, and I have many students who have told me that they have some of my books at home.

2. Please make sure your child has lunch money for the last three days of school in order for him/her to be able to eat at the 5th grade picnic since they are not able to "charge" on their account.

3. I will be sending home a "Summer Reading List" in the report card envelopes in order for your child to keep up his/her great reading habits over the summer!  

Ways to Help at Home

1. Because organization is a critical of your child's success in school, please help your child by giving him/her something to keep organized at home. You can start off by giving your child a small area in his or her bedroom, or you could give your child a bigger project involving organizational skills.

2. Please continue to encourage your child to read at least twenty or thirty minutes every night. This is a great way for your child to relax and calm down for the evening. Next year, your child will be reading more textbooks than reading for entertainment. Hopefully, I have motivated/inspired my students to love and enjoy reading in their spare time.  

Math Games: Review and Preview of Skills

http://www.math-play.com/math-fractions-games.html

http://www.mathplayground.com/

http://www.multiplication.com/

http://www.ixl.com/

Videos: Review and Preview of Skills

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm

Language Arts/Reading: Review and Preview of Skills

http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/index.html

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_elem.htm

http://www.bookadventure.com/    (Book Adventure is a FREE reading motivation program for children in grades K-8. Children create their own book lists from over 7,000 recommended titles, take multiple choice quizzes on the books they've read, and earn points and prizes for their literary successes. Book Adventure was created by and is maintained by Sylvan Learning. ) This program is similar to our A.R. program at Dowell. It is very motivating to students!

If you ever need to contact me by email, please contact me at lisa.bower@cobbk12.org. Please do   not send any time sensitive emails. Please notify the office of any last minutes transportation changes.

 

Thank you! 

Lisa Bower 

Dowell Elementary

Team News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

A Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

I would like to thank everyone for my "teacher appreciation" gifts this week. I appreciate all of the kind words and gifts!

Math:We have been reviewing for our 4th nine weeks benchmark test the past couple of weeks. After we take our benchmark, we will continue working on math projects. My students's "Math and Me" projects were great! They had fun and learned more about math at the same time.

Reading: Our book clubs have been a huge success! All of my groups are on the second book club book. Please ask your child about the first book he/she read and about the book he/she is currently reading. Hopefully, we will get through at least three books per book club group. We finished our read-aloud, Earthquake Terror, and we have begun reading our next one titled Escaping the Giant Wave.

Looking Ahead:

May 6th--Movie Night (7:00-10:00--See movie night flyer in my previous blog for more info.)

May 24th-Awards Day (8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.); Early Dismissal at 1:30

May 25th--Last Day of School; Walk of Honor (1:00); Early Dismissal at 1:30

Reminders to Parents

1. Please continue to check your child's agenda to ensure he/she is completing his/her homework. I know my students are excited about summer approaching; however, it is critical for my students to continue to keep up their great work/study habits.

2. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note. 

3. Please send in any signed papers that were in your child's "return to school" pocket in the Thursday folder.

Ways to Help at Home

1. Because organization is a critical of your child's success in school, please help your child by giving him/her something to keep organized at home. You can start off by giving your child a small area in his or her bedroom, or you could give your child a bigger project involving organizational skills.

2. Please continue to encourage your child to read at least twenty or thirty minutes every night. This is a great way for your child to relax and calm down for the evening. Next year, your child will be reading more textbooks than reading for entertainment. Hopefully, I have motivated/inspired my students to love and enjoy reading in their spare time.  

Math Games

http://www.math-play.com/math-fractions-games.html

Videos

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm

If you ever need to contact me by email, please contact me at lisa.bower@cobbk12.org. Please do   not send any time sensitive emails. Please notify the office of any last minutes transportation changes.

Thank you! 

Lisa Bower 

Dowell Elementary

Team News: Doing Outstanding Work to Ensure a Love of Learning

A Sneak Peek at the Past Two Weeks

I would like to congratulate my class for an outstanding week of testing! I was very impressed with how focused my children were during testing. I am proud of my students for the effort they put toward the CRCT. We are definitely glad that it is over. Thank you so much for making sure your children were at school and prepared for testing. Also, thank you so much for writing letters to your children and the outstanding signs you made for them. I wish you could have seen their faces when they read your letters and saw the signs hanging on their desks on the first day of testing. Many of them read the letters every single day and kept them on their desks. I know the letters and signs made them feel special and relaxed for testing. Thank you so much for your participation.

Math: I have been previewing 6th grade math standards with my students this week. I taught my students how to solve one-step equations with one variable. In order to do this, I taught my students inverse operations. Please ask your child to explain what inverse operations are. My students have enjoyed learning one-step equations! We have also been working on a math project this week. My students have chosen his/her favorite sport or hobby, and they will be creating a visual representation displaying information that connects their sport or hobby to math. They are incorporating Time and Money, Record Keeping (Statistics), Measurement, and Geometry within their projects.

Reading: We have begun Book Clubs during Reading this week. Each of my reading groups will be reading different chapter books. My students will be reading and completing assignments about the books they are reading. My students will also be reading a non-fiction book about a topic he/she picks and will become a "Teacher for the Day." Within the next couple of weeks, your child will be teaching our class about his/her chosen topic. I cannot wait to see my students in action because they have told me some great ideas they are going to do for their lessons.

Looking Ahead:

Fitness Night Reminder!

ALL ACTIVITIES are FREE!!

When: Thursday, April 21^st from 5:30-8pm

Where: Dowell Elementary

What and who will be there?

Special guests: *Kennesaw State University  

* Pro Health and Rehab     *American Cancer Society

*Living Waters Martial Arts Studio    *Gold’s Gym

*Cobb Parks and Recreation      *Cobb County Food & Nutrition

*Osborne High School JROTC

Services: *FREE Vision and Blood Pressure screenings

*Nutritional and fitness tips from nutrition,

health and fitness experts

 Come join the many fun activities and learn about how to stay healthy!

April 28th--Field Trip to Georgia Aquarium

May 6th--Movie Night (See Info below)

 
May 24th-Awards Day (8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.); Early Dismissal at 1:30

May 25th--Last Day of School; Walk of Honor (1:00); Early Dismissal at 1:30

Reminders to Parents

1. Please send back the registration card and envelope with stamps as soon as possible.

2. Please send a note if you change the way your child will be going home. In order to ensure your child is safe, I need a note. 

3. Please send in any signed papers that were in your child's "return to school" pocket in the Thursday folder.

Ways to Help at Home

1. Because organization is a critical of your child's success in school, please help your child by giving him/her something to keep organized at home. You can start off by giving your child a small area in his or her bedroom, or you could give your child a bigger project involving organizational skills.

2. Please continue to encourage your child to read at least twenty or thirty minutes every night. This is a great way for your child to relax and calm down for the evening. Next year, your child will be reading more textbooks than reading for entertainment. Hopefully, I have motivated/inspired my students to love and enjoy reading in their spare time.  

One-Step Equations Video

http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_solvevariable.html

Algebra Games

http://www.mathplayground.com/wangdoodles.html

http://www.mathplayground.com/algebra_puzzle.html

http://www.mathplayground.com/algebraic_reasoning.html

If you ever need to contact me by email, please contact me at lisa.bower@cobbk12.org. Please do   not send any time sensitive emails. Please notify the office of any last minutes transportation changes.



Thank you! 

Lisa Bower 

Dowell Elementary