Focus on Fifth

An Historical Election

We have a new President!  Students arrived excited and enthusiastic about our new President elect.  We have been learning all about the President's job and the many things he has to do that we didn't even know about.  Today we discussed how important it is to be respectful and supportive of our newly elected president regardless of who you voted for.  We discussed the importance of this particular election and why it is historical and what a privilege it is to live in this great nation.

We have lots of things coming up on our calendar and wanted to remind  you.  This Friday night is reading night at Barnes and Noble.  Please join us there for lots of special activities and performances. 

This Friday is also wear your favorite hat day to raise money for United Way.

On November 11 at 8:00 and at 5:00 pm we would like to invite parents to attend an information workshop where you will receive information on ways to help you child be successful in school, upcoming content and vocabulary, and results of the recent Benchmark tests.  Please join us if possible.

In class we have been studying not only the Presdential election but some other exciting things.  We are adding and subtracting fractions, we are writing every day, we are learning about finding main ideas and supporting details, and we things in science that are so small you can not see them with your eyes! 

Last week was red ribbon week and we would like to thank one of our teachers Mrs. Karen Brown and her children for putting together a great week of activities to remind us about the importance of a drug free life.

Parents should remember to check agendas and remind students to read at least 20 mintues every night.  Almost everyone knows their multiplication tables by now but if your student does not, they will not be able to show progress in math.  Use flash cards to practice, daily! Homework should be completed each night and turned in on time.  Parents, please help students remember this is a responsibility issue as well as an academic one.

Look for midterm reports (academic alerts) after November 11.

Thanksgiving holidays begin November 24

One Down, Three to Go!

  It is hard to believe but we have completed our first nine weeks of school!  Report cards will be sent home next Friday.  We have three more nine week periods in this school year and we are off to a great start.  We have been working on our benchmark tests this week and will complete them next week.  This is an online test that will tell us if our students are progressing as they should. 

  We are loving our new languague arts curriculum (Language!) and it seems to already be helping with spelling and writing.  We wrote some incredible stories last week about bats.  We will be looking at a different kind of bat next week. 

  This week we also began our study of the Civil War.  Ask your student to tell you some things we have learned about Abe Lincoln.  In science we are learning about physical and chemical changes, volume and density.  Math is going well as we learn our multiplication tables better and faster.  We know all about decimals, prime and composite numbers, and now we are finding factors and multiples.  Don't forget to read 20 minutes every night and takes as many AR tests as possible.

  We want to thank Aziza for doing great job representing our class as safety patrol for the first nine weeks and congratulate Jordan  for being selected as safety patrol for the second nine weeks.  Miguel has shown his patriotism by raising and lowering the American flag each day.  What awesome responsibilty these classmates have shown.  Also a quick congrats to Barry who was selected to attend our monthly breakfast of champions.

  Reminder:  Next Wednesday is early release.  Students will be dismissed at 12:20. 

Parents  if you have questions about report cards, please call either Mrs. Dean or Mrs. Daniel and we will be happy to speak with you.   Remember that this is not a time that students should worry or be afraid.  We should work together to use this information to help students be successful and achieve their goals.

Tonight is Math Night at Publix.  This is our annual activity that shows everyone how math connects to real life.  Join us tonight for fun, prizes, and math in the real world.  The schedule is as follows.

6-6:45 Last names N-Z

6:45-7 PTA

7-7:45 Last names A-M

Hope to see you there!

Fall Festival and Fun with Math

We have lots of exciting things to look forward to in the coming days.  Our annual Math Night at Publix and our PTA Fall Festival are coming soon.  Please note the following information.

DOWELL MATH NIGHT

at

Publix on Dallas Hwy

DATE: Thursday, October 9th

TIME: 6:00-6:45 Family names N

–

Z

6:45-7:00 PTA Meeting

7:00-8:00 Family names A

–

M

FOOD: Hotdogs

– Drinks –

Treats

Available to purchase

Dowell Spirit Wear

(Wear a Dowell T-shirt and be eligible to win a prize)

*All Students must bring an adult to participate.

The Fall Festival will be on Friday night, September 26, here at Dowell from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Tickets will be $7.00 per person and will cover all games and inflatibles. Conscessions will cost extra.  You may pre-order tickets for $6.00 per person.  Every child must be accompanied by an adult.                                                       

Testing for the Cogat and ITBS will begin next Wednesday and will run through the following week.  Please be sure your student is on time every day and has a good breakfast. 

Tuesday is early release.  Students are dismissed at 12:20

Please rememer to vote in the Tuesday election for the 'Special Option Local Sales Tax".  This money is used for many improvements to our school.

Coming soon - End of October "Red Ribbon Week"

Reading, Writing, and Math

   Testing, testing, testing!  I'll bet you parents have heard alot about testing lately.  Each year we assess students in order to be sure they are placed on the correct reading and math level.  We have completed numerous informal assessments and later this month will be taking the Cogat(intelligence test) as well as the ITBS (achievement test).  In addition to these tests we will be giving assessments all along the way to be sure that students are understanding the material that is presented.  Sometimes we will notify you several days in advance for testing in the subject areas so that you can help your child prepare.  Other times we will give quizzes or tests in class that you will not prepare for.  Please talk with your child and help them to understand that giving your best at all times will help teachers know who needs additional help. 

  The very best way to help your child right now is to be sure he or she knows all math fact and knows them well.  They should not have to stop to count on fingers or draw sticks.  They should know basic addition and subtraction 0-20 and all times tables 0-12.  Math will only become more difficult for those who do not know their facts!

  In reading parents can help by asking about and listening to what is being read from our media center.  Our new media specialist Mrs. Seigler, and Mrs. Maffee who has been with us for some time, are doing an awesome job of helping students find books they are interested in that are on their level.  We will begin our new reading series with brand new books on Monday.

We have completed our first class novel entitled The Stories Julian Tells. Look on the next AR report for this title to see what your student did.  Most everyone did exceptionally well.

We are sending home fliers today about our fifth grade t-shirts.  We would like every child to have one because it is a real keepsake.  The shirts are only $7 and that is the exact cost as this is not a fund raiser.  We will wear these shirts on special fifth grade days and on field trips.  No other grade level will be allowed to purchase this special shirt.

Remember to sign up in the e-mail box if you would like e-mail alerts when our blog is updated. 

We could still use some hand sanitizer if you would like to contribute to our classroom.  Thanks so much to those who have already sent in supplies. 

  Please make plans now to attend our annual "Math Night" at Publix on Dallas Hwy.  Students will complete math problems in the real world.  We will have a brief PTA meeting in the store that night.  Watch for more information coming soon.  Hope to see you there.

We're Back!

   Hello Everyone, and welcome to Mrs. Daniel and Mrs. Dean's classroom!  We are thrilled to have fourteen new faces in our class.  We are off to a great start and everyone is doing an awesome job of getting settled in and focused on learning.  There are so many wonderful things to look forward to this year.  We are expecting the best year ever. 

  Our theme this year is "Going for the Gold".  We will be discussing setting goals and working hard to achieve them.  We will be striving to improve reading and math scores and we will focus much of our time on writing. 

  Parents often ask how they can help students succeed.  Here are a few important tips.  Be sure your student is reading at least 20 minutes each day outside of regular homework assignments.  Help by asking your child to tell you about what he or she is reading and listen to them read as often as possible.  If they stumble or read slowly have them read the same passage a few times to help with fluency. Be sure your child knows all multiplication and division facts through the 12s. Tip 2, check agendas frequently and always sign on Thursday night.  If you have questions don't wait.  E-mail us right away and we will answer your e-mail or phone you.  We can also set up conferences or informal face to face anytime you like.  Finally, for now, be sure your child is prepared for school each day.  Make sure he or she knows how to go home, has lunch or money, pencil, paper, and homework.  Being prepared is a life skill and reduces everyone's stress.

  Thank you to those parents who attended our openhouse PTA meeting.  It was great to meet you and put names and faces together.  Your attendance at school functions shows your child that you value education and what we do here at Dowell.

  We are enjoying each of your children and hope they are enjoying school.  Ask them each day to tell you at least one thing they learned.  More news soon...