I hope everyone has a wonderful summer! Here is the link to the End of the Year slideshow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break!
This week we will be comparing and contrasting texts, as well as retelling and paraphrasing literature.
Your child will also begin working with another student or group of students on their next book club. Please make sure they are reading their books nightly.
Thanks and have a wonderful week!

It’s Benchmark week!!
We will be taking Benchmark tests Tuesday – Thursday. This is a practice run for the STAAR test we will be taking in May. Therefore we will be abiding by the schedule and expectations for the actual tests.
Please encourage your child to do their best and make sure they have had a good night’s sleep and breakfast.
I know they are going to do great!
Tuesday – Math
Wednesday – Reading
Thursday – Science
*Please make sure your child has “wired” headphones for the test. If you aren’t able to get some, Mrs. Trim is selling them for $2 a pair.

After a surprise 4 day weekend, it’s time to get back to work.
This week we will be finishing up our Poetry unit and moving into Nonfiction Text Structure.
We are also going to work on reading stamina. With the STAAR test coming in 3 short months, I think that is one spot where almost all of the kids are struggling. Please have them read for at least 20 minutes every night. I am allowing them to check out books daily, so everyone should have something to read. This is a small thing that can make a big difference.
Everyone have a wonderful week!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing three day weekend!
This week we are going to be taking our third benchmark to see how the students are progressing. This will be our first time taking the test online. I think the students are ready for the change and will do great!
We are also beginning our unit on Poetry this week. As a fun introduction, we are writing Bio Poems about someone important in the Revolutionary War. Students will be researching their person using a brainstorming form and then creating a visual to go with their poem. I will post pictures when they are done.
Beginning next week we will look at different forms of poetry and elements of poetry.
Have a great week!
Ms Toal

Welcome Back!
I hope everyone had a wonderful and refreshing Christmas break. It’s hard to believe we are halfway through this year!
This week we are going to be reading a book called Seeker of Knowledge.
Our vocabulary words for the week are:
spellbound, enthusiasm hieroglyph, decipher, bombarded, translate, expedition, scholar, conquered, inscriptions.
We will also be using the endings -tion and -sion to write words.
Our Greek and Latin Root is -tele.

Have a great week!

Tomorrow evening is our Christmas program in the gym.  Please have your child here at 5:45 so that we can get lined up and any final details figured out.  They should also have on red or green or something Christmasy.

See you tomorrow!

We are going to work on identifying the plot elements and writing a summary this week using the book Cobweb Christmas.

Vocabulary:  gleamed, cottage, speckled, tidy, scoured, dismayed, rafters, fetch, harness, bough

Our Christmas Program will be next Tuesday at 6:00 pm.  Please have your student in the gym at 5:45 to line up.  They should also wear something red or green.  The kids are very excited about this and I am impressed how well they are doing memorizing their parts. Public speaking is one of our 5th grade requirements, and this helps us fulfill it in a fun way.

Have a phenomenal week!!!

Due to IXL diagnostic testing last week, the activities and vocabulary will carry over to this week.  In addition, we are going to be doing a STEM activity involving the book Mr. Ferris and His Wheel.  This will be a great hands on activity with a writing activity as follow up.  I think the kids are really going to enjoy it!

A field trip permission slip was sent home on Friday.  Please read all information included and return the signed forms and $5 by Friday.

Anyone who placed a book order at the beginning of October, I apologize for the delay.  I have been in contact with Scholastic concerning the hold up and have been assured the books will be delivered before the Thanksgiving break.  Fingers crossed!  I will let you know when I hear they have shipped.

Have a great week!

A new month already!  I can’t believe how fast this year is sailing by.

With no school Friday, our Book Character Day will be Monday, November 1st, along with any activities that were missed.

The rest of the week we are going to be reading the book Mr. Ferris and His Wheel and doing work related to it.  This includes responding the the type of text, author’s purpose, the importance of setting, and making inferences.

Our vocabulary words for the week are:  surpassing, muster, ambitious, structure, saturated, forged, precision, landmark, attraction, overshadow.

We will continue Greek and Latin roots this week with Hydro – water.

We are still waiting for our most recent Scholastic Book Order to be delivered.  I am hoping we get it in the next week or so.  I do know they are backed up with all of the shipping hubbub.

Have a Great Week!

Ms. Toal