Eloquence Day 2012!!

Christmas Gift Giving

Look for a note coming home tomorrow, December 5, regarding our Christmas project. There will NOT be a student gift exchange!!

Math

Students took the first division test today. Overall, I was pleased with the results of the test. However, working with them during RTI, I realize that many students need more time and practice to really master this concept. Students need to be "fluent" with division, meaning they need to be able to do long division quickly. At home you could help your child by practicing long division problems often. Especially problems that have a zero in the quotient.

Eloquence Day

The annual fifth grade eloquence day will be on Friday, December 21. Please know that students are expected to dress up for this occasion! We will be talking about manners and then have an opportunity to eat a special lunch together. We will be using read-a-thon funds to cover the cost of this event. Look for more information about YOU can help coming soon!!

Sign of the Beaver and Log Cabins

The log cabin assignment for the novel "Sign of the Beaver" was discussed today. I believe enough information was given to the students regarding this assignment, but please feel free to contact me if you have questions. Miss Michell will be giving the due date since she is teaching reading. It will be due after Christmas break, that much I do know! I have extra copies of the books if a student wishes to bring one home to help with the visualization. There is an optional assignment if this simply does not work for you.

Thursday, Nov. 1

This coming Thursday, November 1, we will be going on a field trip to the Van Andel Museum. All costs of this trip are covered by a grant so there is no cost for the children! Our day will be spent learning more about the American Indians. Please encourage your child to dress nicely as he/she will be representing Hamilton Elementary. In addition, please make sure your child has a sack lunch. The plan is to leave school at 9:00 and return to Hamilton around 2:45. Have a wonderful week!

Black and Orange Day

On Wednesday, October 31, we will be having a "Black and Orange Day."  All students are encouraged to wear black and orange for the festivities!!

Oudoor Discovery Center

Despite the cold and windy weather conditions, we enjoyed our day at the Outdoor Discovery Center on Friday. We learned about American Indians homes, how they hunted, and had an opportunity to explore many artifacts. We completed a weaving craft when we arrived back at Hamilton Elementary.

Read-a-thon

I would like to thank you ALL for participating in our read-a-thon. We raised a significant amount of money that we will be able to use for field trip transportation. Enjoy these pictures of the kids reading and celebrating success!!

Black and Gold Day

Just a few photos from Black and Gold day!

Read-a-thon and Field Trip

What a terrific read-a-thon we had today! The fifth grade raised over $1,100.00! Thank you all for your generosity! We will be using this money during the course of the year to pay for transportation to various field trips. Our first field trip will be next week Friday, October 12. We will be going to the Outdoor Discovery Center for the Native American experience. Each child will need to be dressed appropriately to be outside most of the day and a disposable sack lunch. If you have not done so already, please send in $4.00 to cover the entrance fee for your child. Have a great weekend!!

Social Studies

We will be concluding our study of Geography this week. Please look for a review/study sheet to come home on Monday. Please invest some time in studying with your child. The test will be on Tuesday.

40 Book Challenge!

I have challenged all students to read 40 books this year!! Every day we have some time set aside to read, so please help your child work toward this goal by providing time at home as well. Many students also need help developing the skill of finding books that are in the "just right" category. Here is a web site that you may just find helpful! http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com

Math

We have been spending a fair amount of time reviewing multiplication and division facts. Students must be able to do 25 problems in a minute in order to be considered fluent in this area. I am very pleased with their progress so far! Many have demonstrated mastery and others are making excellent progress!!

Outdoor Discovery Center

Our first field trip of the year will be to the Outdoor Discovery Center on Friday, October 12. We will leave school around 9:00 and arrive back at Hamilton Elementary at approximately 2:00 p.m. We will be learning about how the Native Americans lived in Michigan. The admission cost per child is $4.00. Please send either a check made out to Hamilton 5th grade or cash no later than Wednesday, October 10. If this presents a financial burden on your family, please contact me as soon as possible. We do have "scholarship" money available.

Read-a-thon

On Friday, October 5, all 4th and 5th graders will be participating in a two hour read-a-thon. The purpose of this event is to raise money to help pay for field trip transportation. Look for more information coming home on Thursday, Septeber 27. Your support is appreciated!!

Constitution Day

Thank you all for wearing red, white and blue on Constitution Day! We devoured the delicious cake!

Supply List

The following is a list of recommended items you may wish to purchase prior to the beginning of school:

*  Single subject wide ruled notebooks (4)

 * Single subject folders (4)

* Handheld pencil sharpener
• A pencil bag or box – (not too large)
• A backpack to transport items to and from school daily (No wheels)
• 1 or 2 Post-it pads
• Colored pencils (We use these most often!)
• Highlighter
• 2 dry erase markers
• Sharpie markers - whatever you want - wide, fine point

* Water Bottle
• Hand held pencil sharpener
• Hand Sanitizer

Please do not bring the following:
*Trapper keeper

*Toys of any Kind!!

*Mechanical pencils

 If you would like to make a donation to our classroom supplies, please consider the following suggestions:

* A box of tissues
* Paper plates
* Napkins
* Plastic Cups
* Plastic Silverware
* Baggies
Now for the fun part. I would like you to think about a kind of candy that represents YOU and have you bring it to school for a snack on the first day. An example might be a RECESS peanut butter cup because recess is your favorite part of school. Or you might bring a LAFFY TAFFY because you are always laughing. How about a MARS bar because some people think you came from outer space! Be creative, grab some candy that represents you and be prepared to share with the class why you chose what you did. (Hint: If you get to the Peanut Store in downtown Holland, you have a lot more to choose from than the grocery stores offer.)

Happy Shopping!
Mrs. Maxson

Dunes Field Trip

We have decided to take our field trip to the Dunes on Monday, June 4.  If you signed up as a chaperone and are no longer able to make it, please contact me.  Thanks!

Track and Field Day Shirt Money

A note will be sent home regarding track and field day shirt money. Since many of you paid in advance for a field trip that we are not able to take, you will only be asked to pay $1.00 rather than $7.00 as indicated in the note. I have an envelope for each child so you will know how much to pay. Feel free to give me a call if you have questions.

Play

We're making a play for you!  We hope many of you can come and see the play "The Boston Tea Party" on Monday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m.  in our classroom.  You may park in the south parking lot and we will have the doors open for you.  Students may be excused from school once the play is over.

Guided Reading Has Begun!

March 2, 2012

Next week students will be given a biography to read and do a report on. They are making paper mache heads in art. Once the heads are completed, students will be responsible for completing the project at home. Patterns for the "body" will be supplied. The puppets will be due on Monday, March 26.

There will be a Social Studies test given on Monday, March 5. All students have a review sheet, so please take time to study this weekend.

I am looking forward to seeing you at conferences next week!

Symphony Field Trip

Friday, February 17, 2012

Happy Friday!!

On Monday, February 20, we will be celebrating President's Day. Please be sure to wear your red, white, and blue as we will be reciting the Presidents in the lunch room.

Students are working on a President project. We spent some time brainstorming ideas an the kids got to work on them in class today. We will continue working on these at school, but you may also choose to work on them at home. They are due the week of March 5.

There is math homework this weekend! A review of chapter 8 was sent home today. Please take time to go through this important review. The concepts have all been taught and reviewed many times, but several students could use support from home to master them. The test will be on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Have a great weekend!

Social Studies

There will be a Social Studies test on Friday, February 10. A review sheet will be sent home on Wednesday.

Early Colonies Day

On Thursday, Feb. 9, we will spend the day dressed as early colonists. We have discussed this at school and answered many questions. Please help your child come up with a costume for the day! Feel free to give a call or send an e-mail if you have questions.

Snowman Making Contest!!

Second Semester

The second semester of the year begins on Monday, January 23. We will have a few changes in our schedule starting on the 23rd. We will have music on Tuesdays. Art will only be a 1/2 long rather than an hour.

Social Studies

There will be a Social Studies test on Monday, January 23.

Lit Kits

Students have been assigned a "Lit Kit" project. They are reading a book and are expected to put a kit together and present it. I modeled it for them and gave them a sheet with some directions. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. Everyone has signed up for a day to share their "Lit Kit." Here is the schedule.

Thursday 1/26
Hunter
Sam
Allyssa
Erik
Brad

Monday 1/30
Alex
Allison
Mya C.
Mason
Sydney R.

Tuesday 1/31
Sydnie P.
Ali
Mya S.
Allie J.
Blake

Wednesday, 2/1
Carson
Rylin
Heather

Thursday 2/2
Parker K
Wyatt
Bryan

Christmas Project

Eddy Soerens was chosen to select which charity would receive our gift at Christmas time. He chose St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Thank you for helping us teach children the importance of giving!

Miss Rowe

On Monday, January 9, Miss Rowe will begin her student teaching placement here with us. We are all looking forward to meeting her! Below you will find a link to a youtube video she created to introduce herself to our class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rin7fcMsg9c

Happy New Year!!

Eloquence Day

Log Cabins