News from Mrs. Denny’s Class
March 19, 2010

ACADEMICS:
Reading/Writing: We are finishing our poetry unit this week. Students created beautiful India Ink tree designs and wrote Haikus to match. Limericks were also introduced this week. What fun the students had writing these humorous poems.
A fun poetry web site to visit is www.gigglepoetry.com
Students will begin creating their poetry books next week in preparation for publishing.

Extra Credit: After our preposition lessons, students were challenged with learning the preposition song for extra credit!

Spelling: Our focus this week is homophones. The test is on Friday. Ask your child if he remembers the difference between a homonym and a homophone.
Vocabulary: Students will be given new words next week which will focus on story structure vocabulary.

Math:
Saxon Math concepts this week: Comparing decimals, multiplying fractions, converting fractions, decimals and percents, mass/weight, and probability.
We continue to review order of operations, prime numbers, area and perimeter, graphing, fractions and percents. We are still reviewing math concepts in preparation for the AIMS test in April.
Social Studies: With so much time devoted to science fair projects last quarter and AIMS testing preparation, we will be focusing much more on social studies this quarter. We will be studying American History beginning with exploration and colonization.

Counseling: Mrs. Russell has been working with the students on anger management. Ask your child what he/she has learned about controlling their anger in heated situations (count to 10, breathe, walk away, talk to yourself).

PARENT NOTES:
Poetry Books: All 5th grade students are working on books to be published by Student Treasures Publishing Co. in May. Students will receive a free copy of their book over the summer.
Order forms went home over a week ago for you to order any additional books for $14.95 + shipping. This would make a wonderful gift for any family member!
All forms must be returned, even if you mark “No.” Please return the forms and/or money as soon as possible in the envelope provided.

Talent Show: We will be attending the talent show on Monday, March 22nd, to cheer on students from our class.
The winners will compete with Lakeside winners on the evening of March 26th. Good luck to all participants!

Attendance: Please remember that class time is a valuable time for all students. You never know what a discussion might hold or what questions a fellow classmate might ask to make a lesson clearer. By missing part of a day, or a whole day, students miss valuable lesson concepts which they may need for a follow-up lesson or for a testing situation. Missing class time often makes the student feel lost and dis-organized as it creates gaps in their learning. While I understand there are often extenuating circumstances, I am hoping students are on time and in their seats the entire day 

Bookman’s Reading Challenge:
Students should be turning in their validated reading slips when they finish a book. We are trying to help LPA earn great things for our school by participating in this 3 month reading challenge. Read, Read, Read. 

Can you help? We are still in desperate need of Kleenex, hand sanitizer, markers and colored pencils.

March:
20- Golf Tournament
26- LPA Talent Show at Central Campus
April:
1-5 Easter Break
7- $1.00 Dress Down Day
9- Character Lunch
9- Bingo Night
12-16- Aims Testing
19-23- Penny War Week
21- Jump for Heart
23- Mother/Son Dance
26- Dentist