News from Mrs. Denny’s Class

September 10, 2010
denny@lpatucson.org

CONGRATULATIONS to:
Haylee Minier and Alexis Ortega for being selected to represent our class in student council!

Curriculum News:
Students will take their 2nd unit test in Math. We are still practicing multiplication facts and will continue to focus on subtraction facts as well. Remind your child to practice using the fun web sites I sent home (find the links on my teacher blog).

Students will have a vocabulary quiz next week. Our new words are: cartographer, cartography, opponent, landform, resonant, sum, difference, product, factor, innovation, innovative, longitude and latitude. Students will always be given advanced notice of a quiz or test.

In Reading, students are still enjoying the The City of Ember. We concentrated on the elements of setting this week.

In writing, we are learning how to write descriptive paragraphs. Students are being guided in “painting a picture” for their reader.

In Science, we started discussions about inventions and famous inventors.

In Social Studies, students have been learning a lot about geography and the 7 continents.

Mrs. Russell came to our room this Thursday. She focused on goal setting, moods and body language.

Progress Reports: Next week your child will bring home his/her progress report. Please discuss your child’s areas of strength and weakness. I am asking that you sign the form and return it with your child by next Friday.
Please keep in mind that we have only been in school for one month, and I am still getting to know your child’s strengths and weaknesses. The progress report will reflect core subject areas.

*Due to late work and absences requiring make up work, many students need to only turn in work on time for improvement to be shown.

Responsibility: Now that the students are in 5th grade, I have been talking with them about being responsible for their work. Many students will finish an in- class assignment and never hand it in, or will complete an assignment in the wrong notebook or never bring back a homework assignment. They know that this greatly impacts their grade. Receiving an “F” in a subject due to missing assignments or not following instructions is definitely avoidable.
I have told the students that school is their job- just like we as adults have jobs. They need to take responsibility for their own work.

This & That: Please take time to read the school newspaper “The Link,” which should come home at the beginning of every week. Look for it in your child’s homework folder.
Also please don’t forget to ask your child for our classroom newsletter which comes home every Friday.

Important Dates:September
10-Mid-quarter ends

17-Character movie in library 1:30

20-Dentist on Campus

21-Skate Night 6-8 p.m.

24-Boston Market Fundraiser

October
1-Movie Night

7-40th Day of School!

11-Order Halloween Grams

13- End of 1st Quarter.
½ day. No lunch or after school
Report cards home

14 & 15-Fall Break