I was wondering if a couple of parents might have time to either scan some files for the Fifth Grade Team and or create some anchor charts. Anchor charts are just posters displaying the concepts we are working on in class. For instance, we are about to start rounding whole numbers and decimals and it would be great to have an anchor chart demonstrating the key rules. 

Though it is not difficult to create an anchor chart, it is time consuming to make it look good.You can get ideas for these charts by searching the web or looking at Pintererst. This can be done at home and your child might be helpful, as well.

As for the scanning, it would be incredibly helpful for our team to have our paper resources (which may be in only one teacher's room) to be made easily accessible on the computer. Ms. Wolfgang has offered to demonstrate how to scan the items using the copy machine.

Thanks for all your time and support. I have some wonderful gardening photos to post soon.

Outdoor School Due Dates

• November 21 &22- 2013 Outdoor School Trip
• September 3
• Scholarship requests are due
• September 13th  (Beginning of Year Conferences)
• First Deposit due date ($40)
• October 25th
• Final due date (remaining balance)
• All paperwork due

How Long Will We Be There?:

• Outdoor School will begin at 12 noon on Thursday,      though we will leave at 9:00 and arrive around 11:00 with enough time to      eat a sack lunch
• End at 12 noon Friday – be prepared to pick up students      promptly at 2:30

 Cost:

• Students $90
• Chaperone $51
• Please return Check, Cash or Money Order with Child’s Name and Outdoor School in the Memo
• To help your teacher, please turn in money on FRIDAYS

Field Trip Dates and Volunteer Opportunities

Parents,

We had a wonderful start to the year. One of the best things about looping is we could jump right into learning. A huge celebration for today was that everyone had their homework!

I wanted to let you know that we have an updated website. I will work to update it more frequently this year! The new site has a subscribe capability that will allow you to get an email that tells you when the site is updated. You can get to the site by going to the NYOS website and clicking on Elementary, then Faculty & Staff.

Upcoming Dates:

Parent Orientation- August 15

Join us in the Lamar cafeteria to learn about Outdoor School and the ins and outs of 5^th grade at NYOS. We have a pizza fundraiser so come hungry!

Study Trip to the Nature Center- August 27th

Study Trip to Blanton Art Museum and Natural Science Center- September 18^th

Study Trip to McKinney Rough Nature Park- October 24^th

Just a heads up- we will need $15 to cover the cost of the Nature Center, Natural Science Center, Blanton and McKinney Rough Nature Park. With the exception of Outdoor School, this should cover all the study trips for quarter 1 and 2. An official note will go home soon.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Want to get some of your volunteer hours done early in the year? I would love help with:

Leveling Books

This involves using my ipad to search Scholastic Book Wizard for the Lexile of each book. This will ensure that each student is reading a book that will help them become a better reader. This can be done anytime between 7:15 and 4:30.

Study Trip Chaperone

We love having parents come with us on our study trips. You must carpool with other parents or drive yourself because of bus liability issues.

Welcome to the 5^th Grade at NYOS! I hope you are as excited as I am about getting the 2013-2014 school year underway. I wanted to share a little information about our classroom and what to expect this year.

Reading

Reading will be structured in a workshop format.  A short lesson will begin most classes. For the rest of the class period students will work on independent reading, guided reading in small groups, vocabulary and word study activities and thematic projects. Students will keep reading journals that include notes from the lessons, reading responses, and class activities. We will utilize book groups to practice higher level reading strategies.

 All students will receive intensive vocabulary enrichment through the use of rotations with the other fifth grade classes.

Writing

Writing will also be structured in a workshop format, and will be linked with concepts in content areas- science, social studies, and math.  Students will conference with their peers and myself, as they revise, edit, publish, and share their work.

 Families are invited to attend Author’s Share at the end of every 9 weeks so that our young authors will have the opportunity to read their work in front of an audience.

Math

NYOS will continue to use a math philosophy called CGI- Cognitively Guided Instruction.  CGI asks the students to solve problems and share strategies.  We will use this metacognition to develop more complex skills and mathematical algorithms.

 Students will be able to use proficiency scales in order to know exactly what is expected of them and how they are doing. They will be able to track and record their own growth and show it to you throughout the year.

Science

Science is an intensive part of the 5^th grade curriculum. We have many hands-on experiments and field trips planned to further our study. We will study earth and space, organisms and environments, and force, motion and energy. We have potential trips planned to the Planetarium at the Nature Center, to McKinney Roughs and to Perdanales and LBJ State Park.

 Students will also participate in the Stem Fair and take the Staar Test in Science in April.

Tribes

We follow the community building program called TRIBES.  TRIBES includes the following agreements: Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, Appreciations/No Put Downs
and Participation/ Right to Pass

These agreements act as our classroom rules. Our 5th grade curriculum is taught with many cooperative learning groups and the TRIBES agreements allow for greater productivity and respect for others in all school settings 

Communication
NYOS has a web site where you can find general school information and resources (http://www.nyos.org).  I also maintain a web site specifically for our classroom, which is located at www. Edlio.com. The site will contain resources specific to what we are studying, student work, and ways you can continue your child’s learning environment outside of school.

I find that email is the easiest way to communicate about any concerns or questions you may have. You may reach me at [email protected]. Please update me with any new contact information.

Homework

Homework is a way for students to complete work and practice new skills while learning to be responsible for their own learning. There will be a one or two sided page of math homework from Monday to Thursday. If a student is failing to use his or her time well and is not completing classwork then this work will also be sent home. Assignments will need to be made up if not turned in or due to absences.

I am looking forward to great year with your child!  The importance of working together as a parent-student-teacher team cannot be underscored enough.