As the students enjoy their winter vacation, please help them go over their play lines since they will begin practicing without their scripts. Our second grade period will end on January 22. It is very important to review each day's work to reinforce the taught material. Our annual spelling bee will be January 25 and 26. A list of words was sent home for the class to look over as a sample of what to expect. Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns.

Our first grade period ends on October 30th which will bring report cards home the following week. Please continue to request seeing your child's daily work at the end of each day. Homework must be complete to truly reflect the student's understanding of the taught material.

Our class play ,"The Gentle Giant," has been given to the students so they may begin memorizing their parts by December 3oth. Please listen to them when learning their lines and encourage them to review their parts. They are very excited about their presentation which will be on May 14th in the JCC Multipurpose Room . Please reserve the date.

We will go on our first field trip to Whitehouse Farm on Tuesday, October 20th. Please remind your child to bring a lunch void of anything that cannot be disposed of since we will be eating on their premises. Walking is involved so appropriate attire is suggested. We look forward to a pleasant day.

Our first book report is due September 15. This month the class may read a book of their choice. They have been given a form to complete which includes a required signature. Each month a book report will be due on various genres.
A monthly calendar is given to the class each month. Tests are posted on this by the children. Please look for it in their folders.
Each Friday a spelling test is given consisting of 20-25 words. A reading test is normally given that same day to include a vocabulary and comprehension review of the story read that week.
These are good tips for the class from great sources I give at the beginning of each school year.
Before turning in a written assignment, proofread your final draft while reading it over several times. Always cover the lines above and below the line you are reading making certain you are reading only one line at a time. This will help you concentrate on each word and punctuation mark. Designate a place for your notebooks, textbooks, and correspondence at all times, so when you need them, you will know where they can be found.
Our Scholastic Book Fair begins the week of Labor Day. Please visit it with your child on Thursday, September10, at 10:30a.m.

Welcome to our 5th Grade class! I look forward to seeing each of you beginning with our "Meet the Teacher"evening at 8:00, Wednesday, September 9. At this time, I will acquaint you with our classroom procedures, textbooks, and schedule. Materials will be sent home with your child, Mom and Dad, with regards to our classroom. Please expect these in their folders on August 24
always remembering to nightly review the contents of their daily classwork.
Hoping to see you soon.

November 17, 2008

Students did good work in completing their research reports. Topics chosen were both interesting and well presented in class. The following is a picture of Taylor giving his Ronald Reagan report.

The spring play,"Three Wishing Bags" is underway. Classmates are learning their lines. Please aid them by listening to their parts, helping them with clarity and expression. All lines must be memorized by the end of December. We all look forward to a successful play.

Language Arts classes recently submitted their fall poetry. The anthology selections will be chosen and announced in late spring 2009. Grades 5,6 received Creative Communication's Poetic Achievement Award-spring 2008. This award is given to schools whose students' entries to the Poetry Contest were of exceptionally high merit. With the recently submitted poems, we are hoping to repeat this merit.

Please continue to review daily classwork each evening. It is invaluable to the students.

Grade 6 Language Arts is busy working on their book entitled, The ABC's of Akiva. Proceeds will go toward their Washington, D.C. class trip. The book will go on sale in late winter. Purchase forms will be sent home in January. Thank you for your support of their project.

Presidential Election Process

Grade 6, along with grade 5 students, have been learning about our Presidential election process.





Here the four "candidates" present their overview of the issues to a classroom.






After visiting the classrooms, the candidates worked on posters for the school building. A voter registration process will take place later in the month.

September - October Activities

September was both a busy and exciting month..Our class, along with my Gr. 6 Language Arts class, began our Presidential election preparation. Zack, Unyime, Tyler, and Lyndsay went to each classroom representing the candidates and delivering their "platforms." Our next step was to "register" every student's "eligibility" in voting next month. Committees were formed to create and design posters to be displayed throughout our halls for classmates to view. Two adult speakers will address the 5th and 6th graders on the election process as well as each student closely learning about the election process itself. On election day, November 4, each "registered" voter will make their choice. We look forward to these coming weeks with much anticipation. Grade 5 will begin their research paper in a few weeks. They are currently choosing their topic. Thank you for reviewing their daily papers. The extra reinforcement of the day's work is very beneficial especially in social studies. Many of 6th grade Language Arts students were selected as published poets in one of Ohio's past spring anthologies. Grades 5 and 6 are currently submitting their fall selections due November14 . I am very proud of their hard work in poetry. Several have currently been chosen for publication in the Youngstown Vindicator Mini-page as well.