Welcome to the 2015-16 school year!

What a great beginning of the year we have had! I truly believe that we are chugging along at a great rate through the information 5th graders need to learn. This is a great group of students with a good knowledge base overall from 4th grade and prior years. Keep practicing multiplication facts and of course, read everyday. Both of these activities will strengthen abilities for future learning! We keep homework short and sweet, so please complete anything that is sent home, as this, too, is important for building future skills. We are looking forward to a great year! #5thGradeRocks

Welcome, 2015!

I hope that this post finds everyone happy and healthy after our long winter break.  I know that I speak from all in our teaching team when I say that we enjoyed all of our time with family and friends.

The 3rd nine weeks starts tomorrow!  This will be the most productive nine weeks yet!  We will be reading and writing extensively in all subject areas, which means increasing rigor and productivity across the board.  Get your sleep and "Eat Your Wheaties", my compadres!  We have a lot of work to do!

Please check homework folders daily as well as our class website.  The calendar will be updated regularly with homework assignments and test dates.  Remember that homework assignments count for two test grades in Reading, Spelling, and Math.  Since there are approximately 9 grades per subject per nine weeks, This is 25% of the final grade!

Reading homework and spelling homework will be streamlined a bit this nine weeks.  I am trying to find the best combination of activities for homework that produces the most skill practice for a condensed amount of time daily.  Please see our website for:
**Reading Homework  and  **Spelling Homework.  These are due weekly on Wednesday and Fridays.

We are also starting over with Dojo points.  Congrats to those students that made it to "Living Legend" in the 2nd nine weeks!  These students, from both Mrs. Pechon and Mrs. Blanchard's homerooms, are:
Ana, Harrison, Bailey D., Sal, Briana, Ty, Luke, Alexis (in both classes!), Emma, Aleena, Katie, Sydney (in both classes!), Madison, Jay, Grace, Annie, Layla, Maggie, and Hannah M.

These students will have their picture on the living legend wall soon!

Thanks for all of your support!  Again, please make sure and check the weekly overview  for important information, as well as homework folders daily.  Test folders will continue to be sent home on Thursdays.  Please review these, make MATH test corrections, and return the folder by the following Tuesday to receive credit for math corrections.

First Nine Weeks Almost Done!

Congrats, everyone!
We've made it (almost) to the end of the first nine weeks.
All students should be "in the groove" of what it means to be a 5th grader, with procedures, homework, rules, and expectations.
Please check our weekly overview to review our homework policy for Math and ELA.  Please check folders daily for communication updates and for homework.  Encourage your student to find a quiet place to complete homework daily.  Good study habits take time to form, and the earlier.. the better!

Side story:  My husband will be the first to tell you... he did not learn how to study until college, and it took him failing classes to realize that grades weren't going to come as easy as they did in previous years.  Presently, this experience is happening in junior high... some students are even saying that 6th grade is showing them the importance of being organized.

In closing, all we do daily is to ensure success.. today, tomorrow, and for your child's future.

Thank you for your continued support!

Officially in the groove of an awesome year!

So, everyone, how's the year going?
We are finally in a groove with all of our various events throughout the day, and the students are settling into a routine.
With that being said, Mrs. Pechon, Mrs. McNeill, and I have begun with our classroom behavior plan, and we are holding students to our rules and procedures throughout the day.
Test folders go home on Friday.  Please remember to sign any papers with a D or an F and return them to school.
Please review your student's red folder nightly for homework and important school communication.
Thanks so much for your support, and I hope everyone has a fun and relaxing weekend!

First Weeks Going Awesome!

This first full week is going great!  Thanks for all of your support and patience as we get our schedule ironed out and get rolling with curriculum.  We  are completing assignments in class this week, in order to allow the students time to become comfortable with switching classes and to learn various procedures that we are implementing.

Thanks again!  See you at Open House August 19th!