I have abandoned the blog this week. I sent so many class emails, I spaced it. I am going to email out a copy of the extra credit packet tomorrow, so if you need to add a new email to our distribution list you can let me know by sending an email to avillastrigo@northdavisprep.org. Tomorrow is the gift exchange, don't forget to bring one if you haven't yet. We will have the elementary sing-a-long at the elementary building. Last year there were parents there, so if parents would like to come you are welcome. There are no chairs to my knowledge.

We had excellent skits today. The progress from the dress rehearsal yesterday was truly amazing. You can all be very proud of yourselves because you did everything on your own. I didn't demand anything was done in a specific manner and you all came up with great ideas. I think we all had fun learning to work with others and working on fluency was pretty painless this way. Well done with your acting, fluency, and group work!

Just spelling practice tonight and the vocabulary cube (due Thur).

*We have a read-in Friday schoolwide. I just found out kids get to bring pillows, blankets, and a favorite book. It should be a great reading celebration!

Homework for the week:
Spelling is stapled in a packet this week by mistake, but it should work fine. Students can work ahead if they wish, but just the first activity is due tomorrow, the next activity Wednesday, and so on. I would also like students to brainstorm three ideas for their persuasive essay outline on "Why fifth graders should OR should not have access to pop and snack machines at school."

Science Fair
Some students and parents cringe at the words, but we will do our best to make this as smooth as possible at home and it truly is a rewarding learning experience in the end.
-A detailed outline was sent home today. Parents: after going over it with your child, please sign the pink slip to verify they shared it with you.
-The sheet stapled behind the info. sheet is the planning sheet, which is due Friday. I will conference with each student early next week and approve projects that may be started as soon as the holiday break.
-A journal will come home with students when we go to break which includes structured graphic organizers and help for completing the project.

Read-a-thon and Early testing
The POET is having a breakfast for the teachers on Friday of this week, so parents will be teaching our class. Students get to have a read-a-thon! Don't forget a favorite book. We will also have our weekly quizzes on Thursday.


Vocabulary words are the same as last week--these will be used in skits, so you should know them well.

articulation- Expressing in coherent verbal form. "the articulation of my feelings"
blocking- Shut out from view.
dialogue -The lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction.
gesture- Motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling.
improvise- Manage in a makeshift way; Perform without preparation or come up with the best lines possible when lines are forgotten.
inflection- A manner of speaking in which the loudness or pitch or tone of the voice is modified. monologue -A (usually long) dramatic speech by a single actor.
pitch -A measure of the highness or lowness of a sound.
posture- Position or arrangement of the body and its limbs.
projection -Theatrical definition: Speaking in a voice that is strong enough to be heard clearly at the furthest points of the room.
staging -The production of a drama on the stage.

Spelling- Alternate list
Breathe
Usually
Vacuum
Picnicking
Bouquet
Annually
Pursuit
Bouillon
Actual
League
Mimicking
Variety
Coupon
Maneuver
Curiosity
Peculiar
Visually
Courtesy
Initial
Pursue

Spelling- fifth grade list
Prerecorded
Reappear
Postscript
Cooperate
Prehistoric
Posttest
Coauthors
Recharge
Precaution
Postwar
Rejoin
Coexist
Prefix
Coworker
Reform
Prepaid
Refresh
Postdate
Reenter
Reclaim

Re-write any words missed from the practice test 10X and vocabulary puzzle. Don't forget to look over your skit and think about which parts you might like to take.

Spelling/Vocab. practice and finishing the rough draft of persuasive essays. Tomorrow we go to the computer lab to type our essays.

A note was sent home with students about our holiday gift exchange. I recommend the dollar store because it is a five dollar limit. Many find a great toy or game to bring for just a dollar.

Stay tuned for a couple other notes home. We have information about the science fair and another about holiday events going home this friday. We have almost all the report card envelopes back. Thanks for helping us reuse these!

Tonight's homework:

Persuasive Essay Outline (My city or town is the best place to live): We had quite some time for this in class. Most students have the main ideas down, which is the hard part. Just filling in the introduction and conclusion is mainly what I saw that wasn't finished. *Parents* Ask your child to show you their essay outline and maybe you can add to their ideas if they need help.

Spelling and Vocabulary Practice (We did 20 min. during Centers today, so hopefully you are almost done with this, too)

Have a great night!