Missed some posts!

I missed a couple of posts this week! I'm one of the millions of Americans trying to hit the gym at the start of the new year and my routine was thrown off just enough to mess me up. Tonight's homework is studying spelling a vocabulary. We had some tough vocabulary words this week, but I know you will all do well!

Reminders:
Science Fair is coming--I listed the parts and due dates in the science gradebook. Students are hopefully wrapping up research by now or prepared to do so for those with longer projects. The next step is getting a poster put together.

I plan to help students who are ready with thier data to create graphs. If you won't be ready, I hope you have the notes we took that take you step by step through creating the graph on NCES kids CREATEAGRAPH ( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/ )--I am your resource if you get stuck!

I reccomend finishing the poster presentation by next weekend and following that up with your one page abstract report (12 font, double spaced). Some kids like to type the abstract first and then cut bits and pieces out of it for use on thier poster. Of course, any parts of the report you use on the poster should be enlarged to make your poster easy to see.

*EVERYTHING you need and all the information needed to complete your research, report, and poster presentation is in the journal we made at school.

**Don't wait until the last minute. It is sad to hear kids say they stayed up until midnight the night before and they can hardly stay away for the awesome science fair. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone this year. I can give as much help as you need at school, if you just ask.

Spelling and vocabulary for h.w. tonight. Don't forget to do your word sort next to the list.

*Those who are able to finish the experiment part of science fair research will be able to use class time on February 3rd to create graphs on the program I taught you to use.

**If you are done with your graph, you can use that class time to do your one page abstract paper.

Vocabulary

aloof (uhloof) adjective,adverb standing apart from others, seeming snobbish; uninterested in what is happening

diffidently adjective,adverb Hesitently or in a shy manner; without self-confidence.

gilded (gihldihd) adjective,verb Made from or covered with gold.

gumption (guhmpshuhn) noun initiative and courage; "get up and go"

illiterate (ihlihturuht) noun,adjective Not able to read or write.

imperceptibly (ihmpursEHptihblee) so slightly or gradually as to be barely noticeable

indolent (ihnduhluhnt) adjective lazy, not motivated to work, moving slowly

promenade (promuhnayd) noun,verb A public area set aside as a pedestrian walk.

rakish (raykihsh) adjective Marked by carefree, confident behavior or appearance

squabs A young pigeon eaten as food

Spelling

Fifth grade list (state names)

Ohio
Maine
Alaska
Iowa
Texas
Nevada
Montana
Florida
Alabama
Maryland
South Carolina
California
Washington
New York
North Dakota
Colorado
Massachusetts

+ 3 words of your choice on the test!

Alternate List (compound words, adding es for plural, and changing y to es)

Activities
Potatoes
Mix-ups
Copies
Shelves
Spoonfuls
Mother-in-law
Echoes
Knives
Opportunities
Tomatoes
Cupfuls
Father-in-law
Thieves
Boundaries
Volcanoes
Passerby
Teaspoonfuls
Companies
Mosquitoes

Write each word missed 10x each and a create a sentence for each vocabulary word (we did a couple of these together).

How is science fair going? Hope everyone is started on that so it doesn't become a stressful, last minute project. Ask me anytime you have need help or have a question.

Two days left to prepare for our assessments on Friday. This is a challenge with a four day week--be sure to study. Practice that silly persuasive essay outline dance. Lets see who knows it tomorrow! Exciting events to come in our novel, Johnny Tremain tomorrow.
I wish I would have thought to post these spelling lists earlier. I suppose you should (in theory) have your own copy in your possession each night. Next week I will get these posted earlier in the week for at home practice.

FIFTH GRADE SPELLING LIST
Consonant Sounds: /k/, /s/ (spelled using a 'c', 'ch', or 'ck')
　　
chorus
create
suitcase
cereal
recent
practice
company
expect
jacket
frantic
choir
grocery
recite
celebrate
exercise
correct
comic
select
plastic
stomach

ALTERNATE LIST
Words from Spanish!
avocado
stampede
cafeteria
rodeo
mustang
iguana
lariat
sierra
tornado
cinch
fiesta
mosquito
cabana
bravado
mesa
canyon
pronto
siesta
patio
tortilla

Vocabulary from Johnny Tremain (ALL)'

-Abated (uhbaytihd) verb to make less in force or intensity; decrease

-Crimson (krihmzuhn) noun,verb,adjective A deep and vivid red.

-Loiter (loitur) verb to remain somewhere for no good reason

-Mundane (muhndayn) adjective routinely done without thought

-Poultice (pohltuhs) noun,verb A soft, heated mass applied to sores and other injuries.

-Reproved to scold or correct usually in a gentle way

-Slavishly (slavihshlee) To follow completely without any thoughts of your own.

-Stifling (stiiflihNG) adjective,noun,verb Smother, suppress or suffocating.

-Tediously (teedeeuhslee) slowly; in a boring manner

-Tyranny (tihruhnee) noun harsh and cruel leadership

-Ulceration the process of slowly healing an open sore

Just a little vocabulary is all that should be left. I worked with each spelling group and it looked like everyone finished!

Many students forgot to do their homework over the weekend. There isn't any grade penalization, but rough drafts on our persuasive topic about uniforms need to be in no later than tomorrow. Outlines were done last week, so the last step is putting everything into complete sentences/paragraphs.

This time around I asked students to really work on making ideas interesting and convincing. Those who have been scoring higher were asked to add one fact or statistic and all students were asked to add one anecdote. The anecdote may be very short or more detailed. It should just add some personalization from the student's life to the argument.

Beyond this no homework this week!!!

We had quite a bit of time to work on the possible homework in class, but you may need to wrap up one or more of the following:

• vocabulary reading
• Words missed 10x each
• For or against uniforms essay outline

Students: Start brainstorming story ideas, comics, letters to the editor, book or movie reviews for our fifth grade newspaper. We will be taking applications for Editors beginning next week and look forward to seeing the first edition of our paper in the next couple weeks.

Please return science fair registration forms by Monday. I gave out a copy that is blue and you can also print them from the school's website. I forgot to pass out your reading calendars, so you can expect those tomorrow. Book orders are due January 14th. You can order online starting tomorrow.


A couple of reminders:

Don't forget spelling tonight/ study vocabulary lists

Bring your science journal tomorrow


Parents--I

f you would like a picture from the skits please email me and I will send it. I am going to keep trying to post them, but have been unsuccessful because my internet at home is so slow.

Conferences are coming up next week. If you didn't sign up for a time, your child will bring home an appointment tomorrow.

Monday H.W.

Welcome back!

Whatever is left of spelling and vocabulary is homework. I gave considerable time in class and went over the whole vocabulary side for those that wanted help.

Science Fair Registration is due next Monday. I will send home a copy and you can also print it from home (it is the last page of the packet). Just go to northdavisprep.org and it is at the bottom of the page. It says "New science fair."