Welcome to Room 11!
Happy 2012! We are finished studying number operations in Math and are moving on to patterns and problem-solving. We continue to do a variety of reading and writing activities in ELA and will continue with paragraph-writing and creative writing. We will also be starting a Mystery Unit which will include a novel study of Mystery at Cranberry Farm. In addition, the students are champing at the bit to start TUSC. We will start this public speaking activity in February. We are finishing up the Human Body in Science and are then moving on to our chemistry unit, Physical and Chemical Changes in Matter. We are continuing our study of the First Canadians in Social Studies but will soon be moving on to Early Exploration.
Spelling and Home Reading are both well underway. Blue slips have been going out to students who do not finish these assignments on time. Math has been assigned as homework for many students, as well.
This is a camp year. We will be attending Camp Arnes from June 4 – 5 (unless we can swing a time later in the week). The cost to students will be $111. However, there will be several fund-raising activites throughout this year to help offset that cost.
This blog is Room 11′s presence on the web. Check it frequently for homework, to find out what we’re doing, and for activities.
Homework
There is homework in grades 5 and 6! All students should be filling in their agenda books on a daily basis to keep track of homework and school events. If your child is absent or their agenda book is mysteriously blank, you can access our homework calendar from this blog. Blue Homework Slips have started to be sent home!
Regular homework includes Spelling, which is handed out on Monday and which is due every Friday, and Home Reading, which is due every Monday. Students in grades 5 & 6 should also be reading something every night.
Homework slips will be stapled into agenda books if homework is not completed on time. These must be signed by a parent and returned to me the following day. Students will be kept in during breaks to complete unfinished homework. If there is a reason that a child cannot complete homework on time, it is their responsibility to inform me of this and to arrange an alternative due date in order to avoid a homework slip and the loss of breaks.
Practice Fun
Check out the pages at the side for links to fun ways for your child to practice basic skills. The weekly Spelling words are listed on the Spelling page and there is a link to a fun Spelling website at the bottom. Kids can type in their Spelling words and then play games with them.
The Math page has links to websites for practicing times tables and other Math skills. Students in grades 5 and 6 generally need practice in basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts, as well as in rounding and place value. These are all skills that can be learned by repetition, which computer games are excellent at providing. Most students in Room 11 need to learn and practice their times tables and some have yet to learn their addition facts. Encourage your child to practice!
Finally, kids without homework can always try out the Math Problem, Brain Teasers, Tribond, & Mad Gab!
Sincerely,
Dave Ogren
