More stories

Please include your FIRST name if you comment.


Amanda - When I Got My Go-kart





Jacob - The Baseball Field




Megan - The New School





Collin - The Amazing Football Year





Dena - Dream or Not?

Listen to our stories

Here's the first of our stories. There will be more to come.

**PLEASE put your first name on your comments so that they will be published!!!! I won't publish unnamed comments.


Dillon - Fielding My First Groundball





Morris - Night of the Black Funnel

Anita - Boom!

Josh - The Big Wave

Giant Pandas

I went to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. over the weekend and took some videos of the Giant Pandas there. One video shows a panda playing with a toy that has treats inside. The other shows a panda eating bamboo.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Ok, Ryan (from Mrs. Darrow's class) asked this question of everyone - what are you girls and guys doing over Thanksgiving weekend?

Let us know.

Ms. Kane

Science fiction novels

Here are the books that we are reading now. They are all science fiction. We are also going to watch some episodes of The Jetsons -a great sci fi cartoon from the past.

Fantasy books

We are in the middle of reading a fantasy book in our book groups. We've had lots of fun meeting some interesting characters in different settings. How are you all liking your book so far?

Red Ribbon Week

Whew - we've survived another Red Ribbon Week. Unfortunately, the football game got rained out, but my muscles are kind of happy - I won't be limping all weekend.

We did lots of fun stuff - decorated our Rockstar pumpkin, practiced and performed to U Can't Touch This, and had some treats for Halloween.

Can't touch this

Here's the rehearsal for our big debut tomorrow - singing "Can't touch this" with new lyrics. Good job everyone !!

Tree Frogs !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, finally some pictures of the frogs. These little guys are not easy to photograph. They are also very fast when they get away. In the last picture you can see the variation in colors and the suction cup toes.

No posts

Sorry, my computer at home is totally dead and I never seem to have time to post at school. I've got some pictures of the frogs and will try to post them in the next day or two. So, please come back to check that out.

Welcome Mrs. Darrow's class

Welcome to the blog. Feel free to comment on any of the posts. I'll make sure to continue posting about science class too. This week we will start our daily observations of the frogs and hermit crabs.

Logan and Tyler are going to take the crabs and frogs home over the long weekend. That should be fun for them.

There are a couple more long weekends coming up in November, so some other people can take them home then.

Hermit crabs !!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a chance to observe the hermit crabs close up today. We are looking at the hermit crabs' body parts that help them survive. Here are some drawings and photos of the crabs.

Online math games

Two of the games we've played in class can also be played online.

The Product Game can be found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=29

The Factor Game can be found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=12

Also, you can practice making rectangular arrays at

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=64

Have fun playing!!

Comments - Please read

I've had to delete some comments because they had no names. Remember, you must include your first name in the comment.

If your computer is blocking you from commenting (due to parental controls), let me know. Bring a note from your parent/guardian and you can post using the computer at school.

Ms. Kane

Dear Mr. Henshaw

We are about halfway done reading Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary. It is about a boy named Leigh Botts who writes to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Leigh is the new boy in school and is having to deal with his parent's divorce and a lunch thief.

The book contains lots of writing tips that will help us in our own writing throughout the year.

I love this book and this author. If you haven't read the Ramona books, you should. They are great.

Choir and Band students

CHOIR

Here are the students who take choir this year. Anita and Brendan are practicing for singing duets. (You can see Brendan practicing below).

BAND

The band student have their instruments now, so look out - it won't be too long before they are playing wonderful songs. Their instruments are listed below the picture.


Beau - clarinet

Aubrey - clarinet

Megan - clarinet

Rebekah - trumpet

Morris - trumpet

Alex - oboe

Dena - flute

Amanda - flute

Dorian - baritone

Dillon - trombone

Neighborhood stories

Everyone has great stories to tell about things that have happened in their neighborhood. Here are a couple of neighborhood maps and stories from students. Click on the play arrow to hear the story.

Xavier




Miguel




Aubrey

Homecoming Parade

Sorry for posting this so late, but . . . Don't forget to come out for the Homecoming Parade on Friday. Look for me and other teachers from GIS. We will be handing out apples and candy. Hope to see lots of you there.

Comment reminders

I've gotten a few comments that don't have someone's name on them or that have a last name. Remember the guidelines to get your comment posted:

1. It must include your first name or for parents - something like "Billy's Dad"

2. It must not include your last name for privacy purposes.

I think that maybe one of the comments was made by a teacher. Another came on Monday evening. If it was from you, tell me in class and you can re-post it from the computer at school.

Thanks.

Stargirl

Are you enjoying reading Stargirl? I definitely agree with the conclusions you have come to so far. Stargirl is unique, peculiar, and definitely funny! I think it’s cool how she enjoys just being who she is!
So far we’ve learned a lot from Leo Borlock about Stargirl. The book is told from his point of view. She is new to Mica Area High School and she sure has gotten the attention of everyone there. Kevin, Leo’s friend thinks she should be on the Hotseat. What do you think? Would she make an interesting guest?
I don’t think Hillari Kimble likes the attention Stargirl is getting. She’s so used to being the most popular girl. What role do you think Hillari plays in the story? Do you think she will change?
Archie sounds like a wise man. Do you know someone like that who gives you good advice? It’s great to have someone to talk to.
Well, I am looking forward to “Read Aloud” this week. I hope you are too. I wonder what will stay the same and what will change at Mica Area High School. I am looking forward to what Leo has to tell us next. He sure thinks about Stargirl a lot.

Posted by: Mrs. Boles

Equations

Wow! What a great start to Equations this year. Over 30 kids have come to practice and all of the returning students are going to challenge themselves to play in the higher division, called PreAdventurous, this year.

If you still want to join Equations, it's not too late. We meet after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 5:00.

There's lots of kids from our class who have joined or are thinking of joining: Anita, Rebekah, Dena, Alex, and Josh.

We may have to start meeting in the library since there are so many 5th and 6th graders interested.

Science animals

I just went to a science training today and we will soon be acquiring some animals for science class - 4 hermit crabs and 4 green tree frogs. These aren't them, but they will look like this. I'm excited to set up their habitats and start observing them. I'll post some pictures as soon as we get them. Do you think we should name them? I'm not sure if we'll be able to tell the frogs or the hermit crabs apart.

Here we are !!!!

This is our class in our library / gathering area. Don't we look good??

First week

We have our first week under our belts. What a great week! Here are some of the highlights.

• Everyone figured out how to open their locker!!


• We learned how to play The Product Game - this is a GREAT game for learning or reinforcing multiplication facts. There is some strategy involved and it can be fun for adults too.


• We are working hard on learning each other's name. If 3/4 of the class can name each person, we'll win a free recess time. We need about 2-4 more people to accomplish this task.


• We are making cool posters about ourselves that will hang in the hallway. Students can bring in two pictures (one about 4" x 4", one about 3" by 3"). If you don't have the pictures, that's ok, they can draw one or I will take a picture of them.


• We completed our first writing assignment. After reading them, Mrs. Boles and I realize that we have a great group of writers and we are excited to read more.


• Everyone returned all of their forms! I think that is a record.
  

Looking ahead to next week:

• Planners are being filled out daily. Parents/guardians should check and sign their child's planner daily (I realize that you may miss some days, that's ok). The planner is a good place to communicate with me. I check them daily.
• We will start reading homework on Monday. There will be reading homework form to be filled out each week. It is due the following Monday. All students need to read at least 100 minutes per week and read on most days of the week.
• Spelling will start next Friday. New words will be given each Friday and there will be a spelling test the following Friday. There will be more about this later.

Open House

Just a reminder that the Open House is next week - Wednesday, September 16th. I'll be there from 6:00 - 7:00, but the "official" fifth grade time is 6:20 and 6:40. I'll give a short talk during that time.

We assigned specific times to specific grades in case you have children in more than one grade. I hope to see you there!

Welcome to 5th Grade

Here are some pictures of our classroom so you can show your family what it looks like.

We had a great first day - it always goes by so fast!! Many forms and informational sheets were sent home today. Parents - please fill them out and have them brought back to school as soon as you can.

We have not started using our planners yet, but we will start tomorrow. More about that later.