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Spelling: We reviewed spelling patterns for long vowel sounds. This will be the skill tested on next week’s spelling and skill test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: We continued to review core democratic values. Today, we discussed Justice and Common Good.

The Letter to the Editor persuasive writing project will be due March 4. Students will be asked to select a public policy issue and make an argument for or against it. Here are a few websites showing public policy issues:

• ProCon.org – Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
• Public Agenda for Citizens: Understanding the Issues
• Student Voices-News and Discussion on Current Events and Politics
• PollingReport.com Issues

This week, we will be reviewing core democratic values of our country. Students can also start to consider which public policy issue they would like to write about. Here’s an overview of this persuasive letter project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter.

Math: We continued to review mixed numbers and improper fractions today. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 127-128.

Science: We reviewed the analysis from the data toss experiment.

Social Studies: We discussed and took notes about core democratic values.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with SnapGrades?

Notes:

• Sign up for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences at mrhowd.com/conferences
• View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffee” juice volunteer list.
• View our class calendar.
• Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission: Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Joel on his way to spelling bee victory!

Spelling: We reviewed the usage of either/or and neither/nor.  We learned that the verb must agree with the closest subject in these sentences:

• Either grapes or a peach is a good snack.
• Either a peach or grapes are a good snack.

Today was also the McGrath Spelling Bee. Joel and Indira represented our class well! Congratulations to Joel who was the 5th grade winner of the spelling bee and will be representing our school at the district bee!

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on solving unknown words by separating them into pieces.

Writing: We continued to review core democratic values. Today, we thought about the three found in this line from the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Letter to the Editor persuasive writing project will be due March 4. Students will be asked to select a public policy issue and make an argument for or against it. Students in fourth grade typically choose a local issue; fifth graders will be asked to select a national issue. Here are a few websites showing public policy issues:

• ProCon.org – Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
• Public Agenda for Citizens: Understanding the Issues
• Student Voices-News and Discussion on Current Events and Politics
• PollingReport.com Issues

This week, we will be reviewing core democratic values of our country. Students can also start to consider which public policy issue they would like to write about.

Here’s an overview of this persuasive letter project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter.

Math: We reviewed mixed numbers and improper fractions today. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 126, 130.

Science: None today due to library.

Social Studies: We discussed the core democratic values of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with SnapGrades?

Notes:

• Middle School Course Selection Forms are due Thursday, February 17 or earlier.
• Sign up for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences at mrhowd.com/conferences
• View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffee” juice volunteer list.
• View our class calendar.
• Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Spelling: We reviewed homophones with an ie or ei spelling pattern: feint/faint, rein/rain, piece/peace. The McGrath Spelling Bee is on February 16. Here are some spelling bee resources to get ready or have your own bee at home!

• Spelling Bee practice lists and more
• Interactives Spelling Bee (spelling words in a story)
• Spelling Bee the Game (just like a real spelling bee!)
• BigIQKids.com Online Spelling Bee (play against other players)
• VisualThesaurus Spelling Bee (hard words!)

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: We started a new Letter to the Editor persuasive writing project today. Students will be asked to select a public policy issue and make an argument for or against it. Students in fourth grade typically choose a local issue; fifth graders will be asked to select a national issue. Here are a few websites showing public policy issues:

• ProCon.org – Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
• Public Agenda for Citizens: Understanding the Issues
• Student Voices-News and Discussion on Current Events and Politics
• PollingReport.com Issues

This week, we will be reviewing core democratic values of our country. Students can also start to consider which public policy issue they would like to write about.

Here’s an overview of this persuasive letter project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 4.

Math: None today due to extra time with writing.

Science: We collected class data about our previous experiment from last week. Homework is to finish Analysis p. 40.

Social Studies: We discussed common controversial public policy issues in the United States and discussed which might be suitable topics of the persuasive letter project in writing.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with SnapGrades?

Notes:

• Middle School Course Selection Forms are due Thursday, February 17 or earlier.
• Sign up for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences at mrhowd.com/conferences
• View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffee” juice volunteer list.
• View our class calendar.
• Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Our Feb Factor Valentine’s party was so good, it was scary, literally! We sang some love songs (brotherly love songs!), passed out our cards and ate sloppy joes, chips, fruit and veggies.

Feb Factor games included sticking conversation hearts, slurping gummy hearts, munching fruit roll-ups and frosted shredded wheat, passing notes and cards, tossing bouncy balls and chowing cranberry jelly. Stay tuned for pictures!

Thanks to everyone who donated food and supplies; we had more than enough! A big thanks to all the family members that helped with serving food, cleanup and games!

Spelling: None today due to our Feb Factor party.

The McGrath Spelling Bee is on February 16. Here are some spelling bee resources to get ready or have your own bee at home!

• Spelling Bee practice lists and more
• Interactives Spelling Bee (spelling words in a story)
• Spelling Bee the Game (just like a real spelling bee!)
• BigIQKids.com Online Spelling Bee (play against other players)
• VisualThesaurus Spelling Bee (hard words!)

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: None today due to our Feb Factor party.

Writing: None today due to our Feb Factor party.

Math: We reviewed “fraction of” problems and multiplying fractions. Students also completed a MiniQuiz.

Science: None today due to our Feb Factor party.

Social Studies: None today due to our Feb Factor party.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with SnapGrades?

Notes:

• Middle School Course Selection Forms are due Thursday, February 17 or earlier.
• Sign up for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences at mrhowd.com/conferences
• View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffee” juice volunteer list.
• View our class calendar.
• Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.