Miss Tovey's Blog

5^th Grade English

The majority of the children completed their rough draft for their research paper last week; any child who did not complete their rough draft should have it ready to be typed by Tuesday.

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of the papers.  There is however a few that could use a little adult guidance; if you have the time can you please read over your child’s rough draft with him or her.  The papers will be graded on following directions, flow, readability, and quality of information presented.

We will continue this week to work on prepositions in English class.

6^th Grade Math

The last homework packet will be passed out on Monday and is due back on Thursday, May 31^st.

We will continue working on angles this week.  The concepts will be measuring angles with a protractor and drawing angles.

5^th Grade English

We will continue our study of prepositions this week.

The outlines for the research paper are done, and the kids
will work on writing their research papers this week.  On Friday of last week, the children were
taught how to put their thesis statement into an introductory paragraph, so
this week’s focus will be on the three body paragraphs and the conclusion.

So far, the kids are doing great.

6^th Grade Math

The tests on area, perimeter, and circumference were passed
back last week and as a whole they were fantastic.

This week, we will begin part two of our study on Geometry
which covers angles.  The kids will be
expected to know the four types of angles, how to name angles, how to measure
angles with a protractor, and how to draw them.
This week we will focus on classifying and naming angles.

The homework packet is due on Friday and the final homework
packet for the year will be passed out next Monday and be due back on
Wednesday, May 30^th.

5^th
Grade English

On Monday,
the kids will begin setting up their outlines for their final research paper. I
have put together a powerpoint presentation that gives step by step directions
on how to set up an outline correctly.
We will begin with writing a good thesis statement, and as the week
progresses, the kids will begin to put their outlines together.  Next week, the kids will type the final
copies of their outlines in computer class, and the outline itself will count
as 10 points towards the grade for their research paper.

We will also
begin the final section of the English book this week which is on prepositions.

6^th
Grade Math

On Monday,
the kids and I will review for tomorrow’s Geometry test on area, perimeter, and
circumference of squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.  A review sheet should come home tonight.  Please review with your child the vocabulary
and the formulas.

On
Wednesday, we will begin the second part of our study in Geometry which is
angles.

Finally, I
have changed the due date for the homework packet to Friday, May 11^th
so that the kids can have more time to work on Mathletics this week.

5^th Grade English

This will be Mrs. Swift’s last week at SJF.

On Monday, I will use half of the period to introduce the
final paper of the year to the kids.  The
topic for this research paper can be anything they chose: a famous person, an
important event in history, a science related topic, etc.  We will talk Monday about how to choose a
good topic and also about how to do research for a paper.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, the kids will go to
the computer lab to research their topic.
Next week, I will work with the kids on writing thesis statements and
setting up outlines.  All of this has
been covered over the past two years, but this is the time for the kids to pull
everything they have learned together and independently write their own research
paper.  A more detailed rubric will be
provided when we get closer to actually writing the paper.

Mrs. Swift will spend Thursday and Friday with the kids
continuing their study of adverbs.

6^th Grade Math

This week we will review finding circumference of a circle
and also cover finding area of a circle.

The test for this section will be on Tuesday of next week
and it will be a difficult one.  The kids
will need to know the formulas for area and perimeter of a square, rectangle
and triangle and the formulas for area and circumference of a circle, as well
as being able to solve for area, perimeter and circumference. Also, the
following vocabulary words will be on the test: pi, radius, diameter,
circumference, area, and perimeter.  A
review sheet should come home on Monday to help your child better prepare for
the test.

Homework folders are due on Friday, May 4^th which
is a half a day but I will be collecting them in the morning from the kids.

English

This week the children will begin the chapter on adverbs.  The topics that will be covered are using adverbs in writing, comparing with adjectives, and common errors with adverbs.  The children will also work on various writing topics with adverbs.

Math

The lastest homework folder will be passed out on Monday and is due back on Friday. May 4th.

This week we will review area and perimeter of squares, rectangles and triangles and move on to area and circumference of cirlces.  I would like to give the test next week on these three concepts; however, I am not sure how long it will take  for the kids to truly understand the formulas for circles, so I will wait until early next week to make the decision.

English

The kids will review for the pronoun test today.  The test is scheduled for Wednesday.  On Tuesday, the period will be spent in the computer lab typing the final copies of the “Eating Healthy” papers.  Due to the Springfield trip and the late start on Friday, there will not be English class on those two days.

Math

A new homework folder was passed out today and is due back on Tuesday, April 3^rd.

This week, we will review area and perimeter of a square or rectangle, begin area and perimeter of a triangle, and if time allows begin area and circumference of circles.

All 6 of these formulas need to be memorized and will be on the next math test.

I do spend time each day reviewing previous taught material and any extra review you can your child on these formulas will help immensely.

English

On Monday and Tuesday Mrs. Swift will wrap up the chapter on pronouns.  Wednesday thru Friday the kids will be introduced to personification and will be working on a project creating a commercial that uses personification.

The English test on pronouns will be next Wednesday.  Because the kids will be going to the lab on Tuesday to finish the good copies of their “Eating Healthy” papers, the review for the pronoun’s test will be given on Monday.

Math

The math test on ordering and comparing decimals and multiplying and dividing decimals is Tuesday; a review sheet should come home on Monday.

Wednesday we will begin the unit on geometry which is an extensive unit.  The first concepts that will be covered are area and perimeter of squares, rectangles,  and triangles and area and circumference of circles.  The kids will be repsonsible for memorizing the formulas for each.  They are as follows: area of square or rectangle – length times width, area of a triangle – 1/2 the base times the height, perimeter of squares, rectangles, and triangles – add the sides, area of a circle – pi times radius squared, and circumference of a circle – pi times diameter.  The formulas will be included on the math test, so any extra review you can give your child on these formulas will help immensely.

The current homework packet is due Friday and on Monday of next week the kids will be given a short homework packet that will be due on Tuesday, April 3rd.

English

The kids will continue the chapter on pronouns this week with Mrs. Swift and also pick up where they left off on their expository writing assignment on “Eating Healthy.”  Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent in the computer lab researching the topic.

Math

The math test on comparing and ordering decimals, and multiplying and dividing decimals has been postponed until early next week  (tentaively Tuesday) due to a few interruptions in the afternoon schedule last week.  This week will be spent entirely on dividing decimals.  Also, homework folders are due next Friday.

6th Grade Math

The last homework folder is graded and will be passed out on Monday.  A new homework folder will also be issued on Monday and the due date for that folder is Friday, March 23rd.

We will review ordering decimals on Monday and begin multiplying decimals also.  Tuesday will be spent multiplying decimals as well and Wednesday – Friday will be spent on dividing decimals.  This is a very short unit and the test for it will be on Tuesday, March 13th.

5th Grade English

Mrs. Swift will continue to work through the chapter on pronouns this week and I will continue to review for the Terra Nova test.  The concepts I will be reviewing with the kids this week are using topic sentences when writing a paragraph, first person and third person writing, using transition words in writing, and finally the kids will work on reading various short articles and writing an informative paragraph that answers a question from the article.

6th Grade Math

The Math test on multiplying and dividing fractions will be on Tuesday.  A review sheet will be given to each child on Monday.

The homework folder is due on Friday of this week.

The second half of the week will be spent on comparing and ordering decimals and if time allows I will begin instruction on multiplying decimals.  This next chapter is a short one, in that it consists of only three topics: comparing and ordering decimals, multiplying decimals, and dividing decimals.  I would like to work through it in a couple of weeks and then test so that I can move on to geometry which is an extensive unit and will take quite a bit of time to get through.

I will keep you posted as to how it is going.