Friday, October 31, 2014

Daily Reading


Why Can't I Skip My Twenty Minutes of Reading Tonight?

Let's figure it out -- mathematically! 


Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week; 
Student B reads only 4 minutes a night . . . or not at all!

Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
 Student A reads 20 min. x 5 times a week = 100 min../week 
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes

Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month. 
Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.


Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year 
Student A reads 3600 min. in a school year.
Student B reads 720 min. in a school year.


Student A practices reading the equivalent of ten whole school days a year. Student B gets the equivalent of only two school days of reading practice.

By the end of 5th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days. Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days. One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance.

Some questions to ponder:
Which student would you expect to read better?
Which student would you expect to know more?
Which student would you expect to write better?
Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
Which student would you expect to be more successful in school . . . and in life?


Turn off the TV for 20 minutes a night and read . . . it's worth it! 

Homework

Homework

Parents, please make homework a top priority by scheduling 40 to 50 minutes each day for your child to study spelling, vocabulary, and complete classwork and homework. Children need routine and structure to be successful. Before your child begins his/her nightly assignments, be sure to check his/her Channel Book and this blog.

Rationale for assigning Homework:

Homework is important because it teaches responsibility and helps students develop good study habits. In addition, homework helps to reinforce lessons that have been learned in class, and helps prepare students for upcoming lessons and tests.

Homework Expectations:

Homework should not take more than 40 to 50 minutes a night. Students have plenty of time during the day to complete classwork. Any classwork not completed should be considered homework and will add to the estimated time your child will spend per night. In addition, time should be set aside daily for independent reading, studying spelling, and vocabulary.

Please encourage your child to do his/her best work. Homework should be neat. All written work should be done in pencil or blue pen. Homework will not be accepted if written in pen, crayon, marker, etc. When completing work on notebook paper the heading should include name, date, subject, and the page number of the assignment.

When is Homework Assigned?:

 Written homework is assigned every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday unless specifically noted in your child’s Channel Book.  Also, students are expected to set aside a minimum of 15-20 minutes for reading. 

If for some reason no homework is assigned on a designated homework day, your child should still spend some time reading or studying.


What if the Student Doesn't Know the Homework Assignment:

Homework assignments are written on the white board, in the designated space, each afternoon. Students are given plenty of time to write down the assignments. In addition, I explain the homework and remind the students what they will need to take home. There is no excuse for a student not knowing the homework assignments, or for not taking home the proper supplies needed to complete them. Fifth grade students must learn to be responsible. Please support me in this matter.

Expectations for Turning in Homework Late:

If for some reason (sickness, emergencies, etc.) a student is unable to complete homework, please write a note, and the assignment will be excused until the next day or longer if needed. However, please don't write a note asking for more time to complete homework if the reason is due to lack of materials, or because your child didn't write down the assignment. Please remember, this will hurt your child in the long run because it sends the message that it is okay not to pay attention when we are going over homework. When students face the consequences of their actions it helps to prepare them to become more responsible, independent workers in the future. (I know this is hard. Please work with me on this.) 

Weekly Quizzes


Grade 5 C will have the following quizzes during the week from Nov. 2 - Nov. 6, 2014:

1. Sunday, Nov. 2 - Literature Selection 'Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family'
2. Monday, Nov. 3 - Vocabulary Quiz, Unit 1 (12 words from the worksheets)
3. Wednesday, Nov. 4 - Writing (Personal Narrative paragraph) and Reading Comprehension (unknown texts)

Grade 5D will have the following quizzes during the week from nov. 2- Nov. 6, 2014:

1. Sunday, Nov. 2 - Literature Selection 'Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family'
2. Monday, Nov. 3 - Spelling Quiz 4
3. Wednesday, Nov. 4 - Writing (Personal Narrative paragraph) and Reading Comprehension (unknown texts)

Please note that during the week Nov. 2- Nov. 6 we'll revise for the quarterly exam.

NOTE: 1 Quarter exam will be on November 9, 2014 

Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family - Vocabulary Words

'YANG THE THIRD AND HER IMPOSSIBLE FAMILY'
     Vocabulary Words

audition

a tryout to test the ability of an actor or a musician

sonata

a musical composition, usually in several movements or sections

accompanist

a musician who plays music to support the main musical feature

accompaniment

music played to aid and support the main musical feature

grimaced

expressed pain, annoyance, or disgust

simultaneously

happening at the same time

First quarter study guide

Dear Students,

Here are the topics that you need to study for the first quarter exam. Read them carefully, study, revise, and I am sure you'll do great.

Study Guide
Grade 5C/D
1st Quarter Exam
2014/2015

1. Literature Selections (Trophies)
    
  a. 'The Hot and Cold Summer'
  b. 'Sees Behind Trees'
  c. 'Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family'
Please study the vocabulary, focus skills, literary genres for each of these stories

2. Grammar (the lessons are in the Language Practice Book, classwork copybooks, and worksheets)
  a. Subjects and Predicates - Simple and Complete Subjects
                                         - Simple and Complete Predicates
                                         - Compound Subjects
                                         - Compound Predicates
                                         - Simple Sentences
                                         - Compound Sentences
                                         - Complex Sentences
                                         - Clauses
                                         - Fragments and Run-ons

3. Spelling - Spelling Lessons 1,2,3,4,5,6 (Spelling Practice Book + Classwork copybook, and sheets)
                      - Short Vowels
                      - Long Vowels
                      - Vowels before /r/
                      - Words with /zhar/ - /char/
                      - Prefixes and Suffixes
                      - Homophones, Homonyms, Homographs

3. Vocabulary - Vocabulary Units 1 and 2 (24 words from the worksheets)
                    - Synonyms and Antonyms

4. Writing - Narrative Paragraphs
               - Descriptive Paragraphs
               - Personal Narrative Essay

For any inquiry please send me an e-mail at:
               mrs.diana.giurgi@gmail.com
                                 
                                                    GOOD LUCK!!

                     
Mrs. Diana

Introductory word

Dear parents and students,

I have created this blog at the suggestion of one of my students' mother who felt that she and other parents need to have a closer communication with me, to be updated with events, lessons, homework, situations happening in my class.

 The best way to do it is through a blog. I am new to creating and managing a blog, so, please be patient and bear with me. It might go a little slower in the beginning, but I am sure that, with your help, it will be a total success.
I am eager to hear your feedback, suggestions, and ideas.
Good luck to all of us.

Mrs. Diana Giurgi
English Teacher
MASE 2000