Important Events & Dates:  

- Cross Country Skiing form and money due; permission form was sent home last week
- Theatre Orangeville workshop this Monday, from 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm. This workshop will take place in our school gym and end with an activity in our classroom
- Grade 6 DARE Graduation is Thursday December 22, 2011, in the Gym from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Red and green day is this Friday December 23rd, 2011; please have your child dress in red and green colours

In class this week,
Reading:

- Our reading focus is: Making Inferences & Interpreting Texts (1.5), specifically in logos, slogans and non--fiction books containing themes of conserving energy, alternative sources of energy and the effects of Global Warming
- No library this week as we are busy with assemblies and other activities

Media Literacy:
- Finishing 2 reading comprehension questions, in class. Student are attempting to determine the overt and implied message(s) of the different slogans and illustrations on their agenda cover

Writing:
- Teacher-student revision and editing of rough copy of Myths & Legends will continue
- Students are organizing a report on,
a). Grade 5 - The Effects of Smoking
b). Grade 6 - The Effects of Drug Abuse (a.k.a. DARE Report) 
- Students are writing as well as revising and editing their rough copy
- A “Report Unit” was handed out last week containing copies of organizers and examples of Level 3 and 4 reports written by Grade 5 and 6 students; this unit is intended to help you support your child at home

Working With Words:

- No spelling words or activity this week
- Continuing to work on “Idioms Unit” in class

Math:
- Working on: Geometry & Spatial Sense: Creating 2-Dimensional Polygons

Other:
- Grade 5 students have and continue to present their “PPP” or Primary Poster Projects to their assigned primary class
- keys and a certificate will be awarded upon full completion of all the projects

At home please...
Reading:

- Read 20 minutes each night

Writing:
- Any Grade 6 student who wishes to be chosen as a presenter at the DARE Graduation this Thursday, must be ready to present their final report and pledge by this Wednesday, otherwise rough copy of report is due this Friday - To help your child revise and edit their rough draft, please refer to the proofreading checklist provided on the last page of the Report Unit
- Sign the outline of the “Report Unit” found in language duo-tang
- No library this week

Working With Words:

- No spelling words to review

Math:

- Constructing, naming and classifying 2D-Geometric Polygons
- Homework questions were assigned in class and written in agenda
- Students need a protractor, ruler and compass set

Other:
- A certificate along with “Y” and “S” keys will be awarded upon full completion of the "PPP" project(s)
- No homework will be assigned over the holidays; all I ask is that students think of a speech topic
- If you wish to practise some skills over the holiday, please explore our Boards website:

 https://www.ugdsb.on.ca/ug2go/logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fug2go%2f
- Your child will have his/her password written in their agenda

Seasons Greetings and best wishes for the New Year!
 

Important Events & Dates:
- Cross Country Skiing form and money due this Friday
- Pizza Day this Friday
- Theatre Orangeville workshop is Monday December 19, 2011 from 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm
- Grade 6 DARE Graduation is Thursday December 22, 2011, in the Gym from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

In class this week,
Reading:  

- Our reading focus is: Making Inferences & Interpreting Texts (1.5), specifically in logos, slogans and non-fiction books containing themes of conserving energy, alternative sources of energy and the effects of Global Warming
- Our library time is this Friday. Please ensure that books needing to be exchanged are sent to school

Media Literacy:

- Finishing the second question on logos, called the “The Recycling Symbol” in a Guided Reading (small group) setting

Writing: - Teacher-student revision and editing of rough copy of Myths and Legends will continue
- Students are organizing a report on,

a). Grade 5 - The Effects of Smoking
b). Grade 6 - The Effects of Drug Abuse

- Students are filling in a “Gathering Grid” or outline of their report, using jot notes from their “telegram” notes (Cue Cards)
- “Gathering Grid” will be checked by teacher in a Guided Writing (small group) setting
- A “Report Unit” was handed out last week containing copies of organizers and examples of Level 3 and 4 reports written by Grade 5 and 6 students; this unit is intended to help you support your child at home

Working With Words: - Students are revising and editing their spelling paragraph
- Continuing to work on “Idioms Unit”

Math:
- Working on: Geometry & Spatial Sense: Creating 2-Dimensional Polygons

- Math questions to practised at home are reviewed and written in agenda 

Other: - Grade 5 students are arranging to meet with their assigned Primary class to schedule a time and date as when to present their “PPP” or Primary Poster Project

At home please...
Reading:
- Read 20 minutes each night
- Review student copy of Reading Focus Board: Making Inferences and Interpreting Texts (1.5) placed in Language Duo Tang
- Return library books to school this Friday

Writing:
- Ensure that the “Gathering Grid” is filled out, in jot note format, by this Friday
- Sign the outline of the “Report Unit” found in language duo-tang

Working With Words:
- No spelling list to study this week
- Students are asked to edit and revise their funny paragraph (maximum of 3 paragraphs) using 10 of the 15 spelling words; good copy is due this Wednesday

Math:
- Constructing, naming and classifying 2D-Geometric Polygons
- Students need a protractor, ruler and compass set

Other:
- Grade 5 Earth Keepers are scheduling a date and time with their assigned Primary class to present their “PPP” project and summary of results 
- “Y” and “S” keys will be awarded this week upon full completion of project(s)

Important Events & Dates:  

• Thank you to the parents that attended and supported the Lions Club “Breakfast with Santa” event this past Saturday. All proceeds will be used to fund school events and activities
• I have changed the layout and format of the weekly newsletter and Blog. You will notice that there are 4 main sections,
  a). Important Events & Dates...continues to list and explain important events and dates occurring in class as well as the school
  b). In class this week...outlines the learning focus’ and activities happening in class
  c). At home please...outlines how you, the parent(s) can support the learning and activities happening in class and school
  d). Other...listing and describing assignments due in other subjects such as: Science, Social Studies, French etc.
  
  In class this week,
  Reading:  
• Student copy of Reading Focus Board: Making Inferences and Interpreting Texts (1.5) provided and placed in Language Duo Tang
• Our library time is this Friday. Please ensure that books needing to be exchanged are sent to school
  
  Media Literacy:  
• Finishing the second question on logos, called the “The Recycling Symbol” in a Guided Reading (small group setting)
  
  Writing:  
• Teacher-student revision and editing of rough copy of Legends will continue this week; students have written lengthy narratives which are taking some time to proofread
• Continue lesson on developing and organizing an informational report, with a particular focus on creating “Telegram Notes” (Cue Cards with jot notes) and using a “Gathering Grid” to organize research
• Research Questions, Telegram Note and Gathering Grids will be checked by Teacher in a Guided Writing setting

         Working With Words:  

• Spelling Word List 5 has been handed out and pretest given
• Students will practise these new words by writing 10 of the 15 words in a funny paragraph (maximum 3 paragraphs); this paragraph is due on Wednesday
• Final Dictation of Spelling Word List 3 will be this Friday
• Students are continuing to work on “Idioms Unit” in class
  
  Math:  
• Starting our math focus: Geometry & Spatial Sense: Creating 2-Dimensional Polygons
• Math test on Translations (slide), Rotations (turn) and Reflections (flip) this Friday
  
  Other:  
• Finish checking rough copy of paragraphs for the Earth Keepers “PPP” project
• Students are to have collected their images for poster which is due this Friday
  
  At home please... 

      Reading:

• Read 20 minutes each night
• Review student copy of Reading Focus Board: Making Inferences and Interpreting Texts (1.5) placed in Language Duo Tang
• Library books returned to school this Friday
  
  Media Literacy:  
• Both questions on “The Recycling Symbol” are done; a copy of the questions can be found in language duo tang
• Check final answers using Success Criteria(s) (checklist); ensure that the “S” columns are checked off
  
  Writing:  
• Students have been assigned a research project,
  
  a). Grade 5's are working on a research report describing the effects of Tobacco
  b). Grade 6's are working on their DARE report on the effects of Drug abuse

• Read and sign the outline found in language notebook
• Students have developed 3 to 5 research questions, in class and are now researching and jot noting important information on Cue Cards referred to as “Telegram Notes”
• “Telegram Notes” (or Cue Cards) are due this Friday
• Some suggested sites are,
  
  a). Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:
  
  http://www.camh.net/
  
  b). D.A.R.E Canada
  
  http://www.dare.com/home/International/StoryPage64e3.asp?N=International/
  
  Working With Words:  
• Practise Spelling Word List 5; spelling test will be this Friday
• Students are asked to organize and use 10 of the 15 words in a funny paragraph (maximum of 3 paragraphs); this activity is due Wednesday
  
  Math:  
• Translation (slide), Rotation (turn) and Reflection (flip) test this Friday
• Review,
  a). Overview sheet, listing important BIG IDEAS and math vocabulary; sheet can be found in math duo-tang
  b). Review package also found in math duo-tang
  c). Questions and examples of answers in math grid book
• When reviewing the answers to these questions ask your child,
  a). Did you use related math vocabulary listed in your “Overview” sheet (provided in math duo-tang)
  b). Does your answer(s) seem reasonable?
  c). Did you justify your answer(s)?
  
  Other:  
• The Grade 5 Earth Keepers projects, outlined in the Training Manual (yellow covered book, pp. 26-32) were due last Friday; some students will receive their “Y” and “S” keys this week
• Many students have chosen to complete the “PPP” project (aka Primary Poster Project) in which students are collecting data on the amount and type of waste primary students generate
• The poster, with images and good copy of summary (2 paragraphs) is due this Friday