Ask your student why last week was Red Ribbon week. It was not about the Red Sox going to the World Series or the Patriots game this weekend.  Red Ribbon week was about talking to our students about the dangers of Drug and Alcohol. Everyday at morning announcements and lunch, students were told about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  The week ended with everyone turning their back on drugs and alcohol by wearing their clothes backwards.

So a question came up this week during reading, I thought I would share with the families. how as a teacher do we determine a books level? All students have a DRA level (Development Reading Assessment Level). To make a long story short, this level is based on reading assessments administered to students. Most students in fifth grade have a DRA of 40.  Each book also has a DRA level (some use other level strategies such as Lexile or Guided Reading Level) that helps determine if a book is a "just right" book.  Scholastic Book Wizard is one way you can look up a book's reading level.  A link to this website is located on the my Reading page. Use it ONLY as a guide.  Reading is a very personal experience. I want students to chose books for themselves, that they can enjoy and understand. Speaking of Reading, last week was our second Read and Relax Friday.

Read and Relax Friday was another success.  Thank you for all the donations.  One of the students counted all our donations, it seems we have enough hot chocolate to take us to February. (160 packets to be exact).  We were short on whipped cream, but the marshmallows made up for it.

Science Quiz this week.  Students were given a study guide on leaves, photosynthesis, parts of a flower and pollination.  

Social Studies Quiz - Students also have a Social Studies quiz this week.

A Story Element Flip book has been assigned for homework. The flip book is due November 4th. The students have been given instruction and a rubric. Please let me know if there are any questions.

Our classroom Halloween celebration will take place on October 30 period 3. I am looking for toilet paper donations (10 rolls). Please email me if you can donate. Instead of reaching out for whole classroom food donations, I was being cautious about serious food allergies in our classroom.  In other classes I have worked with, students can bring a special snack to our celebration.  Students are asked to bring:
 Something Sweet, Something Salty and Something Special.
 No Costumes please!!

Wednesday, October 30 and Friday, November 1 are half days due to conferences.
Lastly, if anyone has a lost or missing sock pile in their home, we would gladly accept any single, lost socks. We are using them as erasers for our personal whiteboards. Any colors or styles will do.  Thanks in advance. 

Thank you to the families that have help with our classroom wishlist. 
We are putting the items to good use.  

Have a great week!  Go Sox 

Progress reports came home in the backpacks on Friday. Please sign and return by Friday October 25th.  I was really please with our classes performance and everyone is really working hard to stay on task, complete work on time, participate and most important be responsible.  We will continue to work on comprehension strategies this year. My student goal is that each child becomes a better reader and understands what their reading.  I will be finding "good fit" books and beginning book groups for all students. Together we will learn strategies that promote better understanding.  I hope to incorporate a lot of non-fiction through the year.  The new Common Core State Standards recommends a healthy dose of both fiction and non-fiction text.  So,you might be surprised to see them putting down Harry Potter and picking up a book about J.K. Rowlings. 

If you have any questions requiring the Progress Reports do not hesitate to contact me.  

This Friday is "Read and Relax".  Maureen Kincaid (our room parent) will be contacting you shortly with more information.  The first one was a huge success and the students loved just relaxing with a good book.

This week in writing the students finished their narrative stories. They are such wonderful story tellers.  I love all the adventures they are writing about and sharing.  

Reading last week concentrated on Elements of a Story; Setting, Characters, Themes. I taught them a comprehension strategy called Visualizing.  It's when you read a story and you make a movie in your mind.  Its a powerful tool.  I told each of the students to close their eyes and I read them a picture book ( I covered the book so they couldn't see any pictures). When I finished the book, I asked them to draw one scene from the book they remembered.  They I showed them the exact part in the picture book.  It was fun trying. We will refer to this strategy often throughout year. It makes understanding complex text easier.  

The Fast Plants are still growing, in fact they are reproducing seeds. It's amazing and the students are so proud of their plants. Some have even given them names.  We have a quiz coming up on October 30th and a Final Unit Test the second or third week in November.  The time is literally flying by.

Thank you for the donations.  Any spare sharpie pens at home? Just send them in. Have an excellent week.