Friday, August 30, 2019

Week of August 26



Week in Review:
We made it to the pond this week! Students spent time making observations about Earth's different spheres. Next week we will turn these observations into 4 pieces of poetry. We kept busy reading Night of the Spadefoot Toad, using it to identify and practice writing similes and metaphors. Next week we'll add personification to our figurative language tool box. Students also spent quite a bit of time completing some FUSD beginning of the year tests called QUEST and AIMSweb Plus. Teachers will be using this data to guide instruction for the year and create reading groups for our intervention time each day.



Looking Ahead:
  • NO school Monday
  • NO homework next week
  • Comparing numbers and working more with exponential form
  • Continuing Night of the Spadefoot Toad
  • Science unit on Earth systems continues
  • Picture day September 18 (forms to be sent home later)
  • Mustang Gallop September 27


Congratulations to our students of the week!
Way to go, Elora and Jack!
You're classmates noticed that you were willing to give up your own time to help others.




 

Friday, August 23, 2019

Week of August 22

Week in Review:
What a busy week! Students had their first formal assessments in 
both science, math, and spelling/vocabulary. Be on the lookout for the traveling folders. They should be signed and returned by Friday. In math, we continued practicing place value as students learned to multiply whole and decimal numbers by exponents with a base of ten. In ELA, students put into practice their dictionary skills from last week as they jumped into their first spelling and vocabulary homework. We spent quite a bit of time working on this homework together in class during our daily study hall. Our reading of Night of the Spadefoot Toad continued along with discussions of a narrator's point of view. 

Looking Ahead:
  • Traveling folders coming home Monday
  • Spelling homework next week!
  • Spelling test on Friday. Study all week!
  • Converting within the metric system
  • Continuing Night of the Spadefoot Toad
  • Science unit on Earth systems continues
  • Open House Elevated: August 28 6:00-7:00

Congratulations to our students of the week!
Way to go, Eleni and Andrew!

Friday, August 16, 2019

First Week Back 2019!

Week in Review:
What a great first week back! This week, students spent a lot of time practicing school and classroom expectations like pushing in their chairs and working in groups. The math topics we covered were place value spots from decimal places through the billions, telling the difference between value and place value, and learning to write numbers in expanded form. In English language arts (ELA) students practiced their dictionary skills and synonyms and antonyms in preparation of spelling and vocabulary homework next week. We also started a new book called Night of the Spadefoot Toad.  Be sure to ask about it!

Looking Ahead:
  • Spelling homework next week!
  • Spelling test on Friday. Study all week!
  • Multiplying and dividing by base ten units
  • Continuing Night of the Spadefoot Toad
  • Science unit on Earth systems begins with a trip to the garden and the pond
  • Open House Elevated: August 28 5:30-7:00
In Other News:
Thanks for the quick turn around on all that paperwork. 
Please make sure students come to school with a full water bottle each day, our classroom is hot! 

Congratulations to our students of the week from this past week 
and for next week.
Way to go, Devynn, Angel, Destiny, and Bree!

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Welcome back to another exciting school year! Please read the following helpful information about Marshall and Ms. Fisher’s class.


SCHOOL SCHEDULE:
Monday-Thursday      8:35-3:20
Friday                          8:35-12:25
Late Start Days            10:35-3:20
Lunch: Mon-Thurs       12:35-1:15
Lunch: Friday              11:35-12:15


ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL:
Children may not arrive at school earlier than 8:20 unless they are enrolled in FACTS or the Co-Op. After this time, all students and any parents who wish to wait with their children must stay on the playground until the first bell rings at 8:35. Please remember that students and parents are not allowed in the halls before school. This time is for teachers to prepare for the day, have scheduled meetings, and help with playground duty. Thank you for respecting this time. When the bell rings, students will come inside and line up outside of the classroom door. After the 8:40 late bell, students not in their seats will be marked as absent. If your child needs to be picked up from school prior to the regular dismissal time, please see or call Miss Malinda or Miss Erin in the front office. They will have your child meet you in the front office, where you will need to sign them out. 

CONTACTING MS. FISHER:  
Please email me at any time with questions, concerns, or to set up an in person meeting. I typically check my email when I arrive at school in the morning and before I leave for the day. My email address is efisher@fusd1.org. This is the quickest way to reach me. To contact me by phone, please wait until after the 3:20 bell, call the front office, and ask to be connected to Room 30.
Unfortunately, I don’t have time to visit with parents before school or during the day. Getting the students off to a great start in the morning and keeping them focused during lessons is my top priority. I’m happy to have visitors afterthe final bell rings and students have been dismissed from the classroom.  If you need to meet before school for any reason, please email me ahead of time to schedule a meeting.  

SNACKS and WATER BOTTLES:
            Please send your child with a water bottle they can keep at their desk during the day. Please make sure your child’s water bottle and any other personal belongings (jackets, lunch boxes, etc.) are marked with their name. Students should also bring a healthy mid morning snack each day. No soda, gum, or candy will be allowed in class.

CELL PHONES, HATS, and TOYS
Cell phones and other electronics must be kept off and in backpacks during school hours. If students have these out during the day, they will be taken from the student and kept in our care until an adult can come and pick them up. 
Students should bring hats to wear on the playground. Hats, however, are not permitted to be worn in the building. If students regularly wear their hats in the building or classroom, they will be taken from the student and kept in our care until an adult can come and pick them up. 
            Personal items brought to school always carry the risk of being lost, stolen, or broken. Please do not allow your child to bring anything to school that would cause a problem if something should happen to it. Spinners and other fidget toys are only permitted in class for students who have them included in their IEP or 504 plan.
            
HOMEWORK and CLASSWORK:
            Expect your child to have some homework Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and occasional weekend projects. Most days, students will have the opportunity to begin homework in class during a daily study hall. Homework will typically either be a spelling assignment or an Expert’s Journal (a mini research assignment). Students also have the option of taking home incomplete math classwork if they need extra practice on specific skills. While I do not require an adult to sign agendas for nightly reading, students should be reading at least 20 minutes outside of class each day: this is one of the best ways for them to improve their reading skills.
As the year moves forward, look for more information on the two student-led portfolio conferences that will be held this year. I truly believe this is the best way for you to see your student’s progress and growth. Because of this, some student work will remain in the classroom until the end of the year. If you are curious about any work that doesn’t make it home in their “traveling folder,” feel free to stop by after school and have your student share it with you.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:
            In this class, we celebrate birthdays once a month in a big celebration. The last Friday of every month is “Birthday Friday,”and students are encouraged to bring in treats to share with the class; there are about 30 students in the class. Feel free to send treats even if it’s not your child’s birthday month on this special day! Please do not send birthday treats on any day other than Birthday Friday.

OTHER STUFF:
 There will be many exciting and challenging activities for your fifth grader this year as our class explores science and social studies topics that include geography, mixtures and solutions, outer space, The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and Westward Expansion. Fifth grade math emphasizes decimals, as well as adding, subtracting, and multiplying many types of fractions, and dividing unit fractions. If anyone has special skills or information related to our topics of study and would like to share them with the class, please let me know.


School Supply List
Our amazing PTO has bought all the necessary school supplies for all students! 
Wow! Thanks, PTO!
I do know that some students like to have their own personalized style, so I’ve attached a short list of optional supplies if families would like to purchase additional supplies. Again, all of the items listed have already been purchased by the PTO. Also included is a wish list of items that would greatly help with the running of our classroom’s daily operations. Any and all donations are truly appreciated!


Optional Supplies:
One-subjectwire ringed notebooks
2 folders with pockets (no binders)
soft pencil case with the following supplies: A small personal stapler with staples, Pencils, Erasers, A small pair of scissors, Colored pencils, Several dark colored dry erase markers, Highlighters, Glue sticks

Classroom Wish List: 100% Cotton Standard Pillow Cases (neutral colors) Fun” Kid/School Friendly Prizes (small toys, “cool” erasers, “cool” highlighters, lotions, etc) Hand Sanitizer, Clorox Wipes, Kleenex, Extra Dry Erase Markers, Duct Tape/Masking Tape, Live Potted Plants


Students may NOT have hard backed pencil cases, markers, binders, multi-subject notebooks, fidget spinners, or Sharpies.