Welcome to Stupendous 5S

I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all the families in 5S!

In Social Studies, we continued to learn about the early civilizations of the Maya, Aztec and Inca. The study of the Vikings and their explorations was completed prior to the Thanksgiving break. We will begin the Great Age of Exploration at the end of November. Students created Viking Rune projects and now are challenged to decipher the runes of their classmates.

In Math, we have begun geometry and measuring of acute and obtuse angles. I have also introduced “Hands On Equations” to the class in order to solve algebraic equations for a variable. Ask your child how “easy” it is to solve for the value of “X”.

We continue to read “just right books” in Readers’ Workshop. We are also reading from a preselected text in order to develop the reading strategies of summarization, monitoring for meaning and questioning. DRA testing for fluency and comprehension will be completed by December 5.

Two students from 5S were published in the Happy Times page of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette of November 11, 2007. Ben LaPointe and Chloe Lazar had their essay and poem published on Veterans Day and Hero. Our next Happy Time Essay is due on December 1. The essays on traveling to a fantasy place and poems on “Tour” will be published on January 6, 2008.

Report cards were distributed on Friday, November 9, 2007. Conferences have been set up with all parents who have requested one. Please do not hesitate to ask for a conference at any time of the year should there be concerns with your child’s academic or social progress.