It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year!

Wow, time flies when you're having fun.  How about a photo montage of what's been happening with the Vielleux Crew?

We spent a couple of weeks learning about exploration and what might have motivated nations and individuals to explore.  In this lesson, we roamed around the room sharing ideas by writing and not speaking.

 Then, Thanksgiving break happened.  You all know Mrs. B has been dressing up for years, right?  This one takes the turkey!

Fifth graders continue to be role models throughout the school.  They volunteer their free time (like recess) every chance they get.  The adults in the building are happy to scoop them up and put them to work.  

We had a couple of impromptu fashion shows:

Mr. Lyons came to discuss cigarette smoking as part of our Class Council with Mrs. Lallier.

We thought he was pretty interesting, because who else brings in human organs for us to touch?

We got to see and feel the difference between healthy lungs, lungs from someone with emphysema, and cancerous lungs.  The cancerous lungs looked a bit like ground beef.  

Here are some more photos of this experience:

Only those three could turn touching lungs into a bonding experience... such good friends.

And we love Mrs. Mumford.  If you ever need someone to hold your Phlegm, she's there for you!

By the way, that jar of phlegm contained about as much phlegm as a smoker with COPD could cough up in two weeks.  Blech.

We've worked on other things as well this month:

We helped out the first graders with their projects.

We've been working on some other projects in math, reading, writing and science.  Stay tuned for more to come!

Catching Up

It has been a while since the last post.  The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity.  From NECAPs (Hunter said, "Wow, my kneecaps hurt!" as he walked into the classroom on the first day of testing), to Polar Caves, we sure have been busy.

First of all, thanks to our many parent chaperones.  Even though we gave the option for driving, many took the bus and enjoyed the ride.  Mrs. McCullar, Mr. Dustin-Eichler and I all crowded into the front row barely containing our trio of bus sickness.  Perhaps the option next year should be for the teachers to drive!  Mrs. Poirier, Mr. Sneddon, Mr. Nalette, Mrs. Derosier, Mrs. Lebrun and Mrs. Noyes were our volunteers and guides.  Mrs. Peoples, the fifth grade special educator, enjoyed the Polar Caves so much that she went the following weekend with her own kids.  Here's a bit of trivia:  one Polar Caves group did the cave tour three times!

Here's the group at the annual photo.

For those of you who have never been to the caves, here's an example of the intricate walkways and paths built into the side of the mountain.  At this particular spot, kids would rush out screaming, "I made it through the Lemon Squeeze."

Trips aside, we are back into the academic swing following NECAPs.  In reading, we've moved away from character studies, and as soon as we finish our most recent book groups, we'll be focusing on shorter, non-fiction reading until after Thanksgiving.  As the kids get older, more and more of their information will come from different types of nonfiction text and it is important to study the text features of those.  Kids will still be expected to read for pleasure from fiction books during this time.

In math, we've wrapped up a unit which is a mixture of different topics to kick off the year, and are moving into area models of multiplication.  We will spend a lot of time on modeling multi-digit multiplication.  This is the time of year where a lack of math fact fluency will begin to slow the students down.  I also have been doing a lot of research on how to help the kids master their facts.  Basically I have found that constant repetition, a variety of activities, and a tracking system to monitor progress are key components.  I am always brought back to articles published by NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), and here's one for you to look at if you're so inclined.

Click the blue words to access article.

Please encourage your child to write the facts, say the facts, rhyme the facts, or sing the facts.  Quizzing them in the car, in the shower, in line for the movies, or ANYWHERE will help!

In science, we've started our study of Earth's Changing Surface.  We've studied the layers of the Earth, the rock cycle and are now exploring rapid and slow changes to the surface.  Be sure to ask your child how the Earth is like a kiwi!

In writing, we're working on writing thesis statements, and are working toward an independent response to literature. 

We're nothing if not musical!

There's never a dull moment around the Vielleux Crew, and if you're strolling through the halls you might just see us "throwing our hands up" to the tune of "Layers of the Earth" by Rhythm, Rhyme & Results.  We've listened to it a few times, and the scientific content within the song is amazing.

Listen for yourself:





This is the beginning of our first science unit of the year.  We focus on the Earth's changing surface and begin with models of Earth's layers.  We review the rock cycle and learn about more in depth (just wait until you hear Ricky the Rapping Rock) and then we look at the way the surface changes rapidly and slowly.

Wednesday is our annual trip to The Polar Caves.  We love it there... it's a great time to wander around the wooded paths with friends, and a great time to see the fall foliage.  The kids were a little concerned that there might be "bears in the caves" but we assured them that was not the case.  These caves were actually formed when boulders broke off the side of Hawk's Cliff.  According to the website, "The Polar Caves were formed an Ice age ago. Our caves are granite caves and do not have stalactites or stalagmites, which are found in limestone caves.  Instead they were formed when the glacier moved overhead dropping boulders at the base of Hawk’s cliff.  These boulders formed passageways, which over the years we have built boardwalks through to make a neat experience."


As a reminder, here is what the kids can expect for the trip and a list of expectations and reminders:

• Everyone needs to bring lunch and snacks.  Please, no glass containers and bring drinks that can be closed easily.
• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear.
• Clean out your school backpack so you aren't carrying around extra weight.
• Students may bring electronics, ipods, and amusements for the bus ride.  Students are responsible for their belongings and bring them at their own risk.  All songs must be school appropriate.
• Students may bring no more than $10 spending money for the gift shop and/or rock collecting areas.
• Chaperones may ride the bus or follow in private cars-- it's up to you.  As the green chaperone paper states, please check in with your child's teacher at 8:15.
• Students are expected to stay with the chaperones and meet at the agreed upon time.  Please be prompt.  If a chaperone has any problems with a student, please report it to a teacher right away.
• Chaperones are welcome to bring cameras!  Please share any photos you have with us.  We love pictures of adults trying to get through the Lemon Squeeze.
• Have fun!

Hot off the Presses!

Click on the photos to see the documents.

Order Books Online

The first book order of the year is due on Friday of this week.  For every book you purchase through scholastic, we are able to earn free books for the classroom.  You can order the traditional way by returning the order form to school, or you may order online.

Online Ordering Information
Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GVNNZ

Here's how it works:

• SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.
  
• SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.
  
• SEND your order online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom.

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.

What a trip!

Thanks to Jennifer Packard, and the folks at Jesse's Restaurant the fifth graders got to see one local company's effort to reduce its carbon footprint.  Through local gardens (on the Jesse's lawn), and a huge compost pile, Jesse's is reducing, reusing and recycling.

With the impending frost, the fifth graders got to harvest the entire garden.  We found carrots, eggplant, peppers, lettuce, green beans, broccoli and lots of tomatoes.  Then we were treated to a buffet lunch complete with an ice cream sundae.  YUM!  The Vielleux Crew learned about the word "etiquette" in a Daily Language Review assignment, and transformed our new knowledge into a discussion of restaurant etiquette, and more specifically buffet etiquette.  There are some of the rules for this special occasion that we came up with.

• Don't YUCK my YUM (Thanks, Jessica)!
• Take only what you're going to eat.
• If you have to sneeze or cough, do it away from the food.
• Say please and thank you.
• Use your utensils appropriately.
• USE UTENSILS.
• Chew with your mouth closed.
• Use a napkin.

Here are some other photos of our day:

Wanted: Math Fact Masters-- $10 Reward

 

Wanted:  Students who learn their math facts.

Many students have already tried out www.xtramath.org which is a no-frills website designed to help students master their math facts.  Students begin with multiplication and move onto division.  Kids complete a prescribed set of activities and eventually pass.  Each night that they practice, I am sent a notification.  Please make sure they practice for one whole session.  They will be compensated for their work by being given $1VCB for every night they practice.  Once they have completed multiplication mastery, they will receive a $10 bonus!  Flyers will come home on Monday to tell you how to register.  

Preamble Duet

As I greeted the students this morning, a couple of students were eager to show me how hard they had worked on their memorization of the Preamble to the Constitution.  This one was especially energetic!




Of course, everyone else wanted in on the action as well...

Hot Off the Press! September 12th Newsletter

Please click on this link to view the newsletter.

We the People...

Vielleux Crew News-- Hot off the Press!

Click here to see the newsletter

It's THAT Time of Year Again!

It's that time of year again.  BACK TO SCHOOL.  This blog is a way for the kids and parents of The Vielleux Crew to communicate throughout the year.  We'll show you what we're doing in class and I will post documents and other items that the kids might need here.  This blog will evolve and change through the year, but it should always be useful and interesting.


The first thing I would recommend is reading through the Vielleux Crew Handbook, which will help parents and students understand how things work in fifth grade.  The last page should be filled out and returned to me as soon as possible.


A popular question is:  What does my child need on the first day of school?  Comfortable clothes (dressed for the weather), shoes, a snack and a lunch or lunch money.  We do have a snack time every day.  Fifth graders eat lunch at 12:45-- by that time we're ravenous-- and so we stop around 10 to have a snack and refuel our brains.

Exciting New Science Unit Beginning

This past week marked the beginning of our Interdependence in Ecosystems unit.  Part of this unit requires us to examine part of a food chain closely, and to do this we are studying decomposers... more specifically RED WORMS. In fact we have a thousand of them arriving early next week.


To learn about them, we spent some time on a webquest using a website about Herman the worm!  http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/anatomy/index.html  WHAT FUN!

We are really hoping to start a worm farm composting system in the school cafeteria.  We shall see how well fifth grade teachers are at worm babysitting over the summer though...


We began the week by learning about the source of energy for any food chain-- producers.  Producers are organisms that can make their own food.  We learned that plants are producers and get their energy from the sun.

Calendar Starting to Fill?

Please mark your calendar for the following important fifth grade dates:

Fifth Grade Calendar

Proud Mommy Moment

So sorry!  Just had to share!

How does oral history change through the generations?

Students have been noticing that the stories they have heard about the Revolutionary time period are often inaccurate, or that sometimes different sources report different information.  We discussed today how oral history played a part in this variety.

Four students went out into the hall, and the students left in the classroom were told a story.  This story was then shared with one of the students in the hall.  This was our first student story. 

The person who came in from the hall first, called the next person in and said:

And then the third...

And the last...

But the real story was this: 

The Plight of Roger Newman

Roger Newman and his wife lived a nightmare last evening. It all started after

leaving a dinner party, when the Newman’s Porche

a wet surface into a retaining wall near a country crossroads on Highway 246.

Brenda Newman, although seat-belted, hit her head and lost consciousness.

skidded onQuickly

evaluating his options, Roger decided to walk to a gas station about two miles back.

What else could he do? It was 1:15 A.M. and his wife needed immediate care!

Ten

minutes into his walk, Roger saw a pick-up truck with three suspicious-looking

youths. They stopped and assessed Newman’s predicament. Seeing the headlights

of an approaching car, the boys quickly took Newman’s wallet (containing $175),

credit cards, wedding ring, and watch, despite pleas from Newman about his injured

wife up the road a quarter mile.

As the truck sped off, the on-coming car, driven by one of Roger’s co-workers,

Angela Rogers, stopped, was assessed of the situation, and drove Roger to his car.

Delicately removing Brenda and placing her in the back seat, the two then pursued

the truck for several miles but were never able to catch up.

From the Angels of Mercy Hospital the next day, Newman reported the incident

to the police, who told him there was little hope of recovering the stolen items.

On the other hand, Brenda Newman regained consciousness by early morning and

enjoyed a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, toast, and cranberry juice.

 

What are the kids doing who aren't in Band? Writing!

Non band students are getting some extra writing practice these days, and two Vielleux Crew students need to be recognized for their superb essays.  Congratulations to Kylee and Odin for their fantastic writing pieces.  Please read below.  I just had to scan them in, because the handwriting effort helped the writing be meaningful!  I could tell as a reader how much they really loved being Vermonters. 

Mr. Eastman takes over while Mrs. Vielleux is at a PBIS Conference

Who said having a substitute is terrible?  It had to be someone who never had Mr. Eastman.  Ever since his first appearance this year, the kids have been begging for Mr. Eastman to return.  I will be attending the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Conference during March 15-17.

An equally exciting piece of news is that Vielleux Crew students will be going to Havover High school next week to participate in their challenge course.  Please remind your kids to wear comfortable athletic clothing and sneakers.

Please mark your calendars for the annual Field Day prep meeting.  The meeting will be held the Thursday before April vacation at 6:30 pm in the library.  If you can't make it to the meeting but would like to be included on the email list, please let me know.

Wasn't there a movie about this?

Ok, so THEATER GROUP has started, and I will say that the kids in the Vielleux Crew are pretty DRAMATIC this year, but who knew they could dance too...

HACTC student to Illustrate our Stories

Students from the Hartford Area Career and Technical Center will be illustration our stories using a 2D flash animation.   Here are some photos from the first meeting of author and illustrator.

And, just for fun, here's a great shot of Brennan using his book as evidence for a reading log!

Welcome the NEW YEAR!

Today we welcomed in the New Year by discussing what a resolution is.  Together we made academic, social and personal resolutions and tonight for homework students should be finishing up a first draft of these.  This draft might be "all she wrote" since we have a new and exciting collaboration coming up with the HACTC (Hartford Area Career and Technology Center).  For this collaboration to work, students are going to need to write narrative stories.

Also, you will notice that "STUDY MATH FACTS" appears on the homework sheet all week.  We are beginning what I consider to be the most important unit of fifth grade in mathematics.  It includes multiplication, division and fractions.  Parents will notice that division looks different to begin with...  Be watching for instructional videos to appear in the blog.  These videos will help you to understand why we teach division a little differently to start off.

Our new Social Studies Unit is "Colonial America."  Kids will be learning about life in the colonies, and will begin to research a particular topic of interest and present his or her findings to the class.

And last, but not least, we have a student teacher for the next 7 weeks.  Mrs. Barlow is her name and she comes to us from Brigham Young University.  Her husband is a medical student from Dartmouth.  After working with us, she will continue to work with DBS students in the first grade.