Week of October 3, 2011

Hello students and parents,

Thank you to all of those parents that volunteered their time at the L.A. County Fair! If you did not get the opportunity to join us, there will be other fieldtrip opportunities this year where I will greatly appreciate your help!

This week, we are starting a new theme in reading, "Give it all you've got!". The new spelling and vocabulary words have been posted on the left side of the blog. Practice your vocabulary using the website below:

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/ewordgame/index.html?grade=5&theme=2&selection=1

*Don't forget that this Friday is noon dismissal and we have whole school mass in the morning! Please come in full uniform!
*Also, student council will be selling pizza at lunch on Wednesday and Thursday to raise money for Red Ribbon Week!


The following are websites that focus on topics we are studying in Social Studies and Science:
http://www.kidzone.ws/water/
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/aztec.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/

Let's have a great week!

Week of September 26, 2011

Hello!

This week we are finishing up our ITBS and Cogat standardized testing. You have worked very hard over the last week and I am so proud of you!

Congratulations for filling up your marble jar! Now let's see if we can fill it up even faster this time...

Don't forget to bring your L.A. County Fair field trip slips & $10 by Wednesday at the latest. 
Don't forget you need to pack a lunch with you for the field trip! 

Please view the following websites to review for your human body systems final on Wednesday:

http://www.kidsbiology.com/human_biology/index.php
http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/movies/how_the_body_works_interim.html
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/

Let's have a great week!

Week of September 12th, 2011

Hi students and parents!

Let's make sure we take some time to say a prayer for all of those who still suffer over the horrible events of September 11th, 2001.

Now let's take a look at what is going on this week:

Wednesday 9/14: Mass with 1st grade & school PICTURE DAY. Make sure you bring your order forms if you plan on purchasing photo packages! Don't forget to smile!
Friday 9/16: Noon Dismissal

-Progress reports go home this week!
-Next week (9/19) begins ITBS testing and it is important that we are all ready to do our very best! Make sure you are in the habit of eating a healthy breakfast every morning and getting a good night's sleep.

 Extra Credit
An extra credit assignment has been assigned. This extra credit assignment will go towards both reading and science as we are reading about Volcanoes in our current story in language arts. Students were asked to make a model volcano and label it with the following words: magma, lava, crust, and summit. They were also asked to choose one of the four types of volcanoes (cinder cone, composite, shield, dome) we learned about in class to make a model of. For full credit, volcanoes must be labeled, but they do not have to erupt (using baking soda and vinegar). The volcanoes are due on Wednesday, September 14th.

Science
In Science we are studying how all plants and animals have ways of transporting materials throughout the body. We have already learned about the Digestive System (pictures to come!) and the Excretory System. Next we are learning about the Respiratory System. Can you take an educated guess at what the Respiratory System helps us to do? Check out the websites below for more information:

http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/lungs.html 
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/RSmovie.html 
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/Courses/Liquid_Animation/Body_Parts/Respiratory_System/index.html 
http://www.kidsbiology.com/human_biology/respiratory-system.php 

Let's have a great week!
-Ms. Jordan 

 

Week of September 6th, 2011

Welcome back from the three day weekend!

Here's what's going on this week:

-Students will be given a retake States & Capitals Test on Friday, September 9th. Please practice at home and come prepared!

-Tomorrow is the Digestive System Quiz. Students will be expected to be able to label the parts of the Digestive System and know basic facts about each of the organs involved: Esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, pancreas, gall bladder, liver.

-Students are beginning our new and final selection in the theme "Nature's Fury" called "Volcanoes". The new spelling and vocabulary words have been posted at the left of the blog.

-ITBS (Iowa) Testing begins September 19th and goes through the 30th. Please get your brains ready by going to bed early and having a healthy breakfast!

-Progress Reports will be distributed next week.

-We are going to the L.A. County Fair on September 30th to reward ourselves for doing well on the ITBS! So let's stay focused and show everyone just how smart St. Raphael students are!

 To get some extra studying and practice in, please view the following websites:

States & Capitals Practice:
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/usa-capitals-map-game.php
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/CapitalUnitedStates.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/wh.cgi?A1=s&A15=usa&A2=2&Submit=Show+Me+The+Maps!
Digestive System Websites:
http://nature.ca/discover/exm/blddgstvsystm/index_e.cfm
http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/body/pg000126.html
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/Courses/Liquid_Animation/Body_Parts/Digestive_System/index.html


Let's have a great week!

-Ms. Jordan

Week of August 29th, 2011

Hello students and parents,

Welcome to week #3 of the fifth grade!

Some announcements for the week:
-Don't forget to bring your white t-shirt for a fun science activity by Wednesday!
-Please continue studying your states & capitals-- your test is at the end of this week!
-This Friday is a half day and whole school mass!
-Your spelling & vocabulary packet for "Eye of the Storm" is due on Friday! Let's do a better job of getting those in this time!
-The Spelling and Vocabulary words for our current selection is posted on the blog--be sure to practice them for your tests at the end of the week.
-The ITBS is coming up--get ready to show everybody just how smart we are at St. Raphael School!
-The fieldtrip to the LA County Fair is September 30th.


The following are great websites to help you study different subjects. Please look into them and have fun!

States & Capitals Practice:
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/usa-capitals-map-game.php
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/CapitalUnitedStates.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/wh.cgi?A1=s&A15=usa&A2=2&Submit=Show+Me+The+Maps!
Digestive System Websites:
http://nature.ca/discover/exm/blddgstvsystm/index_e.cfm
http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/body/pg000126.html
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/Courses/Liquid_Animation/Body_Parts/Digestive_System/index.html
Vocabulary Word Practice:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/ewordgame/index.html?grade=5&theme=1&selection=2

Let's continue to have a great week!

-Ms. Jordan

Week of August 22nd, 2011

Hello fifth grade!

Here are some important announcements for the week:
-Back to School Night is this Wednesday, August 24th! Remind your parents to come explore our classroom!
-Hot lunch will be served this week!
-Remember that P.E. is on Thursday!

Aside from announcements, remember that you must be practicing your multiplication everyday! It is important that you get those facts memorized soon!

Also, please practice your states and capitals every night! This week you will be assigned your state poster project and it is important to have all information and materials ready by this Wednesday! We will discuss it more in class.

In the meantime, check out these websites to practice your states & capitals :-)

http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/usa-capitals-map-game.php
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/CapitalUnitedStates.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

See you in class!
-Ms. Jordan

Week of August 15, 2011

Welcome Back to School!

You're now fifth graders and we're going to have a great year together! I am so excited to get to know each and every one of you! 

Here are some announcements for the week: 

8/15: Mass @ 9:00A, Noon Dismissal
8/16: Dismissal @ 3:00P
8/17: Dismissal @ 3:00P
8/18: Dismissal @ 3:00P, P.E. @ 2:00P (Bring your P.E. uniform!)
8/19: Noon Dismissal

Make sure to check the blog for weekly updates, important events, or cool educational websites. 

Don't forget to begin your reading log!  Remember that hot lunch will not be served this week so pack a lunch!

Let's have a great year!

Sincerely, 

Ms. Jordan