A Helping Hand

Parents,

Our time in the classroom over the past week-and-a-half has been full of collaborative projects and setting firm foundations for the students' coming school years in middle school.

5th Grade Small Mall
As we mentioned in the previous post, this year at AD each grade is raising awareness and financial assistance for a cause outside of our community.  As a grade, we have chosen to sponsor schools and students in India.  Most of the students and families that we are going to be helping live on less than $1.00 a day.  In order to raise funds, 5th grade is hosting a "Small Mall" for all AD students to shop from for holiday gifts for their families during the week of December 3-6 between 8:00-8:45 in the morning.  5th graders will usher younger students throughout the store and help make gift choices based on the amount of money the student wants to spend.  Once the week is complete we will donate all proceeds to Carole Rogers (a retired AD teacher) who will travel to India in the Spring of 2014.  Our goal is to send Carole with at least $1,000, which would go a long way in providing essentials for students and families in India.  To give you an idea of just how far it would go; you can provide a uniform from head-to-toe for a student for $5 and build a brand new school for $300.  We cannot wait to see all the students here at AD catch the vision for this project like our 5th graders have over the past two weeks.  Please see the video below for more information from Carole Rogers about her work in India.

We are still in need of 5th grade helpers and parent volunteers for the small mall.  Please email either 5th grade teacher for more information on how you and your student can help!

Classroom Communication via Our Blog and Edmodo
This year we have been using technology as much as possible in place of paper communication.  The following information is going to clarify how we are using two tools to communicate with parents this year.

Blog- We are using this blog as a place to update parents on activities and big events happening in our classroom.  This is not the place to check for homework, planner, and other day-to-day happenings for your student.  With Mrs. Rhea taking a leave of absence earlier this year, it has taken some time to redistribute her responsibilities between Mrs. Porter and Mr. Baldwin.  We appreciate your patience and grace in that time, but now you can expect an update on the blog on a weekly basis.

Edmodo-  Edmodo is the avenue we have chosen to communicate with students and parents on a day-to-day basis.  This is where students will find their homework every day and where they will take quizzes for morning work daily.  You, as a parent, can have access to this information by signing up for an account at www.edmodo.com and selecting the "I'm a Parent" link on the home screen (see screenshot below).  Once you have an account email Mrs. Porter for a classroom code so you can be added to our digital classroom.  Please feel free to email either Mrs. Porter or Mr. Baldwin with questions or concerns about Edmodo or the blog.

Upcoming Events (See your student's Edmodo calender for a description of these events)

November 27-29: No School
December 2-6: 5th Grade "Small Mall" Open (8:00-8:45 AM)
December 2-6: Canned Food Drive for Liberty Community Christmas Tree
December 2-6: Toys for Tot Drive

Have a great holiday!

AD 5th Grade

A Whirlwind

The past two weeks in 5th Grade have been spent doing a whirlwind of different activities.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
During the week of October 21 - October 25 Alexander Doniphan held their Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences. Parents were updated on their student's progress so far this year, as well as, .  It was great to see all of our fifth grade parents and to share a little bit about each of our students during this time.  If you were not able to make it to a conference please contact your kiddo's teacher so we can arrange a conference at a convenient time.

Fall Party
On Thursday, October 31 Alexander Doniphan celebrated the season with our fall parties!  Our students went above and beyond with some great costumes this year.

We want to say a huge "THANK YOU!!!" to our party planners and parent volunteers who through a fantastic party for our kiddos!  YOU ROCK!

Visiting Author
On November 5th our students had the opportunity to hear from one of their favorite authors, Kelly Milner Halls.  Ms. Halls love to write about subjects that tend to gross and creep other people out, such as ghosts, dinosaurs, and other things.  We had a great time asking her questions and hearing about all of her crazy adventures.

Passion-Based Learning
This year, Alexander Doniphan wants to instill a sense of responsibility for the world around us in our students by having each grade take on a worldwide or nationwide cause to raise money for by doing different activities.  This past week our 2nd graders raised over $400 for endangered animal protection by raffling off different prizes.  The Grand prize was a hot-air balloon ride.  Way to go 2nd grade!  Be looking in the near future for announcements about 5th grade's passion-based project!

Birthdays in October
We celebrated our one birthday, Addy Shiddell, at the end of the month with caramel apples.  It was a great fall treat and we all had fun celebrating with Addy.

Continue to look here for updates and posts about what's going on in class from week-to-week.  If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to email or call your kiddo's teacher.

Have a great day!

Fifth Grade Team

Week 9: An End to First Quarter

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Take a look inside your student's Friday Folder tonight.  Inside you will find a note from your child's teacher with your conference date and time.  If for some reason your time will not work, please email your child's teacher.


United Way Week 2013 - October 14-18th
Monstrous Monday - October 14:Let's bring in some Monstrous money donations to help the United Way of Greater Kansas City today! The class that brings in the most donations will win an extra 1/2 hour recess this week! Also, there will be "Black Cats" on a silent auction all this week! We have some cute kittens donated to us that are looking for a good home. For a donation to United WAy, one of these baby kittens could be yours to take home on Friday after school as long as parents give permission! You will receive a phone call on Thursday night if you are a lucky winner!
 

Trick-or-Treat Tuesday - October 15: A Pop Shop and Candy Corner will be set-up today at recess. Bring your $1.00 donations and get a Fun Treat! You can also guess the weight of the donated pumpkin from Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch for a .50 donation. If you're the closest to guess the actual weight, you will win the pumpkin and a pizza party! 2nd and 3rd place will win a pizza party too!

Wizardly Wednesday - October 16: Are you someone who is extremely skilled at creating things? If so, you can enter the homemade pumpkin decorating contest! Be as creative as you'd like to make/build your own pumpkin (paper, clay, etc. - however you want to create it.) Bring your pumpkin to the office by 9:00 today. Staff members will vote for the top three pumpkins from each grade level to be put in the finals round at recess today. The pumpkins can then be voted on for a .50 donation by all of your Doniphan peers and staff members. The winner from each grade level will win a pizza party and if you vote for the winning pumpkin, you will win a treat too!

Thrilling Thursday - October 17: It's going to be a "Thriller" of a day! A staff constume parade will start at 8:45 a.m. Lollipops will be on sale in the morning and at recess today - $1.00 each. Voting for your favorite Staff Costume will be at recess too. (.50 per vote - vote as many times as you'd like.) If the staff member you vote for wins you will win a treat too!

Freaky Friday and Parent Night Out - October 18: Kids - Wear your must unusual colthing/hairstyle to school today. Parents - You can dontate and participate in leaving your kids at school tonight until 6:00pm to enjoy a Parents Night Out! This event will be supervised by staff members. The cost for the evening is $10.00 for the first K-5 child and $5.00 for each additional K-5 child. Snacks, drinks, music and a movie (Monsters, Inc.) will be provided. Please sign-up by Thursday, October 10th. Please send a check made payable to United Way of Greater KC or cash is fine too. Please send money to the office in an envelope marked: Parents NIght Out!



Upcoming Events
October 10 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 11 - No School
October 14-18 - United Way Week
October 18 - Runnin Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon
October 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8
October 24 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 24 - Parent Teacher Conferences 2-8

Thanks for another great week, and for all you do at home!

~Mrs. Rhea

Week Eight and Events to Come

Science Experiment
 
Get your hypothesis and observation eyes ready...we are back to it in Science again!  We conducted another experiment this week in the Balloon Rocket launch.  Which balloon will go the farthest?  What is the independent variable?  What are the dependent variables?  This is always a great experiment that the students truly enjoy.  In case you all were wondering, the "Squiggly" balloon was the winner of the balloon launch.  I wonder how many hypothesises were correct?  Ask your kiddo how they did!
 

 

 
 
Fall Tailgate
 

See you at the Annual Fall Tailgate tonight!

* Dinner is served from 5-6:30pm

* Judging for the student back-off is at 5:15pm

* Kickball starts at 5:30pm

* Each student receives a ticket to the LHS football game

 
 
Early Out and NO School

Next week, on Thursday, October 10th, we will have an early release starting at 1:35. The following Friday, October 11th, there will be no school for students.
 
 
 
P/T Conferences

Parent Teacher Conference Sign-up forms went home tonight in Friday Folders. Please fill out the times that work best for you and we will try our best to accomodate. Please have those forms back to us on MONDAY. Thank you!
 
 
 
Clubs Choice
 
REMINDER: Club Choice delivery pick up is NEXT Wednesday, October 9 in the GYM from 4-6 PM. This is the ONLY pick up date. Please have someone pick up your orders on this day. 

Fall Box Top Drawing

From October 7 - 18, each family may enter by submitting 25 Box Tops.  There’s no limit to the number of entries per family.  Each entry of 25 Box Tops should be submitted either in a small plastic bag or envelope labeled with the family name and a phone number or email address.  

 
United Way Week 2013 - October 14-18th
 
Monstrous Monday - October 14:Let's bring in some Monstrous money donations to help the United Way of Greater Kansas City today!  The class that brings in the most donations will win an extra 1/2 hour recess this week!  Also, there will be "Black Cats" on a silent auction all this week!  We have some cute kittens donated to us that are looking for a good home.  For a donation to United WAy, one of these baby kittens could be yours to take home on Friday after school as long as parents give permission!  You will receive a phone call on Thursday night if you are a lucky winner!
 
Trick-or-Treat Tuesday - October 15:  A Pop Shop and Candy Corner will be set-up today at recess.  Bring your $1.00 donations and get a Fun Treat!  You can also guess the weight of the donated pumpkin from Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch for a .50 donation.  If you're the closest to guess the actual weight, you will win the pumpkin and a pizza party!  2nd and 3rd place will win a pizza party too!
 
Wizardly Wednesday - October 16:  Are you someone who is extremely skilled at creating things?  If so, you can enter the homemade pumpkin decorating contest!  Be as creative as you'd like to make/build your own pumpkin (paper, clay, etc. - however you want to create it.)  Bring your pumpkin to the office by 9:00 today.  Staff members will vote for the top three pumpkins from each grade level to be put in the finals round at recess today.  The pumpkins can then be voted on for a .50 donation by all of your Doniphan peers and staff members.  The winner from each grade level will win a pizza party and if you vote for the winning pumpkin, you will win a treat too!
 
Thrilling Thursday - October 17:  It's going to be a "Thriller" of a day!  A staff constume parade will start at 8:45 a.m.  Lollipops will be on sale in the morning and at recess today - $1.00 each.  Voting for your favorite Staff Costume will be at recess too. (.50 per vote - vote as many times as you'd like.)  If the staff member you vote for wins you will win a treat too!
 
Freaky Friday and Parent Night Out - October 18:  Kids - Wear your must unusual colthing/hairstyle to school today.  Parents - You can dontate and participate in leaving your kids at school tonight until 6:00pm to enjoy a Parents Night Out!  This event will be supervised by staff members.  The cost for the evening is $10.00 for the first K-5 child and $5.00 for each additional K-5 child.  Snacks, drinks, music and a movie (Monsters, Inc.) will be provided.  Please sign-up by Thursday, October 10th.  Please send a check made payable to United Way of Greater KC or cash is fine too.  Please send money to the office in an envelope marked:  Parents NIght Out!
 
 
 
Upcoming Events
October 4 - 5th graders sing at William Jewel in the evening (for those that signed up)
October 4 - AD Fall Tailgate from 5-6:30
October 9 - Club's Choice Pickup from 4-6pm
October 10 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 11 - No School
October 14-18 - United Way Week
October 18 - Runnin Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon

Thanks for another great week, and for all you do at home!

~Mrs. Rhea

Dreams and Reflection in Week Seven

Here's a quick update on our past week in class.  But, first, take a look at a note from the office regarding dropping off students in the morning.

ATTENTION FAMILIES:  Please talk to your students about arriving to school in the morning. Unless special arrangements have been made to have students enrolled in KidZone, in a special program during the week like, Strings, coming to Fast Forward, meeting with a teacher, or going to the wifi room (again all must be prearranged), students are not allowed on the school property. There is no one outside to supervise students.  The doors open at 8:30 a.m. each day.  If your student eats breakfast, they may enter the building at 8:25 a.m.  Students should not wait on the steps out in front of the building or in the back by the playground.  If they are coming for a special arrangement, they are to come to the front of the building and ring the buzzer.  KidZone will know if they are approved to enter the building and where they are to go.  Thanks.  

DreamBox
Last week, our class started to work on a new program called DreamBox.  This program is similar to our ELA program called iReady.  DreamBox meets each student where they are at.  It has individualized instruction based off the level of each student in each sub area.  So, some students may have extra lessons in Comparing Fractions to Decimals, while other may have more practice with understanding Multiplication and Arrays.  We are able to monitor student progress and look to see their gains as their lessons progress.  Students are very excited about this new program, and we can't wait to see the results as we continue working within DreamBox.

Here is a sneak peak into our new program, DreamBox.  Have your student login and show you around, as well!

DreamBox Homepage

After the completion of a lesson, a student's screen will show their coins and badges earned.

A sample lesson; Comparing Fractions and Decimals

 

Class Meetings
During the past week, we spent some time having class meetings with each of our classes.  We met as a whole and also as our three individual classes, as well.  We used this time to reflect on our classroom setting and the pilot as a whole.  At the beginning of our meetings, as an entire 5th grade, we looked at what our classroom looks like as compared to a typical 5th grade classroom in our district. We shared which parts of our classroom is the same as any other classroom in our district, and which parts are strictly "pilot" based. 

Then, after our whole group meeting, our classes broke out and shared the things we really loved about the pilot so far, and the things that we wished were a little different. 

 

 

As teachers, we were so excited to have this time of reflection with our students.  Here are a few things that our students absolutely love about our current 5th grade classroom.

• I love iReady, because I like having a lesson that is right on my level.
• I like having the Chromebook, because all my tools I need I can access at home.
• I love having the blended classroom, because I can get much more help with having more teachers in my classroom.

Here are a few thoughts from a few of our students sharing some possible suggestions for our classroom.

• I wish we could have more iReady, and that it did not stop and start over when we close our lids.  It also freezes up sometimes.  I wish it didn't do that.
• Sometimes I feel distracted in our classroom, but I know I was distracted in other classrooms too.
• I'd like to try a different type of computer other than the Chromebook, like maybe a Mac.

Upcoming Events
October 1 - Special PTA Meeting @ 7pm- Informational Meeting regarding Levy
October 4 – Running Club @ 8am
October 4 - AD Tailgate @ 5pm

October 4 - 5th graders sing at William Jewel in the evening (for those that signed up)
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon

 

Our students had an amazing week 7! We feel so blessed to get to spend our days with these fabulous young scholars. Every day is filled with a brand new exciting adventure!

Thanks for all you do at home!  :)

~Mrs. Rhea

Sightings from Week Six

We are six weeks in and still going strong!  The students are really doing great work and are applying their skills learned in their everyday practice.  Here's a look into a few things this week in class.

Journey's
Students worked with a new "Anchor Text," or passage of reading, in their Journey's book this week. The reading this week had some new vocabulary words that were also tested at the end of the week's lessons.  Today's assessments in reading focused on understanding key ideas and details within this week's text, understanding the author's craft and structure of the text, integrating their knowledge and applying it, and grasping the new vocabulary words for the week.  The student's did a great job on their assessments.  They can show you how they did on them by logging on to "Think Central" and looking at their test scores.  Have them show you how they did this week.

Cartographer's Challenge
Student's have made great progress on their social studies Cartographer's Challenge project.  They will be making their finished products next week.  Here are a few rough drafts and some compass roses the students made this week.  We can't wait to see their finished projects next week!

A student's Cartographer's Challenge rough draft.

Audrey putting finishing touches on her rough draft.

Patrick working on his "Chicken" country.

Jesse coloring in his compass rose.

 

 

Great compass rose, Jalen!

Kindergarten Buddies
We've had a couple weeks off from Kindergarten Buddies due to our field trip and the early out last week.  We were so excited today to get a chance to work with them on their letter/sound recognition.  It's always a great time when we get together.  Here's a few pictures of our gathering today.

Independent Reading
Our classroom really encourages our students to have freedom of choice in their reading.   During our days, the students always have independent reading time when they get the chance to choose what to read for a certain amount of time.  We encourage this not only at school, but they should also be reading 20 minutes at home nightly.   We have some great readers in our classroom!

Upcoming Events

September 20^th –  AD PTA Movie Night @ 5:30pm

September 26 - Culver's Night  @ 5pm

September 27 – Running Club @ 8am

October 4 - AD Tailgate @ 5pm

October 4 – Running Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon

 

It was another great week in 5^th grade!  Thanks for all you do at home.

~Mrs. Rhea

Top Five for Week 5

Looking back at the past week, here are five great features from this week’s happenings:

5.  Journey’s

This week the students were able to use our new digital ELA component, Journey’s.  Each week the students will have a reading piece that we will work with throughout the week.  Vocabulary will be embedded into the piece that we will work with, as well.  Have your student login to “Think Central” on their Chromebooks and show you their Journey’s reading piece for the week. 

4.  Cartographer’s Challenge

Students have been working hard on their new Social Studies project.  We are focusing on landforms.  Students are creating their own make believe country in their “Cartographer’s Challenge.”  Students are basing their country around a theme.  Ask your kiddo what their theme is for their country!  We have candy countries, NFL countries, and so much more!  Such creative minds in the 5^th grade.  "

3.  Personal Narrative

Our writing focus right now is on a personal narrative.  Students are writing about a personal experience, which we will continue to go through the writing process with.  Throughout our writing curriculum, students will build their craft, grammar, vocabulary, and other writing skills. 

2.  Patricia Polacco

On Friday, our school had the amazing opportunity to be visited by one of our all time favorite authors, Patricia Polacco.  She shared such amazing stories and a beautiful message with our students.  What an honor to have her with us on Friday!

1.  September 11^th Whole School Pledge

Flags were flying as our wonderful AD students stood outside our school early Wednesday morning with their right hand over their hearts proudly saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag flying at half staff in honor of those who lost their lives on September 11^th, and those service men and women who keep our country safe.  It was such a beautiful tribute to our country. 

Upcoming Events

September 16th - End of PTA Fundraiser
September 18th - Fall Picture Day
September 20th - Running Club @ 8am

September 20^th –  AD PTA Movie Night @ 5:30pm

September 26 - Culver's Night  @ 5pm

September 27 – Running Club @ 8am

October 4 - AD Tailgate

October 4 – Running Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon

It was another marvelous week in 5^th grade!  Thanks for all you do at home.

~Mrs. Rhea

Team Building and More in Week 4!

You are Clear for Take-off!

The students put their science skills to the test this week as they worked through the entire scientific method during their first science investigation.  Students made observations, formed a question, created a hypothesis, carried out an experiment, collected data, and formed a conclusion.  Here are a few thoughts of reflection from a few of our 5th graders.

"My plane didn't fly as far as I expected, because it was inside.  If we were outside, we would have more air current."  --Owen Carrillo, 5R

"I thought it was interesting how my plane somehow made it 20 ft.  I think it went so far, because I made a trick plane.  I bent the paper a little so the air would push on the back and make the plane go up when I threw it." --Nick Porter, 5P

"I learned that my hypothesis may not always be correct, even if it is a good hypothesis.  That's why it is important to maybe test again with another hypothesis." --Ashton Maloney, 5R

Radical Challenge
We had an amazing day at Radical Challenge today!  We were so lucky to have beautiful weather while we were out going through one challenge to the next.  Students worked on team building, problem solving, and being active, respectful, positive members of a group.  A big thank you to all of our parent volunteers who went through the course themselves at 7:00 in the morning today!  You all are awesome!  The kids had a fabulous time, and it was a successful field trip full of smiles and laugher.

Greetings from India
One of the amazing things about our pilot program this year is how involved students can still be in our classroom on days they are unable to attend school.  Our very own Trishul is out of the country in India visiting family.  He is able to still keep up on school work through the use of his Chromebook.  How awesome is that?!  Here is Trishul working on school work in India.

Upcoming Events
September 9th  - AD CiCi's Night @ 5pm
September 13th - Running Club @ 8am
September 13th - Early Release @ 1:35 pm for Professional Development
September 16th - End of PTA Fundraiser
September 18th - Fall Picture Day
September 20th - Running Club @ 8am


It was another great week in 5th grade!  Thanks for all that you do at home!  :)

~Mrs. Rhea