AAAWWUBBIS

Today we learned about the mnemonic AAAWWUBBIS. It stands for As, Although, After, While, When, Unless, Because, Before, If, and Since. When you begin a sentence with an AAAWWUBBIS word, you most likely are going to need a comma. You simply need to listen to where the sentence needs a pause, and insert a comma. Try this: Because we are in 5th grade we need to learn how to write clearly and well. Where is the pause? Right after the word "grade". Also AAAWWUBBIS (Ah-woo-bis) is kind of fun to holler when you are writing!

Please sentence stalk a sentence that begins with an AAAWWUBBIS. Write the sentence in your writing notebook. You may also post it as a comment on the blog.

Today

• Continuing with "George Washington's Socks" as a prelude to our study of REvolutionary War.
• Preparation to teach Kindergarten. (Watched video, gathered supplies)
  
• Worked on three strong possible leads for our stories. Continued revising our drafts.
• Art (painting)
• Further work on Concentration Cockpit.
• Math--related rectangles. (concepts of doubling, tripling, quadrupling, halving, and describing relationships of arrays)
  

Today

My gosh we had a whirlwind day today! From starting a new book-- George Washington's Socks-- to map work of North America, working on our personal narrative, and teaching Wood and Paper to the kindergartners. Ooohh, your children are doing a GREAT job with the kindergartners. (You know you learn the most when you teach something.)

Friday, Catalina's Dad is going to speak to us about wood.

Half Day tomorrow

Tomorrow is a half day for students. Please pick up your child at 11.

Speakers in the class this morning!

This morning, my cousins, Walter, Sharon, and Sarah Goss came in to talk to the class about their blueberry and raspberry farm in Maine. Sharon is a middle school math teacher, Walter is an engineer, and they run the berry farm in their "spare" time with the help of their four children.
We learned a lot about how the work of a berry farm is year round: planting, fertilizing, pruning, tying up canes, picking (both by hand and using machinery), and marketing and selling the berries. You can even become a fan of Goss Berry Farm on Facebook!

No More Newsflash

Please familiarize yourself with our new and improved school website as it contains a lot of information regarding the school. You should find the answers to most of your questions on our website, and if not please contact us and we will try our best to answer any of your enquiries. Please note that from Friday September 11 onwards for grades 2-12 the Newsflash will not be sent home as an electronic attachment. Parents will be asked to access the Newsflash via the school’s website (www.interamerican.edu.ec). Grades Nursery-1 will also receive hard copies.

Parent Letter August 17th

Susan Stevens

sstevens@interamerican.edu.ec

http://iagrade5.blogspot.com

Dear Parents,

We’ve had a great first day of school. These first few days are very important as we get to know each other and form a community. This morning we read the book, Miss Rumphius, which set our theme for the year: How can we make the world a more beautiful place? Your child’s first homework assignment is on this very theme and is on my blog. The address is above. As we want to prepare your children for the 21^st century, we are including more and more having to do with technology into our curriculum. It is important that your child have access to a computer for some assignments and to check the blog daily. You’ll need to decide if they should have their own e-mail account or use your account, but they will need to be able to attach assignments and e-mail them to me.

Our schedule for specials is as follows:

Monday – 8:15 Computers

Tuesday – 8:15 PE, 10:50 Music

Wednesday – 8:15 Library

Thursday – 8:15 Art

Friday – 8:15 PE, 10:50 Music

This year we have two 10 minute recesses in the morning at 9:00 and 10:40. Lunch is longer this year—a full 45 minutes. Students will be required to spend at least 15 minutes in the cafeteria as last year we had students who chose not to eat so they had more playtime.

Here’s how we will be starting the year:

· Math (first thing in the morning, usually) – Number theory (multiplication, division, factors, working with arrays)

· Reading – Dr. Goodreader (How to understand what you don’t “get” when you read.

· Writing – Personal narratives

· Social Studies – Art History of America, Geography of North America

· Science – Wood and Paper – (We’ll be teaching the kindergarten this quarter. You learn a lot by teaching!)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. The most efficient way is through e-mail. Thanks so much!

Sue Stevens

Your first thinking assignment

Choose a topic or two from the following list after we read Miss Rumphius. Think deeply and write.

A. How would you make the world more beautiful?
B. When Miss Rumphius' grandfather tells her to "do something to make the world more beautiful" does he mean for her to make the world better?
C. What does it mean to make the world better?
D. Do like things that are beautiful? Or are things beautiful because you like them?
E. Do you smile when you see something beautiful? Does it make you happy? How do you know?
F. Do you think something is beautiful when nobody else does? What?
G. What do you see that can make you happy besides flowers?