Week of August 27th - Student News Writers

Cool Chronicles

By

Rose Marie Nkumu and Chad Miller

Hi this is Rose Marie here with a couple new things that were doing in our classroom. This week in Spanish were learning about numbers and more phrases as we get comfortable using  them around our class. Currently in language arts we are doing story structures and summaries. In social studies we are just starting our unit of U.S. History. We just got done with doing maps and are now reading about longitude and latitude. In science we are learning about the microbes. Today we just started spelling in language arts, also in language arts we did a two sided grammar sheet. We also made a vocabulary crossword sheet for one of our family members to figure out. In math we are learning about arrays, prime numbers, and factors.

 I have 10 questions to ask you…

Let’s see if you automatically know the answer and if you do great! But if you don’t the answers will be at the bottom of the page.

1)an ecosystem can be as large as a planet. True or false.

2)find the misfit: Arkansas, Wyoming, Minneapolis, Kansas.

3)what king was the father of queen Elizabeth 1?

4)by A.D. 1000, was the population of Rome 1 million or 2 million?

5)which word is borrowed from polish: square dance or polka?

6)about how much rain falls in the Sahara: none, 1 inch or 5 inches?

7)is the Antarctic circle near the north pole or the south pole?

8)what is the average of 6,13, and 11?

9)what major mountain range runs through northern Italy?

10)what Portuguese sailor rounded the southern tip of Africa in 1488?

THE ANSWERS TO THE 10 QUESTIONS

1)TRUE

2)MINNEAPOLIS

3)HENRY VIII

4)1 MILLION

5)POLKA

6)1 INCH

7)SOUTH POLE

8)10(13+6+11=30/3=10)

9) The Alps

10) Bartholomeu Dias

                      Chad’s comic is below. Check it out! Click on the picture to enlarge it!

Cool Chronicles

By Ethan and Lydia

This year Mrs. Ahlers 5^th grade class has been learning the great language of… Español! We have learned phrases like “Saquen la agenda, por favor” which means, “Take out your planner please.” And all kinds of different sentences and body parts. We have also learned head, shoulders, knees, and toes in Spanish!

We have a class pet, it’s a dinosaur painted on the wall! Our class came up with all kinds of names for him, one of which we voted on, James Bond, and that name won us over. So, If you are wondering, his name is… JAMES BOND! (Not everybody agrees with the choice, including me, Lydia McIntire) Adios.

Ok, This Is Ethan… Well, Our Class So Far Has Accomplished Much! As You Know We Began Spanish (Or Español) This Year. We Started Off With A Simple Song Of Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes! But Then We Began Focusing On Other Body Parts In Spanish. So Far, Everything Is Going Just Right…Anyway, We’re Getting Ready To Elect Student Council, So If Your Child Is In 3^rd Grade Or Up And Is Interested Please Make A Speech And Talk To Your Home Room Teacher. (Your Teacher Will Probably Do Better Explaining). Mrs. Ahlers has a pretty Good Homework Plan So Your Child Has Nothing To Worry About.

Well, I Guess That’s All I Have To Say (Because Lydia Took All The Good Stuff) Time For Me To Sign Out.

                                                                   ~Ethan Hudson

Hey, it’s Lydia here. So far in language arts, we have been working on story structures, like organizing our writing and stuff like that. ( So if your child quizzed you on the memorizing numbers. ) That’s what I mean by organizing.      We also read a story called “A package for Mrs. Jewls” We have also had Social Studies with Mrs. Whittington next door. It has gone good for everybody. (That I know of.) As you might know, we are working on student council, AND… THE ELECTIONS ARE TOMORROW!

-        Lydia McIntire

Well I Guess That’s All There Is To It… Well This Is Going To Be One Of  The Only Times We’ll Be Writing For You Guys…So Next Week Be Prepared For A Different Writer…Bye!

~Ethan Hudson L

Communication Home

Our first two days of 5th grade are complete! As students return to school for the first full week of school this year, I look forward to delving deeper into all our areas of study. I have noticed such genuine enthusiasm for learning and I am grateful that all students seem to have such hope and intrigue for the year - for themselves, others and their learning endeavors.

It is important to me that student work, news and assignments are communicated clearly.  For this reason, I aim to post an updated student planner version each day at the end of the day, so that you see a copy of the assignments and news. Of course, students will be coming home with their planners each night, but sometimes it is helpful to have a copy of the original, just in case something is missed or the planner stays at school for any reason.

At the end of the day, students also check their mail folders in the back of the room for headlines and notes home from the office. You can expect them to be coming home with these school-wide letters on most Thursdays and Fridays.

Our blog should be updated weekly. If you have any additional questions, please e-mail me at ahlers.lynn@iccsd.k12.ia.us!

Here's to a great school year!!  Go Hoover Hawks!

~Ms. Ahlers

New Beginnings

WeLCOME BACK! 

Hoover Elementary 2012

Did you read a whimsical book over the summer? Did you adventure across the country with your family? Did you discover something new about yourself? I look forward to hearing all about your summer explorations. We will share these stories on the first few days of school, organize materials, and get to know each others and our schedules a bit better. I believe all students have something very special to share as they come back to Hoover.  I aim to celebrate these gifts and maximize our time together to learn great new things about our world.

Ice Cream Social and First Day

The first day of school is just around the corner. We welcome all students and families to the Hoover Ice Cream Social Tuesday, August 14th.   Students may bring supplies to the classrooms between 6:00 and 6:30. I'll be in room 12 to welcome and greet all students and families. Then, from 6:30-7:30 we'll enjoy treats on the blacktop/playground.

Our first day of school will be Thursday, August 16th and school will end at 2:00pm. 

Your Child's Teachers

Some recent changes have occurred to our classes. We are now teaching single grade classes at Hoover. Aimee Brownlee and I will be teaching all fifth graders and Jeff Kosier and Lorraine Whittington will teach all 6th graders. This change was made to accomodate district requirements for language arts instruction and to allow for a smooth consistent schedule for all students throughout the year. I will still get to see those 6th graders I taught last year, however!  I will teach a section of science to the 6th graders in Lorraine's room while she teaches social studies to my homeroom.  

Curriculum

The science program this year will encompass a variety of units throughout the year. Our first unit will be Microworlds.  There is also a new reading program from Houghton Mifflin that teachers are to use, but I will incorporate several inquiry-based units and novel units with this program, as I have found that these have truly engaged students in the joy of reading with others and for themseleves. Mrs. Whittington will be teaching US History in Social Studies. I will also provide students with the opportunity to learn Spanish. I will introduce conversational Spanish lessons to students and build on the knowledge of those that have varying levels of experience with world languages. My aim is to provide students with the chance to practice conversation, build sentences and extend their vocabulary in another world language. I want to open the door to the many possibilities that learning others languages, offers. This will not interfere with any core subject, as it will often be integrated throughout the day and during transitions. I hope to offer Spanish mini-lessons three times a week. The Everyday Math Program we use uses strategies from years past to expose students to new strategies and review material to "master" more essential concepts. Students will have math independent practice work most days.

Class Schedule

I hope to have a copy of the schedule for you at the Ice Cream Social.  If you cannot make the social your child should bring one home for you. Most of our specials are in the early part of the day this year. Most of our specials (music, guidance, media, PE, art) will be first thing in the morning.

School Supplies

On the first two days we will be going through your child's supplies. If there are additional items needed they will note it in their assignment notebooks. Thank you for getting those supplies needed for Monday when they come back to school.  

Assignment Notebooks/Book Fees

We've used the same assignment notebook for several years now.  The cost for this is $3 and there should be an envelop with your student's name and the amount on your student's desk at the Ice Cream Social.  If you have the $3, just put it in the envelop and turn into the bin on my desk.

The district also requests a $20 book fee from families.  You can give that to the office.

6th Grade Patrol

If your student is on the Safety Patrol, please be sure you are aware of their schedule.  Students assigned for morning patrol should be here at 8:10 in order to be at their post by 8:15.  Students assigned for afternoon patrol should be finished with Patrol around 3:15. If you student is responsible for meeting a younger sibling, you and your students need to make clear plans for where that younger student should go after school.

Band and Orchestra

Fifth graders will meet with Mr. Michalski about signing up to take band instrument lessons.  These lessons are conducted during class time.  In addition there is a once a week after school practice at either City High or SouthEast.  Since students are pulled all throughout the day for band it is not possible for teachers to individually note what work the student has missed during the pullout.  Part of the responsibility for band is making sure your student knows and follows up on any missed classroom work independently.

Birthdays

If your child would like to bring in treats for his or her birthday, we look forward to celebrating with them. There are 25 fifth graders in my class. 

Communications

I try to keep this blog updated regularly. While Lorraine and I will both share similar information on our blogs, she will often post information pertinent to social studies and the 6th grade curriculum. Her blog is: http://hooverroom13.blogspot.com

Please read the newsletter from the front office that comes home with your youngest child here at Hoover.  It contains important dates for school wide events that may interest you.  You can familiarize yourself with the school calendar so you are aware of upcoming conference dates.

For information about homework and student celebration days, check your student's planner. 

If you need to contact me the best way is to send an e-mail at ahlers.lynn@iccsd.k12.ia.us.  Please send concerns or questions my way. I am happy to connect with you and work toward providing your child with great learning experiences.

Please let me know of any questions you have that were not answered here.  

I look forward to a wonderful school year!