What's New and What's In the Works?

Iowa Testing is complete!  If your student missed a day last week, we will be sure to arrange time for them to complete the testing.   I welcome back our regular schedule and some fun new learning adventures.  Here's a taste of some things that are happening in our room and some upcoming events:

-NANOWRIMO!  It stands for National November Writing Month and it's a month long novel writing project the kids will embark on, starting this week. I have prepared red binders for each student with Nanowrimo materials to get them thinking like the wonderful novelists they are and can be!  We will be reflected on the successes of the authors of our own choice texts while putting what we learn into our own novels.  As they contain their "inner editor" to unleash character development, setting details and concoct conflict and resolution, they will be drafting and revising with my support, but most importantly the support of their peers.  This was one of my favorite projects last year and I anticipate this novel unit to be quite special with this group of fifth graders.  You can expect to see Red Binders come home periodically.

Check out the site:  http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

-Parent-Teacher Conferences - November 1st, 8th and 9th. If you are unsure of your time or haven't received an update reminder that you would like from signupgenius.com, please let me know. I look forward to sharing your student's progress, passions and learning from the start of this school year.

-Halloween Party - next week on October 31st. Thank you to the parents who are providing treats for this fun event!  The Halloween parade will begin at 2:00pm and our room party will follow the parade.

-Life Skills - Our Life Skills unit has begun in our regular science time slot. This unit will cover one and a half more weeks of instruction that guides students to consider the decisions they can make to be healthy, happy people as they get older.  The lessons cover topics such as Self-Image, Decision Making, Smoking Bio-feedback, Drug and Alcohol Choices and Media Influence. If you would like more information or materials regarding this curriculum, please send me an email and I'd be happy to send information home or meet with you to discuss your questions.

Have a great week!

Go Hoover Hawks!

~Mrs. Ahlers