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Mr. Holston's Class

week of february 18

2/16/2020

Our vocabulary routine resumes this week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday 2/19; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday 2/20. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday 2/21. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

Students with numbers 11-20 have their tenth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, February 21st. Students will receive a new Vlog menu of topic choices to choose from this week. Students with numbers 1-10 have their tenth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, February 21st.

As part of our nonfiction reading unit, we have been reading the book Freedom Walkers as a class. This book by Russell Freedman tells of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and events surrounding the Civil Right Movement. We’ll be talking about some heavy topics throughout the reading of this book. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.

We are working through Chapter 14 in History Alive. Our focus is on the Constitution and our government.

As a reminder, the school snack policy is that students may only have a fruit or vegetable in it’s own skin for a morning snack. If you could please reinforce at home that students may only bring a fruit or vegetable for snack, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

Please check with your student to see the status of his/her school supplies. Many students no longer have Scotch tape, pencils, and scissors. If your student can no longer locate his or her math or reading notebook, please send in a replacement as soon as possible.

Please note that on Wednesday, February 19th we will follow a Monday schedule.

week of february 10

2/9/2020

Due to the three-day week next week, we will not be doing vocabulary or spelling activities. However, students will still be responsible for completing their reading response or vlog and Freckle sessions. Students with numbers 1-10 have their ninth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, February 14th. Students with numbers 11-20 have their ninth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, February 14th. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

We finished up our Revolutionary War novels this past week. Students will be taking a test on their assigned novel on Tuesday, February 11th. This will be an open book/open note test. Students have been encouraged to take and keep good notes throughout our meetings. These notes may be used when taking the test. We recommend that students take some time to organize these notes and come prepared on Tuesday with their notes and their novel ready for the test. Students also received a study guide to review some key terms and reading skills that students should be familiar with. Here is an answer key to the study guide.

We’re wrapping up our fiction writing unit. Students should be ready to print and turn in the final copies of their stories at school on Tuesday.

As part of our nonfiction reading unit, we are continuing to read the book Freedom Walkers as a class. This book by Russell Freedman tells of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and events surrounding the Civil Right Movement. We’ll be talking about some heavy topics throughout the reading of this book. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.

Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 13th and Friday, February 14th.

We have reached a point in the school year where students are starting to run out of some school supplies, especially pencils. We talked as a class about students refilling their pencil supply if they are out. If you could please check in with your student, that would be greatly appreciated.

As you look ahead to Valentine's Day, our class party will be Wednesday, February 12. Please remember, if you choose to send in anything with your student, no food can be distributed with Valentines. Please remember to include all 20 students in our class if your student chooses to bring Valentines to pass out. A class list was posted to Edmodo this week.

week of february 3

2/2/2020

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday 2/5; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday 2/6. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday 2/7. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here.

Students should be working on their final reading assignments for the Revolutionary War novels. We will wrap these up and have some finals discussions over the week. The following week (week of 2/10) students will take a test on their assigned novel. This will be an open book/open note test. Students have been encouraged to take and keep good notes throughout our meetings. These notes may be used when taking the test. We recommend that students take some time to organize these notes and come prepared on Monday, February 10th with their notes and their novel ready for the test. We will also have a study guide to review some key terms and reading skills that students should be familiar with.

As part of our nonfiction reading unit, we will be reading the book Freedom Walkers as a class. This book by Russell Freedman tells of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and events surrounding the Civil Right Movement. We’ll be talking about some heavy topics throughout the reading of this book. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.

Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 13th and Friday, February 14th. These scheduled times came home 2 weeks ago. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend your assigned conference time.

We had our Robert Crown presentation, Puberty 1 on Friday. Please be sure to check in with your child about what they learned and if they have any questions. We will wrap up with an online post-test for the Robert Crown Center next week.

Sometime next week we will resume lessons in History Alive. Our next focus will be on the Constitution and our government. We will be able to tie many of these lessons to what we are also learning about in Freedom Walkers!

As a reminder, the school snack policy is that students may only have a fruit or vegetable in its own skin for a morning snack.

Wednesday, February 5th is Global Play Day. 5th graders will be participating from about 2-2:45 on that day. Here is a letter from Mrs. Wasik with more information about this fun, annual event!

week of January 27

1/26/2020

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday 1/29; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday 1/30. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday 1/31. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

We’re continuing to work on our Revolutionary War novels. Students have had some time in class to get started on their assignments; anything not finished in class should be completed at home by the due date. Due dates and assignments can be found inside students’ folders or here. Due dates will vary by groups, so be sure to remind your student to check Edmodo to ensure he/she is staying on top of the work. In addition to their assigned chapters, students will fill out this sheet each week.

As part of our nonfiction reading unit, we will be reading the book Freedom Walkers as a class. This book by Russell Freedman tells of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and events surrounding the Civil Right Movement. We’ll be talking about some heavy topics throughout the reading of this book. If you have any questions or concerns about the content, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.

Our next Robert Crown presentation, Puberty 1, will be Friday, January 31. Pre-teaching activities will begin early next week. If you opted out of this program for your student, they will take part in alternate activities during those times.

We’re wrapping up our “Investigating Matter” science unit. The unit test is scheduled for Thursday, January 30. We will be reviewing in class next week. Resources to review will be posted to Edmodo or can be found here

On Wednesday, we had our FIRST EVER Dryden Dolphin Pod Meetings! Your child should have brought home a letter Wednesday afternoon outlining pods and informing you of his/her pod leader. Please check with your child if you did not receive this letter.

Next week is Book Fair week! Our class will visit the Book Fair on TUESDAY. Please send money with your child or use this year’s new eWallet to pre-load money for your child to spend at the Fair. Online shopping is also available; all orders shipped directly home. Use this link to load eWallet and/or shop online:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/drydenelementaryschool7
The PTA could still use more volunteers at the Book Fair. Thank you in advance for any time you can spare.
https://signup.com/go/ZhGCjmE
Mark your calendar for Thursday Jan 30th and bring the whole family in their jammies for Family Reading Night. Enjoy books read aloud in classrooms by Dryden staff. Share a snack and a group read aloud in the gym. Starts at 6:30, Book Fair shopping will be open until 8:30 pm.

December 20th, 2019

12/20/2019

The week we come back from break we will continue our vocabulary routines, although our vocabulary will be a review of the first 12 prefixes and roots. Students will still need to write sentences and answer vocabulary questions on Edmodo, but it will be slightly different as these assignments will cover a sampling from all 12 weeks. Resources to review the prefixes and roots can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

Students with numbers 11-20 have their seventh Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, January 10th. Students with numbers 1-10 have their seventh reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, January 10th.

***There will be no reading logs or vlogs due over the Winter Break.

We’re continuing to work on our Revolutionary War novels. Students have had some time in class to get started on their assignments; anything not finished in class should be completed at home by the due date. Due dates and assignments can be found inside students’ folders or here. Due dates will vary by groups, so be sure to remind your student to check Edmodo to ensure he/she is staying on top of the work. In addition to their assigned chapters, students will fill out this sheet each week. There is no extra assignment due over break, but students should be ready to meet on their regularly scheduled day (even Monday Jan 6th for Toliver) when we return.

If you have not already filled out the preference form for your child’s spring conference, here is the link to the form. The deadline to submit a preference is today (December 20).

CogAT reports were sent home with students on Thursday. If you did not receive your report or if you have questions, please let me know.

Have a wonderful Holiday break and a Happy New Year!

week of december 16

12/14/2019

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday 12/18; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday 12/19. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday 12/20. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

Students with numbers 1-10 have their sixth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, December 20th. Students with numbers 11-20 have their sixth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, December 20th.

***There will be no reading logs or vlogs due over the Winter Break.***

10 Days of Kindness continues next week. The activities for each day can be found here or on a sheet that was sent home last week. A number of students have not yet received anything from their secret buddy. I've surveyed the class twice, and the overwhelming majority of students want to continue 10 Days of Kindness. If you're able to provide a quick reminder at home, as well, perhaps that would ensure all students feel some extra kindness this coming week. Please DO NOT buy anything for the last day. If your student doesn’t have any books he/she is done with at home, a selection can be chosen from our classroom library. Just let me know if your student would like to “shop” in the classroom.

We’re continuing to work on our Revolutionary War novels. Students have had some time in class to get started on their assignments; anything not finished in class should be completed at home by the due date. Due dates and assignments can be found inside students’ folders or here. Due dates will vary by groups, so be sure to remind your student to check Edmodo to ensure he/she is staying on top of the work. In addition to their assigned chapters, students will fill out this sheet each week.

Please return the permission slip so that your child may watch A Christmas Story on Friday.

Please remember to sign and return your student’s Friday folder each week. Papers in the pockets of the Friday folder can be left at home.

***Friday, December 20, will be A Christmas Story, PJ Day and Winter Wonderland!***

December 08th, 2019

12/8/2019

Our vocabulary routine continues this week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday 12/11; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday 12/12. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday 12/13. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday.

Students with numbers 11-20 have their sixth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, December 13th. Students with numbers 1-10 have their sixth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, December 13th.

The fifth grade is excited to once again celebrate the holiday season with 10 Days of Kindness. The activities for each day can be found here. Please DO NOT buy anything for the last day. If your student doesn’t have any books he/she is done with at home, a selection can be chosen from our classroom library. Just let me know if your student would like to “shop” in the classroom.

Fifth grade classes had Robert Crown presentations Thursday. Students will be completing a post-activity assignment in class this week. Here is a letter from Robert Crown about the information covered during the pre-learning and in-class sessions. We encourage you to talk with your child at home about what they learned.

We started Revolutionary War novel groups this past week. Students have had some time in class to get started on their assignments; anything not finished in class should be completed at home by the due date. Due dates and assignments can be found inside here. Due dates will vary by groups, so be sure to remind your student to check Edmodo to ensure he/she is staying on top of the work. In addition to their assigned chapters, students will fill out this sheet each week.

Winter MAP testing will continue next week. 5th grade will be taking the math MAP test Thursday, December 12, at 9:10 am. If you’re able to schedule absences around these times, that would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great Dolphin week!

Week of november 18

11/17/2019

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday.

Students with numbers 11-20 have their fifth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, November 22. Students with numbers 1-10 have their fifth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, November 22.

Next week, we’ll continue working on a final personal narrative piece to take to publication. We are now revising, peer editing, and tentatively looking to be finished with the published version by Friday, November 22nd. Check in with your student to how he/she is progressing on narrative writing.

Please remember to sign and return your student’s Friday folder each week. Papers in the pockets of the Friday folder can be left at home.

Information about “The Big Ask” went home in last week’s Friday folder. Instead of Just Jump or fundraising sales, the PTA is having a no-stress fundraiser. Donations can be sent in from November 7-22 or can be made online at https://the-dryden-big-ask.cheddarup.com .

Please return your Robert Crown permission slip no later than November 22, being sure to indicate which programs you’d like your child to attend. Robert Crown staff comes to us, so there are no bus fees. The school district covers the program costs.

We are wrapping up Chapter 12 in Social Studies and plan to test on Friday, November 22nd. The students will be filling out a study guide. Resources to review for the test will be posted to Edmodo and can be found here.

We are also finishing up our Fiction unit this week. We will be testing on Thursday. Students will be reviewing in class.

Progress Reports were emailed home, Friday, November 16th. These were pushed through in waves, so they may have come throughout the day. If you have not received your child’s progress report by the end of the day on Monday, November 18, please let me know.
Have a great Dolphin week!

November 10th, 2019

11/10/2019

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday. This should be taped in students’ assignment notebooks or can be found here.

Students with numbers 1-10 have their fourth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, November 15. Students with numbers 12-20 have their fourth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, November 15.
Next week, we’ll begin working on a final personal narrative piece to take to publication.
Please remember to sign and return your student’s Friday folder each week. Papers in the pockets of the Friday folder can be left at home.

Information about “The Big Ask” went home in today’s Friday folder. Instead of Just Jump or fundraising sales, the PTA is having a no-stress fundraiser. Donations can be sent in from November 7-22 or can be made online at https://the-dryden-big-ask.cheddarup.com .

Please return your Robert Crown permission slip no later than November 22, being sure to indicate which programs you’d like your child to attend. Robert Crown staff comes to us, so there are no bus fees. The school district covers the program costs. The district will be offering an informational night on November 12 at 7:00pm at the Dunton Administrative Building for parents interested in learning more about the Robert Crown programming.

Students completed a reflection on chapter 11 of social studies this week in place of a traditional assessment. We’ll begin chapter 12 next week.

Monday we will be attending an assembly to honor veterans. Everyone is encouraged to wear red, white, and blue.

Progress Reports will be emailed home next Friday, November 16th. These get pushed through in waves, so they may come throughout the day. If you have not received your child’s progress report by the end of the day on Monday, November 18, please let me know.

Have a great Dolphin week!

November 03rd, 2019

11/3/2019

Thanks so much to all of the parents who made our Halloween celebration so wonderful! It was so nice to see so many of you at the party. Thanks for the quick turnaround with the indoor parade infringing on your set up time. Thanks to everyone who sent in donations, as well! It was a great day. Here are some pictures from the party and pictures from the photo booth!

Our vocabulary routine continues next week. Sentences will be due on Wednesday; the 10 question vocabulary assignment will be due on Thursday. The vocabulary quiz will be on Friday. Resources to review next week’s prefix can be found on Edmodo or by clicking here. Students will receive a new literacy checklist to keep track of assignments on Monday.

Students with numbers 11-20 have their fourth Vlog on SeeSaw due Friday, November 8. Students with numbers 1-10 have their fourth reading response on Google Classroom due on Friday, November 8.

Please remember to sign and return your student’s Friday folder each week. Papers in the pockets of the Friday folder can be left at home.

Please return your Robert Crown permission slip no later than November 22, being sure to indicate which programs you’d like your child to attend. Robert Crown staff comes to us, so there are no bus fees. The school district covers the program costs. The district will be offering an informational night on November 12 at 7:00pm at the Dunton Administrative Building for parents interested in learning more about the Robert Crown programming.

I'm still having back issues that require off and on absences. We now have a consistent Guest Teacher, Mary O'Hara. Prior to becoming our LMC TA, Mary has been a guest teacher throughout our school district. She is also a former technology & gifted teacher and classroom teacher from Buffalo Grove.

Have a great Dolphin week!