Holiday Break

Don't forget the last day of school for 2012 is this Friday, December 21st!  Students will return to school on January 2nd, 2013.  Have a wonderful holiday and a happy New Year!

Science Assessment

We will have a science assessment on Friday!  Students have weather vocabulary words and their science journals that they should study this week in preparation for their assessment.

Hurricanes Reading Logs

Hurricanes Reading Logs are due on Monday!  I will complete their "scorecard" and submit their reading information to the Carolian Hurricanes.  Please make sure your child brings their reading log on MONDAY.  Thanks!

We Need Your Help!

Our class will be celebrating the holidays on Thursday, December 20th.  The fifth grade teachers have an extended lunch from 12:30-2:30, then a celebration from 2:30-3:30.  If you would like to volunteer during this time, or donate items, please contact Carla Popson at carla.popson@gmail.com. 

Thank you!

Parent Power Night

Hope you can join us for Parent Power Night!  We will begin at 5:30 this evening with an introductory session. Afterwards, parents may move between math, literacy, and technology stations.  At each station parents will "make and take" different materials to help their child be successful.  We want parents to have the tools necessary to help their children with homework!  Translators will be available for Spanish speaking parents.  Childcare will be provided in the gym.    

Donations for the Girls on the Run Service Project

The Girls on the Run program is currently taking donations of DRY dog and cat food for the SPCA.  Through the program, the girls plan and organize a community service project.  Our girls chose to help the homeless animals in Wake County.  Thanks for your help!

These are my sweet animals from the animal shelter!

Carter

Finley



Pajama & Movie Day!

Tomorrow we are having pajama and movie day! 

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!!

Washington, D.C. Deposit

The next Washington, D.C. deposit is due on November 30th.  The deposit is $45.00.  There are two deposits remaining after this, one in January and one in February.

Information will go home soon about the Walk-a-Thon.  Any money raised during the Walk-a-Thon will go directly towards your child's field trip balance. 

Parent Power Night!

Please join Douglas Elementary on Wednesday, December 5th from 5:30-6:30 for a Parent Power Night!  There will be a 15-20 minute general discussion of how to help your child succeed.  Afterwards, there will be three "free flow" sessions that you can attend.  These include literacy, math, and technology.  These sessions are hands on "Make It-Take It", and will have useful handouts to take home.  Hope to see you there!

Weather Science Unit

Our next unit in science for the second quarter is Weather!  Here are some helpful links about weather:

Weather Wiz Kids

The Weather Channel for Kids

Weather Glogster

Study Jams

Scholastic Weather

Check out these links with your child!

Reading Log for the Next 6 Weeks

The fifth graders at Douglas are participating in a Carolina Hurricanes Reading Program to promote lifelong readers.  Students will read as many pages each day as they can, both at school and home, and then record these pages on a reading log.  There will be classroom winners, school winners, and overall winners in the program.  Prizes include tickets to a Hurricanes game and a Hurricanes jersey. 

Students will only receive ONE reading log.  If they lose their log, they will not receive another one.  Each week I will total the number of pages they read at school and home.  Students should continue to read books that are appropriate for their reading level.  The Hurricanes log will be their homework log for the next six weeks and is due every Friday.  I will not count the pages they read if they do not turn their log in on Fridays.

Fall Celebration

On Tuesday, October 30th, our class will be having a fall celebration.  Carla Popson is organizing this event for our class.  Please let me know if you would be willing to help and I will forward your email address or phone number on to her!  My email address is: epeel@wcpss.net

Thanks!

Washington, D.C. Deposit

All students who are going to Washington, D.C. must pay their deposits on or before the following dates:

October 30th--$45.00
November 30th--$45.00
January 18th--$45.00
February 22nd--$45.00

Please send your check or cash before these due dates.  We MUST have the deposits so that the school is able to pay the field trip company on time.  Chaperones must pay their deposits by these dates as well.  Thanks!

Checks can be made out to "Douglas Elementary School"

October 31st Teacher Workday

Just a reminder that October 31st is a teacher workday--no school for the kids!  What a great Halloween Day treat!  This is also the end of 1st quarter, report cards will go home a week later. 

Student Friendly Search Engines

Here are some kid friendly search engines for your students to use when doing research:

http://kidtopia.info/
http://www.kidrex.org/
http://safesearchkids.com/

Sanderson High School Students

Students from SHS came to help us learn more about technology!

Literacy Links

I have posted on my class webpage a section titled "Links".  You will find links to literacy games and comprehension passages.  This is a great way to encourage your child to use technology in a positive way!

My class website--- www.emmamountjoy.weebly.com

Homework for October

For the month of October, students are required to complete their reading log.  We are going to do Word Work in the classroom this month.  Please make sure you are signing your child's reading log each night.

We started "Read to Someone" today!

Peer conferences

Students work together to peer conference while completing their persuasive essays.

Science Project

Ecosystems science projects are due on Friday, September 28th.  Make sure you bring them next Friday, late projects will not be accepted!

Washington, DC Deposit

Just a reminder that the $40.00 Washington, D.C. deposit is due on Friday, September 28th.  Students and parent chaperones MUST turn in their deposit by this date in order to attend the field trip in April.

Biome research!

Biome research!

Biome research!

Biomes research!

Here's what we are learning!

Washington, DC Field Trip

Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to the Washington, DC field trip meeting last night.  Here is an overview of the information, packets of information will be coming home soon with your child:

Date: April 25-26 (Thursday-Friday)
Cost: $220.00 per child and per chaperone
Deposit: $40.00 due on September 28th (this MUST be turned in by the due date in order to go)
Included: hotel accommodations, all meals except lunch on the first day which is a bag lunch from home, all admission costs of activities, and all gratuities

Reflection for the year so far!

Deciduous forests

Researching energy flow to create food chains and food webs

Oceans

Energy flow in the ocean

Desert

Researching the desert

Rainforest

Rainforest food chains and webs

Grasslands

Researching the flow of energy in grasslands!

Tundra Food Chains and Webs

Showing the flow of energy in the tundra!

Ecosystems Project

I sent home information regarding an optional ecosystems project yesterday.  This project is a great opportunity for students to challenge themselves and learn more about our science unit!  The project is due on Friday, September 28th. 

Two Liter Bottles

We are in need of 2-Liter bottles for our Eco Column project in Science.  Please donate any cleaned bottles to Ms. Rowhedder!  Thanks!

September Homework Calendar

"Junk Art"

Masterpieces that represent each of the students were created on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students were able to use their creativity and imagination to turn junk into treasure!

Science Vocabulary

Students are working together to understand science vocabulary. We focus a lot on vocab!

Great Ecosystems Links

Click Here for Links to Ecosystems!

Ecosystems Vocabulary

Here are the vocabulary words for this quarter's science unit.  We will be studying Ecosystems.  Students should be familiar with these vocabulary words and their definitions.  Keep this to use as a study tool for the EOG's in May!

Jobs Chart!

What is your child's job this week??

I Need Your Junk!

Calling ALL junk!

My Wishlist for the Year!

If you would like to donate to my classroom this year, here is my wishlist.  Of course I would be ecstatic to receive anything you are willing to give. Thanks!

Class Schedule for 2012-2013

Book Nook

Book baskets for our literacy program, the "Daily 5/Daily Cafe". Each student keeps a non-fiction text, fiction book, and magazine in their basket as well as their reading journal, writing journal, pencil, and sticky notes. All they have to do is grab their basket, head to a comfy spot in the room, and dive right into a good book!

Catch the Writing Bug!

Students move their name along the "bug" to communicate about their writing. This communication allows me to work with my students at their own pace while monitoring their progress.

My Classroom Website

Hi!  If you would like basic information about my classroom please visit my website located here. 

Wake County Traditional School Calendar

Click here to view the calendar!