Welcome to Ms. Tamsen's Webpage
Science Camp Photos
View Science Camp Photos at the link below. I'll be posting photos a couple of times during the week. So, be sure to check back now and then. Both Mrs. Nortz and Mrs. Edgemon both have albums as well. You might want to look for your child there, too.
LVM Photo AlbumGallery
5th Grade Policies and Procedures
THE BIG 5 - Things parents can do to foster success
1. Be sure to oversee and check homework each night prior to its return to
school. (All assigned work is listed in your child's Planner.)
2. Be sure to make sure your child is reading a minimum of 20 minutes 4 nights
a week.
3. Check the graded work each week in the Wednesday envelope. Talk to your
child about their work. Make sure any necessary corrections are done.
4. When your child is healthy, make sure he/she is in school and on time.
5. Check this website weekly for updates and extra enrichment ideas
Classroom News
READING WORKSHOP
We're just finishing up a comprehension and test taking strategies unit in preparation for our upcoming CST testing. After break we'll begin a literature study. Students will be working independently or in partnerships to read through, write about, and talk about works of literature.
Students should be reading at home a minimum of 80 minutes per week - approximately 20 minutes 4 nights a week, and should be reading the same book at home and school. We are encouraging students to try reading a nonfiction text during this genre study.
Upcoming Assignments: Next Book Report : TBD
The fifth grade teachers are currently evaluating and making some changes to this format. More details to come.
WRITING WORKSHOP and GRAMMAR STUDY
We've just begin our Informational Writing unit. Students are using the Grade 5 Social Studies and Science Standards as a spring-board for choosing research topics. The students will write a series of informational paragraphs that revolve around a common theme. Those paragraphs will then be tied together and incorporated with photos to create a newspaper styled document on Pages about their topic.
SPELLING
This year our word work will focus on root words, suffixes, prefixes, contractions, and frequently misspelled words. The students will be expected to work with their words nightly. Tests will be given on Fridays. Please refer to the word list and weekly spelling assignment linknfor more details.
Spelling List Link
Weekly Spelling Assignments
Please note that for spelling lists 21 and 22 (contractions) the students should be prepared to write both the contraction and the two words tha make up each contraction on the test and their practice test. Additionally, when writing them 5 times each, both the contraction itself and the two words that make up each contraction should be written 5 times each.
MATH
We're just finishing up a unit on decimals, and will be moving into a unit on algebra after break. The students are working hard on reviewing concepts and learning test taking strategies as well. STAR testing is right around the corner.
We are also doing an on-going review of topics already covered: addition and subtraction of large numbers, rounding, estimating, multiples, factors, prime factorization, multiplication (whole numbers), division (whole numbers), volume, surface area, multi-digit multiplication/division, adding/subracting/multipling/dividing with fractions and mixed numbers, geometry, adding/subracting/multiplying/dividing with decimals.
Keep up the facts practice at home!!! The students are really showing an improvement. Now it's time to focus in on consistency with multi-digit multiplication and division.
NEED MATH HELP THIS WEEK?
Students may be asked to think in ways that are not intuitive to parents. Please see the tips below. These pages summarize key words and ideas. Additionally, these pages give insight into strategies taught in class. Please see the current topic in one or both of the on-line text books.
Want to access the Math Textbook Online?
Username: your child's first initial and last name (ex. John Smith is jsmith) **
Password: bulldog
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com (click for link)
** If your last name is less than 5 letters long, your child's username is their first and last name together. (ex. John Smith is johnsmith).
IXL Topics - Below are listed topics that coordinate with current math topics. You may also review any topics that coordinate with anything listed in the "on-going review" section above.
Fraction Basics: L.1 - L.7
Adding and Subtracting Fractions: M.1-M.16
Percents: V.8, V.9, V.10, V.11, V.12,
Decimals: C.1, C.2, C.9, C.10, C.11, C.13
Multiplying Fractions: N.1-N.9
Dividing Fractions: O.2 and O.3
Geometry Concepts: B.5 - B.10, B.12, B.13, B.15 - B24
Decimals (multi-function): Sections E, G, and I
When woring IXL, start with the 5th grade level of the topic. If you master (based on your overall score) all topics within a category, you may attempt the same topic at the 6th grade level. Likewise, if the 5th grade level of a topic is too challenging, try the 4th grade version of it first and then go back to the 5th grade version.
www.ixl.com (click for link to IXL)
SCIENCE
My class is now working with Mrs. Edgemon for science 3 days a week. If your child is absent on a science day, he/she will need to copy notes from a friend and get any make up work from Mrs. Edgemon. With all of our hands-on science, it is impossible to re-create a lab experience for each student that is absent.
Science Camp Dates for this year are: May 8-11. Approximate cost: $270. An information packet went home in January. All forms and a check for tuition are due back to me no later than April 2nd. If you have any questions about this please contact me directly or visit the Camp Campbell website. Addtionally, see the calendar below for our up-coming orientation meeting with camp personnel.
SOCIAL STUDIES
We are moving along in our social studies text. In the next few units students will be learning about early colonization, slavery, tension between the colonies and Britain, and declaring independence.
History Alive Website
U.S. States and Capitals Unit -
Over the next several weeks we'll be studying the U.S. States and Capitals. Each week, the students will be given a set of states by region. They will be responsible to memorize the location of the stae and match the name of each capital city with the stae. We will do some work on this in class, but students should take time EACH NIGHT to study and quiz themselves.
On the final week, a cumulative test will be given that covers the location and capital of each state. Students will be expected to know each state's location and be able to match it to the name of its capital city. Students should be reviewing all states as they progress through the regions.
TIMELINE:
Week 1 (April 9th) - Northeast Region
Week 2 (April 23rd) - Southeast Region
TEST: April 27 (Friday) on the Northeast and Southeast Regions
Week 3: (April 30th) - Midwest Region
Week 4: (May 14th) - West Region
TEST: May 18 (Friday) - Midwest and West Regions
Week 5 (May 21) - Southwest Region
TEST: May 23 (Wednesday) - Southwest Region and CUMULATIVE Test
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES:
Northeast Region Map
Southeast Region Map
Midwest Region Map
West Region Map
Southwest Region Map
Blank Map of US
List of States and Capitals
Calendar Items
Date |
Event |
|---|---|
April 12 |
Field Trip to Seymour Marine Lab (Santa Cruz) |
April 23 - May 7 |
STAR Testing Window |
April 24 |
Science Fair - Family Viewing 6-8pm |
April 26 |
5th Grade Parent Night at Fisher - 7:00pm |
April 27 |
Spirit Day - Hippy Dress |
April 29 (no later) |
Send cards and letters to your child at camp |
April 29-May 3 |
STAR Testing (Grade 5) |
May 3 |
Open House - 7:00pm (Minimum Day for Students) |
May 8 - May 11 |
Science Camp - All 5th Grade Students and Teachers |
May 10 |
Fisher Open House (5th Grade Parents/Students Welcome) |
May 16 |
Bulldog Stampede |
May 18 |
Volunteer Tea |
May 22 |
5th Grade Musical Concert - 8:20am |
May 25 |
Spirit Day - Sports Dress |
May 28 |
No School - Memorial Day Holiday |
May 30 |
Frontier Day - Vasona Park |
June 1 |
Fun and Field Day |
June 4 |
5th Grade Softball Game - 8:30am |
June 5 |
5th Grade End of Year Party - Details TBD |
June 6 |
Variety Show |
June 7 |
5th Grade Promotion - 10:30am |
USEFUL LINKS:
Math Magician (facts practice)
Math Magic (Higher Level Facts Practice)
Free Rice (multiplication facts / grammar fun)
Math is Fun (mini math lessons, games, etc)
Funbrain (comic books, madlibs, math games, and more)
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (math games for all levels in many subject areas)
Cool Math 4 Kids (games, lessons, and more)
Online Typing Games/Tutorial
Scholastic Kids - The Stacks (puzzles, writing, e-cards, and more)
Science Kids (videos, projects, games, facts, photos)
Science Made Simple (simple projects, articles, experiments)
Story Snoops (great ideas about what books to read, book reviews)
Important 5th Grade Issues
Where are your kids after school?
Please be sure that your child has a supervised place to go after school. In the past, there have been numerous times that unsupervised students are "hanging out" on campus after school or at the nearby businesses like Togos or Jamba Juice. In some instances, these unsupervised students have engaged in activities that are either unkind to others or unsafe. These activities have carried over into the school environment and have impacted teaching and learning. Many parents may consider their child "supervised" if he/she is carrying a cell phone. However, a cell phone does not monitor your child's behavior when he/she is out in public. There is no supervision provided on campus after dismissal. It is expected that students are either on their way home or enrolled in Club House.
Cell Phone Policy
Please review the following guidelines with your child. Cell phones should be OFF once the students arrive at school and remain OFF until they leave for the day. Cell phones should be stored in the student's backpack not in a pocket. Consequences:
1. Warning with parent picking up phone from the office.
2. No Cell phone for the remainder of the school year.
CONTACT INFORMATION: