Ms. Westdyke's Blog

Westdyke Monday Letter 5/5/2008

Tue, 06 May 2008 03:32:32 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: This week, students will complete their poetry unit, writing pieces #9 and #10. Details for these assignments will be posted to my calendar this week. I will provide a rubric for the upcoming trimester novel project on Tuesday. Students should complete the reading of their book by May 14^th. The project is due on the 19^th. Students will complete two of the three project pieces at home. The third will be completed in class on the 19th. We will work on Spelling Packet #25, and have a test on Friday of this week. Please note that many recent assignments have been placed into the student’s portfolios, rather than Monday folders. These can be viewed on the 5/6 portfolio night, which will be May 22^nd from 4-6pm.

MATH: We will continue to work with problem solving skills using the Mensa puzzles in class. Check these out with your students! They are challenging, yet fun. Students are working hard on their trimester project, in which they will construct a 3-D model of an apartment. Check my calendar for specific details about how the work should be completed. Some pieces need to be done only in class, while other pieces can be completed at home. This project is due on May 23^rd. We will also continue to work on Module 6 lessons.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Wednesday this week. In terms of content, we will continue to learn about the expansion of the United States through Lewis & Clark. Students will have a journal entry due in their Nature Journals this week as a homework assignment. Please make sure that each student is up to date with their journal entries, particularly if he/she has been absent recently. In total, students will complete 15 journal entries. As a reminder, my class will be visited by guest speaker Susie Mottashed this week. She will spend an hour sharing her book and talking to the kids about nature journaling. They will do a second journal entry outside with her.

Math in the Mall Field Trip Friday, May 2nd

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:14:49 GMT

This is one of our most fun field trips of the year. Students will be organized according to math class. Please contact me if you can chaperone. I will be confirming via telephone on Tuesday. Students will be able to purchase their lunch as well as a dessert while at the mall. No other shopping is allowed. Students will need to stay with their chaperones as they complete a packet of challenging activities in the mall.

Field Trip Thursday!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:44:01 GMT

We will be visiting the Pioneer and Quilt Museums in Golden on Thursday. Each child needs a sack lunch. Please include an extra snack in the lunch that can be eaten mid-morning. We will be doing a little walking between museums, so please wear tennis shoes.

Westdyke Monday Letter 4/21/08

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:55:02 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: Last week, students completed poetry pieces # 3 and #4. They will be using their developed pictures from earlier in the year to write pieces #5 and #6 this week. Please make sure that your student has brought their developed pictures to school and turned them in to me. We will wrap up our skits and discussion about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Students will also select a book for their final book project this week.

MATH: Students are working hard on their trimester project, in which they will construct a 3-D model of an apartment. Check my calendar for specific details about how the work should be completed. Some pieces need to be done only in class, while other pieces can be completed at home. All students need a cardboard platform measuring 18 x 18 inches. This assignment was worth 10 points. There are still several students who are missing this important item. Please check PowerSchool to see if your child has turned this in yet.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Wednesday this week. Ask your students about this fun project! In terms of content, we will continue to learn about the expansion of the United States through Lewis & Clark. We will also conduct research on the brain. Students will have a journal entry due in their Nature Journals this week. Please make sure that they have returned in to me with their completed “backyard observation” from last week. In total, students will complete 15 journal entries. As a reminder, my class will be going to the Pioneer and Quilt Museums on Thursday of this week.

Westdyke Monday Letter 4/14/2008

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:04:12 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: Last week, students completed their first two poetry assignments. There were several outstanding poems! We will continue to write poetry this week, with pieces 3 and 4 due during the week. Please check my calendar for specific instructions for these pieces. During class this week, we will continue our exploration of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Students will work on group skits for chapters 5-8 in class this week. We will continue to use The Great Art Scandal to learn about important works of art and ways in which art can influence writing.

MATH: The integer packet in due today, Monday, as we did not meet for Math class on Friday. We will continue to work on Module 6 concepts during class this week. We will also begin our trimester project, in which students will construct a 3-D model of an apartment. Check my calendar for specific details about how the work should be completed. Some pieces need to be done only in class, while other pieces can be completed at home. All students will need a cardboard platform measuring 18 x 18 inches by Wednesday of this week.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Tuesday this week. Ask your students about this fun project! In terms of content, we will continue to learn about the expansion of the United States through Lewis & Clark. We will also conduct research on the brain.

Westdyke Newsletter 4/7/2008

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:46:33 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: We had a great week last week getting back into the swing of regular academics. During class this week, we will continue our exploration of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.Students will work on group skits for chapters 5-8 in class this week. We will continue to use The Great Art Scandal to learn about important works of art, and take a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We will also work on our poetry unit, with the first two pieces due this week. Check my calendar for reading and other assignments!

MATH: Students recently took an Algebra pre-test to determine their level of understanding of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers and equations involving variables. We have started to work on each of these topics. We also continue to work on Module 6 concepts. Check my calendar for specific homework assignments two nights this week.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Tuesday this week. In terms of content, we will move into the expansion of the United States and research on the brain. As a reminder, the 6th graders will participate in a health presentation on Thursday afternoon. Each child must have a signed permission slip in order to attend this session. Note that this is a short week. Students do not have school on Friday. Teachers will be in the building for a teacher work day.

Pioneer Museum/Take Your Child To Work Details

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:45:02 GMT

April 24th is a big day! My class will be attending a full-day field trip to the Pioneer Museum and the Quilt Museum in Golden. I will need three parent chaperones for this event. This is also Take Your Child To Work Day. I know this is a difficult choice for some of the students. The permission slip for TYCTWD is available on the 5/6 team page. Field trip permission slips will go home in next week's Monday folder.

Westdyke Monday Letter 3/31/2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:32:51 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: Welcome back from Spring Break! During class this week, we will continue our exploration of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.Frankweiler. Students will complete their group "Artifact Museum" pieces for chapters 1-4 early in the week. We will also use The Great Art Scandal to learn about important works of art, and take a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Check my calendar for reading assignments!

MATH: Welcome back from Spring Break! We have had a great time learningabout the stock market while playing the Stock Market Game, an onlineactivity provided by the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. We will continue to play the game for two more weeks. Students will have a quiz over important terms and aspects of the stock market that we have studied on Friday. Also, we will continue to work on Module 6 concepts.

THEME: Welcome back from Spring Break! Thank you to all of you who purchased books from the Book Fair to add to our classroom library. Duringclass on Wednesday, we will work on our quilt pieces. In terms of content,we will wrap our our discussion of both the Constitution and the respiratory system this week. Next, we will move into the expansion of the United States and research on the brain. As a reminder, the 5th graders will participate in the DMNS "New Me" presentation on Fridayafternoon. Our 6th graders will learn about health and safety during this time.

CSAP Make-Ups

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:51:53 GMT

Did you miss a CSAP due to absence or illness? Please keep in mind that CSAPs will be made up the week following Spring Break. Students may be pulled from their classes to make up these tests. Please make sure that adequate sleep and nutrition have been given priority!

Book Fair This Week!

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:34:12 GMT

Please remember to stop by the Book Fair this week. Thank you to Mrs. McPherson and volunteers who helped set up the displays! Our class will visit the fair later this week. Please consider sending a few dollars for your student to purchase that special book.