December 17-21

Wow! It’s almost Christmas!

·       Pajama Day is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19^th! Your child may wear 5^th grade appropriate pjs that day to school. We will be watching The Polar Express and I am providing a special snack on this day.

·       We will be having our class Christmas party on Thursday, December 20^th at 1:30. Audrey’s mom has so kindly offered to bring a cookie cake, and I have asked some other moms to send the remaining items. ALL parents are invited to attend.

·       School will be dismissed on Friday, December 21^st at 11:30. If your child is to go home any different way than usual, I need a note from you.

·       School resumes on Thursday, January 3^rd!

Hope your holiday season is memorable!

December 10-14

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• Make sure your child has PENCILS!!!! We are out AGAIN! Thanks to all of you who sent in extras the last time! They also need loose leaf paper!
• Christmas Open House is this Tuesday, December 11th. A note went home on Friday!
• OIS choir performance is Thursday, December 13th at 6:00 at Calvary Baptist Church.
• Christmas parties will be Thursday, December 20th! More information to come!
• School will dismiss at 11:30 on Friday, December 21st. If your child will be going home a different way than usual, I will need it in writing in a note from you.
• This week's story is Stormalong. 
• This week's genre is tall tale.
• This week's focus skill is Cause and Effect. 
• This week's vocabulary words are reputation, yearning, escapades, bellowing, betrayed, outcast, withered, and unfathomable.
• This week's spelling words are development, dispensable, enjoyable, digestible, divisible, irresistible, admissible, appointment, argument, payment, amazement, priceless, judgment, resentment, embarrassment, boundless, ageless, aimless, motionless, and worthless.
• This week's grammar skill is possessive nouns.
• We will be working on Chapter 6 in social studies this week!
• If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests! 
• Please check agenda books daily!
• Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 
• Saints for Christ is in the library for students to attend every Wednesday morning at 7:15!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

December 3-7

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• Make sure your child has PENCILS!!!! We are out AGAIN! Thanks to all of you who sent in extras the last time! They also need loose leaf paper!
• D.A.R.E graduation went GREAT! Thanks to all of the parents and grandparents who can to the ceremony.
• Santa Shop is this week! Everything is $2.00!
• Progress Reports go home this Tuesday! Please review your child's grades, sign, and return by Friday.
• Santa pictures are this Thursday!
• Christmas Open House is next Tuesday, December 11th. A note will be coming home this week!
• Christmas parties will be Thursday, December 20th! More information to come!
• This week's story is Ultimate Field Trip 3: Wading into Marine Biology. 
• This week's genre is informational narrative.
• This week's focus skill is Compare and Contrast. 
• This week's vocabulary words are residents, specimens, debris, recoil, internal, adjust, and pesky.
• This week's spelling words are reenter, refried, reconsider, repaint, reform, replay, retake, remake, reclaim, replant, unable, uninformed, undesirable, untold, unwise, nonconductor, nonproductive, nonexistent, nonflammable, and nondairy.
• This week's grammar skill is singular and plural nouns.
• We will be taking the Chapter 5 social studies test this week.Remember it is OPEN book and page numbers given! Everyone should make a GREAT grade!
• If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests! 
• Please check agenda books daily!
• Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 
• Saints for Christ is in the library for students to attend every Wednesday morning at 7:15!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

November 26-30

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• Make sure your child has PENCILS!!!! We are out AGAIN! Thanks to all of you who sent in extras the last time! They also need loose leaf paper!
• D.A.R.E. graduation is this Thursday, November 29th at 9:00.
• This week's story is Sailing Home: A Story of a Childhood at Sea.
• This week's genre is historical fiction.
• This week's focus skill is Compare and Contrast. 
• This week's vocabulary words are inflammable, dignified, rowdy, seldom, conducted, shatter, and broached.
• This week's spelling words are enemy, balance, basis, closet, decent, define, eleven, fanatic, honest, humor, minute, model, protest, ocean, pretend, private, radar, second, slogan, and editor.
• This week's grammar skill is common and proper nouns.
• We will be working on Chapter 5 in Social Studies this week.
• If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests! 
• Please check agenda books daily!
• Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 
• Saints for Christ is in the library for students to attend every Wednesday morning at 7:15!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

November 12-16

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• Make sure your child has PENCILS and loose leaf paper!
• This week is Reteach Week.
• There is no reading story, no DOL, or no spelling words! And no homework!
• I am reteaching the focus skills of Theme (lesson 6 and 7) and Text Structure: Sequence (lesson 8 and 9). 
• We are also working on our D.A.R.E. essays. D.A.R.E. graduation is Friday, November 29th at 9:00. All parents are invited to attend.
• Last week's tests come home on Wednesday this week.
• If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day. 
• Congrats to the SCCHS Fighting Saints for making it to the 2nd round of playoffs. We play at home this Friday night the 16th.
• Remember NO school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. Have a fun and enjoyable Thanksgiving!
• OIS Fall Festival is Thursday, November 15th. If you have not sent in the $10.00 for the armband and the permission slip, please do so.
• Saints for Christ is in the library for students to attend every Wednesday morning at 7:15!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

November 5-9

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• Make sure your child has PENCILS!!!! We are out AGAIN! Thanks to all of you who sent in extras the last time! They also need loose leaf paper!
• If you have not already signed and returned the permission slip to attend the Veteran's Day program at the high school on Friday---I need it ASAP!
• OIS is having a can food drive from now until Friday, November 16th! Please help donate!
• This week is Theme Review.
• This week's story is The Secret Ingredient.
• This week's genre is readers' theater.
• This week's focus skill is review of Theme (lesson 6 and 7) and Text Structure: Sequence (lesson 8 and 9). 
• This week's vocabulary words are eminent, charity, modest, disgruntled, inadequate, aghast, dismayed, amends, absentminded, and concoction.
• This week's spelling words are review of bundle, vehicle, struggle, hurtle, triple, hurricane, golden, journey, hospital, excellent, message, arrange, whisper, terrific, expression, conclude, merchandise, technique, accomplish, and goggles.
• This week's grammar skill is review of compound subjects and predicates, simple and compound sentences, prepositions and propositional phrases, and dependent/independent clauses.
• The classes took chapter 4 social studies tests last week. Remember when you see these grades, the tests are OPEN book and page numbers GIVEN to find the answers! Many students are still doing poorly with these extra options to be successful! Please talk with your child about trying harder!
• If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests!
• Last week's tests come home on Tuesday.
• If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day.  .
• Please check agenda books daily!
• Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 
• Remember NO school on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veteran's Day.
• Thanks to all of you who came out for the OIS candy crash last Tuesday night! It was alot of fun and the kids looked great! A BIG thank you to all of you who sent in candy! 
• OIS Fall Festival is Thursday, November 15th. A note will be coming home soon with all of the details. Our booth is face paint, so if any one is interested in volunteering some time to paint faces, just let me know!
• Saints for Christ is in the library for students to attend every Wednesday morning at 7:15!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

October 29-November 2

• OIS has a new website. Check it out! odenvilleintermediateschool.weebly.com
• This week's story is Leonardo's Horse.
• This week's genre is narrative nonfiction.
• This week's focus skill is Text Structure: Sequence.
• This week's vocabulary words are gesture, specialized, proportion, envisioned, resisted, and scholars.
• This week's spelling words congress, English, fortress, expression, conclude, complain, complex, distrust, contribute, explode, umbrella, merchandise, remembrance, concrete, goggles, portray, technique, accomplish, function, and membrane.
• This week's grammar skill is dependent and independent clauses.
• Chapter 4 social studies test is going to be the first part of this week, then we will begin chapter 5. Remember tests are open book with page numbers given. Should be lots of 100s!
• Report cards went home on Thursday, October 25th. Please review your child's grades. Sign and return as soon as possible if you haven't already. If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests!
• Last week's tests come home on Tuesday.
• If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day.  .
• Please check agenda books daily!
• Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 
• School pictures money is due no later than November 1st. 
• OIS is having the 2nd Annual Candy Crash on Tuesday, October 30th from 6-7:30. PLEASE send in a bag of candy as soon as possible!
• Have a safe and fun Halloween night!
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

October 22-26

• This week's story is When Washington Crossed the Delaware.
• This week's genre is narrative nonfiction.
• This week's focus skill is Text Structure: Sequence.
• This week's vocabulary words are persuading, crucial, maneuvered, encountered, crisis, appealed, perseverance, and destiny.
• This week's spelling words entire, hospital, public, combine, golden, chimney, pretzel, survive, absorb, turmoil, wisdom, journey, condition, whisper, identify, establish, furnace, capture, marvelous, and nursery.
• This week's grammar skill is prepositions and prepositional phrases.
• We are working on chapter 4 in social studies this week.
• Report cards go home on Thursday, October 25th. Please review your child's grades. Sign and return as soon as possible. If you would like to conference (phone or in person), please let me know!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests!

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday.

If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day.  .

Please check agenda books daily!

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 

School pictures money is due no later than November 1st. 

OIS is having the 2nd Annual Candy Crash on Tuesday, October 30th. PLEASE send in a bag of candy as soon as possible!

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. I will be continue to sign conduct folders for NO homework, failure to return signed papers, etc!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

October 15-19

EVERYBODY that was dressed up last week for homecoming looked SUPER DUPER! Thanks for showing school spirit!

This week's story is When the Circus Came to Town.

This week's genre is historical fiction.

This week's focus skill is theme.

This week's vocabulary words are fret, proclaimed, assured, outlandish, nudged, and ruckus.

This week's spelling words are suppose, hurricane, ballad, bellow, success, appeal, announcer, tissue, excellent, terrific, collect, slippery, common, arrange, suffer, follow, kennel, squirrel, message, and summary.

This week's grammar skill is simple and compound sentences.

We are working on chapter 4 in social studies this week.

There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare. Many students are even writing their own notes as we go over the tests!

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday.

If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day.  .

Please check agenda books daily!

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 

School pictures are in. Money is due no later than November 1st. 

OIS is having the 2nd Annual Candy Crash on Tuesday, October 30th. PLEASE send in a bag of candy as soon as possible!

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Some of the students are still getting organized!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

October 8-12

Thanks to EVERYONE who came out for open house last Thursday night! It was a GREAT turnout!

This week's story is The Night of San Juan.

This week's genre is realistic fiction.

This week's focus skill is theme.

This week's vocabulary words are wistful, grateful, irresistible, revelers, grim, raspy, and swarmed.

This week's spelling words are drizzle, gobble, meddle, shuffle, bundle, pickle, hobble, topple, hurtle, vehicle, struggle, wiggle, spindle, speckle, griddle, ripple, article, triple, jingle, and bugle.

This week's grammar skill is compound subjects and predicates.

We are taking chapter 3 social studies test this week. Remember all social studies tests are OPEN book!

There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare.

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday.

If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day.  .

Please check agenda books daily!

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 

This week is Homecoming! Please encourage your child to dress up this week!

Monday is Rock Star Day! Tuesday is Tacky Day! Wednesday is Animal Prints! Thursday is Camo Day! Friday is Spirit Day!

We will dismiss early on Friday at 11:45! If you child goes home a different way on Friday, I need it written in a note!

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Some of the students are still getting organized!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

October 1-5

Lesson 5 in reading is Review/Reteach Week!

This week's story is It Takes Talent.  

This week's focus skill is reviewing: conflict/plot/resolution and character's motives.

This week's vocabulary words are genial, prognostication, stricken, dramatically, restrain, protest, feverishly, overcome, flop, and spectacular.

This week's spelling words are review words: stretch, cactus, measure, reason, coach, kneeling, twice, rayon, appoint, scoop, drawn, feud, jewel, fraud, royalty, hurried, scared, changing, buying, and obeyed. 

This week's grammar skill is reviewing: 4 types of sentences, subject/predicate, simple/complete subjects and simple/complete predicates.

We are working in chapter 3 in social studies this week. Some students still did not do well on the open book social studies test last week. I also provided the students with the page numbers of where to look in the book for each question. There really is no excuse for why everyone is not making a 100!  

There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare.

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday, including chapter 2 social studies tests.

If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day. 

Please check agenda books daily!

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Everyone is getting into the groove of 5th grade, but some are still struggling getting organized!

I sign more conduct folders for not turning in homework or not having the D/F test papers signed!

Roy's Book Fair is going on this week in the OIS lobby!

October 3rd is Picture Day! SMILE!

Open House is Thursday, October 4th from 6-7:30!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

September 24-28

• This week is Theme Week in reading! We will be taking parts of the theme 1 test all week. We will also be doing some review work throughout the week.
• Because of this, there will be no new reading story, no new genre, no new vocabulary words, no new spelling words, and no new grammar skill. So no homework either!! Please encourage your child to do their best on the theme test!
• We will still be doing DOL morning work, so there will be a DOL test on Friday. Please remember that DOL study guides come home on Thursday nights and ALL students know what they will see on the test on Friday.
• We will be taking Chapter 2 OPEN BOOK social studies test on Tuesday. PLEASE encourage your child to use their books! The questions come straight from the textbook! Should have lots of 100s!
• Progress reports go home on Tuesday, September 25th. Please look over the grades and sign and return as soon as possible.
• Graded test papers go home every Tuesday! If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return to me the next day!
• ARMT scores from last year will also be with the progress report. You may keep this sheet.
• Hat day is Friday, September 28th. Your child may pay $1.00 to wear their favorite hat all day! All money goes to childhood cancer research!
• Parenting Day/Open House is Thursday, October 4th. More information to come this week!
• Please check your email!
• If you need me in any way, please let me know! Thanks for sharing your child with me daily! We are having a GREAT year so far!!!

September 17-21

I am trying to create a class distribution list for emails. If you did not receive my test email, please let me know!

This week's story is The Daring Nellie Bly: America's Star Reporter.

This week's genre is biography.

This week's focus skill is character's motives.

This week's vocabulary words are eccentric, crusaded, impassable, infuriated, relented, disheartened, and faze.

This week's spelling words are talked, hurried, smiling, dropped, clapping, stepped, worried, worrying, changing, stayed, buying, dried, picnicking, scared, driving, obeyed, playing, tried, carried, and hurrying.

This week's grammar skill is simple/complete subjects and simple/complete predicates.

We are still working in chapter 2 in social studies this week. Test will probably be toward the end of the week. Remember all social studies are OPEN book!

There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare.

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday, including chapter 1 social studies tests.

If your child makes a D (60-69) or an F (59 and below), please sign the test and return it the next day. 

Thanks to all the support of the book fair last week and thanks for coming to the weekly morning events.

Please check agenda books daily!

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework is listed in the agenda books! 

Letters about flu shots are coming home on Monday!

Ident-a-kid is Thursday, September 20! More info. to come!

A note went home last week about OIS Choir!

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Some of the students are still adjusting to a new school year and getting organized!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

September 10-14

This week's story is Chang and the Bamboo Flute.

This week's genre is historical fiction.

This week's focus skill is character's motives.

This week's vocabulary words are pried, desperately, indignantly, sneered, urgently, and grudgingly.

This week's spelling words are counter, fraud, oyster, appoint, drawn, awning, laundry, feud, shawl, jewel, royalty, powder, annoying, cashew, scoop, bamboo, browse, ointment, rooster, and rescue. 

This week's grammar skill is subjects and predicates.

We will be beginning chapter 2 in social studies this week.

There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.

Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare.

Last week's tests come home on Tuesday. 

Book fair is this week! Tuesday is Muffins for Mom, Wednesday is Grandparents's Breakfast, and Thursday is Doughnuts for Dad!

Dress days are this week also! Tuesday is red, white, and blue day. Wednesday is sports day. Thursday is shine like a star day (sparkly clothes for girls and yellow/gold for boys). Friday is saints wear day.

Agenda books are here! Please check them daily.

Your child has spelling homework this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  

Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Some of the students are still adjusting to a new school year and getting organized!

Let me know if you need me in any way!

September 3-7

• Happy Labor Day! No school Monday, September 3.
• This week's story is Line Drive.
• This week's genre is autobiography.
• This week's focus skill is conflict and resolution.
• This week's vocabulary words are maven, mortified, reigned, conceited, designated, smirk, and exhilarated.
• This week's spelling words are needle, speech, reason, crease, thief, fade, obtain, faint, steep, rayon, eager, shadow, saying, mild, coach, smoke, twice, human, teenage, and niece.
• This week's grammar skill is imperative and exclamatory sentences.
• We will be completing chapter 1 in social studies this week and taking our first open book test.
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Please make sure your child studies the DOL study guide that comes home on Thursday nights. Everything on the DOL test comes from the weekly DOL lessons or past lessons. I also read the tests to the students on Thursday to help them prepare.
• This week's tests will go home on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, because of Monday being a holiday. On a normal week, tests will come home on Tuesdays.
• Please read the attached note to this week's tests papers.
• Saints t-shirts are on sale now! A brochure went home last week with the students.
• There will be a Title 1 parent meeting in the OIS library this Thursday, September 6th at 6:00.
• Our book fair will be next week! A letter went out with the students last week also.
• Agenda books are on there way! They should be here this week! Until then your child is writing their homework down on the back of the weekly vocabulary/spelling words study guides.
• Please continue to talk with your child about their school work, homework, conduct, notes from the school/teachers, etc. Some of the studunts are still adjusting to a new school year and getting organized!
• Let me know if you need me in any way!

August 27-31

• Again, thank you all for such a great first week of school. We are running a regular routine this week, so if you have any questions, please let me know!
• This week's story is Rope Burn (pages 26-39).
• This week's genre is realistic fiction.
• This week's focus skill is conflict, plot, and resolution.
• This week's vocabulary words are humiliation, fringes, expectations, coaxed, sincere, and hesitating.
• This week's spelling words are bandage, chest, drift, dull, dusk, stretch, flock, fond, measure, cactus, scrap, shift, smash, switch, swept, threat, timid, plaid, trust, and twist.
• This week's grammar skill is declarative and interrogative sentences. Remember the DOL comes home on Thursday to prepare for the test.
• There is a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• We will begin Chapter 1 in Social Studies on Monday. I will let your child know when the chapter tests are. The social studies tests are open book.
• Agenda books will be in soon, until then the students will be writing their homework on the back of the vocabulary/spelling words study guide.
• Looking forward to a wonderful week of learning!

August 24

Welcome back to school! We had a GREAT week this week getting to know each other and going over routines, rules, and procedures. This blog is a weekly resource to use to keep up with what we are doing in class and what is going on at OIS! Thanks to everyone who sent supplies and paid the donation fee. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or comments, please send me a note, an email, or call the school and leave a message. I am looking SUPER forward to this year!

May 7-11

This week's story is Klondike Kate.

This week's genre is biography.

This week's focus skill is summarizing and paraphrasing.

This week's vocabulary words are remote, laden, appalled, invest, floundered, grueling, and isolated.

This week's spelling words are astronomy, disaster, asterisk, astronaut, asteroid, chronic, chronicle, chronology, chrononological, synchronize, cyclical, bicyclist, cyclone, encyclopedia, hydrogen, hydrant, hydrate, optic, optician, and optical.

This week's grammar skill is contractions.

We are working in Chapter 15 of social studies this week.

Your child will have reading and spelling homework nightly. Check agenda books! It's in there!

Field day is this Friday, May 11th. More info. to come this week!

April 30-May 4

• This week's story is Lewis and Clark.
• This week's genre is narrative nonfiction.
• This week's focus skill is summarizing and paraphrasing.
• This week's vocabulary words are asset, intently, profusely, ordeal, terrain, dismal, peril, and esteem.
• This week's spelling words are unsuccessful, undoubtedly, impossibly, disloyalty, deactivation, unlikable, replacement, unsafely, uncollectible, immeasurable, impassible, encouragement, unbelievable, unselfishly, rearrangement, discoverable, dishonestly, unbreakable, reappearance, and reassurance.
• This week's grammar skill is irregular verbs.
• We are working in Chapter 14 of social studies this week.
• Your child will have reading and spelling homework nightly. Check agenda books! It's in there!
• OIS Variety Show this Friday, May 4th! $1.00 to attend.

April 23-27

• Everyone did very well on the ARMT! Looking forward to the results!
• Back to a regular schedule this week!
• This week's reading story is Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride.
• This week's genre is fantasy.
• This week's vocabulary words are excursions, giddy, turbulent, gleeful, panic, pinnacle, and precious.
• This week's spelling words are addresses, armies, calves, countries, leaves, buses, videos, echoes, shelves, studios, radios, halves, hooves, knives, taxes, tomatoes, opportunities, volcanoes, stitches, and wolves.
• This week's grammar skill is perfect tenses verbs.
• We are working on chapter 13 in social studies.
• Your student will have homework starting again this week!
• Progress reports go out this week! Please review, sign, and return.
• Thanks a bunch to all of the parents who sent in snacks for the testing days!

April 9-20

• This is our 2 weeks of state testing.
• April 11-12 is reading.
• April 16-17 is math.
• April 18 is science.
• We will be back to a normal schedule/rountine the week of April 23-27.
• Good Luck Students! You CAN Do It!

April 2-6

• Hope everyone had a wonderful spring break!
• This week is ARMT review week.
• There will be no reading story, vocabulary words, or spelling words. There is NO homework this week.
• Looking forward to the parent conferences that are scheduled for tomorrow! You know who you are!
• Don't forget about Testing Open House tomorrow night at 6 o'clock!
• No School this Friday, April 6th.

March 19-23

• This week's story is Any Small Goodness.
• This week's vocabulary words are gouges, desolate, bustles, fervor, immaculate, and assuage.
• This week's focus skill is literary devices.
• This week's grammar skill is past and future verb tense.
• This week's spelling words are assign, autumn, column, crumb, debris, delight, design, glisten, hasten, knead, knowledge, lightning, resign, rhyme, solemn, thorough, scenery, whirl, wreath, and wrestled.
• There are spelling, grammar, and reading tests this Friday.
• There is homework assigned in your child's agenda books. Please check.
• If you have not returned your child's report cards and conference note, please do so soon!
• Spring break is next week! March 26-30! Have a fun and safe week!

March 12-16

• This week's story is The Power of W.O.W.!
• This week's vocabulary words are somberly, cumbersome, stammers, enterprising, deflated, monopolize, and enraptured.
• This week's focus skill is author's purpose and perspective.
• This week's spelling words are acceleration, accumulation, activation, alteration, authorization, calculation, cancellation, dedication, organization, demolition, repetition, mansion, pension, passion, tension, champion, confusion, permission, population, and companion.
• This week's grammar skill is subject-verb agreement.
• We will be beginning chapter 12 in social studies.
• Your child has nightly homework. Please check agenda books daily and make sure they are being responsible. They receive a reading and spelling homework grade every night weeks!
• Report cards go home on Thursday, March 15th. Please sign and return!
• There will be a reading, spelling, and grammar test on Friday.
• Remember Spring Break is March 26-30!

March 5-9

• This week's story is Interrupted Journey.
• This week's vocabulary words are vital, sleek, basking, analyzing, detect, and damage.
• This week's focus skill is author's purpose and perspective.
• This week's spelling words are incompetent, uphold, inconsiderate, indecisive, outrank, inhumane, inorganic, income, invertebrate, outgoing, outpatient, outspoken, outwit, downbeat, downgrade, downplay, downtown, uplift, upstage, and uptight.
• This week's grammar skill is linking and action verbs.
• We are working in chapter 11 in social studies.
• There is nightly spelling homework. Please check your child's agenda books.
• Please make sure your child has paper and pencils daily!
• Report cards go home on March 15th.

February 27-March 2

• This week is reteach week in reading!
• There will be no reading story, no vocabulary words, and no spelling words.
• There will be a grammar review quiz and a focus skill review quiz on Thursday!
• This is read across America Week! It's going to be an exciting week!
• Bingo cards are on sale through Tuesday for $1.
• Monday is Hat Day!
• Tuesday is Stripes Day!
• Wednesday is Green Day!
• Thursday is Seuss Character Day Up Day!
• Friday is Readathon!
• We will be completing Chapter 10 this week in social studies. Chapter 10 tests will also be this week!
• The Dental Bus will be here on Wednesday, February 29th. If you are interested in your child seeing the dentist, please return the package of information filled out and signed.
• Please make sure your child has paper and pencils!!!!!!!

February 20-24

Hope everyone enjoyed President's Day!

• This week's reading story is The Invention Convention.
• This week vocabulary words are scours, appropriate, practical, portable, circulate, protrude, boisterous, deduction, fickle, and measly. Tuesday's night homework is to write the definitions from the glossary of the reading book and return on Wednesday.
• This week's spelling words are review: irreplaceable, immature, indefinite, illiterate, independent, applicant, accountant, insistent, novelist, technician, cellist, porous, glorious, spontaneous, fictitious, mountainous,weak, week, dual, and duel. Check your child's agenda book nightly for spelling homework!
• This week's focus skills are review: making inferences and main idea and details.
• This week's grammar skills are review: subjective/objective pronouns, possessive/reflexive pronouns, adjectives/articles, and main/helping verbs.
• Both classes are working on Chapter 10 in social studies.
• This week's math mania dress up day is "Rocking Rithmatic"--rock star day.
• Remember the note that came home last week stating that your child's spelling, grammar, and reading with now all be on the same sheet of paper.
• Be on the look out for "Read Across America" week letters!!

February 13-17

• This week's story is Inventing the Future.
• This week's story genre is a biography.
• This week's focus skill is main idea and details.
• This week's vocabulary words are irrepressible, feat, industry, tendency, device, and prestigious.
• This week's spelling words are homophones: steal, steel, waste, waist, weak, week, base, bass, pain, pane, flare, flair, dual, duel, stationary, stationery, flower, flour, sight, and site. The students will need to know what each word means because they will have to spell the correct homophone that fits in the sentence.
• This week's grammar skill is main and helping verbs.
• Make sure your child is studying the DOL study guide on Thursday nights!
• Mrs. Tillman's homeroom will be completing chapter 9 in social studies this week and taking the test. My homeroom will be beginning chapter 10.
• The spelling, grammar, and reading tests will be Thursday this week instead of Friday because of the bowling field trip.
• If your child is going on Friday, be looking for a reminder note from the p.e. teachers.
• Remember no school on Monday, February 20th!
• Remember to check your child's agenda book every night. They have HOMEWORK for a grade!
• Remember your child needs pencils and paper daily at school!
• Your child's reading, spelling, and grammar tests are now going to be on the same sheet of paper to save copies. I have reached my limit on copies for the year, so every copy now is money out of my pocket!

February 6-10

• This week's story is Project Mulberry.
• This week's focus skill is main idea and details.
• This week's vocabulary words are compartments, swayed, phobia, invasion, vetoed, and wispy.
• This week's spelling words are courteous, hazadous, humorous, monstrous, porous, curious, furious, glorious, delirious, fictitious, gracious, ambitious, discourteous, dangerous, anxious, spontaneous, religious, delicious, mountainous, and ridiculous.
• This week's grammar skill is adjectives and articles.
• Please check your child's agenda book every night. Their homework should be listed!
• We are working on Chapter 9 in social studies this week.
• Progress reports go home on Tuesday, February 7. Please sign and return.
• This Friday's math mania day is "Math Across the Ages". Decade Day!

January 30-February 3

• This week's story is Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street.
• This week's vocabulary words are extravagant, unimaginable, gourmet, throng, embarked, precarious, and hiatus.
• This week's focus skill is making inferences.
• This week's spelling words are accountant, applicant, attendant, defiant, mutineer, expectant, hesitant, quadrant, resistant, servant, dependent, indulgent, insistent, urgent, auctioneer, accompanist, artist, cellist, technician, and novelist.
• We will be taking Chapter 8 social studies test this week and beginning chapter 9.
• This week's math mania theme is "Out of this World Math". Dress as an alien.
• Progress reports go home Tuesday, February 7. Please sign and return.

January 23-27

• This week's story is Lesson 16: The School Story.
• This week's vocabulary words are indication, baffled, proposed, instinct, tempted, insights, and essence.
• This week's spelling words are inactive, inaccurate, irregular, irrelevant, ineffective, imbalance, immature, impatient, imperfect, impossible, illegal, illiterate, illegible, inaction, independent, invalid, indefinite, injustice, irreplaceable, and impolite.
• This week's grammar skill is subjective and objective case pronouns.
• This week's focus skill is making inferences.
• We are beginning Chapter 8 in Social Studies.
• Make sure your child has pencils and paper every day!

January 16-20

• Congrats to ALL the 5th grade for graduating from D.A.R.E. last Friday. Congratulations to Hunter, Jonah, and Sophia for being our class essay winners!
• This week is reteach week in reading, spelling, and grammar.
• There will be no weekly reading story, but there will be a focus skill quiz on Friday.
• There will no spelling words this week, but there will be a grammar review quiz.
• There will be a chapter 7 social studies test this week, but it is open book and page # given.
• We will begin Math Blitz this Friday, January 20th. The theme this week is "Math Round Up" (western wear).

Jaunary 9-13

• Happy New Year!
• Please make sure that your child has pencils and paper every day!
• This week's story is How Prairie Became Ocean.
• This week's spelling words are review words. They are enemy, fanatic, honest, ocean, slogan, reclaim, reconsider, uninformed, unwise, nonexistent, digestible, enjoyable, admissible, argument, amazement, priceless, capitol, general, mayor, and theater.
• There is spelling homework on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
• This week's vocabulary words are recount, uninhabitable, sustain, monotonous, endeavor, dwell, brimming, teeming, parched, and sorrowful.
• The grammar skills are also review. Common and proper nouns; singular and plural nouns; possessive nouns; and pronouns and antecedents.
• We will be beginning Chapter 7 in Social Studies this week. Test TBA. Remember social studies tests are open book and page numbers given.
• D.A.R.E. graduation is this Friday, January 13th at 9:00.
• Yearbooks are on sale. $30.00. You can pay $15.00 now and $15.00 by April 30th!
• If you have any questions about bullying, the Alabama Department of Education has a great new link. Check it out!                                    http://alex.state.al.us/stopbullying/
• Congrats to ALL of the students who received an award last Friday! Way to go!

 If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know! Looking forward to a new semester!