Barrett's Bulletin

Everyone please vote today for Noah Jackson Max and Ty!!!  Please pass this on to all your friends and family!!

The Young Riders contest is held to select the Young Riders to be featured in the 2010 Young Riders calendar.  The top thirteen contestants will be featured in the calendar and one of those contestants will be featured on the front cover.  Other top finishers may also be included on the back cover of the calendar.  A contestant’s place in the contest will be a primary factor in selecting the front cover image, but not the only one, and we reserve the right to select from any of the top thirteen images. 

 This is exciting new fundraising program benefiting Ride for the Cure and Susan G Komen for the Cure.  These calendars will be available for ordering shortly after the close of the contest. Great gifts for Christmas and for a good cause.

The contest website is www.photojeania.com/youngriders.  From there visitors can see a slideshow of the images entered in the contest and then vote for their favorite young riders.  Visitors can vote beginning today until Midnight on Sunday, November 29^th.  Visitors can vote once per contestant per day per computer***.   The *** is because most home and office networks are recognized by the internet as a single computer and voting is effectively limited to one vote per contestant per home or office network per day.  If you are voting for the first time in a day and the voting website indicates that you have already voted, then most likely someone else has already voted that day from your computer or home or office network.  If your voting history shows contestants that you have not voted for, then most likely someone else from your home or office network voted for that person.  This is how the contest website and the internet work. 

Thanks to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finish this story…

Can you finish it? Copy and paste the above beginning into your post and add or change what you will. I am looking forward to your posts with your title and conclusion.

Yesterday, 5A went to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines to view a presentation on Thomas Edison. This presentation was rather creative using an actor portraying Edison. Students learned many things about Edison including four life lessons.

1. Work hard and play hard.
2. There are no mistakes as long as you learn from them.
3. Look at unsolved problems from a different angle.
4. If there is something in your life you want to do, make it happen.

Thomas Edison gave us a challenge. Cut a hole in a 3×5 note card that you can fit your body through. Check out the cheat sheet below for the answer.

This week we are working on the reading strategy “making connections”. Making connections is when you connect what you read to your own life, a book you have read, or an event in the world. Checkout some of the connections our students have made below:

Last Friday, we celebrated the wonderful season of fall by throwing a party. We were extremely greatful to have two of our classroom parents, Rachel G. and Sarah S., organize all of the events. These events included mummy making/dance, several different relays, and competitive eating. Alright, maybe not competitive eating, but the students did devour the delicious food as if they were in a race.

Thanks again to Rachel G. and Sarah S. for putting this wonderful party together. Check out some of the cool pictures of the festivities below.

This week we are having our ITBS Tests. Please make sure your student gets plenty of rest at night. Also,  review test taking tips with your student. This will help them create a mental game plan for taking the test. To help with what tips to review check the schedule below:

Mon. Nov. 2nd          

• 8:30-8:55                 Capitalization (12 mins)
• 8:55-9:25                 (no ITBS testing)
• 9:25 -9:55                Vocabulary (15 mins)
• 9:55-10:25               PE
• 10:25-10:55             Guidance
•  11:00-12:00            Math – (no ITBS testing)
•  1:00-2:00                 Reading Comprehension I (25 mins)
•   2:00-3:00                 (no ITBS testing)                        

Tues. Nov. 3rd          

•  8:25-9:25                 Science (30 mins.)
• 9:25-9:55                  Music
• 9:55-10:25               PE
• 10:25-10:55             (no ITBS testing)
• 11:00-12:00             Math Concepts and Estimation (25 mins + 5 mins)     
• 1:00-2:00                   Reading Comprehension II (30 mins)            
• 2:00-2:20                    (no ITBS testing)
• 2:20-3:00                    5th Grade Band Rehearsal/Other Activity – no ITBS testing        

Wed. Nov. 4th            

•  8:25-8:55               Spelling (12 mins)
• 8:55-9:25                Maps and Diagrams (30 mins)
•  9:35-9:55                Library
•  9:55 -10:55             Art
• 11:00-12:00            Math Problem Solving and Data Interpretation (30 mins)
• 1:00-2:00                 (no ITBS testing)

Thurs. Nov. 5th          

•  8:30-9:25                Reference Materials (25 mins)
• 9:25-9:55                  Music
• 9:55-10:25               PE
• 10:25-10:55             Spanish
• 10:55-11:30             Math Computation (15 mins)
• 11:30 -12:00            (no ITBS testing)
•  1:00-2:00                Usage & Expression (30 mins)
•  2:00-3:00               (no ITBS testing)

Fri. Nov. 6th              

• 8:25-8:55                (no ITBS testing)
•  8:55-9:25               Spanish
•   9:25-9:55               (no ITBS testing)
• 9:55-10:25               PE
• 10:25-11:00             Punctuation (12 mins)
•    Return to normal schedule

        Since we have become rather familiar with our Barrett Bucks in 5A, we decided to step it up a notch and introduce a banking system. The way this system works is that students are given a bi-weekly salary based on completed assignments, good character, class job completion, and on-task behavior. Students keep track of  money they earn and spend on their own personal bank card. The class banker or I must initial any purchase or deposit made to and from any bank account. Hopefully, this bank system will help students learn necessary money management and budgeting skills. Check out the bank card, class jobs, and purchases lists below:

       The students of 5A just finished studying different world cultures. To help demonstrate their understanding of this topic, students were given a country to present to the class. We spent the greater part of social studies time this week researching our countries and construction presentations on Prezi.com. Today we finally presented our countries to our peers. Check out some of the Prezi pictures below:

      Have you ever used Prezi.com before? If not, Prezi.com is a great alternative to PowerPoint that is both fun and easy for all to use. Check it out! 

Today during Think >Read>Share, students were given the task of using a piece of paper to display their thinking. They were not allowed to draw, write, or scribble on the paper. Students were extremely creative with this. Checkout some of their creations below.

Do you have any ideas about what we could do/use to display our thinking?

(Lilly – read this to the class with lots of expression like I know you are capable of.)

Wonderful Students of 5A,

I am feeling a little under the weather today. In my absence, I am expecting nothing but the best from you. Work hard, treat everyone with respect, and remember to do your chores at the end of the day!  I hope everyone has a productive Friday and a great rest of the weekend.

Sincerely,

Mr. Barrett