Welcome to Mr. Dan Demerest's classroom Blog
5th Grade Classroom Information
Following is my classroom update. If you would like more in-depth information about 5th grade curriculum and links to useful web sites please go to my web page at mrdemerest.weebly.com (Note-by clicking on this link you will be leaving Holland Public Schools website).
Please continue to read with your child for 10-15 minutes every night. A very powerful way to improve reading skills is to use a timer and follow this procedure:
-Set the timer for 3-5 minutes and read out loud to your child from the book they are currently reading for pleasure. (You are modeling correct reading.)
-Reset the timer for 3-5 minutes and have your child read out loud to you from the place you stopped. (Listening to your child should give you some insight into how they read.)
-Reset the timer again for 3-5 minutes and have a discussion with your child about what you both just read. Can your child make any predictions about what is going to happen next? Do they have any questions or are they confused by anything in the book so far? Are they "Making a Movie" in their mind as they read? What do the characters look like? Can they describe the setting of the selection (What does it look, sound, smell, taste or feel like?) How do they attack words they don't know or figure out situations that they are unfamiliar with? Do they make connections to their own life experiences with those of the characters in the book or connections to other books they have read or movies they have seen?
Using the above procedure will help your child become not just a better reader but an all around better thinker!
5/21/12
The weather is great and the sun is providing lots of energy to us! Please take a moment to read over the Field Trip behavior plan that was sent home with your student on Friday, 5-18. The letter contains details but the short version is that misbehavior at school could result in a student not being able to participate in our swimming and bowling field trips that we be held on June 1, & June 6 respectively.
Reading & Writing- We are kicking off our poetry unit this week. Students will be reading and writing a variety of poetry. Ask your student about "alliterations."
Math - Students will be working on figuring the volume of various size containers and converting ounces, cups, gallons, etc. They will then move on to doing the same types of comparisons using the metric system. Have your student help you in the kitchen using recipes that require lots of measuring (if you dare!)
History - We will be attempting to put student powerpoint bill board advertisements on their Weebly accounts, Check Them Out!
Science - We continue to use "Super Science" magazine to supplement science instruction with scientific reading and thinking.
Remember that all of my 5th graders have a spelling pre-test on Monday. This test goes home with the student and is their spelling list for the week. Please help students practice their spelling words, especially those they missed on the pre-test. Students should fold their pre-test over, say out loud the word they missed, write the word while saying each letter out loud, spell the word again and put a dot under each letter, write the word again saying each letter out loud and finally turning the paper over and writing the word a final time, again saying each letter out loud. This procedure really works, try it!!!
Congratulations to Mary Adeline Squiers for being our classroom "W-ALL Star." Mary Adeline has consistently displayed "West All Star" behavior the past several weeks by Showing Respect, Taking Responsibility, Acting Safely and being Ready to Learn (S.T.A.R.).
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