Welcome Letter! 2015-2016

August 21, 2015

 

 

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

            I am excited to have the opportunity to educate your child this year!   I am Mrs. Laura Ryan, and I am thrilled to be your child’s fifth-grade teacher at Shatekon. Our school is a fantastic place to work, learn and play!

 

            We will begin the year by studying the foundation of our country’s government, reading The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, and forming our life as a writer.  Other topics we will cover throughout the year are geology, light, heat and changes, regions of the United States, Canada, Latin America and current events.

 

            Reading and writing are vital to the lives of our students, and a great emphasis will be placed on these subject areas this year.  Of the two composition notebooks to be purchased, one will be for reading and the other for writing.  Please have your child bring in pictures, magazine clippings, stickers, letters, and anything else they would like to use to personalize their notebooks.  We will be completing this activity on Friday, September 11, so it is necessary for your child to have these items.  Also, if you are looking for book recommendations, please check out my blogging website- www.bookswelovedreading.blogspot.com. 

 

            Your fifth-grader is in for an exciting year filled with hands-on experiments, reading many interesting and entertaining novels, writing numerous pieces, and learning the skills needed to be successful in middle school.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to enrich the life of your child!

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at ryanlaur@shenet.org.  You may also browse our class blog at mrsryansfifthgrade.blogspot.com.

 

Thank you for your support and cooperation.   I look forward to working with you and your child this year.   

 

            Respectfully,

Mrs. Ryan        

Mrs. Ryan

               

THINKMARK Information Letter 2015-2016!!

 

Dear Parents,

 

Your child will be completing an independent reading project that will last the entire school year.  The purpose of this task is to increase your child’s fluency, comprehension and reading stamina.  Beginning Monday, September 14^th and ending Friday, June 3^rd, your child should read about one book a month from the following genres: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction or Fantasy, two Nonfiction.  All book choices must be appropriate for your child’s reading level and approved by a teacher.  Your child may read these 5 books in any order they choose.  Please see the checklist on the back to help you keep track of your child’s progress.

 

After each book, your child will also complete a THINKMARK and turn it in before beginning another book.  The students will complete a THINKMARK in class and be taught how to properly complete it. They will write a summary for each chapter (or combine a couple of chapters depending on the number in the book), make connections, define unknown words, and write a hook and recommendation.  The THINKMARKS will be graded and used to determine a reading grade for their report card, depending which quarter they are handed in. 

 

Please sign the bottom portion and return to me with your child by Friday, September 11^th, so I can be sure that you read and understand this assignment.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at ryanlaur@shenet.org.  Thanks for your support and cooperation!

 

Respectfully,

Mrs. Ryan

 

**Please cut and return with your signature below**

 

I have read the information above and understand the requirements for this reading assignment.  My child must read five books of the above genres by Friday, June 3^rd.

Child’s Name ___________________________________________________________

 

X________________________________________________

Daily Spelling Homework

Each week you will have a new spelling lesson to complete that focuses on a specific pattern in twenty words.  All spelling work is to be written NEATLY both in class and at home.  You will complete spelling homework each night in order to prepare for a sentence test on Friday.  Here is what your spelling homework will be Monday through Thursday.  Good luck!

 

Monday and Tuesday- Complete spelling packet pages, due Wednesday morning.

 

Wednesday and Thursday- Write twenty sentences in the provided packet using one spelling word per sentence.  Please be sure to underline each spelling word (you should use all twenty words).  Make any necessary corrections to spelling workbook, due Friday morning.  Study with an adult for ten minutes, in preparation for the spelling assessment.

 

Friday- Spelling Test- 20 words and 3 bonus words (from our curriculum).

 

*Be sure to keep this in a safe place and have your parents sign the bottom and return to school by Friday, September 11^thJ

 

 

**Please cut and return with your signature below**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I have read the information above regarding daily spelling homework.

Child’s name _________________________________________

 

X________________________________________________________

Modifications may be made if necessary.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  Thank You!  ryanlaur@shenet.org