Accelerated Reader News

Today students reviewed how to use the new Accelerated Program and should have also brought home another paper with their username and password to share with you. I have included 2 new website links on the blog. The first link is called Renaissance Home Connect. On this website you can view student's goals, their reading progress, and view average book levels. You can also enter your email address to receive updates when your child has taken an AR tests. The second link is AR Book Finder. This is a very helpful website in which you and your child can search for books by genre, interest, and book level. There are over a thousand books! The best part is ALL of the books listed on this site are AR books. I strongly encourage you to take time to review both websites with your child. It is a great way to get involved in your child's reading interests and progress.

Hill Family Reading Night for 5th Grade

Here is an invitation to 5th GRADE families to "THRILL MIDDLE SCHOOL’S" evening of Thrills, Chills, Mystery, and Magic.
When: Monday, October 29 6 – 8 p.m.
What: Wear your costume! (optional)
Thrilling and chilling activities,
Dazzling magic from Jonathan Kamm.
Scary stories and more…..
Where: Hill Middle School
Monday, October 29 6 – 8 p.m.
Be There!

Exciting News in 5H

I Wonder...

I wonder: athletic or artistic?
I wonder: right or left-handed?
I wonder: shy or outgoing?
I wonder: strong or weak?
I wonder: healthy or sick?
I wonder: brown or blonde hair?
I wonder: brown or blue eyes?
I wonder: 10 fingers and 10 toes?
I wonder: boy or girl?

This is an example of a writing idea for the students. It was the way I chose to share my exciting news that I am having a baby at the end of April!

Capturing Conversations

In writing, students continue to gather ideas on how to grab a reader's attention. We discussed how good writers use dialogue in their writing. The students need to listen and observe conversations that are happening around them. Suggested places for this assignment include listening at home, school, at a store, a restaurant, or a family gathering. They need to record parts of these conversations in their writing notebooks. Again, the purpose of this lesson is to demonstrate how using dialogue in a piece of writing can make it more interesting.