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AIG
Donna Rymer
BOSTIAN ELEMENTARY
Contact Donna Rymer

Page Last Updated Feb 07, 2010
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AIG
animated valentine

We want to wish Sydney GOOD LUCK as she represents Bostian Tuesday night at the Spelling Bee!

SCIENCE FAIR RESULTS:
Wow! We had the best science fair ever this year. I am glad that I was not one of the judges because the projects were so good. Thank you to the judges who were very meticulous with their critiques. Because the projects were so good this year, Horizons allotted Bostian one more spot. Mrs. Sigmon had to put in a special request for this. Those winning projects can choose to stay in my mobile or can be taken home to make modifications for the next VERY competitive level. Here are the results... (4 INDIVIDUAL Project Winners:  Bethany, Sydney, JP, and Matthew /// 3 TEAM Project Winners: Cameron, Bailey, and Hannah;  Emma and Chloe;  and Brie, McKenna, and Alexcis

NOTE: 
     ALL classes will be doing an E.O.G. review of skills in preparation for this big test either in class or in the computer lab! 
     In addition, fifth graders will begin their study of Shakespeare upon completion of their novel. Fifth graders have the "Meet and Greet an Author" event scheduled for March 16. The upcoming Shakespeare Festival collaboration with SRHS will be in early May and the system-wide AIG Challenge Day are events that fifth grade will also carry out. We will be busy!
     4th graders continue to be eager learners, and I am getting to know my third graders right now. This is a very bright group of students. Both classes may read The Cay, The Black Pearl, or Number the Stars very soon.

**FYI: EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY**
Attend these events at the library.Get an official to sign off.
3rd Grade:
Book Chat - Superfudge by Judy Blume (March 11 @ 4:15 South Branch)
Meet Felicity - American Girl (March 13 @ 11:00 Headquarters)
4th Grade:
Book Chat - Superfudge by Judy Blume (March 11 @ 4:15 South Branch)
Book Chat - Poppy by Avi (April 8 @ 4:15 South Branch )
Meet Felicity - American Girl (March 13 @ 11:00 Headquarters)
5th Grade:
Book Chat - Poppy by Avi (April 8 4:15 South Branch)
Meet Felicity - American Girl (March 13 @ 11:00 Headquarters)
A) Chocolate Festival:* Trivia, Chocolate Fountain, Taste testing, and more
B) Teen Tech Week:* Stop action animation - come create a mash-up video using stop action animation techniques
C) Poetry Month Celebration* Create your own magnetic poetry set and create some interesting poems
D) Skill Toys* Come learn juggling arts and work with some skill toys

 
FYI: I have tri-folds available for any student who wishes to have one for their author project. No charge. Fourth graders may have one for next year's science fair project.

FYI: 3rd Graders have been told that they could bring ONE favorite educational/learning game to class for us to play together. I will bring one of my favorites to share.


5th grade line check is this Friday. Additional line check will be next Friday for those involved in the skit.

If any student would like to submit a poem for the "Young American Poetry Digest" Contest, then s/he can turn it in to me ASAP. The featured poem is "haiku." The poem does not have to be a haiku.

I spoke with students today regarding their STAR Reading performance. We discussed strategies for helping students meet their goals.
PROJECT DUE DATES:
Students have just received the guidelines on these projects today in class. Encourage your child to do top-notch work! 
4th Grade: "Box It Book Project" due Feb. 25
5th Grade: "The Great Author Adventure Project" due March 11. Our "Meet an Author" Event will take place on March 16. You will want to attend this because we will have two diverse authors speaking to students.

How to  UNRAAVEL:
U - Underline the title
N - Now make a prediction about the text 
R- Run through and number the paragraphs
A - Are you reading the questions?
A - Are the important words circled? ( write down their meaning)
V - Venture through the passage ( READ IT) 
E - Eliminate wrong answer choices in the questions.
L - Let the questions be answered. 
                           THE 12 POWER WORDS
Trace: Outline
Analyze : Break down into smaller steps or parts
Infer: Read between the lines; read what the author doesn't say
Evaluate: Judge or determine value
Formulate: Build, create
Describe: Tell all about it
Support: Back it up; defend
Explain: Tell; Tell sequence, parts, or details
Summarize: The short version; key points or main idea
Compare: Things that are similar 
Contrast: Things that are different
Predict: Think about the future
 

FYI: My 5th graders are now writing expository essays in and out of class. This will REPLACE Wonder Questions for a while. If any student wishes to continue with Wonder Questions, then they will receive extra credit for this. They just need to tell me if they want Wonder Questions (in addition to the expository essay).

Vocabulary Test will be February 5th on the last thirteen words. Study! Packet is due this day!


Congratulations to Sydney and Matthew for a job well done in the spelling bee! Good luck to Sydney as she advances!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE B.O.B TEAM MEMBERS: Sydney, Bethany, Jordan, Jared, J.P., Emma, Ian, and Riley 

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Matthew, Riley, Adeline, Sydney, Lucas, J.P., Jordan, and Emma for making it into the "100 Point Club." (I am still waiting for others to join. You have until the middle of May).

Here are two GREAT websites that might be helpful for your science fair exploration: topics, tips, and displays. 
1. sciencebuddies.org
2. puzzlemaker.com (click on science fair)

** SCIENCE FAIR handouts have been given out. This project is due on Feb.1. Topics must be approved first. Students must turn in the first and fourth sheet well in advance before tackling the project. Look at ALL handouts to see what is expected. The guidelines are very specific!

Vocabulary Test = Jan. 29 (1st 12 Words)
Vocabulary Packet and Test = Feb. 5 (last 13 words)


Students need to give very thoughtful responses to the Wonder Questions. A sparse response showing no real reflection will not earn a good grade. Give me depth in your thinking!

 A new form of packet will be introduced to students this year. This packet will focus entirely on root words. Each packet has twenty-five words with some exercises to complete. In order to help students make this transition, one packet will take two weeks to complete. Students are only required to do ONE question from each of the categories on the second page and they are required to complete all the analogies (hold off on the analogy page until I tell students to tackle this page independently). I have asked the students to pick one word from the list of example words to be familiar with (spelling/meaning). It is important for students to understand how a root works and its significance to the overall meaning.

Do you want to be in the "100 POINT CLUB?" It's very simple... read AR books and earn over 100 points, and you are in. What are you waiting for? Get reading!
 big smile       
READ AR BOOKS! Here is the link:


2nd Quarter Goal:
4th Grade: 13 Points
5th Grade: 20 Points

Ways To Help Your Child Succeed 

1. Take the time to read with your child daily.
2. Provide enrichment materials, including children's books and magazines and educational toys. Even looking through the newspaper - especially the weather section - and discuss words and their meanings, how sentences are set up, etc.
3. Provide a quiet, private work space where your child can study undisturbed.
4. Keep your child's work space well-stocked with all the supplies he/she needs to complete their assignments.
5. Take time to sit down with your child and help him/her schedule homework into his daily routine.
6. Reward good grades with recognition and praise, and avoid the temptation to use money or food as a bribe for good performance.
7. Take advantage of educational events in your community as often as possible.
8. Value your child's uniqueness, and avoid comparing him/her to others - including other siblings!
9. Limit the amount of television, video games, and non-educational computer games your child watches on school days.
10. Encourage creative thinking by asking your child for help to solve problems.

Here's An EOG  TIP/STRATEGY
R - Read the title
U- Underline keywords in the questions
N - Number the paragraphs
N - Now read the text
E - Enclose ( or circle/underline ) the key words in the passage that go with the questions
R- read the choice & eliminate incorrect answers
S - select the BEST answer

Try going to these interesting websites:
www.spellingcity.com
www.funschool.com
www.funology.com
www.brainbashers.com
analogies (4-5, AIG)
http://www.quia.com/cb/7146.html

Units online/activities/lessons (K-5)
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/index.shtml


Large library of online books (K-5)
http://www.lookybook.com/ 

http://www.eduscapes.com/ladders/index.html

**Encourage your child to write down assignments in his or her agenda.Assignments are written on the board for them to copy.


Each week students will have a vocabulary packet and Wonder Questions. . .to complete. Each week there will be a TEST  on the vocabulary/spelling words (unless I specify otherwise).
 
Unique Features of Fifth Grade:
Science Fair Project Required
Shakespeare Study/Performance
Clarification Writing 



What's going on in AIG? AIG takes on a very different scene from what one will see in a regular classroom. Class size is substantially smaller, which allows students the opportunity to engage more openly in dialog with their peers and teacher. As I work with students over the years, we become much like a family. I encourage students to embrace challenges, and I try to foster a love of reading within my students.
AIG is very project-driven. Students will have some kind of project going on most of the time. I expect the quality of work on students' projects to go above and beyond the regular scope. I tell my students that when they exceed my expectations, they are will be praised, but when they fall short, there is a problem. I have encouraged ALL of my students to try out for the B.O.B team. Bostian needs the best representatives on the team. The two main factors as to why I enjoy working with these bright children: 1) I love engaging in great discussions about literature 2) I love seeing the creativity displayed by the students. I consider it an honor to work with gifted children as we explore learning together
Homework
I typically do not assign a lot of homework. Usually students can expect a weekly or bi-weekly vocabulary assignment, writing assignment, and a long-term project to work on.
I ask that students read every night for 20 minutes or more (some of their other assignments can help meet this requirement)!
Often I will assign "extended homework."
By that I mean that students are given an assignment and the due date
is a week or so later. This allows students to work at their own pace
and within their own personal schedules and work loads to get the
assignment completed. I expect all "extended homework assignments" to be completed and turned in on time. Occasionally, I will assign homework that will be due the very next day. In most cases, it will be something that was started in class and needs to be wrapped up for the next day's lesson. Homework assignments are always written on the board.

 



Students should be reviewing their root words that they have recorded in their notebooks. This is the key to unlocking words. We use these for extra credit and vocabulary games, but most importantly, simply knowing them for vocabulary building for such tests as SAT is the greatest benefit!



 
 Did you know that if you go to www.freerice.com you can learn new vocabulary words while donating rice to people who need food.

Have your child go to puzzlemaker.com for some really great brainteasers.

IDEA: Here is a strategy to unlock the door to hundreds of words...
Get a large ring that can be opened and closed. Put the root word on the front of an index card and the definition on the back. Cut the index cards down to fit comfortably and hole punch them. Place them on the ring and scroll through them whenever you are bored. You will be glad you created this little collection when you get to high school and take college entrance exams.

 
** WEEKLY VOCABULARY LIST AT BOTTOM **
 (I recommend having your child make flashcards for the words to aid study -- word on front and definition on back -- imagine how many words your child will have accumulated in their file if you begin in 3rd grade and go through 5th grade)


3rd Grade vocabulary will come from the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop book.

4th/5th Grade vocabulary comes from Words on the Vine book which focuses on roots and higher level creative activities to go along with word studies.
 Ten Reasons to Get Kids Reading:
1. Children who love reading are likely to become excellent readers.
2. Avid readers acquire a more complex sense of language.
3. Reading gives children wide-ranging frames of reference, which makes all learning easier.
4. A love of reading is one of the major joys of life.
5.Excellent reading skills make it more likely children will overcome
personal problems with their school work intact, since they will be
able to keep up with their assignments by using only a fraction of
their time and emotional energy.
6. Avid reading gives children a sense of perspective.
7. Reading helps children to be compassionate.
8. Avid readers are exposed to a world full of possibilities and opportunities.
9. Avid readers develop critical thinking skills.
10. By high school only avid readers will have the literacy skills to excel in any course that demands a good deal of reading.

In this era of 'No Child Left Behind', it is often said that gifted students can get along all right 'in spite of us.' But neglecting creatively gifted youth could be disastrous for our country's future.If the gifted are undiscovered, who will be our great problem solvers?Who will be those who think "outside the box?" Who will be our nation's next leaders?"
-- John D. Kauffman, Ph.D.


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