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AIG
Donna Rymer
BOSTIAN ELEMENTARY
Contact Donna Rymer

Page Last Updated Nov 20, 2009
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AIG
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GET READY FOR B.O.B. TRYOUTS IN DECEMBER. IT IS FAST-APPROACHING!

** 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 Packet is due Dec. 3
** Book Project is due Dec. 7 (4th and 5th
    grade have different projects).

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    
    My fifth graders will be required to complete a science fair project. Information about this is usually given out in December (Mrs. Watson is the science fair coordinator) and the project is usually due early February. Horizons usually holds an informational meeting to provide help on the topic (when I find out the date, I will let you know). This is a completely independent project that students handle on their own. We have had some fantastic projects represented in the past.

READ AR BOOKS! Here is the link:


1st 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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