Mr. Contat's Mighty Ants

Read over the holiday and hit Six Flags this summer!

                          Six Flags's Wild About Reading Winter Challenge


     This year we have combined the Six Flag's Reading Club Challenge  with our holiday challenge. The Six Flags Six Hour Reading Club is part of Read to Succeed®, a free language arts program from Six Flags and Weekly Reader.

     Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before Monday February 1, 2009 will receive a  ticket valid at participating Six Flags theme parks.

     BE SURE TO WRITE THE DEADLINE ON THE READING FORM. Feel free to attach additional pages as needed.

     Our new and improved "Wild about Reading Winter Challenge" gives each child over six weeks to read 6 hours for fun!  

     We hope that you will encourage your child to get wild about reading and reach this goal!

5th Grade Performance

Please have students report to the music room tonight prior to the performance.  NOT the classroom.  You are in for a treat!  They did a great job this morning!

5th Grade Musical

The 5th Grade Musical will take place tomorrow night 12/15.  Students and parents should arrive @ 6:15.  Students should report the the classroom dressed in their immigrant costume from immigration day and parents should assemble in the gym.  Students should be sure to keep their jackets with parents in that they will not have access to the classroom after the performance.  Following the performance be sure to take a stroll down the fine arts wing where your child's work will be on display.

Thank You!!

The holidays are upon us and I am feeling alot of joy!  I wanted to send out a warm felt THANKS!  For the kind holiday gift....I will put it to good use : ) 

Sincerely,

Mr. Contat

Math Homework

Parents,

I wanted to inform you that I assigned several problems to be completed for homeowork this weekend.  All students have the page numbers and problems to be completed in their agenda.  It is very important that students do these problems this weekend.  It should be review and practice for them at this point.  If they are having any diffuculties please feel free to e-mail me and I will reply and try to provide any guidance I can via e-mail.

Thanks for your support!

Fraction Math Game

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=73

Flash Card Website!

We have discovered a wonderful website for creating flashcards! www.studystack.com It is pretty simple to use, here are some basic instructions to get you started.....

1. Go to www.studystack.com
2. scroll to the bottom of the page to "create stack"
3. It will then ask you to registar- create a user name, password, email and agree to the conditions
4. After logging click on "create stack"
5. Click on Add or Rename Flaps
6. Click on Edit next to flap 1
7. Rename it "Word" press save
8. Click on Edit next to flap 2
9. Rename it "Definition" press save
10. Click on Done
11. Click on Add or Edit Cards
12. Click on Add Cards
13. Under the "Word" column add your words
14. Under the "Definition" Column add your definitions
15. If you have more words than space press save and click on add cards
16. when you are finished click "done"
17. You can then print your cards or play games with them!

Boosterthon Gave a boost to our class!

Thanks to Boosterthon and your efforts we have received a check for close to $100 dollars to put to use in our classroom!  I plan on using this as a learning opportunity for the class.  Due to the fact I feel the students themselves did much of the work to earn the money, especially on the track, I will be providing them the opportunity to have a voice in how the money is spent. 

They will work cooperatively in groups to discuss needs versus wants, research, analyze data, budget, incorporate math skills we have been working on in class, and provide a persuasive argument justifying their decision in the form of a power point presentation.  Based on each groups input we will decide how the funds will be put to use. 

I am looking forward to hearing what they think!  I will keep you updated and thanks again for providing our class this opportunity.  With out your hard work and dedication as parents we would not be able to do many of the wonderful things we do here at Murdock.

Holiday Store

The holiday season is upon us! 

This year 5th graders will have a holiday activity that is fun for anyone who likes to go shopping! 

The students have to create 20 products to bring in Wednesday, December 16th.  If working with a partner, the pair must create 40 products (20 each).  They can also bring things to make their store more popular with the holiday shoppers!  These items could include store name signs, table coverings, etc.

Each child will have an opportunity to shop at other stores as well as sell the product they created.  They will be given a holiday "credit card" with 20 "dollars" to use for purchases at their peers' stores.  Therefore, you will receive 20 different products equal to the 20 products that you created.  We ask that each child bring in a bag (plastic grocery is perfect) in which to put their purchases.

Happy shopping!