Seedfolks Trailer...Check it out!

Happy Snow Day!!

So what's everyone doing today with our snow day? Let me know and I'll post it on the blog. Looks like this bad weather will be sticking around for the week, so stay warm & safe....and of course, be little angels for Mom and Dad!

Don't forget about the White Elephant gift exchange on Friday. Start bringing in those wrapped presents!

That's all for now......short and sweet, just like Jocelyn! : )

Miss D'Amore

P.S. Check out the Seedfolks video I found on You Tube!

P.P.S. Tuesday Night: Season Finale of The Biggest Loser! Even if you have not been watching all season, this is definitely a show you don't want to miss. You will be more than amazed and will applaud the efforts and success stories of this season's players.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous Thanksgiving holiday. Take some time to think and reflect about the important things in life. Count your blessings, be grateful for the men and women protecting our nation and freedom, and keep those less fortunate than you in your thoughts. Enjoy the long weekend! See everyone Tuesday!

Many Thanks.....

Okay, I'm a little tardy posting something new, but I've been BUSY BUSY BUSY! Finalizing grades, preparing report cards, and preparing for conferences is just a tad time consuming.....and a little bit tiring! BUT, it's NEVER too late to say THANK YOU! And since Thanksgiving is knocking on the front door, I thought this was an appropriate time to give a little thanks......

First, back in the early fall, we went to Holden Arboretum. Mrs. Rekhson (Max's mom,) Mrs. McCully (Ethan's mom,) and Mrs. Garcia (Pablo's mom) were Chaperones! They were troopers, too! This was literally a FIELD trip, so three cheers, Ladies, for a job well done! Our next field trip, the Great Lakes Science Center, was really fun. I was very proud of how well you all knew your facts about ecosystems, food chains,energy, and all that jazz. Mrs. Worley (Madison's mom) joined us and was very helpful! Glad to have you along! : )
I also want to thank those parents that were alternates for the field trips. It's reassuring to know were covered!

Besides field trips, another FUN thing was the Halloween party. Mrs. Bilfield (Brandon's mom,) AND Brandon's grandma headed up the festivities. I think it's safe to say that we all now LOVE melted caramel! Oh, and sitting on balloons until they pop - we all love that, too! Three cheers also go out to Mrs. Russo (Lindsay's mom,) Mrs. Zimon (Matthew's mom,) and Mr. Dickinson (Megan's dad) for helping out with the party, the games, refreshments, and for supplying many tricks and treats for all of us to enjoy. Personally, I think our party ROCKED! I will try to post some Halloween pictures, and other pictures over the weekend.

Field trips and parties would not be possible without our very supportive parents! Mrs. Bilfield and Mrs. Zimon are great room-moms; it takes a lot of time to coordinate all those extras we do....THANK YOU! Remember the day Mrs. Russo assembled all of my homeroom's writing folders? That saved me so much time! She coordinates all of the room parents for the fifth-grade hall. Now that's work!

I know there is something else I wanted to write, but you know me....can't recall it at the moment. I'm sure I'll wake up at some crazy hour and remember! Oh well....until next time!!!

Miss D'Amore : )

Hey Guys.....Remember.....

I think I've finally grabbed your attention and sparked your interest with the blog. It's truly to your advantage to check it regularly. When you decide to write a comment, you MUST use proper English (no slang,) good spelling, and proper sentences. It's a SCHOOL blog, so these things are pretty basic. Also, make sure you comment by the post where you want it displayed. You must also leave your name (or a codename - we'll get to that soon) or I won't publish it. I actually decide whether or not to make your comments public, so proofreading is a must! Make sure to check out all the links I have included. Visit the other blog I helped to create - the Fifth-Grade Reading blog. It's pretty neat - we'll start to add things to that site soon! In the mean time, why not be a follower? Can you figure out how to do this???? Finally, I will really make an effort to mention everyone on the blog at least once...be patient, okay?! These things take time!

Happy Blogging!

Miss D'Amore : )

New Blog Feature...

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

I decided to play around with my blog this afternoon and added a gadget to it. Below my posts is an area where I can post videos from You Tube. This is REALLY cool! I can post anything that we are studying in reading and science, and believe me when I tell you, there's plenty! This is opening up many doors for our classroom experiences together. How would you feel about having homework assignments like, "Watch the video online and comment about it on the blog?" Remember when I told you about all the Maniac Magee videos online? One is posted on the blog for you to view. It's a movie produced by Nickelodeon - I think you will be surprised by the many differences between the book and the movie. Some changes are small, and others.....well, let's just say they're more than big! It's presented in ten-minute clips, so you will have to click on the next scene. To watch it in full screen and be taken to the You Tube sight, first click on the left side where the two little boys are on the fence - that's Piper and Russel! Then, look for the link below the video and click it. This will take you to You Tube. After the first ten minutes ends, click on Part 2, which is right above the video. You're all smart, so I'm sure you'll figure this out! Let me know what you think and leave me a comment. I also found tons of electricity videos - perfect timing, huh? That's okay, now that I know how to do this, I'll find some good things on ecosystems and food chains. Until then, enjoy the show!

MIss D'Amore : )

Odd and Ends.......

I'll admit it - I haven't posted something new for a bit now. Sometimes time truly escapes us. That does not mean, however, I have forgotten about my blog. So, on with the show.

I've been getting several questions from parents about Progress Book. The first thing to keep in mind when checking grades is that not all grades are necessarily posted for every student at once. For example, grading response journals takes a considerable amount of time. You took the time to write in it, so I take the time to read, comment, and assess fairly. Sometimes I enter grades as I move through the items to be graded. Other times I wait and enter everything at the same time. Something like a quiz probably won't take as long to grade, so you'll see that appear quicker on progress book. Think of the system as a "work in progress." Because of this, I would get in the habit of checking grades once or twice a week.

Another thing you may not know is we (teachers) have the option whether or not to publish assignments/grades to the web. This might be done when we're recording the grades a few at a time. It gets confusing. Pretend you decide to check you grades and everything is pretty high - like 100%, 95%, and so on, but your overall grade says 85%. How is this possible? If there is an assignment not posted to the web but is in the system, your grades might not "match" perfectly. Again, once you check back in a few days, more than likely you'll notice some differences.

Missing assignments/homework DO impact grades! One thing that was discussed at Open House was that it is the student's responsibility to acquire any work missed during an absence and to complete that work in a reasonable time frame. Typically students get 1 day for each day they missed to make up the work. So if they missed 3 days of school, it should take no more than 3 days to complete their work. This is why it is SO important to check homework postings on progress book NIGHTLY! That way you know what homework was missed. BUT, we do not post any classwork that was missed. Again, we are shifting this responsibility to the students. Please believe me when I say that all students are given numerous reminders. I've also suggested to the team that they have a "buddy" that can give them some help on what they missed, explain things, and so on. Someone else asked me today that they noticed the homework assignment was no longer online. Well, it's there, but you have to manually adjust the date. I always have things posted for a week. At the start of a new week, the old assignments aren't visible unless I post it longer, perhaps for the whole year. You might notice that is the case with reading. Your "Read 25 minutes every night" assignment is always there, but something like "complete guided notes on pages 9-10 probably will only be posted during the week it's assigned and due.

I'm not sure why there is a question mark on the science page where the grade should be. It seems to be a glitch of some sort. All teams in fifth-grade are experiencing this problem. I'll keep you posted once this is resolved.

So is it crystal clear, or clear as mud? Trust me, you'll get used to it.

By the way, speaking of PIZZA, (like how I slipped that in?) keep bringing in those boxtops! PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny how I want a pizza party AND encourage everyone to watch The Biggest Loser! The key is moderation!

I guess that's it for now. Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Miss D'Amore : )

On Your Mark...Get Set......

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!Time to BRAG! Three cheers for Joan Moore & Mitch Wilburn for running in the district's first annual 5K this past Sunday! They did GREAT and had impressive times.....yes, they crossed the finish line WAY before me. Some would say they "beat me," but I don't race to win....I am more of a "slow-and-steady" kind of gal. Actually, the course was pretty difficult. There were lots of hills and inclines; part of the race was even on the grass. Both of these things were obstacles for me, but they didn't seem to phase Mitch or Joan. They even won medals! WAHOO! I want to know when they are going to help me improve my running! It was very cool seeing their parents there, too. Way to show your support! Anyone know how much money was raised?

Well, short and sweet tonight - time to turn in!

Miss D'Amore : )

The Biggest Loser - Give it a Chance!

Now that fall is officially here, so is the new TV season. Now, do not misunderstand me. I am not encouraging an increase of television viewing, But I am asking you to consider following the journeys of the men and women this season on The Biggest Loser. (Tuesdays on NBC at 8:00 PM) Not only is a show about being healthy/getting healthy, the life lessons delivered each week are very powerful. I often use the show as teaching tool, particularly in reading and finding themes. The show is very effective in modeling that hard work does pay off. Setting goals, not giving up, motivation, inspiration, being dedicated, decisions, choices, managing stress and disappointment, and yes, rewards, are among the lessons we can learn from this show. Every year I have a handful of students that begin watching. Other students hear our conversations in the morning and sense our excitement as we discuss the events that aired that week. As the season progresses, more and more students are watching. The season finale never disappoints, either, as monumental transformations are revealed. It's truly amazing watching and seeing what even the most lost souls can accomplish when they put their minds to it! Not only do they undergo physical transformations, but emotional ones as well. In truly touching witnessing these men and women gain confidence in themselves - something they didn't have before. Yes, it is a two hour show and ends at 10:00 PM. This is late for a school night, but it can be taped/recorded, or caught on cable. I'm not sure what channel carries the second showing, but i know it does air later in the week. The show was very inspiring for me, too. Weight was never an issue for me, but as I found myself getting older, it became an issue, and a sensitive one at that! Sitting and watching the show (probably while eating ice cream or something) was not working for me! My own journey is not over; maintaining my weight loss is difficult and sometimes a real pain in the neck! But I try to keep in mind the alternative. It's this type of lesson and inspiration that our kids would benefit from. School is not always easy; projects and homework can sometimes be a nuisance, but by discovering that school and learning is a life-long process that requires hard work and dedication, well, success is just around the corner!

Happy Viewing!

Miss D'Amore : )

Falls Almost Here.....

That's hard to believe, isn't it? The leaves are starting to change, the air is crisp, and it's getting darker outside entirely too early! It's a great time of the year, though!

Thank you, parents, for attending Open House last week. I enjoyed meeting so many of you! And a big thank you to my students for their hard work getting ready for their parents' visit! I think the evening was a big success! Parents ~ thank you in advance for signing up to help with class parties and chaperon on class field trips. We couldn't do it without you!

So I asked this question already, and NO ONE has answered me: WHO IS PLANNING ON RUNNING (OR WALKING) IN THE ORANGE 5K ON OCTOBER 26? C'MON PEOPLE, GET ON BOARD AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! If I can do it, YOU can do it, too! So who's with me? Anyone????????


Have a great week!

Miss D'Amore : )

I hope everyone enjoyed the day off. Happy Rosh Hashanah to the Jewish members of our family! And Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother!

UPDATE: Open House will now start in homeroom classrooms. Originally we planned on having the entire fifth-grade team meet parents as a group in the gym, then proceed to the classrooms. And since we LOVE to change our minds frequently, we are no longer meeting in the gym. Parents should go directly to their child's homeroom for an informal get together. You will get to meet with Mr. Kenney, too. I'm excited for our parents to see some of the work students have been busy with the past two weeks. It's been great getting to know the kids, too. We have a great team and I know it's going to be a successful year!

Who's going to run in the upcoming Orange Lions 5K with me? I've already signed up and would truly love some company! I don't run fast, but I give it all I have. So come on parents, students, fellow teachers, administrators, and friends, let's show our support and RUN TOGETHER! If running is not your thing, walk.....just be there!

That's about it for now. Until next time.........Have a great weekend!

Miss D'Amore : )

And We're Off!

Hello Everyone!

The new school year has gotten off to a fabulous start! Students are settling into new classroom routines, making new friends, and are already working hard. I've really enjoyed getting to know my new kids! What a great group! Hopefully I'll meet the rest of the parents soon....

We are busy getting ready for Open House, which is on Thursday, September 16. Please make every effort to attend. Open House will start in the gym at 7:00 with a brief presentation by the fifth-grade teachers, followed by time in the classrooms. Our room moms will have sign up sheets for our class parties, field trips, and general help. We are still finalizing some field trip dates, but things should be set by Open House.

In the mean time, just a couple of quick reminders.....Start saving your Boxtops for Education! Wouldn't it be cool to win this contest? The class with the most boxtops at the end of the year wins a pizza party! Okay folks, my past classes fell slightly short, but the title is now up for grabs - let's make this the year to take home the prize! I REALLY like pizza!

Speaking of food, our lunch time is now at 1:10! That's pretty late! Because lunch is late this year, it's a good idea to bring in a healthy snack everyday. The key word is HEALTHY! A bag of Doritos is not healthy! We don't allow the kids to eat unhealthy snacks in the classroom, so plan accordingly. Also, it's also good idea to keep an extra sweatshirt or sweat jacket at school. Although I'm always complaining I'm warm, the kids do get cold in class.

THANK YOU for all the boxes of Kleenex and hand sanitizer. If you haven't sent yours in yet, that's okay. Send it in whenever you can. History has shown that we can never have enough of either of these items!

Start thinking about musical instruments. Fifth-grade is the first year that students begin playing the instrument of their choice. There is an informational meeting coming up. I HIGHLY encourage ALL students to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity. Full band and orchestra rehearsals will begin in January. It's something no student should miss out on! Please contact to Mrs. Jackie Zielke with any questions.

Progress book is now up and running. Parents and students have separate passwords to access progress book. We will be giving out passwords for anyone that does not have theirs from last year. I suggest checking it about once a week. Not only can you see grades, but soon homework will be posted as well. PLEASE check the homework page NIGHTLY! Also, if students are absent, still check for posted assignments. More information will be given at Open House.

Well, time to call it a night. See you all soon!

Miss D'Amore

The Countdown Begins....AGAIN!!!

If you're like me, feeling that summer flew by is an understatement. I hope everyone had a fun, safe, and enjoyable few months with family and friends. I can't help but think about my former students and how they all are. One thing about teaching fifth-grade is that unless my kids come back to say "hello," I don't see them on a regular basis. They fly off to middle school and somehow turn into young adults! It's bittersweet. You work hard to help prepare them for the next stages of their lives, but miss seeing them. Although they are gone but not far away, I then shift my focus to the new year and wonder what lies ahead for all of us. What will my new kids be like? Who are they? What new adventures will this year bring? It's exciting! I'm sure my upcoming students are feeling a bit nervous to start a new school year. After all, they don't know me. They are used to fourth-grade, their past teachers, and the class they were apart of. BUT, fifth-grade truly ROCKS! Fifth-graders are the leaders; they are the SENIORS and set the example for the other children at Moreland. It's a lot to live up to, but worth the challenge. It's a year of extreme growth, new friendships and adventures, a demanding yet fun curriculum, transition, and endless rewards. Basically, it's FABULOUS! WELCOME TO FIFTH-GRADE EVERYONE! SEE YOU SOON!

Miss D'Amore : )

Happy Summer!

Good Morning Everyone!

I don't know about you, but these days, sleeping in means I wake up about 7 or 7:30. Well actually, I still wake up during the 5 o'clock hour like during the school year, but then I try to fall back to sleep. I get the morning sun in my room, and even with shades, it gets pretty bright, making it difficult to sleep. Or the geese start honking, like nature's alarm clock! They make it impossible to sleep! So I thought I would leave you a message before I head to the gym.

Today is the Summer Solstice! Do you remember what that means astronomically? I hope you do! In simpler terms, today is the official first day of summer! I'm curious what everyone has been doing with their summers so far? I've been pretty busy. I was by the pool on Friday with my niece, nephew, and mom and got really burned! I had sunscreen on, but I still got very red! But it was fun hanging out and doing nothing! I already told you that I ran my first 5K. Well, I think I'm going to run another one this Saturday at Crocker Park, so I've been getting ready for that. It's early in the morning which is good - it's cooler than later in the day! Too bad everyone lives so far from me - it would be great to see you either running with me or cheering for the runners! I've also been spending a lot of time with my family and friends. That's what's great about summer - time to do so many things!

Well, I hope even a few of you read this - I know everyone is busy with camps and their families. Have a great week ~ keep in touch!

Miss D'Amore : )

So Long, Farewell, & Goodbye!

Good Morning, Everyone!

Today is Sunday and I'm playing around on my computer, about to read the morning paper. Since Thursday, I've been SO busy! After saying goodbye to all of you and waving to you as the buses drove away after the emotional clap-out, there was much work to be done. Report cards, stuffing envelopes, packing things up, and so on, kept me busy until about 4:00. Then it was off to a beautiful farm for the faculty and staff end-of-the-year celebration. It was a well-earned break to have fun with a great dinner, good conversation, and relaxing with friends. You should have seen Mr. Kenney and Mr. Hastings play Cornhole! I don't think they should quit their day jobs!

Friday morning while you slept in, I was at the District's Retirement Breakfast. Can you tell we like to eat??? It was an emotional morning as we listened to fellow staff members highlight the impressive careers of those that are retiring. It's amazing how strong words can be. I hope at the end of my career, I have as many significant and valuable accomplishments as our retirees. What great roll models they are!

I spent the remainder of Friday in our classroom. You should see it now and how different it looks! It's so empty! It took me a long time to put things away, finish report cards, write thank you notes, leave a little surprise in your report cards, and so much more. I couldn't help but think of all of you and the wonderful year we had together. I truly enjoyed being your teacher and having you in my class. Yea, I'm a tough one, but that's because I care about each of you. It would be easy to look the other way, but that's not me. I want the best for my students - nothing else is acceptable. I want to thank each of you for bringing something unique to our extended school family. We were a great team - truly the best! I would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude to your parents for their support throughout the year. I also want to thank everyone for the thoughtful end of year gifts. I was truly touched by your thoughtfulness. Additionally, a big thank you to the families that contributed to the generous gift card to Nordstroms. Trust me when I say, I will put it to good use!

Guess what I did yesterday? I finally ran my first 5K! (That's 3.1 miles.) As you know, this has been a goal of mine for quite some time. So, I figured yesterday was as good a day as any. I ran the Nick Rauser Memorial Scholarship Race in North Olmsted. Nick, a talented athlete and resident of North Olmsted, was only 15 years old when a terrible car accident took his young life on December 21, 2008. Since then, the Leader Light Foundation was created in his memory. The organization raises money to award scholarships to students involved in athletics on the west side. The race began at 9:30 ~ I was pretty nervous and hoped I would be able to finish! So I put on my IPod, remembered to concentrate on my breathing, thought about my past year "in training," and started to run at the sound of the gun! Even though it was early in the morning, it was really hot out, but I just kept going.....and going....and going. At long last, I crossed the finish line! I don't know my official time, but I think I finished in about 36 minutes. Not half bad for an "older, " I mean "mature" gal like me in her first 5K! Then, you guessed it, MORE FOOD! Ha! There was a cookout after the awards ceremony which was also really fun. Finally, I came home and napped for a good three hours! I topped off the day by going to Hilarities Comedy Club in the evening. Now THAT was fun! And now as I type this, I keep thinking I need to start getting ready for school tomorrow........The idea of summer break hasn't hit me yet, but I'm sure it will when I'm lying out by the pool next week! (Oh, we forgot all about your recorders, which were hiding under the computer tables! I put them in the office, along with some star stories, response journals, and other items left behind. The building will be open for you to pick up these things!)

With that said, I hope you all have a wonderful, fun summer! I'll post to the blog from time to time, so please keep checking it. Feel free to comment and share what you're doing and the fun adventures you're experiencing. Check your spelling before you hit "submit!" Be safe, keep reading, and have a great summer!!!

Miss D'Amore : )

The Countdown Begins....

It's so hard believe that our year together is winding down, but it's FAR from over! We have many exciting things to look forward to in the next couple of weeks. Remember to bring in a white, short-sleeved T Shirt on Tuesday for the tie dying activity. We can there wear our snazzy new shirts on Unity Day, which is the following week. Your band and orchestra concert is Wednesday night. Remember the beginning of the year when you just began playing an instrument? Now look you! Also this week are the "Reading Around the World" luncheons. The Indians luncheon is Wednesday, while the Browns will have theirs on Friday. Projects are also due on those days. Our big Michigan trip is also quickly approaching on June 4. Let's hope the weather cooperates with us! For some extra "fun," I think I throw in one last science test! I think everyone has truly taken a strong interest in astronomy - it's my favorite topic in science because it's constantly changing; it really is "out of this world!" And let's not forget that the season finale of "The Biggest Loser" is this Tuesday. I'm very excited to see who takes home the title - it's really anyone's game right now! Who do you think will win? Oh, don't forget to bring Kleenex in for the clap out! It's always an emotional event watching my kids walk out the doors for the final time, waving goodbye to them as the buses pull away.......Then before you know it, they sneak in at the Ice Cream Social in August to say "Hello!!!!"

Congratulations to Asiya, Shelby, Allie, Melissa, Anjali, and Renee for the great jobs they all did in the production of Hansel and Gretel. The music was fabulous, you all aced your lines, and made us all so proud! Also, so many of our students helped with the props and sets. What a great team effort! I LOVED the show! It was entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Nice job, everyone!

Finally, I want to encourage you to keep up on the blog over the summer and next year - leave comments, too! And most importantly, come and visit me! I miss you guys already! Look for my final thoughts soon.......

Have a great week everyone!

Miss D'Amore : )

May Is Here!!!

April showers bring May flowers.....and now that May is here, the sneezing and general allergy attacks continues! I grew up with severe allergies. I spent many miserable days/nights also sneezing, being stuffed up, and rubbing my eyes. I truly feel your pain! Hopefully, though, now that the air conditioner in the building is on, maybe there will be some relief for our sneezers! Oh, we're OUT of hand sanitizer, so feel free to donate ASAP!

I turned in our box tops for counting on Friday ~ hopefully everyone's efforts pushed us to the top. If not, thank you for participating!

Also, thank you to Mr. Rashidi for again coming to our classroom and sharing his knowledge and expertise on science. I know his suggestions will be very helpful for you as you prepare for the Science Fair. There were SO many great ideas ~ I'm looking forward to seeing your final projects and displays. I do have a few tri-display boards, so if you need one, please let me know. Remember, www.sciencebuddies.org is a great site to help you ~ just make sure the final product reflects your OWN work, words, and conclusions.

Our "Reading Around the World" project is underway! You should all have your books by tomorrow (Monday, May 3) to share in class. I know you will enjoy this project and the fun culminating food activity. Keep up on the reading and take advantage of the class time you will receive to work. I will be giving you the full assignment guidelines this week, but for now, READ!!

You all seem to have taken a strong interest in Astronomy! That's VERY cool! I read online about a new storm on Saturn. That's the great thing about this science; there is always something new happening and being "discovered." I'm looking forward to your planet projects and seeing your presentations this week.

Well, that's about it. Have a great week without sneezing!

Miss D. : )

Testing Week is HERE!!

Good luck everyone on the upcoming Ohio Achievement Tests this week ~ I know you will all do a great job - hard work does pay off! I'm very proud of each of you and am confident you are all ready to shine! Go to bed a little earlier this week, eat healthy breakfasts, and arrive at school ready! I say, "Bring it on!"

Okay, so what happened to all that warm weather? How does this city go to over eighty degrees one day to in the mid forties the next? Whatever the weather or temperature reads, one thing is for sure: Allergy season is here! It's like a musical number in the classroom with all the sneezing, nose blowing, and general stuffiness. I feel your pain - as a person who's suffered her entire life battling allergies and trying to breath, I encourage you to take action. No one "likes" going to the allergist and facing those dreadful tests, but he/she can provide the means for some relief. And as a friendly reminder, sanitize those hands after you use Kleenex!

How about those Cavs? Forget allergy season, it's CAVS season! This IS the year! We're due!

That's all for now! Have a great week everyone!

Miss D'Amore : )

Spring has Sprung!

Hello Everyone ~ HAPPY SPRING!

Okay...I've been a bit sluggish updating the blog - my apologies for that! Guess what? I heard from Terell! He's on his spring break this upcoming week ~ he said he likes his new school. I wonder if he's done any push-ups over there? He left me a comment on the blog (the one below this post,) so check it out. Ben left me a comment, too, about looking through a telescope at Chagrin Falls, but I don't know where the comment disappeared to - I published it, but I can't find it. Anyway, I've been to Chagrin Falls many times (not recently though.) Think I need to take a little trip over there and visit that ice cream shop! Ben, remind me in class about what you saw so you can share it with your classmates. And yes, it's sounds like something I would certainly like to see! Maybe we should have Night School? That way we could check out the night skies together and look for those constellations! What do you guys think? Instead of 8:30 - 3:30, your days could be 3:30 - 10:30! Can you even imagine??? No, I can't either!

Remind your parents about the parent informational meeting for the Michigan trip. The meeting is this Tuesday at school. We will begin the meeting at 7:00 PM. In order to begin on time, they should arrive just prior to this. Students do not need to attend as we are limited on space. Your parents will fill you in when they get home!

Ohio Achievement Assessment week is quickly approaching. You should start to look over those old packets, class notes, journals, and anything else we used in all classes to help you prepare. The READING test is Monday, April 19. MATH is next on Tuesday, April 20. Finally, get ready for SCIENCE on Wednesday, April 21. Make sure you get lots of rest that week. Get to bed a little earlier and eat a good breakfast each morning. PLEASE BE ON TIME THAT WEEK! In order to give you the full amount of time permitted, we need to begin our tests on time each day. Also, we ask that there are no early dismissals during the test. The room cannot have unnecessary interruptions, so plan accordingly. Finally, don't be nervous! We've been working hard all year ~ I'm confident you will all do well!

Well, that's about it for now. Have a great weekend! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Days!!!!!

Miss D'Amore : )

Technical Difficulties....

Some of you saw first hand how tricky technology can be. Over the past couple of days, if you tried to log onto this blog, after a few seconds you were automatically and without choice redirected to a "hacker." I'm not sure if this would qualify as a true virus, but whatever it was made my blog come to an immediate stop. I had to remove the "random facts" portion of the blog that was by "The Comedy Corner." I'll be playing with some other possibilities to add in its place.

Meanwhile, keep up on your Study Island tests at home. Remember to study for Friday's science test!

Sweet Dreams!
Miss D'Amore : )

The Return of the Biggest Loser - A Lesson in Theme

As you can tell from my earlier post on the Olympics, I'm a fan. No Ben, I didn't really provide any information to you, but by posting the questions that I did, I was hoping to generate some interest and have you all research to find out the answers. Needless to say, aside from Allie, no one really rose to the challenge. : ( And aside from Mr. Hastings kindly sharing the events of his snow day, I have no idea how you all spent yours. HINT: Read the blog and respond to it!!!!

The Olympics were GREAT! Team USA set a record for most medals won in an Olympics. Even if you're not a sports fan, how can you not be inspired and motivated by the dedication and perseverance of the athletes? So many stories and only two weeks to tell all of them. It's not too late to look up the answers to the questions I posted.

With that being said, I'm SO happy "The Biggest Loser" is back! Tonight's episode was classic B.L. drama, not to mention a great way to study THEME! So many of you write to me in your response journals about universal themes, like "Don't give up on your dreams," and "Push yourself," or "The underdog is a good bet." Well, you'll find all of that in this show. Just to get you caught up, a little game playing went on tonight and teams were chosen. One team was clearly the "favorite." Naturally, even though they worked hard, they assumed they would win the "weigh in." I'm sure you can predict that didn't happen; the underdog's came from behind to win the weigh in, sending one of their opponents home. Now I'm not saying that this always happens. But when it does, and it DOES happen, take a lesson. ATTITUDE and HEART is half the battle. If you think you're beaten you are, so somehow, be POSITIVE! Stay focused and have goals. Hard work does pay off. You may not always "win" or come in "first" in the game or contest, but enjoy the ride and focus on the experience. Okay....it's a little late, but please think about it......make me happy - comment away!

Miss D.

Snow Day!

I think we'll all agree that having a snow day on a Friday was a nice surprise ending to the week! So what did everyone do today??? Let the comments begin!

So how about those Olympic games? I personally love watching them and have tremendous admiration for the athletes. Whether it's the speed and excitement of downhill skiing, the grace and beauty of figure skating, or the daredevil runs of snowboarding, the Olympic games are a time-honored tradition offering something for everyone. I'm always amazed with the stories behind the athletes. Many of them have truly faced some tremendous hardships. What great inspirational life-lessons we can learn from these dedicated men and women.

Okay, so here are some questions for you to test your Olympic knowledge:
*Where did the Olympics start? What is considered to be the first "event?"
*Today was the 30th anniversary of what "great moment" in Olympic history?
*What specifically is Nadia Comanici's Olympic claim to fame?
*What was significant about the Paris 1900 Summer Olympic Games?
*What summer Olympic sport features such positions as the Flamingo, crane, & fishtail?

Happy Olympic watching! Go USA!
Miss D'Amore : )

Hey Everyone! I'm sure you are all excited for your extra long weekend! I hope you all get to do something fun! I thought the party today was great ~ Cupid has certainly found his way into our room and seems to have pulled back his bow, don't you agree????? Thank you to Mrs. Weltman for her fabulous help and party planning! The pictures and frames looked great - I'm sure all of your parents will love their goodies and Valentine's! Thanks also go out to Mrs. Schechtman, Mrs. Chirokov, Mrs. Taylor, and Mrs. Carran. Our room moms make things so nice for us. Sadly, we missed Camryn, Kristen, and Alex today. You guys all need to get well soon!

See everyone on Tuesday....I think it's a replacement Monday!

Miss D'Amore : )

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza-Pie...

Click on the link to read about what is so special about tonight's moon! Should be awesome to see! If you can't click it, copy and paste it into your browser.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100129/sc_space/biggestandbrightestfullmoonof2010tonight

Students have been busy this week getting to know the new Fifth-Grade Literacy Blog! Although you can't post anything at home, you can leave comments, much like you do here. Remember to use your "code name," and to be appropriate and professional.

And speaking of reading, how about Feranmi? Her goal is to read 100 books this year, and those in her reading class know she's well on her way!

Well, the stack of response journals is calling my name (hey - personification!) Have a great weekend ~ stay warm!!

Miss D'Amore

New Fifth-Grade Literacy Blog!

Check it out!!!!!!!!!!! The link is on my blog page (on the left under reading links.) This is a terrific way to share information about books and literature! Get involved! Make sure to bookmark the page. Parents, encourage your child to leave his/her comments. Again, welcome to the 21st century!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Miss D'Amore

Almost Friday......

Hi Everyone!

Just got back from running - I ran 3.10 miles (which is a 5K) in just under 34 minutes. Not an Olympic record, but I'm getting better. More importantly, I'm sticking to my New Year's Resolution....Are you??? I've gone to the gym 4 times this week, so I'm happy about that.

Anyway, some official blog business. In order for me to post your comments, I am going to insist on proper grammar, spelling, capitalization, and all that jazz. Keep in mind, while I want everyone to have fun and contribute, this is a SCHOOL blog. So, no slang, shortcuts, "text messaging" formats, and carelessness, okay???? Okay!

Did you know it's January???? Yes, it's true. I'm saying this because some of you think spring has sprung. Folks, you need to dress accordingly! Come prepared to go outside for recess. I'm really into these new creations: they're called gloves, boots, and hats! Own them! Bring them! Wear them! They look especially nice with a zipped up coat! It's true! : )

So let's practice responding to a question.........In the experiment we did in science with pollution and habitats, we used a small sample to represent an environment. Imagine this on a much larger scale. How do you think pollution effects a habitat?

That's it for now......

Miss D'Amore

Enjoy the LONG weekend!

So how did everyone like the play? I thought it was really good. I really could do without the extreme heat and bumpiness of the bus, though! Thanks for being on "good" behavior. Also, thank you to Mrs. Weltman, Mrs. Sonkin, Mrs. Posner, and Mrs. Mehalko for joining us!

On a sad note, we said goodbye to Terell today. But, I know he'll be okay in his new school. He can impress all of his new friends and teachers with his superior ability to do killer push-ups like no other!

I hope everyone has a great, long weekend! Do something fun, like sledding or a movie. And don't forget to READ, too!

That's it for now - See everyone Tuesday!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road......

CONGRATULATIONS to Shelby, Melissa, Allie, and Dana for the WONDERFUL job they did in the Stagecrafters production of The Wizard of Oz. The show was simply fantastic - our girls have much to be proud of and certainly should take a bow! Please remember us when you're all rich and famous actresses!

A Little Christmas Miracle!

Okay, time to brag for a minute! Three cheers for Ben! He wrote a business letter of request to JK Rowling. He requested that she sign a book for his mother as a special Christmas present. Ben wrote the letter himself, mailed Ms. Rowling a Harry Potter, and waited anxiously for days. He received the signed book from Ms. Rowling on Christmas Eve! Needless to say, his mother was thrilled! Way to go, Ben!