Not Doctor Goldberg, RUBE Goldberg

In Mrs.Callahan's class we are learning about Rube Goldberg. Our inventions are due 3/3/08. Rube Goldberg made everything more complicated than it was supposed to be. Every year Purdue holds a Rube Goldberg contest. Contestants from all over the U.S. they take about 100 steps to screw in a light bulb,or scratch someone's back. we had to make a Rube Goldberg comic strips, we had to use 4 pictures she gave us, and we had to draw two things.

Spelling and Caesar's English

Today we will talk about Spelling. Here are our Spelling words:

1. ceremony 2. celebration
3. compassion 4. exciting
5. motivate 6. prohibit
7. fortunate 8. permission
9. maneuver 10. strategy
11. inferior 12.superior
We also have a Caesar's English list.

ROOT MEANING MODERN EXAMPLES

grat pleasing gratify,ingratiate,gracious

curr run current,recur,incur
trans across transfer, transfusion, transform
migr wander migrate, migration, migratory

rubt break abrupt, corrupt, interrupt

by: Maria, Nick, Lindsey and Jack (most important one)

The Hundred-Twenty-Third Bomb

Okay, yesterday we were supposed to have a celebration for the 123rd day of school. I didn't realize we were going to have a guest-speaker that day. The rest of the day I was given an assignment, which I botched. Wow, I'm 0 for 2, aren't I?

I promised the kids that I'd make it up to them as soon as possible. Which may be sometime in May.

Well At Least There's a Part About How to Work a Rubik's Cube

In the mornings we come in and do our attendance and then we go to are desk and read silently til 8:30.Then we go and do centers we have different groups and there are 5 groups they are comic creation ,computer we go on math games ,scholastic news, hang man and blog witch we are at today.Then we have specials witch are Spanish,art,P.E ,music,and library .When we come back we have snack then we switch to either Science and Word Study or English and Social Studies then we come back and go to recess then lunch . When we come back we then switch for math . Well now you know what our day is like in the fifth grade at Mr. Carter's class. But before you go you might want to know a fraction of the formula for a rubik's cube. Here is Brandon to tell you. You want to get to get the first row first second, second and third last, not side by side. Here is the formula for the second row. Flip it over from the first row. Here is the edge flipping sequence! Start by turning the cube to the face you want it on. Sorry! I ran out of time! I will tell you next week!

And will see you next time

By:Molly ,Mckenna,Brandon,and Zach

Brevity

Friday we are going bowling at Woodland bowl. The permission slip is due Wednesday the 27th. The cost is five dollars. Your inventions are due March 4th and the invention convention is on March 6th. The invention convention is from 6:30-7:30. Everyone got to choose a topic about history for their research paper. By:Dylan, Claire, Ben

Specials

We have different specials each day. To tell witch specials we have we check the specials list. Each special has a letter.
A: Art
B:Music
C: Spanish & Media
D: P.E
E: Spanish
F: P.E & Music
In art we are painting famous paintings.
In music we are learning how to play the xylophone.
In Spanish Mrs. Haberfield is reading us a book.
In Media we are checking out books to read.

That is what we are doing in specials right now!!
Written by: Caroline, Katie, Matt, and Megan

Lessons Learned

In Mrs.Jackson's math class we are learning about negative numbers. We are adding and subtracting negative numbers and positive numbers. this is an example 12 - (-15) = -3
:>) Kaitlin V.
In Mr.Carter's math class we are adding & subtracting positive and negative numbers Reciprocals(12/14 =1 1/7), and Dividing fractions(3/4 / 2/6 = 6). Yesterday we had a math test over this. It was actually pretty easy! :)
(:^)Taylor S.
In Mrs. Sherman's math class we reviewed adding and subtracting fractions. An example problem is 1/3 + 1/5=8/15
Haley H.

Redundancy

Math Bowl will be held on March 4th, so if your child is in Math Bowl be sure to come. Mr. Carters Class will be celebrating the 123 day of school on Feb. 26, 2008 since Mr. Carter was not here on the 100 day of school. Colonial Days was on the 111 day of school. In science class we are making inventions. First, you find a problem. Then, you create a theory on how to solve the problem. Next, you design a machine that can use your theory and solve the problem. Now, you make a prototype and fix the problems that prototype shows. Finally, you make the final machine and solve the problem.

A Very Abbreviated Summary of Recent Events

In Science we are writing down problems on the way to make an invention. Some of the kids from the past years made money off their invention. In English we just did 35 or more note cards all with facts on them. All of the facts have info on your subject. It is going to be a very long project. You have to take all of the info and make it in to a three to five page long paper. It will be very hard. In Mr.Carter's math class there is going to be a test on Wednesday. It is on pemdas, dividing fractions, intergers, and reciprecals.



By: Chad,
and George

T.G.I.F!

Today the note cards are due for our research project in English. The Presidents Day Program is today. The 2nd is performing and so is the choir. Speaking of that, there will be no school on Monday due to Presidents Day. But there will be an ice skating party for anyone who wants to come. In math we are learning about pemdas. It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Devision, Addition, and Subtraction. In English we are working on our research project. But today we have Word Study and Science. In Science we are making inventions. To come up with our ideas, we keep a journal with all of our problems in it. Then we try to come up with ideas to solve these problems.We have three new pets in Mr. Carters room. They are fish their names are George, Mr. Carter, and Zach.We had a fish called Drew, but he died. Then we feed him to Barton (the turtle). Right now Mr. Carter is drinking Mountain Dew (Diet).


By Jack and Nick

My Funny Valentines

Hello webites! I am very pleased to see you. Today we are going to talk about valentines day and the weekly poll! The weekly poll is going to be when you people out there in the world right a comment that says two subjects and we vote for which one is better in class. Which do you prefer Star Wars or Harry Potter?

PEMDAS are them order of operations that you use in a mathematical equation. First you do whatever is in the parentheses, then any exponents, then any multiplication or division problems, and then any addition or subtraction problems.
Now to talk about valentines Day we will not have a party this year but we do get to give out Valentines and the lolly pop drop will be done by student council.


By Molly, Brandon, Zach, and McKenna

and will see you next time.

Edited for mathematical correctness by Mr. C.

A Visitation of the Plague

Being that we have been hit with the black plague, we are mostly reviewing and stuff in class right now. I'm hoping this spout of illness passes soon, because this is the first full-length, uninterrupted week we've had in awhile.

But anyway, the kids' notecards are due on Friday, there's a Math test next Wednesday for my class, and the kids should be hard at work on their inventions for the upcoming Invention Convention.

All spelling is due next week instead of this week, but they already have their lists. Hopefully everyone is taking lots of vitamin C and fluids. If this doesn't pass soon, you may want to consider burning your sheets and stuffing flower petals in your pockets.

Mr. C

Such a Dope

Possibly due to my current doped-up-on-cold-medicine state, although I like to think it's because I'm so benevolent, I've changed the due dates on the regular spelling assignments this week. Nothing will be due until next week, as to alleviate the pressure on the kids because of the notecards which are due on Friday, the science, and all that other stuff that's going on right now.

One kid actually said, "I feel like the world is closing in on me!" No kid should feel like this before high school, or possibly college.

Math will continue as normal, for the most part. Today we actually didn't have any homework, but we will be having a test next Wednesday, so ask your child to show you the study guides we're doing in class.

Centers

Almost every day we have centers. Right now we are going to tell you about all of the centers we do.
1. Journaling-
It is when Mr.Carter gives you a topic and you right about it.
2. Hangman-
At hangman we use either our spelling words or our latin roots to use as the words.
3. Blogging-
What we do is blog about something we have learned and teach you about it.
4. Comic Creation-
In comics you can get in a group or work by your self and you just create a comic and then color it.
5. Reading-
In reading you pick a book and read and disguise the book in your group.
6. Math Games- (on computer)
At math games we get a chance to get on the computer and play games. Some of the games include Lost City, Math Blaster, Flashcards, and more.
7. Overhead-
On the overhead we practice are spelling words and latin roots.


These centers take up to 30-45 minutes. You stay with the same group every time. So far everybody has seem to enjoy them. Especially the Comic Creation.

posted by: Matt, Megan, Katie, and Caroline

Mr. Carter Recovering from Shock as a Result of "Normal" Week

The kiddos have a Latin quiz either tomorrow (for Gold Day) or Wednesday (for Blue Day). These are all based on the Latin words (the short list) below.

Also, as per normal, the 3x each ABC order for their spelling words is due on Wednesday and the meaning exercise is due Thursday. This goes for all students in the fifth grade.

For Math, page 226 in the Math Journal is due tomorrow, as well as #s 11 and 12 on page 227. 11 and 12 are hard, and they will be counted as extra credit. Also, in class today we did a handout that I made to help them with order of operations.

Next Wednesday will be the big math test over this mixed-up chapter. There's a little bit of everything in there, but once we get through, I'm pretty sure the next chapter is fairly smooth sailing.

Vocabulary for the Masses

Jump rope for heart is/was today!! Last Friday the Indy Air Bears were here!! It was cool!! Latin roots test tomorrow or Wednesday!! Yikes!! The Latin roots are...

• vulgar: common
• traverse: to cross
• undulate: to wave
• vivid: bright
• pallor: paleness

P.S. Vulgar means common but not a good common thing!
The spelling words for this week are ...

1. meander
2. converge
3. regulate
4. condone
5. banish
6. reliable
7. constant
8. drowsy
9. gradual
10. improper
11. diagonal
12. certain

Goodbye for now!!
Taylor
Kaitlin
Haley
#1 Bloggers!!!!
(Everyone else is too!)

Even Better Than Steel Wool

We had a lot of fun at Colonial Days last week. Thanks to everyone who came in to help us out. Like so many of you, I was amazed by the amount of parental support we have at school.

Yesterday was kind of a catch-up day with the class. As far as I know, next week is pretty normal, so I'm looking forward to getting back into some of the routines I tried to establish right at the first of the semester.

The journals? I can't remember whether or not I said anything in the last post, but I've been so happy with the things the kids have been writing. And they sit there and just write for the amount of time they're given. It's amazing. At the beginning of the year, most of these kids would have rather chewed on steel wool for twenty minutes than write; now they're writing machines.

Days of Fire and Madness

Hey, guys, it's me this time. I have to get you all caught up on everything--from crazy changes in the schedule to everything else going on, I think it's time for a quick update.

First off, Buckeye (of "and Hollowbones" fame) is pretty sick with an intestinal flu. Sadly, there will be no Buckeye and Hollowbones this year, but we will be having Colonial Days tomorrow as planned. Actually, come to think of it, that's not exactly "as planned" either, is it?

Today the counselors from Clay are coming to do their scheduling meeting, and then you will have until sometime next week (I imagine...I'll let you know when I know) to get it back to me.

Right now the kids are hard at work journaling. I've enjoyed reading their entries--often extremely entertaining! They have a list of possible journal topics from which to choose, but of course freestyle is always welcome too.

We took the third in a series of Geography quizzes this morning. Next up, I'll be asking them to place the names of countries on a blank map. Don't worry, we'll only do about eight at a time, but I think this will give them a better idea of how the world--and all those countries they hear about--fits together.

Still on today's schedule: grading DOLs (sorry for the delay--it's harder to schedule than you may realize), book talks, word of the day, today's poem, and a little bit of review of our spelling test coming up on Friday. Tomorrow we won't have a chance to get to it.

Oh, and sorry about the ski trip! I know so many of you were looking forward to it. Who knew it would be sixty and stormy yesterday? I know a lot of the kids were pretty bummed.

Mr. A did say that some time in the next couple weeks, he's going to have the kids come down to the cafeteria for a pizza party and a movie or cartoons because he feels bad about everything being canceled. The kids were certainly in no mood to learn yesterday, so luckily for them, it was decided (by someone else) that the kids would all watch a movie yesterday. Personally, I was excited by the idea of getting another day of education in, but I'm pretty sure I was the only one in the building. I'm such a nerd.

Okay, I think those are the highlights. If I think of anything more, I'll pass it your way.