I have done a horrible job updating the website lately! I apologize. The
EOG's are this week and next week and the kids are going to do awesome! They
have all worked really hard this year and are prepared. I'm so proud of all
of them. Now is the time to show the state how awesome our students at
Voyager are!
Hotel Information for DC Trip
Best Western Springfield
6721 Commerce Street
Springfield, VA 22150
703-922-6100
April Specials Schedule
1- Spanish
2- PE
3- Music
6- Computer
7- Art
8- Spanish
9- PE
20-Music
21-Computer
22-24: DC
27- PE
28- Computer
29- Art
30- Spanish
In Language Arts we are starting a new book entitled, Esperanza Rising. The
chapter titles are fruits and vegetables, in Spanish. On the homework page I
will write the chapter title that the students must write a response to for
homework. They can choose what type of response they want to do from the
choices that they glued into their literature circle notebook. Each
response will need to be one page.
This week Ms. McNinch and I are starting a new behavior system. Instead of
moving students down levels for misbehaving they will be rewarded for
behaving appropriatly. If they are "Caught Being Good" they will receive a
ticket. They will keep this ticket and when they want to "buy" a reward they
can turn tickets in and get a reward. The rewards are simple things like
getting a pillow for the day, playing on the computer in the morning,
sitting in the teacher's seat, having lunch with a friend, and even dropping
a grade (less than 5 points)! The students seem really excited about this.
If we do have problems with a student they will be asked to fill out a
behavior sheet. We think it's an important time for them to think about
their behavior and also lets the parents know what is going on.
Ask your child how many tickets they got today!
February Specials
2nd- Computer
3rd- Spanish
4th- Computer
5th- Music
6th- PE
9th- Art
10th- Spanish
11th- PE
12th- Music
13th- Art
16th- Computer
17th- Spanish
18th- PE
19th- Art
20th- Computer
23rd- Music
24th- Spanish
25th- Computer
26th- Art
27th- Music
Hello! I hope you are all having a wonderful week. I wanted to let you know
some of what was going on in our class.
We have started learning about slavery and the Civil War. During fifth grade
we cover and enormous amount of information in social studies and therefore
we just cover the basics. We are quickly going to move on from the Civil
War and head right into World War I! The students had the chance to read
some slave narratives and learn about slavery through first person
accounts. They really seemed to enjoy it, although it was difficult for
many of them. The current unit in our social studies textbook starts at the
Civil War and ends at the current war on terrorism. I was amazed at that and
decided that was to much to test them on at one time. I have decided to give
them multiple quizzes instead of one test. They will have about one quiz a
week, starting with a quiz on lessons 1-3 in Unit 3 next Friday (the 23rd).
In Language Arts we are reading a novel called "Captured." The students are
really enjoying this book and I love that it ties directly into our Social
Studies unit. The basis of the novel is that a 14 year old boy is captured
by Confederate soldiers. He ends up going through a battle with them and is
taken to a POW prison. The men he was with end up getting him released. It
is based on a true story. The students are doing a number of writing
assignments with this story. We are also doing small group guided reading
and centers. The students have the chance to read with me in a small group,
of 5-7, twice a week. While I am reading with one group the other students
are working on their novel assignment or they are at our grammar center.
This has been working out really well. The students are behaving
fantastically! It is so nice to be able to trust them to do their own work
so I can focus on my small group. Mrs. Hillman is also an amazing help
while she works with my homebase. I could not imagine teaching with out her!
If you have any questions on what we are learning or ways you can help,
please feel free to contact me by email. It was wonderful to see so many of
you at the open house last week. Reports cards will be going home next
Friday, January 23rd.
I also wanted to remind everyone of the dress code at Voyager Academy. "No
denim or camouflage – all other colors permitted. Cargo pants and shorts
are permitted. Pants are to be worn at the waist and not be excessively
tight or baggy. No sweatpants, athletic pants/shorts." The fifth grade
teachers have started to enforce the dress code a bit more. We have spoken
with many students during recess. We are considering pants with a
drawstring as sweatpants or athletic pants. Thanks for your understanding in
this matter.
The next payment for DC will be due on January 30th. The payment will be $80
per person. Thanks so much for your support for this trip! I know the
students are very excited!
Michelle Burton
January Specials
12- PE
13- Music
14- Spanish
15- Art
16- Computer
19- No School
20- Music
21- PE
22- Spanish
23- Art
26- Spanish
27- Computer
28- Music
29- PE
30- Spanish
Dear Students and Parents,
So far this year the students have been able to use the microwave to
heat up their lunch. Although I understand that having a warm lunch is nice,
it has begun to take over lunch time in our classroom. Some of the students
end lunch time with just 5 minutes to eat their lunch because of the long
line. To help with this problem I have decided to assign one day a week for
each student to bring in something to heat up. If the student decides to
bring in something to eat on another day that needs to be heated up they
will not be allowed to use the microwave. Thanks for your cooperation in
this matter. We will start this
when we come back from break (Wednesday, January 7th, 2009).
Monday: Melissa, Brandon, Josh, Chaz, David
Tuesday: Darius, Harry, Peyton, Caroline, China
Wednesday: Kaylee, Alex, Spencer, Matthew, Kayley
Thursday: Chick-Fil-A – No microwave use
Friday: Maggie, Savannah, Stephen, Lexie, Taylor
Sincerely,
Michelle Burton
Happy Holidays! I hope you are all having a wonderful time with your family
and friends. This is just a reminder that on January 6, 2009 we are having
an open house at the new school at 5 pm. Please come and check out the new
school and find our classroom! It is all amazing!
Michelle Burton
DC Money is due December 17th! Thanks!
Michelle Burton
If anyone would like to donate milk crates to our classroom that would be
wonderful! Thanks so much for all you do.
Michelle Burton
December Specials
1- Art
2- Music
3- PE
4- Spanish
5- Art
8- Computer
9- Art
10- PE
11- Spanish
12- Computer
15- Music
16- Art
17- Computer
18- Spanish
19- Music
Hello! I am so proud of how hard the students have been working. Their
social studies projects and book reports turned out wonderful! The students
are really learning how to complete projects and work with partners. They
are staying incredible focused in class. They all deserve a big pat on the
back for their work!
Thank you to everyone who brought in poster board. The students projects
look so great. We always need more, so if anyone has extra or wants to grab
some at the store.
I sent home a note today with each student about an individual
book "project" we are starting next week. I have asked that the students
show you this letter and have it signed.
Thanks for all your support in class. Please let me know if there is
anything that I can do to help your child in class.
Michelle Burton
Hello! Happy Halloween! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Report cards went home today. Ms. McNinch and I both also sent home a parent
survey. Please fill those out and return them next week. My survey was
mostly focused on communication. If you have any other questions or
comments, about the class, social skills, or Language Arts and Social
Studies, please feel free to put those on the back. I would love to hear any
feedback you have! We want to make this year as positive and educational as
possible for your children.
I have attached a copy of the students social studies project to the
documents page. I have changed the due dates, from the ones the students
have, because it is taking longer than we thought! This is an in school
project.
We are going to start a book report on the in class novel we just finished
reading. They will be working with their reading buddy. These will also be
completed in class.
Once again, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Thanks
for all your support.
Michelle Burton
Can you believe the first quarter of school is almost over? Before you know
it we will be in the new school!
The students have been reading a book with one other person for the last
week. They have started passing a notebook back and forth discussing a
little of what they have been reading. I was impressed with their writings
today that I read from the "A" person. Ask you child about their book!
In writing, the students are working on a short story. After all the stories
are typed we will make a "book" so the students are able to read each others
work. I am very impressed with their writing abilities. They are coming up
with such a wide range of topics to write about and are constantly begging
me for more time to write. I am very proud of them. They are working really
hard on this.
In social studies, we are learning about Native Americans, Explorers, and
the first colonies. They will be having a test on this material, this coming
Wednesday. I am planning on passing out a study guide on Friday. The
students will be able to take their books home over the weekend to study and
review from.
Remind your child that I expect their focus and hard work at all times
during class. School is a time to learn not a time to goof off. The
students are getting a little disruptive in class. Remind them to be
respectful of teachers and all authority in the building. Thanks for your
help!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Michelle Burton
mburton@voyageracademy.net
As the students start creating more projects in class, poster board would be
a very helpful supply to have. If anyone is willing to donate posterboard to
the class it would be awesome! It could be colored or white. The half size
poster board would also be fine. Thanks for all you do for our classroom.
October Specials Schedule
1- Computer
2- Music
3- Spanish
6- PE
7- Art
8- Computer
9- Music
10- PE
13- Spanish
14- Computer
15- Music
16- PE
17- Spanish
20- Art
21- Computer
22- Music
23- PE
24- Spanish
27- Teacher Workday
28- Art
29- Music
30- PE
31- Spanish
Michelle Burton
I have been rather disappointed in the student’s behavior at the end of last
week and this week. They have been interrupting class often with goofy
behavior and calling out. I have had to speak with them about their
behavior and volume along with a few other teachers. Many of the special's
teachers have also said things to me about them being "chatty." Please
remind your child that it is important to be on their best behavior during
school and that we can not have as many disruptions as we have been having.
Michelle Burton
The first week of school went awesome. We seem to be getting into the swing
of things and starting to learn a lot! I'm proud of how the students are
getting hard to work right at the beginning of each day. Let's keep of the
good work!
I hope to see all of you tonight at curriculum night. Ms. McNinch and I have
lots to share with you!
Michelle Burton
We made it through the first day of school! Wahoo!!!!! The students need
their binder dividers labeled as follows:
L.A. (language arts)
S.S. (social studies)
Math
Science
Many of the students only brought 2 composition notebooks. They will need
three for school this year. They can bring that in as soon as possible.
Michelle Burton
Welcome to Fifth Grade! I am so excited about this coming year. I know it
is going to be awesome and we are all going to learn so much.
Make sure you bring all your school supplies to school on Monday. Eat a good
breakfast each day so you can be ready to learn.
School starts at 8am and ends at 3:00 (except on Mondays, when it ends at
1:00). Being at school on time and the whole day is important. We do a lot
of group projects and your group needs you to be here to work.
Let's get ready for a great year!
Mrs. Burton
