The first semester has definitely flown by and I have enjoyed working with your students.  They are all such neat kiddos and we have had our share of laughs and fun while learning in my classroom. Get lots of rest this next week because come Friday they will be all yours to enjoy for two whole weeks as we bid adieu to 2014.

This is what we are studying this week:

Math:  We have been studying coordinate grids and how to find patterns to generate coordinate points to graph.  They seem to have picked up on this skill rather quickly and are working hard.  We will be continuing this in the last week before the break.  We will be taking a Module 10 assessment and algebra post-test (expressions/equations, patterns, graphing) on Monday, Dec. 16th. On Thursday, we will be taking a Module 14 quiz on ordered pairs and relationships.

Science: We have finished discussing the differences between weather and climate. We are starting the Water Cycle next week.  The homework for the week will be on StemScopes on the water cycle. They will be taking a Weather, Climate, and Water Cycle Assessment on Thursday, the 18th.

Social Studies: We are continuing our unit on Westward Expansion this week and will be discussing the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the War of 1812, Texas Annexation, and the Oregon Trail.  We will not have a quiz/assessment over this material until after the break.

ELAR: We are making inferences and drawing conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry this week.  We will also be writing our second composition of the 2nd Nine Weeks this week.

Our Christmas party will be on Friday from 10:30 - 11:30.  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and is ready for the last school week of 2014!

We have been working hard and going full throttle in the weeks leading up to Christmas break.  The students are learning new objectives and staying focused despite how close we are to the holidays.  I am very impressed and happy with how hard they are working.  Here's what we are working on next week:

Math: In math we are finished with equations and expressions. We are now moving into graphing and patterns. There were will not be a test next Friday. We will take one on the following Monday instead.

Science: We have finished learning about alternative energy resources, fossil fuels, and fossils.  We are now moving into our weather and climate unit. The weather and climate assessment will be given on the Thursday before we get out for Christmas break.

Social Studies: We are finished discussing the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  We are now starting our unit on Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.  There won't be a quiz or assessment this week.  There will be a quiz on the Wednesday before Christmas break.

ELA: In reading we have finished our novel study on The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe and will be taking a test over the novel (it is also an AR book) and will be watching the movie during the week before the break.

A couple of reminders:
***Saturday is the Fulshear "Parade of Lights" and our choir will be performing.  Come out and support our 5th grade choir members!
***Tuesday, Dec. 9th is our next Spirit Night at the Chickfila in the Bella Terra shopping center.
***Thursday is our "Coffee with the Principal" and FOH meeting
***Progress Reports will go home Thursday

Have a fantastic weekend!

Good morning parents!!!  Hope everyone was able to enjoy some of the beautiful weather we had yesterday!  This will be a short week so I will keep this simple:

In Math: we are finishing up numerical expressions and will be taking an assessment over it tomorrow.  Please remind your students of PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally or Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction).

In Science: We are beginning alternative energy resources.

In Social Studies: We have finished up the introduction to the creation of the Constitution and are now moving into the Bill of Rights.  The History Alive quiz on Ch. 15 will be Thurs., Dec. 4th after the break.

In reading, we are finishing up our magazines and moving into Author's Purpose.

Have a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving with your families! AND, to my fellow Aggies....see you at the A&M/LSU game Thursday night...Whoop!

We had a cold and busy week last week!  The students are plowing on and have seemed to gain some momentum into this last stretch before our holiday breaks! Everyone is working super duper hard.  Here are some of the things we are focusing on this week:

Math: We have finished up multiplying and dividing fractions. This week we are studying prime and composite numbers, divisibility rules, factors, and algebraic expressions using PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtractions).

Science: We are finishing up fossil fuels this week and will be taking an assessment on Friday.  The homework for last week in StemScopes was reassigned for this week.  It is imperative that your student is logging on to StemScopes and reviewing their homework.  It is due on Friday.  There is a direct link between the students who do well on assessments with those who spend time on StemScopes.

Social Studies: We have been talking about the Constitution and are working in Ch. 14 of our History Alive books.  There will be a quiz on Friday.

ELAR: We are working on our first writing compositions this week to be due on Friday and is an expository piece.  We are focusing on main ideas and text features in reading to help us navigate non-fiction texts.

A few reminders:

Spirit Night is Tuesday, Nov. 19th at Genghis Grill in La Centerra.  Please come out between 4-8 and support Huggins. It can be dine-in or carry-out!

Next week is a short week as we let out for the Thanksgiving holidays on Tuesday afternoon.  Both Monday and Tuesday are regular school days,

With the cold weather, just a reminder---jackets must be in dress code in order to be worn inside the building.  All other jackets will only be allowed outside.

Have a great week!

Good morning to my 5th grade family!  I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC weekend and was able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and our Fall Carnival.  It was a lot of fun and seeing everyone come out to make it a success was awesome!  Here are a few reminders for the week:

Math: Just when y'all were getting the hang of fraction multiplication we are switching gears and are now diving into division with fractions.  Now I know you will see the homework and want to show your students the "old" way or the way we were taught but please, please, please resist.  We are teaching them using models and pictures which is a requirement from the state. I promise though, now that they have all gotten the hang of multiplication, the introduction to division this morning was a breeze!  FYI: THE ENTIRE CLASS rocked the multiplication with fractions test last Friday with most making A's and a few B's!!!  I am so proud of them.  The entire test was nothing but pictures and models so I know they have aced this conceptual method of multiplication!  I hope that the videos are helping you to understand at home. 

Science: In science we are discussing the formation of fossil fuels and how it is important to conserve!  Their homework for the week is in StemScopes and there are 3 different activities assigned.  They are due on Friday.

Social Studies: We are taking a Ch. 8 test on Wed. over the road to the American Revolution.  On Thursday we are switching back to the History Alive book and will be starting Ch. 14, the Constitution.

ELAR: This week we are starting our 1st composition for the 2nd nine weeks and it will be an expository piece.  In reading we are discussing main ideas and the details that support them.

Don't forget:

Tomorrow is our 4th/5th grade Veteran's Day Program at 1:30 and 6.

Thursday morning is "Coffee with the Principal" and the monthly FOH meeting.

Thursday evening is our Open House from 6 - 7:30.

Thank you and have an awesome week!

Just a few reminders and happenings this week in 5th grade:

Math: We are still studying fractions and this week are multiplying fractions by a whole number.  I have a video ready to post to assist you in helping your student with their homework.  Lots of new methods are being taught and your fifth graders are working hard! Below I have added the anchor chart to show you all of the methods we use to multiply fractions.  Any method is fine, as long as they are using them!

Science: We are finishing up "Changes to Land" and will be testing this week over it.  Your students have notes in their journals on weathering, erosion, and deposition and they also have assignments in Stemscopes to study.  Please make sure they are signing on each week and doing their science homework.  It is assigned on Mondays and due on Fridays.

Social Studies: We have been working on memorizing the Preamble and it is a major grade.  We have taken a more in-depth look at the road to the American Revolution and have been utilizing our big social studies book.

Reading: We have studied text structures and now talking about text features in reading.  In ELA, we are discussing expository writing and different parts of speech.

***Thursday and Friday are Early Dismissal days for parent-teacher conferences.  I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all of y'all for having 100% participation.  I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday.

***Saturday from 1 - 5 p.m. is our annual Fall Carnival.  We will have 2 fifth grade games set up and we are in need of parent volunteers to man our games.  A SignUp Genius email will go out soon with time slots.

Thank you parents for a successful 1st nine weeks!  AND, for a successful Boosterthon!  We were able to raise over $34, 000 in profit for Huggins and our students! 

Please do not forget that if you have not signed up for a parent conference time to meet with me for a short 15 minute meeting, please do so.  The invitations went out via SignUp Genius a couple of weeks ago.  You MUST meet with me in person to receive your student's report card.

This week we are studying:

Math: We are still working on fractions this week.  Homework is assigned daily so please make sure to check that your student is doing theirs.  We will be having a Spiral Review on Friday including a 2 min. fast facts timed quiz.

Science: We are studying changes to the Earth and formations.  They have several things assigned for practice in StemScopes so please have them log on nightly.  Their homework is the Websurfing Science assignment and is due by Friday.

Social Studies: We are still working on the American Revolution and will be going back to the big social studies book to do a more in-depth study.  They are being assigned the Preamble to the Constitution as a major grade and will have to recite it from memory on 11/7.  They will have a History Alive Ch. 13 quiz on Wednesday, 10/29.

ELAR: We are moving into talking about expository texts in both writing and reading.  We are also still continuing our novel study.  Please encourage AR as many students did not meet their goal for the 1st nine weeks grading period and their AR grade reflected that.

Thank you for everything you do and have an awesome week!

This first nine weeks has flown by!  I have enjoyed getting to know my "family" and seeing the growth occurring just in the first nine weeks!  They have all been working extremely hard.  Just a few reminders as the nine weeks comes to a close:

Math: We are finishing up division with decimals and whole numbers.  We are moving into fractions this week and will be talking about like denominators and adding and subtracting fractions using manipulatives.  Our math nine weeks assessment will be on Thursday.

Science: We are talking about "force" in science this week.  The students designed their own experiments last week and will be presenting them this week on the different ways they demonstrated how force can affect an object.  Our science nine weeks assessment will be on Wednesday.  They need to be working on the assignments in Stemscopes to use as a study guide.

Social Studies: We are discussing the Declaration of Independence this week and the events that led up to the Revolutionary War.  Our social studies nine weeks assessment will be on Thursday and the students need to review Ch. 1-13 on the History Alive site as well as their social studies journals.

ELAR: We are finishing up our second writing compositions this week and their final copies are due on Friday.

*Friday is an early release day: we will be dismissing at 11:30.
*Our Boosterthon Fun Run is Friday from 9:45 - 10: 45.  Thank you for all of the pledges and parents are welcome to come out and support their runners.  Please keep the pledges coming!  We are currently at $16/lap and our class goal is $80. The money raised will go towards a new sound system and various technological needs for the school!
*Parent/Teacher conference invites have been sent out via SignUp Genius.  You MUST meet with me face-to-face for a short 15 minute conference in order to receive your student's report card.
*Wednesday, Oct. 22nd is our Fall Picture Day.  It is a free dress day if you wish.

Thank you for everything you do for us and for the support you show Huggins! Have a great week!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  We have a busy week ahead of us:

Math: We are finished with multiplication of decimals and will now be dividing decimals using various methods.  I will once again be videotaping lessons to demonstrate the different methods to be of assistance to you at home.

Science: We are finishing up sound in science and the students will be designing their own experiment demonstrating force and motion this week.

Social Studies: We will be briefly talking about Life in Colonial Williamsburg and will be moving into Ch. 10 Growing Tensions Between the Colonies and Great Britain. Ch. 10 quiz will be next Tuesday so please have your students taking the practice quiz on the History Alive site.

ELAR: We are working on our second compositions for the nine weeks.  We will also be discussing foreshadowing and our novel study.

A few important reminders:

Tuesday is our McTeacher Night at the Cross Creek McDonald's.  Please come out and support Huggins.  Teachers will be there to take your orders inside, at the drive-thru and collecting donations for "Holler for a Dollar". It is a fun event!


Friday is "Pink Out" day. Your child will be able to wear pink with a donation for breast cancer awareness.

Saturday is the annual Scarecrow Festival out at Cross Creek Ranch and our choir and trashcan band will be performing on the stage starting at 11:45.

First Nine Weeks Report Card Conference: The end of the first nine weeks is fast approaching.  Parents are required to attend a parent/teacher conference to review their child's progress for the first nine weeks.  A sign up genius email will be sent out with the days and times that are available for conferences. Conferences will be set up in 15 minutes increments.  I look forward to meeting with everyone!  

I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC weekend and was able to get out and enjoy this cooler weather we are having.

Here are this week's happenings:

Math: We are still working on decimal multiplication and learning the different methods to find the product.  If you are having trouble helping your child with their homework, please take a moment to go visit our class Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mstiendavis and you will see the short videos I have posted showing you the concrete and pictorial methods we are learning in class.

Science: We are finished with our unit on circuits, conductors, and insulators and are now moving into light.  We will be doing a lab this week to explore the properties of light and will also be participating in Hands on Science.  If you haven't signed up yet to volunteer in the lab, please consider doing so.  Hands on Science is completely run by parent volunteers and is a great program. Homework this week is in Stemscopes and is under "Light Energy".  It will be due on Friday.

Social Studies: We are working in Ch. 7 and will be having a quiz on Wed.  Please make sure your students are visiting the website to take practice quizzes.

ELAR: We are still talking about foreshadowing, characterization and plot elements.  We are starting our second writing composition for the first nine weeks this week.  We are also still doing our novel study on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Please make sure your students are reading 20 minutes a night to reach their AR goals.  I included their current points in their HOWL folders Friday.

A couple of reminders:

• Wednesday , October 9- Coffee with the principal

*Doctor Randle will be at this meeting, it will start at 8:00 a.m

• Cross Creek McDonald's Spirit Night- October 14 from 5-8 pm.  Come out and support our school! 

• Friday, October 24- Early Release at 11:30 am.

• Friday, October 24- Boosterthon Event- More information will be coming home about this event very soon.

Have a fantastic week!