My dearest families,
Words cannot express how much I have enjoyed working with this precious group of students this year. Teaching is my passion and my joy, but teaching this bunch has made my cup run over! Although I am heartbroken about the way our school year has ended and about the fact that we have not been able to do many of the fun fifth-grade traditions in the traditional way, I am so thankful that we were able to still be together these past few weeks, albeit unconventionally.
Thank you for supporting me, for working so hard, and for allowing me to come alongside you in your kids' educational journey. I have been truly blessed!
I pray that you all have a wonderful summer--relaxing, exploring, and enjoying each other's company, and I hope to see many of you back at Fortis in the fall! I will be time to begin another school year before we know it!
Much love and many thanks,
Gretchen Allan
Drive-by Grammar School Parade
Date: Wednesday, May 13th (the last day of school)
Time: Anytime between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.
What: Drive through the school parking lot, wave, and say goodbye to all of the grammar school teachers. Feel free to decorate your car or bring signs to celebrate the end of a great year. The teachers will be distributing personal items from the classrooms as well as the Character Rocks and other goodies.
NOTE: Everything in magenta is optional.
Mrs. Allan’s meeting room:
Or, you can join by phone (without video)
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access code: 294 851 568
CONTACT ME: The notes included below are related to things that are new or that I anticipate you may have questions about. I did not include notes for every subject every day. But if you have any questions, please contact me:
- Email: gallan@fortisacademy.net
- Text or call (parents only please): 512-699-8889
- Facebook: "(5th Grade) Fortis Class of 2027" - let me know if you want an invitation to be added to this group.
- Webex room conference (email me to schedule a time to meet)
DOCUMENTS you'll need to print for the week (sent via email on Friday evening and uploaded to the Google Drive):
5th Grade Documents
GRADES/WORK TO SUBMIT THIS WEEK:
Assignment
|
Due By
|
How to submit
|
Research paper spiel
|
Monday, 5/11
|
Videotape the presentation (in
costume if you have it), and upload it to the class Facebook page or email to
me.
|
Math facts (if not exempt)
|
Monday, 5/11
|
Completed? Y or
N
|
Math
Test
|
Tuesday,
5/12
|
Email
the final grade to me
|
Division
Facts Test
|
Tuesday,
5/12
|
Email
the grade to me
|
MONDAY NOTES:
9:00-9:45 a.m. - Morning Webex meeting. Students will arrive in costume (if they have one) and present their wax museum spiels, one at a time, to the class. They should bring:
* Costume and props, if they have them
* Notecard with notes for spiel, if needed
* Costume and props, if they have them
* Notecard with notes for spiel, if needed
12:30-1:00 p.m. - Afternoon Webex meeting. We will continue our discussion of Texas History. Students should bring:
* Last week's completed Texas History Timeline Chart, p5 (this was optional)
* Story of Texas book
2:30-3:00 p.m. - Optional Webex meeting for math review. I will review some of the key math concepts that will be on tomorrow's test. Students should bring:
* Paper and pencil
Wax Museum Spiel
Please have your student dress in whatever costume you were able to assemble and then record him or her delivering it. Upload the video to the Fortis 5th Grade Facebook page or send it to me so I can upload it there. The video must be posted or sent to me by 5 p.m. on Monday in order for your student to get full credit.
* Last week's completed Texas History Timeline Chart, p5 (this was optional)
* Story of Texas book
2:30-3:00 p.m. - Optional Webex meeting for math review. I will review some of the key math concepts that will be on tomorrow's test. Students should bring:
* Paper and pencil
Wax Museum Spiel
Please have your student dress in whatever costume you were able to assemble and then record him or her delivering it. Upload the video to the Fortis 5th Grade Facebook page or send it to me so I can upload it there. The video must be posted or sent to me by 5 p.m. on Monday in order for your student to get full credit.
TUESDAY NOTES:
Math
DIVISION FACTS TEST: Set the timer for 5 minutes. Administer the test. Grade. Any that are not correct or not finished after 5 minutes will be counted wrong. Send the final grade to me via email.
UNIT TEST: Administer the test and grade. Record original grade on the test. Then have students make corrections and award back 1/2 a point for each problem that is successfully corrected (without parental help). Send the final corrected grade to me via email.
Tell Me More Form
I have students complete a similar form at the beginning of the year. I want to be able to compare their answers to see if I was able to move the needle for them on any subjects that they really dislike when they enter my class. It also helps provide feedback for me about which books to keep or swap out on my booklist each year.
WEDNESDAY NOTES:
9:00-9:45 a.m. - Morning Webex meeting. I will present virtue stones to each student. For those of you who are new to Fortis this year, this is a special tradition, and part of the tradition is that it is a solemn and intimate time betweemn the teacher and the students, so I would prefer that parents not be listening in live. However, I will record the session, so you can go back and watch it later if you'd like. Actual stones/cards will be passed out at the drive-by parade on Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. For those who are unable to make it to the parade, I will leave them at the school, and you can drop by this summer and pick them up. Students do not need to bring anything to this meeting.
No afternoon Webex meeting. See you at the parade!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OPTIONAL MEMORY WORK:
Geography: We'll continue memorizing our states and capitals. A hard copy of the map can be found behind the "memory" tab in your child's binder. Additional maps, as well as MP3s of the song, are available at this link: Geography Resources.
History: Students will memorize 21 key dates this year. The key dates have accompanying jingles that do not have to be memorized, but will help students remember the dates and the corresponding events. We will test over the first sixteen dates on 4/29:
1. Leif Erikson Explores America - 1000
2. Columbus Sails to the Americas - 1492
3. Lost Colony of Roanoke - 1583
4. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
5. Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth - 1620
6. Salem Witch Trials - 1692
7. First Great Awakening - 1740s
8. French & Indian War - 1754-63
9. Boston Tea Party - 1773
10. Paul Revere's Ride - 1775
11. July 4, 1776 _ Declaration of Independence
12. 1775-83 - The American Revolution
13. 1787 - Constitution was adopted by the United States
14. 1803 - Louisiana Purchase
15. 1804 - Lewis & Clark
16. War of 1812
17. 1823 - The Monroe Doctrine
18. Early 1830s - Underground Railroad
19. 1830-38 - Cherokee Trail of Tears
20. 1836 – Battle of the Alamo
21. 1849 - California Gold Rush
1. Leif Erikson Explores America - 1000
2. Columbus Sails to the Americas - 1492
3. Lost Colony of Roanoke - 1583
4. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
5. Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth - 1620
6. Salem Witch Trials - 1692
7. First Great Awakening - 1740s
8. French & Indian War - 1754-63
9. Boston Tea Party - 1773
10. Paul Revere's Ride - 1775
11. July 4, 1776 _ Declaration of Independence
12. 1775-83 - The American Revolution
13. 1787 - Constitution was adopted by the United States
14. 1803 - Louisiana Purchase
15. 1804 - Lewis & Clark
16. War of 1812
17. 1823 - The Monroe Doctrine
18. Early 1830s - Underground Railroad
19. 1830-38 - Cherokee Trail of Tears
20. 1836 – Battle of the Alamo
21. 1849 - California Gold Rush
Poetry: Song of Life.