"He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put to sea." ~ Thomas Fuller

Dear Families--

I hope your student brought home a bright yellow letter from Heather and me.  It was to inform you about the end of this trimester and to provide a place for you to sign up if you would like to meet with us.  Grades close this Thursday the 13th, and report cards go home on Monday the 24th. Conference times will be offered during the week of March 31st to April 4th.  Please sign and return the paper even if you don't wish to meet at this time so that we know you received the information.  Thanks!

For this week, March 10th-13th . . .

Word Study, Grade 5:  

Monday--Pages 103-104

Tuesday--Pages 105-106

Wednesday--Guidance; no class

Thursday--Pages 107, 109, 110

Reading, Grades 5 and 6:

Students seemed to like reading individual books last time around, so we're doing it again.  Please note:  for grade 5, this book will count as their "book of the month."  

I will say I have mixed feelings about this because the independent books & associated projects were intended to be supplemental home pieces and shouldn't have been confused with classwork.  Somehow the lines blurred and students only did their "home" reading here and most projects were only worked on at school. I will still encourage you to have your child read each night to build stamina, fluency, comprehension, and independence.  Speaking as a mom, it's also a great segue from evening activities to bedtime. 

Language Arts, Grades 5 & 6:

This is "fix it or finish it" time.  All work has not been turned in by some students, so their week will be a busy one.  Others need only to make corrections in the final editing phase of their writing and return those pieces for a final grade.  Activities/enrichments will be provided for those who finish early.

Social Studies, Grades 5 & 6:  ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

This week we will:

• become familiar with old seafaring maps and learn how to read them. 
• learn about how ships navigated when they were out of sight of land--specifically by looking at the Compass, the Astrolabe, and the Traverse Board. 
• chart our course on an interactive journey across the Atlantic Ocean and keep a Ship's Log to record our voyage.

Everyone will have the opportunity to establish an interactive colony and compare the choices they make with those of the original settlers.  It's educational and fun! Check out:  JAMESTOWN ONLINE ADVENTURE.

JAMESTOWN WASN'T THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONY
 IN THE NEW WORLD  

The story of the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” remains one of America's first true mysteries. The ill-fated settlement on Roanoke Island was actually England's second attempt at colonizing that area. In 1584, 100 men established a fort and settlement on the north end of the island.  It was abandoned the next year due to weather, lack of food, and poor relations with the natives.  On July 22, 1587, 110 men, women, and children and their governor, John White, arrived on the island to establish a new settlement.  White’s pregnant daughter, Eleanor Dare, was among the colonists.  Soon after their arrival, on August 18, 1587, she gave birth to a little girl -- the first English settler to be born in the “New World.”  She was named Virginia.  A week later, White was forced to return to England for much needed supplies, taking the ships and a crew of able-bodied sailors with him.  Unfortunately, his return was delayed for three years due to England’s conflict with Spain, and when, at last, the ships did return in 1590, Roanoke was abandoned.  All the colonists had vanished without a trace; the village of two-story thatch-roofed cottages were taken down and only remains of the fort walls were left to mark the site.  On a post, the word “CROATOAN” was carved; on a nearby tree, the letters “CRO.” 

What really happened? Nobody knows, but consider this . . .