Tomorrow, we will have our final discussion of The Cay. It is imperative that your child complete reading and responding to the guiding questions tonight if it was not completed in school. We will begin  concentrating on writing for the next few weeks.  In my fifth grade math class students were given three versions of a new word problem called, "Apple Anyone"? There are mild, medium, and nice and spicy versions. Students should choose the one they feel is "right" for them. Students may choose to do more than one. It is due next Monday. There are multiplication problems tonight that are to be done by the partial products method. They will be reviewed in class tomorrow. Today in geography class I taught the "why" and the location of the Tropics of Cancer and the Tropics of Capricorn.  I quizzed the students on naming coordinates with latitude and longitude. Most did quite well. The requirements for the geography unit were given to the students last week. They must complete all of the testing by Monday, October 24th. The focus is to memorize the countries that formed the Ancient Middle East and Europe. I feel it is important for students to have an idea where these places are located since so many of them are in the news daily. Students may ask to take one portion at a time. Every student should be able to take the hemispheres and longitude and latitude assessments this week. Then that part will be out of the way. Next, they may choose to test out of the continents and oceans.  Etc. As with any large task, breaking it down  makes it much more manageable. This is a part of your child's learning that you could help with by quizzing him or her on a blank map that will be in your child's possession. Thanks much.