Thursday - December 17

Today students finished the math BAs during math time.  

In readers' workshop, we read a book called Uncle Jed's Barber Shop.  Students learned about multiple layers of meaning.  Although Uncle Jed really wanted to save up to build a barbershop, he ultimately just wanted to help other people. We learned many times authors are teaching us ideas about how to live our lives.

In writers' workshop, we are finishing up our narrative writing unit with a mini-unit on Mysteries.  Students learned about different ways to add clues to their writing so the reader can figure how who committed the crime.

In science, student reviewed using a jeopardy review game.

Homework:
- 30 minutes of reading
- study for science

Reminder:
- School is in session December 21st and 22nd
- We are going to watch a movie December 22nd in the afternoon

Wednesday!

Students worked so hard on their math BA this afternoon.  I was impressed, most students felt very prepared.  We have a couple of students that need to finish tomorrow; most students finished today.

In writers workshop, students learned about the genre of Mystery. We read a few mysteries and created a chart that explains all of the essential parts to a mystery: suspects, detectives, problems, clues, motive, and solutions.  Students were excited to get started after the lesson.  

Homework: 
-30 minutes of reading
-study for science BA

Reminder:
-Science BA Friday

8th graders visit WLE

Today the 8th graders from Sarah Banks band and orchestra came to visit.  They brought the instruments and played a short concert for us.  They played a lot of awesome songs and demonstrated each type of instrument that they brought.  The 5th graders have to make a decision whether to try for band or orchestra or neither.  The students really enjoyed the concert.

Tomorrow, we will not switch classes because of the math BA in the afternoon.  Students will have plenty of time to complete the test.  They might even have time to study for their science BA which will be on Friday.

Homework:

-Review for math and science BA

-30 minutes of reading

Reminders:

- Reedbuck exchange and parent signature check on planners

Monday - December 14th

Today students in readers' workshop, wrote about their book club books.  They wrote a claim about a character in their book. (i.e. In the book, Holes by Louis Sachar, Stanley is brave.)  Then using reasoning and evidence from the text, they proved their claim to be true.  One added strategy students have learned is using a direct quote from the text.

In word study, students learned about a Tier II word; SEIZED.  Students had to draw a picture, write a sentence, and define the word.  Eventually I will be quizzing them on these new words!

In science and math, we are reviewing for BA.  Math BA is on Wednesday of this week and the Science BA is on Friday of this week.

Homework:
-30 min of reading
-Math review questions
-Science studying

Reminders:
-Last day before winter break: December 22nd

Another great week!

Today, student participated in the hour of code. Mrs. Miller's 3rd grade room and Room 15 combined to work through an awesome coding project. The fifth graders enjoyed working with the 3rd graders and were overall surprised at how much fun coding could be.  Talk to your child today about their coding experience.

If you would like to learn more visit code.org or hourofcode.com

Homework:
- Math Review
-30 minutes of reading

Reminder:
-Math BA: Dec 16th
-Science BA: Dec 18th

Reactants

In science, students proved that when bubbling and fizzing occurs during a chemical reaction it creates a gas.  They put baking soda, water, and citric acid into a ziplock bag and when they mixed, the bag inflated proving that gas was being created.

In math, we continued to learn about Fractions of a Number.  Students had more difficult problems that included fractions of smaller numbers. For example, 1/3 of 2.   Then students applied that to a recipe assignment in Mrs. Rohde's room

Homework:

- 30 min of reading

- Home Link

- Social Studies - planning a story

Chemical Reactions

In science, students are learning about chemical reactions. Students combined citric acid and baking soda with water to create a chemical change.  Next, they wrote in their science notebook their observations. Some students wrote that they saw fizzing and bubbling, other students noticed that the liquid became cooler.  Any time a chemical reaction occurs something new is created, and students are trying to figure out what new substance was formed.  We will find out for sure, tomorrow.

During writers' workshop, students published their Robot Stories.  They are bringing home a copy of it tomorrow.  Their abilities in writing narrative stories have improved greatly.

In math, students continue to work on fractions. Today they learned how to find a fraction of a whole number (1/2 of 22 or 1/6 of 30)

Homework:

- 30 minutes of reading

- Home Link 3.13

Peer Revision and Book Clubs

Today students worked together in writers workshop to revise and edit their robot narratives.  By using a checklist, students first looked to improve structure of the story which includes their lead/opening, transitions, ending, and how well it was organized. Next, students worked at revising how they elaborated. For example, students focused on their characters, setting, and plot and worked together to thoroughly develop these elements.  

Book Clubs began yesterday.  Each student is in one of 4 different book clubs. Last week, we previewed each book and students had some input on which book club book they'd be most interested in. We decided on reading My Life as a Book, Masterminds, Olive's Ocean, and 39 Clues: Maze of Bones.  Students will be reading about 10 pages a day and meeting with me twice a week to discuss their book.  When they are not reading their book club book, they are still in charge of reading a Just Right book.  Ask your child about the beginning of their book club book.

Another GREAT week!

Today students worked so hard on their narrative writing. I've challenged students to use facts from an informational article about robots and incorporate the real facts into their narrative writing. Your child is working so hard to include all of the elements of narrative writing along with this added task. Ask your child about their robot story.

In math students continue to use fraction circle manipulatives to add and subtract fractions.  Today, the focus was on finding equivalent fractions so your child could add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.  Tonight's home link reflects this practice.

Homework:
-Home Link 3.9
-30 minutes of reading

Reminder:
-Return Friday Folder on Monday
-Holiday Shop: December 8th @ 11:30

Thursday, December 3

Students have been challenged by their 5th grade teachers to master their multiplication facts in a timely way.  The students are practicing using a website called Math Magician.  We challenged students to complete the MIXED problems; they have to master this 3 times.  If students were able to complete the 3 timed quizzes, they do not have to do extra multiplication work.  If they didn't finish the quizzes, they will be working closely with me to learn their facts.  Our goal is to have all 5th graders be proficient with their basic math facts.  Try math magician yourself at the link below:
click here.


In math, students are continuing to work with renaming fractions and adding/subtracting fractions. Any time your child needs extra help they can go to the ConnectED website.  In the front of their planners, they have a username and password on a printed label. They can access the current or previous lessons, math games, and the math student reference book.
Click here for a tutorial on how ConnectED works.

Homework:
-Home Link 3.9
-30 minutes of reading

Reminders:
Holiday Shop: December 8th at 11:30 AM