Week of 1/12 - 1/16

Important Reminder:

• We will send home graded/completed work on Wednesdays. There will be a sheet for you to sign weekly showing that you have seen (and removed) all of their work. Forms from the office will also be included. Students have labeled the front pocket in their binder "Take Home".

Language Arts- Mrs. Phelps

This week we are taking the Reading MAP test! Be sure to get lots of sleep and come to school on time.  Towards the end of the week, we will hop back into our Don Quixote unit. I think the students are really enjoying it so far! 

**Many students like to wear headphones while taking the MAP test to drown out noises. However, it is brought to my attention that many students do not have headphones at all. 

Homework: No homework- MAP testing!

Math: Mrs. Bennett

Blue Group:

This week in math, we are beginning an exciting transition into the world of fractions! We’ve spent quite some time working in decimal land, and now students will start connecting their decimal understanding to fractions, reinforcing the idea that fractions and decimals are equivalent ways to represent the same value.

We will begin with a review of comparing fractions using a variety of strategies, including:

- Using benchmarks such as ½ and 1 to determine which fraction is closer

-Comparing fractions with the same denominator

-Comparing fractions with the same numerator

As students grow more confident, we will move into equivalent fractions. Students will learn how to generate equivalent fractions and explain why fractions remain equal even when the numbers look different. This conceptual understanding is key to long-term success with fraction operations later in the year. We encourage students to explain their thinking using models, number lines, and reasoning—not just procedures. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like tips for supporting fraction work at home.

Yellow Group:

We are wrapping up our chapter on multiplying and dividing fractions, and students are preparing for their chapter test on Friday.

A major focus of this unit has been helping students determine when to multiply and when to divide, rather than just choosing an operation automatically. Students are learning to pause and think about what the problem is asking before solving.

To support this decision-making, students are encouraged to ask themselves questions such as:

• Am I finding part of a group, or scaling a number up or down? (multiply)

• Am I sharing something equally or finding how many groups fit? (divide)

• Does the answer make sense to be larger or smaller than the starting number?

• What is happening to the quantity in the problem?

Students will work with fractions, whole numbers, and mixed numbers throughout the test and are expected to show their thinking using equations, models, or written explanations. All students have access to the study guide and have already begun working through it in class to support their preparation. Continued practice with the study guide at home will help build confidence before test day. Please let me know if you have any questions as we head into the assessment.

Homework: 1/12 - 1/16

• SS 49

• SS 50

• 3 Reflex Sessions by Friday (giving time in class as well)

• SS Quiz Friday (Yellow Group - Test rather than Quiz)

Social Studies: Mrs. Crush

This week, students will continue studying Ancient India, focusing on the Indus Valley Civilization, which developed around 2500 BCE along the Indus River in present-day Pakistan. Students learned that much of what we know about this civilization comes from archaeology, since its written language has not yet been translated.

Students will also explore how the Indus Valley people met their needs through farming, raising animals, and using river resources. A major learning goal was understanding why the Indus Valley is known for its advanced city planning, including grid-like streets, strong flood protection, uniform bricks, running water, and some of the world’s earliest flush toilets.

Science: Mrs. Jackel

5th Grade Google Site Link