Message Board

We had a wonderful week in fifth!  We enjoyed having more help available thanks to Sister Mary Kolbe.  We had an epic day learning about STEM at STARBASE. A big thank you goes out to all of the parents who escorted us there and back!  This upcoming week is a short one, but it will be busy.  Students received their first paycheck for Classroom Economy last week and will receive bonuses this week.  We will have our class auction on October 24th.  I am hoping each family can donate a couple of items so we have plenty for students to bid on.  Some things students love include snacks, art items, stuffed animals, fun beverages, stickers, fidgets, and Halloween-themed items.  You can send them in anytime.  Thanks for supporting our classroom! Wishing you all a wonderful week!

*** Uniforms: There has been some confusion about the many options for the school uniform.  If boys are wearing the white Oxford shirt, they must wear the tie.  In addition,  many are wearing the gray sweatshirts, which are only allowed on P.E. days.  I have attached the uniform document here.

Some highlights:

• New whiteboards, yoga ball, and clock!

• Halloween House Advertisements

• STARBASE

• Anna's Birthday!

What are we up to?

Language Arts

Students are settling into the routine of the Reading and Writing workshops.  Spelling, vocabulary, and grammar instruction will be incorporated during these times.  We begin the year by growing as writers through the analysis and revision of mentor sentences.  We review parts of speech, types of sentences, and how to write a polished fifth-grade sentence.  Students are learning about sentences in Grammar, writing a short piece on their best part, and learning about Greek and Latin roots.  Next, we will get the creative juices flowing by writing a Haunted House Advertisement to help us prepare to write Halloween Narratives.  Students are reading self-selected books and Scholastic News to learn about current events and improve their reading comprehension of non-fiction texts.  They are listening to the read-aloud, Because of Mr. Terupt. 

Math

Unit 2: Whole Numbers - Multiply

Much of Unit 2 is a review of what students learned in 4th grade. They will review the standard algorithm for multi-digit multiplication. Students will apply their skills to learning problems (word problems without context) and story problems that have a variety of contexts, including perimeter, area, and volume. Students will review the place-value of large numbers and be introduced to exponents, a shortcut way of writing large numbers in expanded form. In order to be successful with this work, students need to be able to:

• know their multiplication math facts fluently (hopefully with automaticity)

• understand that multiplication problems are represented in a certain order (The first number is the number of groups, and the second number is the number of things in the group. 3x5 means 3 groups of 5)

• multiply multi-digit numbers using an area model, number bonds, and partial products algorithm

• be familiar with how to multiply using the standard algorithm

• write numbers in expanded form

• multiply by multiples of 10, 100, and 1,000

• know how to find the area and perimeter of a shape

• understand place value up to the 10,000s

Why are we doing this math?

Students must have a strong foundation of conceptual understanding and calculation skills with whole numbers before they can move on to multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals. This will be some of the last work dedicated to whole number calculations for students. In the future, they will spend time applying their whole number knowledge to increasingly complex problems, as well as working with fractions and decimals, so this is an opportunity to ensure that students are prepared and ready to move forward.

Science

Unit 1: Investigate Matter

Big Idea: What do we need to know about matter to use it to solve problems?

Students will identify properties of materials, investigate mixtures and solutions, learn how matter changes when it interacts with other matter, and identify differences between solids, liquids, and gases.

Social Studies

We will begin learning about American culture and ancestry.  Students will then research a country of their choice to create a Coat of Arms and an informative report.

Religion

We will participate in a program called Random Acts of Kindness once a week to develop our social-emotional intelligence.  

The first unit is all about how Jesus shares God's life with us.  We learn more about Jesus as the Son of God and how we are called to follow Him.

❤️Mrs. G

RenWeb: Grades are updated daily. Trimester 1 begins August 27th and ends November 7th. A progress report will be sent in mid-October.

Important Dates:

October 10: Faith Formation No School

October 13: Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day: No School

October 15: Trimester 1 Progress Report Emailed

October 14-17: Book Fair and Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day!

October 24: Class Auction 

October 31: Trunk or Treat and Class Party!

Homework 

Week of October 6

Students should begin reading their Newbery Book.  The reading log is due every Friday until the book is complete.

Monday: Spelling Unit 6 Review, Math L21

Tuesday: Spelling Unit 6 Review,  Math L22

Wednesday: Spelling Unit 6 Review, Math L23

Thursday: No School Friday

Students who are unable to complete reading and written assignments during class must make up the work outside of class. Students should study outside of written assignments, such as spelling words, test guides, and French content.

UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS:

No Spelling Test this week (review)

Math Test Unit 2: October 15