Week of September 22
This week, students participated in the Fun Run school-wide celebration on Friday with treats and bouncy houses. Individual prizes will go home with students later in October.
Reminders for the upcoming week: The Book Fair starts this week! We will be visiting on Monday as a class, and students can buy books on any day before or after school.
The Multicultural Fair is on Friday October 3rd, from 5-7. It is one of the best nights here are NRE. I hope to see you there.
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: Please ask your child what group they are in, and see what they are working on, so you can support them at home.
Thumbs Up Cats: Students took a test on multiplication and division.
Sugar Bees: Completed Chapter 2 on number lines and negative numbers, and will be ready to test on Monday.
Pink Fluffy Unicorns: Completed Chapter 2 on number lines and negative numbers, and will be ready to test on Monday.
DMSMEB: Students learned about positive and negative numbers and how to plot them on a number line.
Reading: We finished up our first novel and worked on writing a strong reading response.
Writing: We are continuing on our fiction unit. Students are now working on individual pieces.
Science: We started our second unit of Life Science on plant growth.
Mental Health: This week, Mrs. K came in and led a discussion on resiliency.
Specials: This week : Music and Spanish Next week: PE and Mental Health
Important Dates
Sep 29-Oct 3 Book Fair
October 3 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
October 6-10 Conferences
October 8 Picture Retakes
October 10 Popcorn Friday
Oct 13- 17 No School / Fall Break
Week of September 15
This week many students took their first math test. In our math class, we complete a chapter review in our math book to prepare for the test. After students take the chapter tests, if they receive a grade of 80% or better, this is the score that I record. If the student scores below 80% the student and I make test corrections, and they receive half of the points that are possible for those problems, and their grade is adjusted accordingly.
Reminders for the upcoming week:The school-wide Fun Run Prize Day will be on the 26th. Please remind your child to dress accordingly.
Save the date of October 3 so you can attend one of our most magical nights at NRE: Multicultural Night!
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: Please ask your child what group they are in, and see what they are working on, so you can support them at home.
Thumbs Up Cats: Students are reviewing long division.
Sugar Bees: Students completed the chapter review for Chapter One and have either tested or are in the process of testing.
Pink Fluffy Unicorns: Students completed the chapter review for Chapter One and have either tested or are in the process of testing.
DMSMEB: Students have completed the Chapter One chapter review and will be testing next week.
Reading:
Writing: We are continuing on our fiction unit. Students are now working on individual pieces, and we worked on introductions.
Science: We completed our first unit of Life Science on energy transfer in ecosystems. Students will test on Tuesday.
Mental Health: This week, Mrs. K came in and led a discussion on asynchrony and myths around giftedness.
Specials: This week : Think Tank and Tech Next week: Music and Spanish
Important Dates
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 26 Fun Run PRIZE Day
Sep 29-Oct 3 Book Fair
October 3 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
October 6-10 Conferences
October 8 Picture Retakes
October 10 Popcorn Friday
Oct 13- 17 No School / Fall Break
Week of September 7
Thank you for your support at the Fun Run this week. It was great to see you out there cheering on your student. The deadline for donations is September 22, and the school-wide Fun Run Prize Day will be on the 26th. Save the date of October 3 so you can attend one of our most magical nights at NRE: Multicultural Night!
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: Please ask your child what group they are in see what they are working on so you can support them at home.
Thumbs Up Cats: Students are reviewing double-digit multiplication.
Sugar Bees: Students learned about GCF and LCM. They are also learning about squared and cubed numbers.
Pink Fluffy Unicorns: Students learned about GCF and LCM. They are also learning about squared and cubed numbers.
DMSMEB: Students learned about GCF and LCM. They are also learning about squared and cubed numbers.
Reading: We started our first novel of the year, Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry. There may be times when your student will need to read at home. Please support your student if needed.
Writing: We are continuing on our fiction unit. We also wrote and published an apostrophe poem.
Social Studies: This week, we have been setting our goals for our ALPS.
Mental Health: This week, I taught a lesson about how our brain systems work, and we played a game that involved all three of the parts we discussed. We also talked about how making mistakes is a part of being human.
Specials: This week : Mandarin and Art Next week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 26 Fun Run PRIZE Day
Sep 29-Oct 3 Book Fair
October 3 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
October 6-10 Conferences
October 8 Picture Retakes
October 10 Popcorn Friday
Oct 13- 17 No School / Fall Break
Week of September 1
We had a great week learning math routines and getting into our learning. I am working with the students on regulating voices, talking at the appropriate time, and how to have a conversation with someone who may be across the room ;) The big skill is to become a good listener and think before speaking. The Fun Run is next week, and we are all excited for our biggest fundraiser of the year!
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: We started math groups this week. We are all working on prime and composite numbers and have just introduced the concept of prime factorization. Once all groups have chosen a name, I will post exactly what the groups are working on, and that way, you can know what your child is working on each week.
Reading: This week, we continued our work with the short story "Eleven". We also worked on a non-fiction piece around homesteading.
Writing: We are continuing on our fiction unit. We also wrote and published a poem entitled " I Am From".
Social Studies: Our first unit on thinking like a historian is almost at an end. Students are analyzing artifacts to make their final observations on what happened to the colonists of Roanoke.
Mental Health: Mrs. K, our school counselor, visited our class, and we worked on ways we can be welcoming to one another and new students in our school.
Specials: This week : PE and Mental Health Next week: Mandarin and Art
Important Dates
September 10 Fun Run Day
September 12 Popcorn Friday
September 12 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 26 Fun Run PRIZE Day
Sep 29-Oct 3 Book Fair
October 3 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of August 25th
This week has been a week of testing and setting ourselves up for success in 5th grade. The students are getting used to the routines and expectations of being upper-elementary students. Please talk with your student about how they can add to the environment in the classroom. Thank you to those who were able to attend Back to School Night. If you would like to see the presentation, please check your email for the link.
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: This week, students took the iReady beginning-of-the-year test. We also worked on order of operations and long division. Math groups will start next week.
Reading: Students took the iReady beginning-of-the-year test. We also read a short story called "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. We are focusing on character development and plot.
Writing: We have started working on our fiction unit. Currently, students are working each day on 5-minute writes based on pictures I have for them. This has generated some excitement about writing! Ask your student which picture prompt they liked best.
Social Studies: We are still working on our "Think Like a Historian" unit to review and learn skills so we are prepared for our studies this year. We learned about primary and secondary resources and learned the beloved song " Roanoke (Frozen's "Let It Go" Parody)"
Mental Health: Mrs. K, our school counselor, visited our class, and we discussed physical, emotional, and social health.
Specials: This week : Music and Spanish Next week: PE and Mental Health
Important Dates
September 1 No School/Labor Day
September 2 Cold Stone Night
September 10 Fun Run Day
September 12 Popcorn Friday
September 12 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 26 Fun Run PRIZE Day
Sep 29-Oct 3 Book Fair
October 3 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of August 18
We have officially made it through our first full week of 5th grade! The students are getting used to the routines and expectations of being an upper elementary student. At NRE we look to them as leaders in building. I am getting to know them and their work habits as well. It will take some time for students to get used to the pace and rigor but we will work through this time of growing together. I hope to see you at the Back to School Night and Back to School Carnival.
Read below to find out what your student has been up to this week.
Math: This week, we have worked as a class to learn to work in groups. We did problem problem-solving activity around pennies, learned about factors, played Rainbow Logic, did math warm-ups, and learned about cooperating to accomplish a task.
Reading: We started our first Junior Great Book story and practiced questioning and responding to text. We also learned how to discuss a story with 5th-grade expectations. We also visited the library.
Writing: Students wrote to a prompt about an oil spill that affected penguins off the coast of Africa for their writing pretest. They also worked on I AM poems in their poetry anthologies
Social Studies: We started our unit called "Think Like a Historian" to review and learn skills so we are prepared for our studies this year. We learned about the mystery of Roanoke, timelines, and recorded our life events.
We drew self-portraits in the style of Modigliani and chose a word to focus on for our affective goals for our Advanced Learning plans.
Mental Health: We went over our Sources of Strength Wheels
Specials: This week : Think Tank
Next week: Music and Spanish
Important Dates
August 22 Back to School Classroom Presentation 4 & 4:30pm Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Aug 27 & 28 Vision & Hearing
August 27 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 27 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 1 No School/Labor Day
September 2 Cold Stone Night
September 10 Fun Run Day
September 12 Popcorn Friday
September 12 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 26 Fun Run PRIZE Day
Week of January 6th
Happy New Year and Welcome Back!
I hope you enjoyed the winter break and had time with your family and friends. Thank you to the Goodwin family for organizing our party before the break and thank you all for the gifts before the holiday (personal thank you notes will be in next week's Thursday Folders)
With delays and snow storms behind us for now, the students and I are excited to start the second half of the school year. Even with the short week, we were able to revisit ALP goals, make one-word intention bracelets, finish a Junior Great Book story, write an apostrophe poem, and complete an entire science unit on the brightness of the sun and stars.
This is a heads up: We rescheduled our Ameritowne field trip. We will be going on April 15th.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Started learning about rates and speeds
Up next: Unit rates, Distance and Speed
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Learned about using letters to represent numbers and evaluating algebraic expressions
Up next: Simplifying and Expanding and Factoring Algebraic Expressions
PI Charts: Made test corrections
Up next: Percents
DATS: Word problems involving ratios
Up next: Chapter Review and test
Reading: We read, discussed, and started writing an essay around the short story, "Coming of the Surfman."
Grammar and Vocabulary: We did not have grammar this week and no new vocabulary this week.
Writing: We read and wrote an apostrophe poem
Science: We completed the unit on the brightness of the sun and stars.
Mental Health: We reviewed our affective ALP goals.
Specials: Music and Spanish Next Week: PE
Important Dates:
No school Friday, January 17th- Teacher Work Day
No school Monday, January 20th Martin Luther King Jr. Day
STEM Fair February 6th, 5-7 pm
Week of December 16th
Congratulations! We did it. We made it through the first semester of 5th grade. Your students have grown so much- both academically and emotionally. I have loved every minute of being their teacher. I am excited for next semester and the continued growth. Have a restful break and I will see you again in 2025!
This is a heads up: We rescheduled our Ameritowne field trip. We will be going on April 15th.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Completed Rations and tested
Up next: Rates and Speed
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Tested in percents
Up next: Algebraic Expressions
PI Charts: Tested over Rates and Speeds
Up next: Percents
DATS: Learned about ratios and equivalent ratios
Up next: Continue with ratios after break
Reading: We explored some poetry with Jacob's Ladder.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We did not have grammar this week and no new vocabulary this week.
Writing: Argumentative essays are published and currently being graded.
Science: We are learning about the Earth and its rotation and revolution in the sky. We will review and test next week.
Mental Health: Students are meeting in small groups to work on self-selected topics.
Specials: Next Week:
Important Dates:
Dec 16 - 18 Holiday Snow Pile
December 19 End of Grading Period-Winter Parties
December 20 No School / Teacher Work Day
Week of December 9th
Well that went fast! We are near the end of our first semester and you now have a 5th grader and a half! This week we have been iReady testing and most students are blowing their projected growth out of the water. The scores will be shared with families in Thursday Folders next week.
This is a heads up: We rescheduled our Ameritowne field trip. We will be going on April 15th.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: We tested in iReady, We will end our chapter on Ratios next week.
Up next: Rates and Speed
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Students tested in iReady. We will test and finish up our unit on percents next week.
Up next: Algebraic Expressions
Charts: Students had iReady testing, and we will end our chapter on Ratios next week
Up next: Percents
DATS: Students had iReady testing and will explore ratios next week
Up next: Continue with ratios after break
Reading: Students finished iReady testing and next week we will explore some poetry with Jacob's Ladder.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We did not have grammar this week and there will be no new vocabulary this coming week.
Writing: Argumentative essays are published and currently being graded. These will be returned to students next week.
Science: We are learning about the Earth and its rotation and revolution in the sky. We will review and test next week.
Mental Health: Students are meeting in small groups to work on self-selected topics.
Specials: Art and Mandarin Next Week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
Dec 16 - 18 Holiday Snow Pile
December 19 End of Grading Period-Winter Parties
December 20 No School / Teacher Work Day
Week of November 11th
We are playing catch up this week after the unexpected snow days last week. The students did an amazing job honoring our veterans on Monday morning at our Veteran's Day breakfast.
This is a heads up: We rescheduled our Ameritowne field trip. We will be going on April 15th.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Chapter test and test corrections
Up next: Ratios
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Unit rates and speed
Up next:
Pi Charts: Ratios
Up next: Chapter review and test
DATS: Chapter Review
Up next: Chapter test
Reading: We started and restarted our individual novel studies. Students are reading a realistic fiction novel with a character that has a disability and/or is facing an enormous challenge. Students set their own schedules and are managing their assignments. They should be halfway through their book by this weekend.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We have continued sentence work and grammar studies. We postponed our vocabulary test until next Monday due to the snow days.
Writing: We continued our unit on argumentative writing. We answered the prompt of should cell phones be illegal until you are 16, and we started our formal essay.
Social Studies: We are learning about how our Constitution was developed. We are becoming "Constitutional Detectives" and reading to answer questions.
Mental Health: Students are meeting in small groups to work on self-selected topics.
Specials: Think Tank and Tech Next Week: Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
November 20 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
Nov 25 - 29 Thanksgiving Break
December 4 PTO Executive Board Meeting 8:45-10:15
December 6 Holiday Shop -Popcorn Friday
December 11 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
December 13 Breakfast with Buddies
Dec 16 - 18 Holiday Snow Pile
December 19 End of Grading Period-Winter Parties
December 20 No School / Teacher Work Day
Week of October 29
Thank you for the Fall Festival donations! And a special thank you to our room parents who organized the treats for our class party. The students had fun!
Reminder: On Friday, November 8th, Northridge will be honoring our veterans with a breakfast before school beginning at 7:45 a.m.
All 5th-grade students will be singing three songs at this breakfast to honor our veterans and families in attendance. The performance begins at 8:00 a.m., and we are asking students to meet in the music room at 7:30 a.m.
Please have your 5th-grade student wear a shirt that is red, white, or blue or some combination of our patriotic colors. We look forward to having your child participate in this event.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: practiced dividing with decimals and dividing fractions, started chapter review
Up next: Chapter test and ratios
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Chapter Review and Chapter test on ratios
Up next: Unit rates and speed
Pi Charts: Chapter test
Up next: Ratios
DATS: Reviewed dividing with decimals and started learning about dividing fractions
Up next: dividing fractions practice, chapter review and chapter test
Reading: We compared and contrasted two poems, selected books for our next novel study, and we read an article about recess- should it be structured or free play?- and we took notes.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We started sentence work and continued with grammar studies. We got our first vocabulary list. We will have a quiz on Monday on 5 stems.
Writing: We started our unit on argumentative writing.
Social Studies: We are learning about how our Constitution was developed.
Mental Health: We talked about noticing and practicing pausing to help us not go into freeze, flight, or fight when there is no real danger in our Sources of Strength lessons.
Specials: PE Next Week: Art and Mandarin
Important Dates:
November 6 SAC Meeting 8:45 am - 10:15am
November 8 Veterans’ Day Celebration and Popcorn Friday
November 13 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
November 20 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
Nov 25 - 29 Thanksgiving Break
Week of October 21
It has been a fun start to our second quarter. This week we did some review and we are getting ready to start new units in all subjects.
Reminder: On Friday, November 8th, Northridge will be honoring our veterans with a breakfast before school beginning at 7:45 a.m.
All 5th grade students will be singing three songs at this breakfast to honor our veterans and families in attendance. The performance begins at 8:00 a.m. and we are asking students to meet in the music room at 7:30 a.m.
Please have your 5th grade student wear a shirt that is red, white, or blue or some combination of our patriotic colors. We look forward to having your child participate in this event.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Reviewed GCF, coordinates, double-digit mulitplication and solving equations.
Up next: dividing fractions, chapter review
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Reviewed GCF, coordinates, double-digit mulitplication and solving equations.
Up next: chapter review and test on Ratios
Pi Charts: Reviewed GCF, coordinates, double-digit multiplication, and solving equations.
Up next: Chapter test on decimals and fractions, test corrections
DATS: Reviewed GCF, coordinates, double-digit multiplication, and solving equations.
Up next: dividing fractions and decimals
Reading: We worked on recognizing the author's point of view, finished fall poetry, and practiced comprehension skills
Grammar and Vocabulary: We started sentence work and continued with grammar studies.
Writing: We wrote fall poems and spooky stories
Science: We worked on labs around human impact on ecosystems
Mental Health: We talked about how we used our skills to manage stress over break and we will start some small group work in our next sessions.
Specials: Music and Spanish Next Week: PE
Important Dates:
Discovery teachers will attend the Colorado Gifted Association Conference in Loveland on October 22nd and 23rd.
Fall Festival October 25th, 5-7 pm
Costume parade will be held on the morning of October 25th starting at 9 a.m.
Class treats will be served and movie will be shown in the afternoon October 25th.
November 6 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
November 8 Veterans’ Day Celebration and Popcorn Friday
November 13 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
November 20 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
Nov 25 - 29 Thanksgiving Break
Week of September 27th
Here we are into the last weeks of the quarter! The students can not believe they are 5th graders and one fourth:) This week we have been ending units, setting goals for the year, and building the foundation for new learning.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Students finished Chapter 2 on Number lines and negative numbers
Up next: Chapter 3 Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing decimals, dividing fractions
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Completed Chapter 3
Up next: Ratios
Pi Charts: Working on dividing decimals
Up next: Chapter 3 test before Fall Break
DATS: Students finished Chapter 2 on Numberlines and negative numbers
Up next: Chapter 3 Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing decimals, dividing fractions
Reading: We completed our novel study on Call it Courage. We learned about a plot diagram. We also completed two Common Lit pieces and focused on the skill of writing a summary and finding a theme.
Grammar and Vocabulary: Common and proper nouns
Writing: Students have been working feverishly on their fiction pieces. I will share what they have done so far at conferences.
Science : We have completed two units in our Life Cycle unit: Energy Transfer in Ecosystems and Plant Growth
Mental Health: We worked on our affective goals for the year. We also learned about intensities and we are exploring how to handle stress.
Specials: Art and Mandarin Next Week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
Parent/ Teacher Conferences October 8-10th
Picture Retakes October 10th
Fall Break is October 16- 20.
Discovery teachers will attend the Colorado Gifted Association Conference in Loveland on October 22nd and 23rd.
Fall Festival October 25th, 5-7 pm More details to come.
Costume parade will be held on the morning of October 25th.
Class treats will be served and movie will be shown in the afternoon October 25th. More details to come.
Week of September 2nd
The students are getting into the groove of school as our days become more consistent and predictable. We have been able to carry out deep discussions in reading, complete our first history unit and nearly all math groups are finishing up their first chapter. Next week is the Fun Run school-wide celebration on Tuesday, September 10th. Remind your student to dress for outdoor fun and activities.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Students learned about Least Common Multiple, squares, and cubes.
Up next: Chapter Review and Chapter 1 test
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Completed Chapter 1 and test
Up next: Number Lines, Negative Numbers, and Absolute Value
Pi Charts: Least Common Multiple, Square roots and Chapter Review
Up next: Chapter 1 test, number lines, and negative numbers
DATS: Students learned about Least Common Multiple, squares and cubes.
Up next: Chapter Review and Chapter 1 test
Reading: We worked on the short story " The Special Powers of Blossom Culp". We practiced questioning techniques, visualization, vocabulary, and a great classroom discussion.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We learned about subjects and predicates.
Writing: We learned about fantasy tropes, and discussed characters and world building for this writing genre.
Social Studies: We completed our first unit on the history and mystery of Roanoke Island. We studied theories and evidence and made some conclusions. We will revisit this later in the year as we get into our studies of the American Revolution. Next is our unit on matter and energy flow in ecosystems as we switch to science.
Mental Health: We discussed what it meant to be resilient and read the book After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Again.
Specials: Art and Mandarin Next Week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
September 10 Fun Run PRIZE Day
September 11 DBC Meeting 8:45am
September 18 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 20 No School/Professional Development Day
September 25 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 27 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of September 2nd
The students are getting into the groove of school as our days become more consistent and predictable. We have been able to carry out deep discussions in reading, complete our first history unit and nearly all math groups are finishing up their first chapter. Next week is the Fun Run school-wide celebration on Tuesday, September 10th. Remind your student to dress for outdoor fun and activities.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Check with your math student to see what group they are in. Then check below for specifics.
Food Fighters: Students learned about Least Common Multiple, squares, and cubes.
Up next: Chapter Review and Chapter 1 test
Pink Fluffy Magical Rainbow Unicorns!: Completed Chapter 1 and test
Up next: Number Lines, Negative Numbers, and Absolute Value
Pi Charts: Least Common Multiple, Square roots and Chapter Review
Up next: Chapter 1 test, number lines, and negative numbers
DATS: Students learned about Least Common Multiple, squares and cubes.
Up next: Chapter Review and Chapter 1 test
Reading: We worked on the short story " The Special Powers of Blossom Culp". We practiced questioning techniques, visualization, vocabulary, and a great classroom discussion.
Grammar and Vocabulary: We learned about subjects and predicates.
Writing: We learned about fantasy tropes, and discussed characters and world building for this writing genre.
Social Studies: We completed our first unit on the history and mystery of Roanoke Island. We studied theories and evidence and made some conclusions. We will revisit this later in the year as we get into our studies of the American Revolution. Next is our unit on matter and energy flow in ecosystems as we switch to science.
Mental Health: We discussed what it meant to be resilient and read the book After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Again.
Specials: Art and Mandarin Next Week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
September 10 Fun Run PRIZE Day
September 11 DBC Meeting 8:45am
September 18 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 20 No School/Professional Development Day
September 25 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 27 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of Aug 26th
Thank you for all of you support at the Fun Run on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see parents cheering on our class. Keep collecting donations and help us reach the NRE goal. All donations are due September 3rd.
I am still in need of a classroom parent. If you are interested please email me.
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: We started math group work. All groups are currently working on prime factorization. Next week we will have group names formalized and this update will include specifics of what groups are working on.
Up Next: Greatest Common factors and Least Common Multiples
Reading:We worked on questioning techniques and wrote an opinion piece on "Eleven"
Grammar and Vocabulary: We learned about nouns, fragments and complete sentences.
Writing: Students explored the ordinary person, completed charater interviews and wrote their first poem of the year.
Social Studies: We made timelines, explored primary and secondary resources and learned about historical context.
Mental Health: We completed two Sources of Strength lessons and are learning on who and what can support us through our lives.
Specials: PE Next Week: Art and Mandarin
Important Dates:
September 2 No School/Labor Day
September 4 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm
September 6 Popcorn Friday
September 10 Fun Run PRIZE Day
September 11 DBC Meeting 8:45am
September 18 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 20 No School/Professional Development Day
September 25 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 27 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of Aug 19th
We've had another busy week in 5th grade. Students are settling into routines and completing beginning of the year testing. Results of iReady testing will be released to families school wide in the next coming weeks. I am still in need of a room parent. If you are interested please let me know. And don't forget the NRE FUN RUN takes place on Tuesday Aug 27th!
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Students completed iReady testing. Then we reviewed Order of Operations, factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers. Math groups will start next week.
Reading: Students completed iReady testing. We also started a piece, "Eleven" and learned some questioning techniques. We will continue with this short story next week.
Grammar and Vocabulary: This will be introduced next week. ( This time I promise it will start :) )
Writing: Students explored the gift of a dumb idea, settings, l and lists of best worst ideas.
Social Studies: We started a unit called Think Like a Historian. We will explore the use of perspective, timelines, maps, analyzing sources, and context.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited our class and we talked about what it means to be gifted.
Specials: Music and Spanish Next Week: PE
Important Dates:
August 22 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 27 Fun Run (10:00 for 5th grade)
August 28 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 2 No School/Labor Day
September 4 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm
September 6 Popcorn Friday
September 10 Fun Run PRIZE Day
September 11 DBC Meeting 8:45am
September 18 PTO General Assembly (all are welcome)
September 20 No School/Professional Development Day
September 25 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 27 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of Aug 12th
We made it through our first full week of 5th grade. The students have been busy! We held the Potato Olympics and I am working on a slide show to share the "athletes" and thier profiles with families. It was a blast! We hope to see you at the Back to School Carnival tonight and don't forget to register for the Fun Run coming up on Aug 27th.
Picture Day is on Aug 20th and our hearing and vision will be screened on Aug 21st .
See below for specific activities we did this week.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: Students took a pre-test for math and will test in iReady next week. They also participated in thier first Poster Method team problem solving activity.
Reading: Students read the first Junior Great Book story, "Charles", practice questioning, vocabulay and answering a focus question.
Grammar and Vocabulary: This will be introduced next week.
Writing: We launched our Writer's Workshop and will be focusing on fiction writing for this quarter.
Social Studies: We will held our first Potato Olympics ! Ask your student how their "athlete" did. A slide show of athletes and profiles is coming.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited our class and we talked about our goals for this year.
Specials: Think Tank Next Week: Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
August 16 Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
August 20 Picture Day
Aug 21 & 22 Vision & Hearing (All students)
August 22 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 27 Fun Run
PTO - TBD Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm
August 28 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 2 No School/Labor Day
September 6 Popcorn Friday
Week of Aug 7th
Welcome Back! I am so glad you are here. It was nice to meet families on Monday. This is my page where I let you know what is going on in the classroom. I update it at the end of each week so you can see what your child has learned and what might be coming up next.
There are two Wish Lists linked at the top of this page if you would like to donate items to our classroom.
Check back frequently for updates.
Math: We participated in a group activity to help set up expectations.
Up Next: First poster method group activity, pretesting and some review.
Reading: I have shared 4 read alouds with the class: The Day You Begin, Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself, One Word, and just for fun The Rock from the Sky.
Up Next : Our first Junior Great Book story and response
Grammar and Vocabulary: This will be introduced next week.
Writing: The students picked one word to help them be their best this year and wrote why they picked the particular word. They also wrote me a "Top Ten List" on how I can take care of them this year.
Up Next; Writer's notebooks and our first writing lessons.
Social Studies: This will start next week. We will hold our first Potato Olympics and then start on our unit about the Constitution and the American government.
Mental Health: Formal mental health lessons will start next week and will be team taught by me and Ms. Nicole each Wednesday.
Specials: Art and Mandarin Next Week: Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
August 7 First Day of School
August 14 PTO Executive Board Meeting 8:45-10:15
August 16 Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
August 20 Picture Day
Aug 21 & 22 Vision & Hearing (All students)
August 22 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 27 Fun Run
PTO - TBD Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm
August 28 S AC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 2 No School/Labor Day
September 6 Popcorn Friday
Week of May 6th
Students have completed iReady testing for the year and results will be sent home next week in Thursday Folders. It is always amazing to see how much the students have grown academically, but more importantly it is a wonder to see how they have grown emotionally this year. The students did participate in their health talk this week. Please make space for your child to ask more questions or follow up in the way your family values discussion around these topics. The next few weeks will be filled with activities. Be sure to check emails and school calendars so you don't miss out!
Thank you for all the gifts, treats and kind notes for Teacher's Appreciation Week. I am grateful for all your support this year.
Math: All math groups finished iReady testing this week and are finishing up thier learning for the year. Next week we will do some whole group lessons on probability and statistics to end the year.
Reading: We are continuing with the novel Chains. They may have reading to do at home. Please encourage them to keep up with assignments.
Grammar and Vocabulary: No formal vocabulary lists this week.
Writing: Students have taken on a colonial character and are writing in journals about their characters reaction to events that led up to the American Revolution.
Social Studies: Students are learning about the events that have led up to the American Revolution. We are now learning about the war and some of the battles and events that took place.
Mental Health: We are learning about self compassion and how to deal with strong feelings.
Specials: Electives Next Week: Electives and Mandarin
Important Dates:
May 15 Breakfast with Buddies
May 15 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15 am
May 16 - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 8:45am
May 21 Field Day 12:15- 3:15
May 23 Last Day of School / End of Quarter
Week of April 29th
We will be iReady testing each morning next week. This is our last testing for the year! I am excited to see how much the students have grown academically. We are in the last stretch of the year and I am working hard to keep student engagement high.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: Using letters to represent numbers and Evaluating expressions
Next week: simplifying expressions, expanding and factoring expressions and iReady
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Circumference and surface area of polygons
Next week: Volume of Prisms, Chapter test, iReady
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: mean, median, mode, range and quartiles
Next week: box plots, mean absolute deviation and iReady
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: mean, median, mode, range and quartiles
Next week: box plots, mean absolute deviation and iReady
Reading: We are continuing with the novel Chains. They may have reading to do at home. Please encourage them to keep up with assignments.
Grammar and Vocabulary: No formal vocabulary lists this week.
Writing: Students have taken on a colonial character and are writing in journals about their characters reaction to events that led up to the American Revolution.
Social Studies: Students are learning about the events that have led up to the American Revolution. So far students have learned about the Tea Act, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts and the Continental Congress.
Mental Health: We are learning about self compassion and how to deal with strong feelings.
Specials: Electives and Spanish Next Week: Electives
Important Dates:
May 3 Popcorn Friday
May 6-10 iReady Testing
May 8 Buffalo Wild Wing Restaurant Night
May 15 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15 am
May 21 Field Day 12:15- 3:15
May 23 Last Day of School / End of Quarter
Week of April 22nd
We have had a a very busy week and you may see that your student has some work to catch up on this weekend. Students are feeling the crunch a bit as we are in the midst of some crucial end of year learning. Also please take a minute to talk to your child about the use of SmartWatches in the classroom. Students are using them during learning time to surf, text or show things to their friends, and it is becoming a distraction in class. I try and remind them that they are just " watches" from 8:30- 3:30 and shouldn't be used as entertainment during the school day. Thank you for your support in this. Enjoy your long weekend and try and stay dry!
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: Chapter Review and Test on Percents
Next week: Algebraic Equations
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Circumference
Next week: Area, Volume and Surface Area
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Dot plots, histograms and chapter test
Next week:
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: dot plots, histograms, and chapter test
Next week:
Reading: Students are reading the novel Chains. They may have reading to do at home. Please encourage them to keep up with assignments.
Grammar and Vocabulary: No formal vocabulary lists this week.
Writing: Students have taken on a colonial character and are writing in journals about their characters reaction to events that led up to the American Revolution.
Social Studies: Students are learning about the events that have led up to the American Revolution. So far students have learned about the French and Indian War, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
Mental Health: We are learning about self compassion and how to deal with strong feelings.
Specials: Electives Next Week: Electives and Spanish
Important Dates:
April 19 No school / Teacher Comp Day
April 24 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
April 26 No School/Professional Development
Week of April 18th
Hello! I have just become aware that my last two updates did not publish. I hope your student has been catching you up on what has been going on in class. We are in the last busy weeks of the year and the time will fly by.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: Percents
Next week: Chapter Review and Test on Percents and then on to Algebraic Equations
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Geometric Construction and Test
Next week: Circumference, Area, Volume and Surface Area
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Equations and Inequalities
Next week: Statistics
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Surface Area
Next week: Statistics
Reading: We finished the novel The Secret Garden and students are working on One Pagers to synthesize thier knowledge. Next we will read Chains to compliment our study of the American Revolution.
Grammar and Vocabulary: No formal vocabulary lists this week.
Writing: We have been assembling reseach on the Thirteen Colonies as we are starting our unit on the American Revolution.
Social Studies: Students have worked in teams to study the Thirteen Colonies. We made dodecahedrons to display our findings.
Mental Health: We are learning about self compassion.
Specials: Electives and Mandarin Next Week: New Electives
Important Dates:
April 19 No school / Teacher Comp Day
April 24 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
April 26 No School/Professional Development
Week of April 1
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: CMAS TESTING
Next week: Percents
M@ximus
Topics Covered: CMAS TESTING
Next week: Finish Geometric Construction, Start circumference, area, volume and Surface Area
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: CMAS TESTING
Next week: Equations and Inequalities
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: CMAS TESTING
Next week: CMAS Surface area and volume of solids
Reading: We will be finishing the novel The Secret Garden this week. Your child may have some reading to do at home over the weekend and next week in order to keep up. CMAS testing for ELA was completed.
Grammar and Vocabulary: No formal vocabulary lists this past week.
Writing: CMAS testing completed.
Science: CMAS testing will be on April, 9, 10 and 11th
Mental Health: We started learning about personal power.
Specials: Electives and Spanish Next Week: Electives Only
Important Dates:
April 9,10,11 CMAS Testing 5th grade AFTERNOON ONLY
April 9 PTO General Meeting 1:45-3:15
April 19 No school / Teacher Comp Day
April 24 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
April 26 No School/Professional Development
Week of February 5th
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: Ratios
Next week: Real World Problems, Chapter Review and Test
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Proportions and Percent of Change
Next week: Chapter Review and Test
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Percents
Next week: Real World Problems, Review and Test
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Algebraic Expressions, Review
Next week: CH 7 Test and Equations and Inequalities
Reading: As a class we finished The Cay
Grammar and Vocabulary: We had our first vocab quiz and the new list went home on Thursday. I will also post lists in Google Classroom by Friday afternoon. The next quiz in on February 15th.
Writing: Students gave their mid year writing sample. I will be sharing thier growth at conferences.
Science: We spent the week getting ready for the STEM Fair. Teams went through the design process after learning about how engineers and scientists designed the helicopter Ingenuity that went to Mars. We also completed our unit on Earth's Rotations.
Mental Health: We worked in our journals of self exploration.
Specials: Electives Next Week: Electives and Mandarin
Important Dates:
January 9 Start of 2nd Semester
January 12 Popcorn Friday
January 15 No School / Martin Luther King Jr Day
January 17 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
January 31 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
February 2 Popcorn Friday
5th and 6th grade Discovey Field Trip to Challenger Leaning Center
February 6 STEM Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
February 5 - 9 Wish Week
Week of a January 8th
Happy New Year ! Here we go! We are off to a good start of the third quarter for 5th grade. The students were eager to see each other and catch up this week. We are starting new units in all subjects and the level of work expectations have ramped up.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT :
Topics Covered: Review and Chapter 3 test
Next week: Ratios- Comparing Two Quantities
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Review
Next week: Chapter 4 test and Proportions
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Review of average speeds, distance and time
Next week: Chapter 5 test and Percents
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Chapter 6 test
Next week: Algebraic Expressions
Reading: Students read "All Summer in a Day" and practiced participating in a discussion, asking speculative questions and writing a proper literary response. We also started a new novel called The Cay
Grammar : We took a break from grammar this week, but we will be right up on it next week along with adding in formal vocabulary studies.
Writing: We set goals for the year and wrote about them.
Science: We are working on lessons to prepare ourselves for the Challenger Field Trip. We are learning about Mars.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came and conducted a lesson on becoming self aware of our growth zones.
Specials: PE Next Week: Mandarin and Art
Important Dates:
January 9 Start of 2nd Semester
January 12 Popcorn Friday
January 15 No School / Martin Luther King Jr Day
January 17 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
January 31 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
February 2 Popcorn Friday
5th and 6th grade Discovey Field Trip to Challenger Leaning Center
February 6 STEM Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
February 5 - 9 Wish Week
Week of November 6th
Ok, obviously time has been going by quickly! So quickly that I have not updated this page in a minute. This tends to happen at this time of year! We are deep into our AmeriTowne studies and the students have been so busy. Thank you to all the families for contributing to our fall party, NRE' s Fall Festival and support for our classroom canidates running for mayor and judge. Your support means so much. The students also performed at NRE's Veteran's Day celebration. It brought tears to my eyes.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: dividing fractions, adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals
Next week: Dividing decimals , Chapter Review
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Identifying equivalent equations, solving algebraic , and real-world problems
Next week: solving algebraic inequalities, real world problems
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Ratios Chapter Review
Next week: Chapter 4 test. Cumulative Review Chapters 3 and 4
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Rates and Speed, Chapter Review
Next week: Chapter 5 test, Percents
Reading: We finished up a Junior Great Book story about self respect.
Grammar : Students are learning about possessive nouns and plural and singular nouns .
Writing: Students are writing short narratives in the genre of mystery.
Social Studies: We have started our financial literacy studies for the year. This involves our preparing for AmeriTowne. Students have learned about banking, basic economics, filled out job applications and have been interviewed. ( Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to interview students) We are now in the process of electing a mayor and jusdge. Our primary election has occured and we have narrowed it down to 2 class representatives per 5th grade class. Our general elections will be held on Monday. All students have been assigned to a candidate to help them campaign. Good luck to all!
Mental Health: Ms Nicole and I are working with the students on what it means to have healthy competition. We are working with the students to apply their knowledge of expected behaviors. Students can tell us what it means to be a good sport or what active listening looks like, but can they show that behavoir on a consitent basis? This is the challenge.
Specials: Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
November 7 Coffee with PTO 9-10:30
November 10 Veterans’ Day Celebration Popcorn Friday
November 15 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm PTO General Meeting 9:00-10:30am
Nov 20 - 24 Thanksgiving Break
December 1 Holiday Shop Popcorn Friday
December 6 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
Dec 18 - 20 Holiday Snow Pile
December 21 End of Grading Period Winter Parties
December 22 No School / Teacher Work Day
Dec 25- Jan8 No School / Winter Break
Week of October 9th
Thank you for all of your support this quarter. I enjoyed meeting with you all to discuss your student's progress. Below you can see how we ended the quarter in class. I wish you all a peaceful break and I am looking forward to a second quarter watching your child grow and learn.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: Absolute Value, Chapter Review, Chapter test, long division
Next week:Fractions and Decimals
M@ximus
Topics Covered: factoring and writing algebraic expressions, real world problems using algebraic expresssions
Next week: chapter review and test
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Chapter test on Fractions and Decimals,
Next week: Ratios
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Ratios and Chapter Test
Next week: Rates and Speed
Reading: The students finished reading Call it Courage. Some were disappointed in the ending so they wrote a whole new chapter.
Grammar : The first 4 sheets are done on each day and corrected together, and the last sheet is a quiz that is recorded as a grade.
Writing: Essays are being completed this week. I will share them with families when we return.
Science: Students learned about the impacts on ecosystems. We will start our unit for AmeriTowne when we return from break.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came and we played a game around looking at different perspectives.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
Oct 9 - 13 Conferences - Use link in Weekly Blast ( Take note: Discovery Teachers will be at a state level conference on the 9th and 10th. Ms, Nelan will hold conferences from the 11th-13th)
October 11 Picture Retakes
October 13 End of Quarter
Oct 16 - 20 No School / Fall Break
October 27 Halloween Parade and Class Parties
Fall Festival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of September 25th
Oops! Looks like I forgot to update last week. Hopefully your child was able to fill you in. ;) This week ALPs were sent home digitally and there also a response form that needs to be filled out. The Book Fair starts next week. We will have a chance to shop on Monday. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on October 11th- 13th. Please see the link to sign up in the Weekly Blast sent out by Mrs. Lynch.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: Chapter 2 Number Lines and Negative numbers
Next week:Absolute Value, Chapter Review
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Algebraic Expressions: adding, subtracting, simplifying and expanding exprressions
Next week: factoring and writing algebraic expressions
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Dividing fractions, four operations with decimals,
Next week: Chapter test and Rations
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Dividing Fractions, four operations with decimnals and Chapte test
Next week: Ratios
Reading: We finished up chapter 3 and we are exploring chapter 4 in Call it Courage. They are learning to take time to annotate, examine character motivations, understand theme and develop vocabulary to set the tone for more novel studies this year.
Grammar : The first 4 sheets are done on each day and corrected together, and the last sheet is a quiz that is recorded as a grade.
Writing: Students have written thier rough draft of their first argumentative essay. Next week we will work on editing and revising.
Science: Students learned about the cycling of matter. We will take a unit test on Monday.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole was out at Outdoor Ed with our 6th graders, but we continued to work in out journals.
Specials for next week : Think Tank
Important Dates:
October 2-6 Book Fair Our class will shop on MONDAY
October 6 Popcorn Friday
Oct 9 - 13 Conferences - Use link in Weekly Blast ( Take note: Discovery Teachers will be at a state level conference on the 9th and 10th. Ms, Nelan will hold conferences from the 11th-13th)
October 11 Picture Retakes
October 13 End of Quarter
Oct 16 - 20 No School / Fall Break
October 27 Halloween Parade and Class Parties
Fall Festival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of September 11th
The fifth graders are just ending the unit on the Constitution and this Sunday is Constitution Day where we recognize the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept 17, 1787. They have been very interested in this unit and I hope they have been sharing some of their learning with you. It has been a good introduction to our American Revolution unit we will be studying later this year. This week we will switch over to science and start the 5th grade life science studies. We will focus on matter and energy flow in an ecosystem.
On another note, I enjoyed seeing many of you at the Multi-cultural Fair. Two of our classmates served up some foods from Japan, other classmates were dressed in clothing from Nigeria and Mongolia, and all who attended had a wonder experience. It was an amazing night put on by our Specials teachers and families from NRE. Thank you to all who were involved.
Remember there is no school on Friday for students on Sept. 22.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: Chapter Review
Next week: Chapter 1 test and Number Lines
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Operations with Fractions and Mixed Numbers Operations with Decimals
Next week: Chapter Review and Chapter 1 test
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Absolute Value, Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test
Next week: Dividing Fractions by whole numbers and fractions
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Absolute Value, Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test
Next week: Dividing Fractions by whole numbers and fractions
Reading: The students started the novel, Call it Courage. They are learning to take time to annotate, examine character motivations, understand theme and develop vocabulary to set the tone for more novel studies this year.
Grammar : The students learned about compound sentences and when to use a conjuction with a comma and a semi colon. They also learrned about compound predicates and subjects. Be sure to check the packets coming home. The first 4 sheets are done on each day and corrected together, and the last sheet is a quiz that is recorded as a grade.
Writing: We continued out unit on argumentative writing. The students are using a graphic organizer to organize there thinking.
. Social Studies: We learned about the Bill of Rights and will learn about the Amendment as we conclude this unit of study. Science will start next.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came and we started a journal about a journey we are going to take to learrn more about ourselves.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 27 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
October 2-6 Book Fair
October 6 Popcorn Friday
Oct 9 - 13 Conferences - Use Sign-up Genius ( Take note: Discovery Teachers will be at a state level conference on the 9th and 10th. Ms, Nelan will hold conferences from the 11th-13th)
October 11 Picture Retakes
October 13 End of Quarter
Oct 16 - 20 No School / Fall Break
October 27 Halloween Parade and Class Parties
Fall Festival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of September 4th
Why is it that the short school weeks are always the busiest? We certainly had a week packed with new learning and fun, and boy was it busy. Remember one of the best nights is happening at NRE on September 15th- the annual Multi-cultural Fair organized by our amazing Specials teachers and supported by many of our NRE families sharing their family, culture and traditions. It is always an amazing night. Look for a math volunteer calendar to come out next week for those that are interested .
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: Common Factors and Multiples
Next week: Squares and Cubes
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Subtracting Integers, Multiplying and Dividing Integers, Order of Operation with Integers
Next week: Continue Order of Operations with Integers and Operations with Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Chapter Review, Chapter 1 Test, Number Lines
Next week: Absolute Value, Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Chapter 1 test, Number Lines, Negative Numbers and Absolute Value
Next week: Absolute Value, Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test
Reading: We read a third story in our Junior Great Book series, " The Gift of the Peddler". We worked on questioning, vocabulary and answering a focus question. Next week we will start our first novel study.
Grammar : We learned about nouns, pronouns, adjectives, subjects and predicates. Be sure to check the packets coming home. The first 4 sheets are done on each day and corrected together, and the last sheet is a quiz that is recorded as a grade.
Writing: We started out unit on argumentative writing. The students also wrote some astounding poetry,
Social Studies: We are reading the Constitution and learning what it is all about.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to our room to talk about our individual values around intergrtity and the students wrote their own ethics code around their individual behavior.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
September 13 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
September 15 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 27 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
October 2-6 Book Fair
October 6 Popcorn Friday
Oct 9 - 13 Conferences - Use Sign-up Genius ( Take note: Discovery Teachers will be at a state level conference on the 9th and 10th. Ms, Nelan will hold conferences from the 11th-13th)
October 11 Picture Retakes
October 13 End of Quarter
Oct 16 - 20 No School / Fall Break
October 27 Halloween Parade and Class Parties
Fall Festival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Week of Aug 28th
Here we are at the end of August and the first month of school. We settling in and raising expectations and moving into some true 5th grade and beyond leveled work. They had a great week! Have a wonderful long weekend.
Math: Ask your student what group they are in and see below what they are working on.
PBBT
Topics Covered: Prime Factorization
Next week: Common Factors and Multiples
M@ximus
Topics Covered: Representing Rational Numbers on a Number Line, Writing Rational Numbers as Decimals, Adding Integers
Next week: Subtracting Integers, Multiplying and Dividing Integers, Order of Operation with Integers
Eggo Waffles
Topics Covered: Prime Factorization, Common Factors and Multiples, Squared and Cubes
Next week: Chapter Review, Chapter 1 Test, Number Lines
Da GoOfSteRs
Topics Covered: Prime Factorization, Common Factors and Multiples, Squared and Cubes, Chapter Review
Next week: Chapter 1 test, Number Lines, Negative Numbers and Absolute Value
Reading: We read a second story in our Junior Great Book series, " The Special Powers of Bloosom Culp". We worked on questioning, vocabulary and answering a focus question.
Writing: Students started to publish their partner biographies.
Social Studies: We looked at how enslaved people were affected by the Constitution and how this affected the nation. We looked at the ratification of the Constitution.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole talked about what having integrity means and she taught us a game to pratice. We also have a challenge to think about what integrity means to us and how we set our own individual values around it.
Specials for next week : Think Tank
Important Dates:
September 4 No School/Labor Day
September 13 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
September 15 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 27 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
Week of Aug 21st
Math: Students took the iReady math diagnostic. Results will be sent home soon. Math groups were created and started woking together in class. Topics covered were prime factorization, greatest common factor , least common multiple, and some work with rational numbers. Detailed group work will be posted next week.
Reading: The students spent two days evaluating their first reading response with a Claim - Evidence- Response graphic organizer or the "Hamburger Method" graphic organizer. We are working on recognizing how to explain or defend our positions. Students also completed iReady reading diagnostics. Results will be shared soon.
Writing: Students continued working on the rough draft for the partner biographies.
Social Studies: We simulated being delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. We learned about the debates on how the delegates choose how our representatives are elected and how the will represent the states and the people.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole joined our class and we started the discussion of our affective goals for our advanced learning plans.
Specials for next week : Art and Mandarin
Important Dates:
August 29 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm. (Teachers Serve)
August 30. SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
September 1 Popcorn Friday
September 4 No School/Labor Day
September 13 DBC Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
September 15 Multicultural Fair 5:00pm - 7:00pm
September 22 No School/Professional Development Day
September 27 SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
Week of Aug 14th
Two weeks in and I am already noticing the improvements in behavior and expectations. Your 5th grader met their Kindergarten Buddy today. Each student helped a kindy complete a fun getting know you page and a first day of kindergarten packet. I was impressed at the maturity and patience your children had with the little ones. One 5th grader exclaimed, " I'm going to die of cuteness overload!" It was precious.
Be sure to read on to hear about what we are doing in class and check back each week for an update. Explore other pages of our class website for valuable information. Have a restful weekend! Thank you for your continued support!
Math: Students took a Math in Focus pretest. We also review order of operations, discovered how powerful parentheses can be and we started our CML booklets. We will do iReady testing on Monday and Tuesday this coming week.
Reading: We read our first JGB story, "Charles". Our theme is honesty. Students learned some vocabulary and answered their first focus question. We will have iReady testing on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Writing: Students started the rough draft for the partner biographies.
Social Studies: We are starting out Civics unit. We are looking at why the Articles of Confederation were drafted and we learned about the 6 Key concepts of the U.S. Constitution .
Mental Health: We will be meeting with Ms. Nicole every Wednesday starting on Aug. 23rd.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
August 18 Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
August 22. Picture Day
Aug 23 & 24 Vision & Hearing (All students)
August 24 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 29 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm. (Teachers Serve)
August 30. SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
Week of Aug 7th
The 2023 school year is off to a good start. I enjoyed getting to see all of you at the Meet and Greet . The students have grown so much! They are full of energy and ready to learn. Now that the students are part of the upper elementary grades we look to them to be leaders in the school. We will ease into this responsibility, but we will take it on with pride. We have had a busy week looking for uncommon commonalities among ourselves and are learning more about each other and our roles in the class and school. This week we are focusing on following school and classroom expectations for 5th grade. Structure, calm and focus with a dash of humor and fun are the main themes at the start of the year.
Be sure to read on to hear about what we are doing in class and check back each week for an update. Explore other pages of our class website for valuable information. Have a restful weekend! Thank you for your continued support!
Math: Students learned the benefits of working in groups during a number challenge, they learned about the 60 Second Sweep and participated in their first poster method problem solving challenge of the year.
Reading: We enjoyed several read alouds this week: The Day You Begin , The Rock from the Sky, The Oldest Reader, and The Other Way to Listen We tied these stories to being true to yourself, perspective, grit, and the art of listening. We will start our Junior Great Books series next week.
Writing: Students interviewed a partner and are learning how to write a biography. Students also wrote a list on how they want to be cared for in the classroom after reading about the top 10 ways to care for Ms. Nelan.
Social Studies: We did not start our official social studies unit, but we are looking forward to our Civics unit to start next week.
Mental Health: We will be meeting with Ms. Nicole every Wednesday starting on Aug. 23rd. We did take a look at words that we would like to build our affective goals around. Students made a self portrait in the the style of artist Modigliani and we paired our words with their drawings to add a personal touch to the classroom.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
August 18 Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
August 22. Picture Day
Aug 23 & 24 Vision & Hearing (All students)
August 24 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 29 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm. (Teachers Serve)
August 30. SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
Welcome Back
I am so excited to get the school year started. It is especially exciting because I get to be your teacher AGAIN .( for most of you :) ) I look forward to seeing you and your family at the Supply Drop and Meet and Greet on Monday August 7th. The first day of class starts on Tuesday, August 8th. Keep an eye on this space for more updates.
Specials for the first week : Think Tank
Important Dates:
August 7 Drop Off Supplies 3pm - 5pm Admin Presentations in the library at 3:30pm and 4:30pm
August 8 First Day of School
August 18 Back to School Carnival 5:00pm - 7:00pm
August 22. Picture Day
Aug 23 & 24 Vision & Hearing (All students)
August 24 Watch Dog Dad Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm
August 29 Cold Stone Night 4:00pm - 7:00pm. (Teachers Serve)
August 30. SAC Meeting 8:45am - 10:15am
The Week of May 1
Wow! What a fun field trip! The students had a great time watching some science demonstrations from Steve Spangler, then watching the Rockies. It was especially neat to see our class bond over this experience. Students taught those unfamiliar with baseball rules how the game went, others enjoyed playing puzzle games and reading stories, and we all cheered on the Rockies. For some this was the first time they had ever been to a major league baseball game. We couldn't have done it without our parent chaperones. Thank you! Above all we need to thank Mrs. Lynch who brought this opportunity to us and made it affordable and possible for all of us to attend.
We finished up iReady testing and my how the students have grown. Scores will be sent home as a school in the coming weeks.
Some things to keep on your radar :
5th grade health talks : Monday May 8th and Tuesday 9th 8:45- 9:45
Career Day: Monday May 8th 2pm
All library books due : May 8th
All school Field Day : May 23rd
Last Day of School : May 25th 8:35- 12:30 - Family Picnic 11:45 - 12:30
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math:
Taco Doggos- Area of triangles and other polygons, chapter review
Door Handles: Made tests corrections and continued work on a Math Cafe project.
Cheese Graters:Made test corrections and continued to work on a Math Cafe project
Writing: Student have chosen a historical character and have been writing from their perspective on different aspects of the events leading up to the American Revolution.
Reading: We have been reading the novel Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Social Studies: We are in our third week of learning about the American Revolution. We covered topics around spying and are making are own ciphers.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
May 8- Career Day
May 8 and 9 - 5th grade- Human Growth & Development
May 12 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
May 16- Breakfast with Buddies - Must Sign-up to Attend ( It's free but we need a head count for planning purposes)
May 23- Field Day
May 25 - Family Picnic 11:45 am / Last Day of School / End of Quarter
The Week of April 24
We have had a busy week of learning. Next week we will be iReady testing and also heading out to have a science day with Steve Spangler and see the Rockies play!
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math:
Taco Doggos- Test on equations and inequalities, made test corrrections, covered coordinate plane, explored the area of triangles
Door Handles: Tested on Percents and are now working on a Math Cafe project.
Cheese Graters: Finished and tested on ratios. Began work on a Math Cafe project
Writing: Student have chosen a historical character and have been writing from their perspective on different aspects of the events leading up to the American Revolution.
Reading: We have been reading the novel Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Social Studies: We are in our second week of learning about the American Revolution. Students have learned about the 13 colonies and the events leading up to the war.
Mental Health: Ms. Vasseur had the students make a "worry stone" and we set up reflections about our growth around our affective ALP goals.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
May 3 - Breakfast with Buddies 7:45 am - 8:30 am
May 4- Field Trip to the Rockies Game
May 5 - Popcorn Friday
May 8- Career Day
May 8 and 9 - 5th grade- Human Growth & Development
May 12 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
May 23- Field Day
May 25 - Family Picnic 11:45 am / Last Day of School / End of Quarter
The Week of April3rd
We made it through our first week of CMAS testing! Next week the testing will continue in both the mornings and afternoons. Luckily the weather will be nice and we can get out each day for some brain breaks. Thank you for the birthday treats and celebration on Friday. I was spoiled by staff and students alike. But your students are my true gift. They are so fun to work with each and every day.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math:
We did get back into some group work this week as we had spent the prior two weeks in review. This upcoming week we will be taking the CMAS in place of math class, but we will return to our regular schedule on April 17th
Writing: CMAS
Reading:CMAS
Science: We have finished up our units for the year!
Mental Health: Due to schedule changes, we did not see Ms. Vasseur this week.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
April 11 - PTA/SAC Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
April 21 - No School / Teacher Comp Day
April 24 - No School / Professional Development Day
April 26 - Wellness Night
May 3 - Breakfast with Buddies 7:45 am - 8:30 am
May 4- Field Trip to the Rockies Game
May 5 - Popcorn Friday
May 8- Career Day
May 8 and 9 - 5th grade- Human Growth & Development
May 12 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
May 23- Field Day
May 25 - Family Picnic 11:45 am / Last Day of School / End of Quarter
The Week of February 20th
Well it was a short week but a long week. The students have been busy finishing up essays and novels to get ready for the end of the quarter. Thank you for all the books that were donated to the classroom during the Book Fair. It is always nice to have some new books to feature for students. The Read A Thon started on Friday and students can read, record minutes and collect donations through March 1st. Check your students Thursday Folders for more information.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math:
Here are what groups are working on individually:
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Chapter Review, Test, Volume
Next week: Continue with Volume then Chapter Review and Test
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Chapter test and start Line plots and coordinate planes
Next week: COnitnue with Line plots and coordinate planes and Test
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions,Expanding and Factoring Algebraic Expressions, Factoring Algebraic Expressions
Next week: Chapter Review and Test
Writing: Students finished and published their formal essay. I will have a copy for you on conference week.They are tasked with the prompt: Based on your personal experience and at least one text form this year, do you think relationships can actually shape people's futures? Why or why not?
Reading: Students started new novels based on interest. They are taking charge of thier learning and scheduling reading and assignments with guidance. Check with you student to see what novel they have chosen,
Science: Our unit is called Observing Our Sky. We did a skits to show the Earth's rotation, revolution and tilt on its axis and what the cause and effect of those. On Friday we had a special visit with one of our 5th grade parents who works at Lockheed Martin. He presented information on their newest projects and talked about what it takes to have a career in those fields.
Mental Health: . Our overall theme is building self confidence. Ms. Nicole came and taught a lesson on what is means to accept yourself. Students will continue to keep a journal for the next few weeks to track ways they are proud of themselves.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
February 24-March 1 - Read-a-thon
March 3 Popcorn Friday
March 6-9 Parent Teacher Conferences
March 13th - 17th Spring Break
The Week of February 6th
Wish week is always a special week in our community. I have loved seeing the students participate in the spirit days. I hope you had a chance to participate in some way yourselves. We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14th with a movie and snacks in the afternoon. If your child wants to pass out valentines please have them bring them to school that day. Our community is also collecting boxes of cereal to donate to the BackPack Society. If you would like to donate, we are collecting cereal through the 14th. In class we are learning about different Black Americans by celebrating their lives and work through books for Black History month.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math:
Here are what groups are working on individually:
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Converting metric measurements, Word Problems on the four operations with decimals
Next week: Chapter Review and Test
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Finished up Volume and Chapter review
Next week: Chapter test and start Line plots and coordinate planes
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Next week: Expanding and Factoring Algebraic Expressions,
Writing: Students are working on a formal essay. They are tasked with the prompt: Based on your personal experience and at least one text form this year, do you think relationships can actually shape people's futures? Why or why not? Most of the students are ready to conference with me and get a final copy.
Reading: Students are just about to finish The Secret Garden. Students have also explored poem from Black authors and examined their perspectives on the subject matter presented in our Literary Reflections unit.
Science: We are still working on our unit on Human Impacts on Earth's systems. We completed a lab to see how acid rain can affect the environment. Students also worked in groups to engineer a way to save a town from a hurricane.
Mental Health: . Our overall theme is building self confidence. Ms. Nicole came and taught a lesson on self pride. Students will keep a journal for a week. They will track ways they are proud of themselves.
Specials for next week : Mandarin and Art
Important Dates:
February 14 - Valentine Parties- 5th grade at 1:15
February 17 - No School / Professional Development Day
February 20 - No School / President's Day
February 21-24 - Book Fair
February 22 & 23 - Talent Show 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
February 24-March 1 - Read-a-thon
The Week of January 30th
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Groups are back in full force. We have also added a daily warm up page to our routine. These are just a simple check in on a variety of math topics to keep the basic skills fresh in our minds. These are not a part of the Math in Focus curriculum, so there might be topics we have not covered. Students are encouraged to ask for help whenever they need it. Usually a quick reminder of a quick tutorial will get them on their way. Also the questions from page to page correlate and are on a similar topic ( for instance all the 11th questions from page to page deal with probability). If you student is consistently having a hard time with a certain question on each page, that might signal they need support in a particular area.
Here are what groups are working on individually:
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing with fractions
Next week: Converting metric measurements
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Volume
Next week: Line plots and coordinate planes
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Algebraic Expressions
Next week: Algebraic Expressions continued and Equations and Inequalities
Writing: Students are working on a formal essay. They are tasked with the prompt: Based on your personal experience and at least one text form this year, do you think relationships can actually shape people's futures? Why or why not? They have written the introduction and three body paragraphs. Next week we will work on conclusions and then we will be on to the revision process.
Reading: We have started our Literary Reflections unit designed by education department at the College of William and Mary. Our main novel is Secret Garden and we are looking at it through the lens of generalizations about change. We have also been exploring poems from authors who help us explore other cultures and historical perspectives.
Science: We started our unit on Human Impacts on Earth's systems. We completed a lab to see how fertilizer can affect the land and water around us.
Mental Health: . Ms. Nicole came and taught a lesson on greatness. She offered an optional challenge for students to complete. Ask your student about it.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
February 6-10 Wish Week - See Weekly Blast or the flyer in Thursday Folders for dress up days and restaurant nights
February 7 - PTA General Meeting (All Welcome) 2:00 pm
February 14 - Valentine Parties
February 17 - No School / Professional Development Day
February 20 - No School / President's Day
February 21-24 - Book Fair
February 22 & 23 - Talent Show 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
February 24-March 1 - Read-a-thon
The Week of January 23rd
Welcome Back! ( yes this is a little bit of a belated welcome) With this being the first 5 day week since we have come back from break, routines have been reestablished and I have plenty to share with you. The students have been super flexible and going with whatever our days bring. From holidays, snow days, indoor recesses, assemblies and fire drills they have shown their ability to pivot and still get some learning in. Below you will find an update of all that we have been doing since we have returned from break.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Groups are back in full force. We have also added a daily warm up page to our routine. These are just a simple check in on a variety of math topics to keep the basic skills fresh in our minds. These are not a part of the Math in Focus curriculum, so there might be topics we have not covered. Students are encouraged to ask for help whenever they need it. Usually a quick reminder of a quick tutorial will get them on their way. Also the questions from page to page correlate and are on a similar topic ( for instance all the 11th questions from page to page deal with probability). If you student is consistently having a hard time with a certain question on each page, that might signal they need support in a particular area.
Here are what groups are working on individually:
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Understanding, comparing and rounding decimals to the thousandths. Converting from fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions.
Next week: The four operations with decimals
Door Holders
Topics Covered: The four operations with decimals. Converting metric measurements
Next week: Volume
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Percents
Next week: Algebraic Expressions
Writing: Students are working on a formal essay. They are tasked with the prompt: Based on your personal experience and at least one text form this year, do you think relationships can actually shape people's futures? Why or why not?
This week we worked on thesis statements and introductory paragraphs.
Reading: We have started our Literary Reflections unit designed by education department at the College of William and Mary. Our main novel is Secret Garden and we are looking at it through the lens of generalizations about change.
Science: We started our unit on Human Impacts on Earth's systems.
Mental Health: The first weeks back from break we worked on goal setting and picked one word to focus on as wee move forward. Ms. Nicole came to introduce a lesson on finding your strengths and self confidence.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
February 3 - Popcorn Friday
February 2- Wish Week- Miracle Minute in Car Loop
February 6-10 Wish Week
February 7 - PTA General Meeting (All Welcome) 2:00 pm
February 14 - Valentine Parties
February 17 - No School / Professional Development Day
February 20 - No School / President's Day
February 21-24 - Book Fair
February 22 & 23 - Talent Show 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
February 24-March 1 - Read-a-thon
The Week of Dec 19th
Well it is official ! Your student has completed the first half of fifth grade. We have had an amazing first semester, where the students have experienced tremendous growth. As we look forward to next semester remember to look back to see how far your student has come and celebrate who they are. A time of change physically, socially and academically is coming. Hold on parents! It is quite a ride. Together, we will continue to support your student as we enter 2023.
I wish you all a restful, rejuvenating break full of happiness and peace.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: This week we did not have formal math class. Things to continue to work on : long division, operations with fractions and basic math facts.
Writing: We had a opportunity to share our writing.
Reading: We finished reading The Cay.
Science: We spent two afternoons learning with the whole fifth grade. We did one engineering activity where wee built water filters and we learned about the scientific method conducting an experiment with popcorn.
Mental Health: We played the Unfair Game with Ms. McFarland's class.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
December 19-21 - Holiday Snow Pile
December 21 - Winter Parties / End of Quarter - Students will watch a movie and have treats.
December 22 - No School / Teacher Work Day
December 23-30 - No School / Winter Break
January 10 School resumes for students
The Week of Dec 12th
Winter break is almost here and you can feel the excitement in the air. The students have been full of energy which has been a plus to get us through the final stretch.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: iReady Testing
Next week:
Door Holders
Topics Covered: iRead Testing
Next week:
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: iReady Testing
Next week:
Writing: We wrote a short opinion essay around the question, Is it better to shop online or in person? We also analyzed a picture from 1917 and wrote a poem.
Reading: We continued to read The Cay.
Social Studies: We analyzed our AmeriTowne experience.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful walking.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
December 19-21 - Holiday Snow Pile
December 21 - Winter Parties / End of Quarter - Students will watch a movie and have treats.
December 22 - No School / Teacher Work Day
December 23-30 - No School / Winter Break
The Week of Dec 5th
Wow! Your children are so amazing! We had a great week and it ended with quite a celebration. On Friday, on our trip to AmeriTowne, your kiddos showed off their hard work, learning and tremendous citizenship. All students took their jobs seriously, collaborated with others, and above all had a wonderful time. It was amazing to see. Then we headed back to NRE to visit the Holiday Shop put on by our PTA. Students were courteous and polite while they shopped and enjoyed hot cocoa or cider. Finally we had a few minutes left to enjoy the popcorn left by the DBC for Popcorn Friday. It was such a fun culmination to our week. Thank you to all of our volunteers on the trip, at the fair, those who popped and delivered popcorn and visited our class during math. We are a blessed community!
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Chapter Review
Next week: iReady testing and Chapter test
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Chapter Review, Chapter test
Next week: iReady testing
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Chapter Review and Chapter test
Next week: iReady testing
Writing: We wrote a short opinion essay around the question, Is ti better to give than receive?
Reading: We began our novel The Cay. We've read the first 4 chapters.
Social Studies: We went to AmeriTowne and had a wonderful time.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful walking.
Specials for next week : Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
December 19-21 - Holiday Snow Pile
December 21 - Winter Parties / End of Quarter - Students will watch a movie and have treats.
December 22 - No School / Teacher Work Day
December 23-30 - No School / Winter Break
The Week of Nov 28th
Welcome back! The students came in with lots of energy and were ready to learn.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Multiplying Mixed Numbers and Whole Numbers, Volume and visual representations of fractions
Next week: Dividing Whole Numbers and Fractions
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Comparing, Ordering, and Rounding Decimals,Volume and visual representations of fractions
Next week: Decimals, Fractions, and Mixed Numbers
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Distance and Speed, Volume and visual representations of fractions
Next week: Average Speed and Chapter Review
Writing: We focused on what gratitude means. We looked at ourselves and what we are grateful for and then we looked around NRE and wrote letters to staff members
Reading: We read" The Invisible Child" in our Junior Great Book series. We also started to take a look at "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in our Jacob's Ladder lesson. The theme of self respect was our main emphasis.
Social Studies: We are learning about how to budget money.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful tasting and smelling.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
December 9- Field trip to Ameritowne
December 9- Holiday Shop RESCHEDULED
The Week of Nov 18
It is so hard to believe we are heading into the last few weeks of 2022 and your student is almost a 5th grader and a half! We are preparing for our trip to Ameritowne and learning a lot about personal finances. If you haven't signed your child up for the trip head on over to My School Bucks and get them registered.
Have a restful week and we will be back to end 2022 together!
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Word problems and multiplying by fractions by improper fractions
Next week: Multiplying Mixed Numbers and Whole Numbers
Door Holders
Topics Covered: Decimals to the thousandths
Next week:Comparing, Ordering, and Rounding Decimals
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Rates and Unit Rates
Next week: Distance and Speed and Average Speed
Writing: We wrote a short narrative piece from the perspective of an apple during an apple bobbing game.
Reading: We read" The Invisible Child" in our Junior Great Book series. We also started to take a look at "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in our Jacob's Ladder lesson. The theme of self respect was our main emphasis.
Social Studies: We are learning about how to budget money.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful tasting and smelling.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
December 9- Field trip to Ameritowne
December 9- Holiday Shop RESCHEDULED
The Week of Nov 7
This was an exciting time in 5th grade. We had campaigns going for the positions of Judge and Mayor for Ameritowne. Each 5th grade class was represented in the election. It was wonderful to see how our class came together to campaign for our class candidates. Unfortunately neither candidate from our class won, but our law was passed. Every time the students pass the Snack Shop, they have to say, : MMMM Bacon!" or they could be fined by the police.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Multiplying fractions by Whole numbers and proper fractions
Next week: Word problems and multiplying by fractions by improper fractions
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Real World word problems, chapter review and Chapter 3 test
Next Week- Decimals to the thousandths
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Chapter Review and Chapter 4 test
Next week: Rates and unit rates
Writing: We spent the week examining a Walt Whitman poem, learning about tone and anaphora, and then wrote a poem of our own
Reading: We read" Learning the Game" in our Junior Great Book series. We had an amazing discussion around the story. It focused on self respect and learning to take a stand.
Social Studies: We helped our two candidates campaign for the General Election, learned how to fill out a check, ledger and withdrawal slip.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful perspective taking.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
November 16 - DBC Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
November 18 - Holiday Shop
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
December 9- Field trip to Ameritowne
The Week of Nov 1
Hello! Looks like I missed the update last week. Sorry about that.
Thank you to our room parents for all the great snacks that were provided last Friday. The students really enjoyed them. Also thank you for all your support and donations for the Fall Festival. I had a great time dancing and walking with al the kids and families at the Cake Walk.
This week the students filled with excitement over our Ameritowne unit. They applied for jobs and we held primary elections for our mayor and judge positions. We are well on our way to be prepared for our field trip coming up in December.
One of my favorite moments this week was watching your fifth grader mentor their kindergarten reading buddy. It is amazing to see the growth in the fifth graders as well as those precious kindergarteners. I am always so proud of each students patients, grace and caring with those little ones.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test and test corrections
Next week:
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Multiplying Fractions by a whole number, fractions and mixed numbers
Next Week- Real World word problems, chapter review and Chapter 3 test
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Chapter 4 Ratio Comparing Two Quantities and Equivalent Ratios
Next week: Chapter Review and Chapter 4 test
Writing: Last week students wrote a story inspired by a picture from the book, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. This week we started a short "How to " piece.
Reading: We finished Tuck Everlasting and are back to reading Junior Great Book short stories. We read " In the Time of the Drums" It is a tough story, but the students handled that material well and we had some amazing discussions.
Social Studies: We started our Ameritowne unit. We have learned about job applications and responsibilities. We have talked about how the government works and learned about voting and campaigns.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about mindful observations.
Specials for next week : Think Tank and Tech
Important Dates:
November 16 - DBC Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
November 18 - Holiday Shop
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
December 9- Field trip to Ameritowne
The Week of October 10th
Meeting with all of the families this week was such a delight! I truly feel so lucky to be part of such a supportive community. We had a busy week ending our first quarter of 5th grade and I know we are all looking forward to Fall Break. I hope you can use the time to rest, play and enjoy your time together.
Here are some reminders for when we return:
NRE will have a Costume Parade on Friday October 28th starting at 8:45 am. Families are welcome to attend the parade. That same day the 5th grade classes will have a party around 1:15. We will be having snacks and watching a movie. Later that evening NRE will host our annual Fall Festival from 5-8pm. 5th grade teachers will be running the Cake Walk and we need your help. We are asking that each fifth grade student bring in a box of store bought, individually wrapped, baked goods on Friday, October 28th. The baked goods could include cookies, brownies, cupcakes, dessert bars...etc. These will be used as prizes for the Cake Walk winners.
There is no school Monday October 31st.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Using benchmark fractions, subtracting with unlike fractions
Next week: Chapter Review and Chapter 2 test
Door Handles
Topics Covered:Chapter Review and Chapter 2 Test
Next Week- Multiplying Fractions
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: More practice with dividing decimals, Chapter 3 test
Next week: Chapter 4 Ratio Comparing Two Quantities and Equivalent Ratios
Writing: Students wrote a short story on the scenario they believed to be true about the Roanoke colony mystery.
Reading: The students continued with reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. The focus has been on comprehension, inferencing, and character analysis.
Social Studies: We explored the mystery of the lost colonists of Roanoke.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us about the reticular ctivating systems in our brains.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
October 17-21 - No School / Fall Break
October 28 - Halloween Parade and Class Parties 8:45 am / Fall Festival 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
October 31 - No School / Professional Development Day
November 4 - Popcorn Friday
November 16 - DBC Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
November 18 - Holiday Shop
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
December 9- Field trip to Ameritowne
The Week of October 3rd
Here are a few reminders :
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held the week of October 10th. Please use the links sent out in in the Weekly Blast to sign up for a time. Be sure to pay attention to the slots you are signing up for - Some are Zoom Only- others you have the option to meet in person or Zoom. Please indicate your preference where necessary.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Fractions as a division expression and adding unlike fractions
Next week: Using benchmark fractions, subtracting with unlike fractions
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Real World Problems: Fractions and Mixed Numbers, more practice with subtracting fractions
Next Week- Chapter Review and Chapter 2 Test
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Dividing Decimals Fluently, Real World Problems, Chapter Review
Next week: More practice with dividing decimals, Chapter 3 test
Writing: We are in the publishing stage for our narrative writing. We also looked at the poem, "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos William. The we looks at "Variations on a Theme by William Carlos William " by Kenneth Koch. We talked about tone and how the words we select can show sincerity or insincerity and then we wrote our own " sorry, not sorry" poems.
Reading: The students continued with reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. The focus has been on comprehension, inferencing, and character analysis. We should be finishing up the book next week.
Social Studies: We explored the mystery of the colonist of Roanoke.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole visited the class and taught us how to play Mindful Charades.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
October 10-14 - Conferences (Use Sign-up Genius) / Teacher Appreciation Week
October 11 - Picture Retakes
October 14 - End of Quarter - Kids HAVE School
October 17-21 - No School / Fall Break
October 28 - Halloween Parade and Class Parties / Fall Festival 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
October 31 - No School / Professional Development Day
November 4 - Popcorn Friday
November 16 - DBC Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
November 18 - Holiday Shop
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
The Week of Sept 26th
Here are a few reminders :
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held the week of October 10th. Please use the links sent out in in the Weekly Blast to sign up for a time. Be sure to pay attention to the slots you are signing up for - Some are Zoom Only- others you have the option to meet in person or Zoom. Please indicate your preference where necessary.
The Book Fair starts on October 2nd. We will visit for a preview on Monday afternoon, but then kids can shop throughout the week.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do no hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or celebrations.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Chapter 1 test, test analysis
Next week: Fractions as division expression and adding unlike fractions
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Test analysis, Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Next Week- Real-World Problems: Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Dividing Fractions, Adding and subtracting decimals and Multiplying Decimals
Next week: Dividing Decimals Fluently and Real World Problems
Writing: Students have continued to revise their personal narrative stories. This week we worked on author's craft and elaboration.
Reading: The students continued with reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. The focus has been on comprehension, inferencing, and character analysis.
Social Studies: We studied the Chesapeake Bay through a systems lens. We also explored how the Powhatan Native Americans used systems in this area. Next we will look at the Jamestown colony and study the Virginia colonies.
Mental Health: Due to unforeseen circumstances we did not have a formal mental health lesson this week.
Specials for next week : Tech and Think Tank
Important Dates:
October 3-7 - Book Fair
October 10-14 - Conferences (Use Sign-up Genius) / Teacher Appreciation Week
October 11 - Picture Retakes
October 14 - End of Quarter - Kids HAVE School
October 17-21 - No School / Fall Break
October 28 - Halloween Parade and Class Parties / Fall Festival 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
October 31 - No School / Professional Development Day
November 4 - Popcorn Friday
November 16 - DBC Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
November 18 - Holiday Shop
November 18 - SAC/PTA Meeting 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
November 21-25 - No School / Thanksgiving Break
The Week of Sept 19th.
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Order of Operations, Chapter Review
Next week: Chapter 1 test, test analysis and Fractions
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Chapter Review, Chapter 1 Test
Next Week- Test analysis, Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Negative Numbers, review and chapter 2 test
Next week: Fractions and Decimals
Writing: Students have continued to revise their personal narrative stories. This week we worked on endings and adding details.
Reading: The students continued with reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. The focus has been on comprehension, inferencing, and character analysis.
Science:/Social Studies: In science we ended the unit with small group projects and presentations. We took a pretest to see what we know about Colonial times and the Thirteen Colonies.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we learned a little bit about neuroplasticity and how our neurons work.
Specials for next week : Art and Mandarin
Important Dates:
September 29 - Multicultural Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
September 30 - Popcorn Friday
The Week of Sept 12th.
Another fun and amazing week was had by all at NRE. Ending the week with the Fun Run celebration was quite a treat. Students enjoyed snowcones and root beer floats and then played on the various inflatables. They had a blast. Thank you again to out PTA and all the families that made this possible.
Reminder that there is no school on Friday next week. Have a restful weekend!
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters
Topics covered: Dividing by 2-Digit Numbers Fluently
Next week: Order of Operations
Door Handles
Topics Covered: Dividing by 2-digit numbers fluently and order of operations
Next Week- Chapter Review, Chapter 1 Test
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: Chapter Review and Test for Chapter 1, started work on Negative numbers
Next week: Negative Numbers, review and chapter 2 test
Writing: Students have continued to revise their personal narrative stories. We worked on writing a good beginning.
Reading: We started our first novel study. The students are reading Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt.
Science: Our science focus this week was on ecosystems. The students worked on a group project to show what they have learned. We will have presentations on Monday and then we will be moving on to our first Social Studies topic: Colonial times and the Thirteen Colonies.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we learned about how we react to external stimuli can affect outcomes. We can practice mindful techniques to help us focus on what is happening around us.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
September 21 & 22 - Vision and Hearing Screening
September 22- Discovery teachers out at District level meeting
September 23 - No School / Professional Development Day
September 29 - Multicultural Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
September 30 - Popcorn Friday
The Week of Sept 5th.
Short weeks seem longer that full ones, and that was true this week! We packed a whole lot of learning in. Students will have their first vocabulary quiz next Thursday. They took home a study sheet in their Thursday Folders. Please help your student to remember to study for a few. minutes each night. Also remind them that this is challenging work and perfection is not expected. Even though quizzes will be graded, it is the growth over time that matters.
Thank you to all for your amazing support for NRE. The rumor is that we raised $70,000 as a community!
Reminder that there is no school on Monday. Have a wonderful long weekend!
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters and Door Handles
Topics covered: Dividing by 10s, 100s and 100s, Multiplying and dividing by 2 digit numbers
Next week: Dividing by 2-Digit Numbers Fluently and Order of Operations
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: common multiples, finding least common multiple, squares and cubes
Next week: Chapter Review and Test for Chapter 1
Writing: Students chose a topic for their personal narrative and wrote two flash drafts. It was a lot of writing but it will pay off in the end. We also explored the short story, "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros to learn to write from inside the story.
Reading: We explored an article called,"Home Sweet Homestead" and debated on whether we would like to be a homesteader or not.
Science: Our science focus this week was on how matter cycles.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we learned about mindfulness and staying in the moment.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
September 9 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
September 14 - Fun Run Prize Day
September 14 - DBC Meeting 4 - 5 pm / Parent Volunteer Meet & Greet 5 - 6 pm
September 21 & 22 - Vision and Hearing Screening
September 23 - No School / Professional Development Day
September 29 - Multicultural Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
September 30 - Popcorn Friday
The Week of Aug 29th
This week was full of activity and fun. Thank you for your support during the Fun Run. It was great to see many of you cheering us on. The students had a blast. We also hosted our first class store! Thank you for your generous donations. Each student was able to spend some of their well earned classroom money. Every Friday we spend some time with our Kindergarten Reading Buddies. Today we helped them cut, color and read. It is so fun to see this class be so kind and caring to our little ones.
Reminder that there is no school on Monday. Have a wonderful long weekend!
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Group work has continued. Students are working in groups on various subjects. Here is breakdown and upcoming learning:
(students chose the groups names- no judgement here ;))
Cheese Graters and Door Handles
Topics covered: Multiplying Powers of 10 Exponents and bases
Next week: Dividing by 10s, 100s and 100s, Multiplying and dividing by 2 digit numbers
Taco Doggos
Topics covered: prime factorization, common factors and finding greatest common factors
Next week: common multiples, finding least common multiple, squares and cubes
Writing: Students were challenged to write a small excerpts from the ideas they generated last week. They also wrote a poem modeling the poem, " Where I Am From, by George Ella Lyon. What they came up with was so personal and unique to each of them I literally had chills and almost tears as I read them. What was produced blew away my original expectations. Currently we are keeping all of our published poetry in an anthology at school, but I will figure out a way to share it with you more frequently.
Reading: We completed our third story in our Junior Great Books series. Our theme is Honesty. We read a story called The Peddler's Gift , We strengthened our questioning techniques, wrote a response to a focus question, and had a whole group discussion. Next week will move to our first non-fiction piece that will compliment our reading.
Science: Our science focus this week was on food webs.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we learned some unique mindfulness techniques. Ask your student about laughing, shaking like a wet dog and 9 dots.
Specials for next week : Think Tank T-F
Tech W and Th
Important Dates:
September 5 - No School / Labor Day
September 6 - PTA General Meeting (All Welcome) 2:00 pm
September 9 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
September 14 - Fun Run Prize Day
September 14 - DBC Meeting 4 - 5 pm / Parent Volunteer Meet & Greet 5 - 6 pm
September 21 & 22 - Vision and Hearing Screening
September 23 - No School / Professional Development Day
September 29 - Multicultural Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
September 30 - Popcorn Friday
The Week of Aug 22nd
We are continuing to build routines and get into our regular curriculum this week. iReady testing is complete for most students. Some students will need to finish next week. Scores will be sent home as a whole when all of NRE has been tested. Please look for the email being sent later on Friday to explain the vocabulary book students brought home on Thursday. And don't forget the NRE FUN RUN takes place on Wednesday Aug 31st!
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: We started math groups on Wednesday of this week. We are just beginning to build the routines and group work expectations. Ask your student what they are learning about in math.
Writing:This week we started exploring ideas for our first narrative pieces. We've talked about stories we have about people we love, first and last times we did things, favorite places and turning points. We are trying to elevate our writing in 5th grade by putting ourselves and our readers inside the story.
Reading: We completed our second story in our Junior Great Books series. Our theme is Honesty. We read a story called The Special Powers of Blossom Culp , learned some questioning techniques, wrote a response to a focus question, and had small group discussions. I am excited to see the growth in reading responses and discussions even after one week!
Science: Our science focus this week was on matter and plant energy.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we learned some mindfulness techniques.
iReady testing will continue for students who still need to complete their tests.
Specials for next week : Art and Mandarin
Important Dates:
Aug 30- Cold Stone Teacher Scoop Night
Aug 31- Fun Run
September 2 - Popcorn Friday
September 5 - No School / Labor Day
September 6 - PTA General Meeting (All Welcome) 2:00 pm
September 9 - SAC Meeting 7:30 am - 9:30 am
September 14 - Fun Run Prize Day
September 14 - DBC Meeting 4 - 5 pm / Parent Volunteer Meet & Greet 5 - 6 pm
September 21 & 22 - Vision and Hearing Screening
September 23 - No School / Professional Development Day
September 29 - Multicultural Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
September 30 - Popcorn Friday
The Week of Aug 15th
Wow! This class is amazing. We have started to get into the swing of our academics and I am impressed. They are also kind and caring friends to all. We also met with our reading buddies for the first time. It was wonderful to see the students help out the littles :)
Take a look at what we worked on this week:
Math: Students took a pretest to help us determine what needs they have and where we will start in math this year. We will officially start math groups next Wednesday. On Friday we started working on CML problems to develop our problem solving skills.
Writing: Students wrote to a prompt and gave me a writing sample. We also started our poetry anthologies with poem entitled, " I Am"
Reading: We completed our first story in our Junior Great Books series. Our theme is Honesty. We read a story called " Charles", learned some questioning techniques, wrote a response to a focus question, and had small group discussions. We also talked about the difference between a discussion/debate versus an argument.
Science: Our first scope in science was about energy transfer in organisms. We played a game called " Got Energy?" Ask your student about it.
Mental Health: Ms. Nicole came to class and we played a few games to get to know even more about each other and some of our preferences. It is always a special time when she is in our room.
iReady testing will take place on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon this coming week.
Specials for next week : PE
Important Dates:
Aug 19- Back to School Carnival
Aug 23- Picture Day
Aug 25- Watch Dog Dad Meeting
Aug 30- Cold Stone Teacher Scoop Night
Aug 31- Fun Run
The Week of Aug 9th
Well we made it through the first week of 5th grade! Here is a snapshot of our week.
Math: We worked in groups on a variety of activities. We worked on solving problems that had definite answers, problems that had infinite answers and practiced math facts with a 60 second sweep.
Writing: Students wrote three short stories this week. One was the truth, one had a twist and the other was a total fake. We will finish these next week and see if we can stump our classmates.
Reading: Students read a story about a marble champ. We learned how to look at a character and analyze their big idea traits, while looking back into the text to find details to support our thinking.
Please remember to bring a water bottle, a snack and your lunch if needed.
Specials for next week : Music and Spanish
Important Dates:
Aug 19- Back to School Carnival
Aug 23- Picture Day
Aug 25- Watch Dog Dad Meeting
Aug 30- Cold Stone Teacher Scoop Night
Aug 31- Fun Run
Welcome to the first day of 5th grade
First day of school Aug 8th
Please remember to bring a water bottle, a snack and your lunch if needed.
Specials for this week : Think Tank
Happy Summer!
Check back in August for 2022-2023 5th Grade information