Newsletters

March 29, 2019

Dear 5B families,

This week in math we did a mini-unit on converting fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions. This topic, which seemed intimidating to many students at first, has quickly turned into something they feel very confident in! It brings together number sense (understanding how fractions and decimals are related), and reviews the skills of recognizing fractions as division and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. We will take a short quiz on the topic on Monday. If students want extra practice over the weekend they can review decimals in the G section of 5th grade IXL, especially G.12, G.12, G.14, and G.15.

Here is the foldable we made in class.

8/10 = 0.8

16/10 = 1 and 6/10 = 1.6

1/200 = 5/1000 = 0.005

3 and 1/4 = 3 and 25/100 = 3.25

This week we started reading a new book together as a class. It is called Home of the Brave, and it is about a boy named Kek who is a Sudanese refugee moving to Minnesota in the middle of winter. The story is beautifully written, and happens to be composed of chapters that are actually poems! The timing could not have been better, since this week we have been writing our own poetry as well. Lyn Hoopes, former FA parent and author, came to our homeroom twice this week to give students poetry lessons. She loved their beautiful photography from spring break, and helped them begin by finding the heart of their poems. Another great aspect of Home of the Brave is its rich figurative language. Students have been on the lookout for similes and metaphors, as well as examples of personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and hyperbole. They are tracking their discoveries as we read.

First Lyn Hoopes helped students brainstorm about their photos. They wrote phrases that came to them when they looked at their photos, figurative language, and questions.

Then they started writing their poems based on their brainstorms.

We also learned some editing strategies which we will continue to practice next week when they will finish typing their poems for homework.

To wrap up our study of the Revolutionary war, students were excited to take a field trip to Boston on Friday. My favorite part of the trip was when our tour guide took us to Quincy Market showed us exactly where the Boston Harbor used to meet the shore- right outside Faneuil Hall where many important Rebel meetings took place during the Revolutionary war. As our journey through American history continues, we now are studying the forming of the constitution and the foundation of government in class. We are also integrating policy and information on immigration and refugees as this comes up in our new class novel.

At the former Boston Harbor

Outside Quincy Market

At the former Boston harbor

The Sam Adams statue (modeled after the body of Paul Revere!)

At the cemetery

The State House

Best,

Rebecca

March 8, 2019

Dear families,

I was so bummed to miss the Wax Museum this week, but I figured no one would appreciate getting the flu from me! Thankfully, Sarah, Shelbi, and a few parents shared photos and videos with me so I could experience some of the Wax Museum from the safety of my own home. And the kids did SO GREAT! I am so proud of them: their hard work getting there and also pushing through the discomfort many of them had with performing! Below are the photos that were shared with me.

I hope you all have a happy, safe, and restful break.

Best,

Rebecca