While so much can be done through the use of a computer, it is my experience that children learn reading skills best when they can read and retell. They learn to write clearly (and neatly) when they put pencil to paper. We will certainly use computers in our class, but I want them to get deeply engaged in the material and genres we will go over during our time together.
I will be teaching using Open-Up Resources as part of our curriculum, adding supplemental materials from Number Corner to enhance what my students will be learning. Math is one of my favorite subjects because it is a universal language. We will approach learning through traditional tried-and-true formulas and visual models. Trying to solve problems without defaulting to a formula helps to engage higher-level thinking, which leads to improved retention of mathematical facts. We will use visual displays and physical manipulatives to engage in complex concepts involving all mathematical operations. Contrary to my upbringing, it isn't always about getting the answer right the first time. Working with tools to solve problems activates the brain's learning centers in ways that memorizing formulas cannot do.
Social Studies
Our fifth-grade team will be using the same curriculum, but I will complement our learning with lessons through www.kidsdiscover.com and other websites. Most are government-sponsored sites, such as the Library of Congress and the American Battlefield Trust. Others are various colleges and universities. These lessons align with the Utah State Standards for Social Studies and are vital to ensuring that our history as a nation is preserved and carried forward with the next generation.
Our fifth-grade team will be using the same curriculum, based on the Utah SEEd Storylines. Our students will learn about Earth's systems, properties and characteristics of matter, and our ecosystems. We will also be supplementing our lessons with in-class experiments and group STEAM projects with the other two fifth-grade classes. Additionally, we will be utilizing www.kidsdiscover.com for additional enhancement to the concepts we will be exploring. I am excited about all of the discussions we will have! We need more students interested in STEM! Utah Science