Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Sunday, September 27, 2015
5-2 Updates ~ 09/27/15
Hello 5-2 Parents ~
Hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend! Wish it could stay like this all year round :)
Important Dates
Smile ~ School Picture Day is this Tuesday, September 29th! Picture order forms went home on Friday. It would be best if you sent in the order form on Monday, but they can be sent in as late as Tuesday. If you did not receive the order form, please let me know. Some students have asked me if they can arrive in their comfortable clothes, then change into their "picture outfits" before pictures are taken. Your child will NOT have time to change before pictures are taken, so please have your child arrive to school in their "picture outfits". If they want to bring a change of clothes for after pictures are taken, they will be allowed to change before they go out to recess.
Re-enactment ~ Thursday, October 8th - Our 5th graders will have an opportunity to take a step back in time to 1776 and visit a frontier camp! Traditionally, we have had this Re-enactment on the Olive field, but we had to move the event due to the construction. This year, we will be traveling to the field next to our administration offices on Dunton by bus. This is such an exciting experience for the 5th graders as they get to meet with and learn from several re-enactors from that time period. From militia members to school teachers, they learn what life was like on the frontier at that time. Shortly after they visit our field, we begin our social studies unit on the Revolutionary War. Permission slips went home this week - please just sign and return the form with $3 before Friday. Thank you!
Math
Unit 1 Assessments were taken on Friday, and they will be sent home on Monday to be signed and returned. I have students attach their Self-Assessments to the test, and I have them record the score they believe they will receive after they complete the test. It's a great opportunity to reflect on their study skills, and their ability to monitor their learning. Take the opportunity to discuss the score they received, and they score they thought they earned. I was impressed with the number of students who hit their number perfectly :) We will started Unit 2 - Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication Algorithms on Monday with a pre-test on Monday. We will also review the Common Core Packet. They are not graded, just reviewed for correct answers. The packets will be returned to students to correct errors and must be turned in corrected by Friday. A new Autumn Common Core Packet will also go went home this week. This packet is due at the end of Unit 2 ~ about two weeks from now, so please have students working on that packet regularly so they don't get caught having to complete it all at the end. Learning to break down larger assignments is an excellent way to prepare for the years to come!
Science
We had a busy week in science this week! Students continued their study of the nervous system early in the week as they learned more about reflexes, such as the blink reflex and pupil dialation. Ask your child how they discovered these reflexes work without even thinking about them, then ask them if they can tell you the difference between a reflex and a reaction. With a reflex, our nervous system takes information in through one of our senses, sends it to the spinal cord, then immediately back to the muscles - it does not have to travel to the brain to make a decision. With a reaction, our nervous system takes information in through one of our senses, sends it to the spinal cord, which takes it to the brain to make a decision. The brain makes a decision about what to do, then sends that message down through the spinal cord, out through the nerves and to the muscles.
Later in the week, we spent more time in the skeletal system as they were allowed to explore cow bones. They discovered bones are made up of compact bone, spongy bone, and bone marrow. Students were excited as they were allowed to explore these bones in more detail with proscopes (I included pictures below). They also discovered how important calcium in our bones and we discussed the importance of eating a calcium-rich diet and exercising regularly to keep our bones healthy. Your children are quite engaged in these science lessons! Their enthusiasm is contagious :)
We are midway through the Human Body unit, and they will be taking a mid-unit assessment on Monday. We spent Thursday and Friday reviewing for the quiz, and I will post the completed Review for students to study this weekend. They can also log on to Spelling City to practice the vocabulary from this unit.
Reading
We continue to practice routines in our Schoolwide curriculum, and we are growing in our ability to have a conversation about what we read. I continue to be impressed at the depth with which your students discuss characters and events in the stories we read aloud. We also had some problems we've needed to solve in how we manage our materials - you would have been so proud of how your children worked as a team to solve the problems! They brainstormed ideas, discussed pros and cons, then voted on the best solutions - then they got to work reorganizing my room and some of the routines. Way to go, 5-2! They continue to be expected to read 20 minutes per night and record their thinking in their Reader's Notebook. Please be sure your child allows time in their schedule to read! This week, we will add a Reading Log to the expectation, where they will record the number of pages and minutes they record every night.
Writing
We had some fun in writing this week! We took a field trip to the corner of Arlington Heights Road to sit quietly and listen while recording the sounds they heard in detail to increase their ability to focus on sounds in their writing. Then we moved from focus to showing with a dramatic demonstration of emotion. We discussed the importance of showing emotions in our writing instead of telling them, so I did a little acting. In the first scene, I came in the room and stubbed my toe, then said, "Ouch, I'm in pain." I asked them to describe me in a few sentences. In the second scene, I "got into character" as they would say, and howled and hopped around the room after I stubbed my toe, eventually falling to the ground wailing in pain. They had much more fun showing my emotion in those sentences after my standing ovation. If the teaching thing doesn't pan out, you may find me in Hollywood ;)
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,
yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher
As always...if you have any questions or concerns at all, please don't hesitate to contact me! Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers ~
Theresa Fowler
Saturday, September 19, 2015
5-2 Updates ~ 09/19/15
Hello 5-2 Families :)
Important Dates and Information:
Math MAPS Testing ~ Thursday, 9/24 ~ 9:10-10:10pm (Tranter Math - 09/25) ~ Since we were unable to take our Math MAPS test due to technical difficulties at the MAPS testing site, we are scheduled to re-take our test on Thursday morning. Fingers crossed that it will work this time!
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math
Science
Writing
We continued working on focus in our WEX Personal Narrative Unit this week, and students had an opportunity to revise one of their journal entries.
Have a fantastic week!
Another beautiful weekend, despite it's stormy beginning! I hope you and your family were able to get out and enjoy the delightful weather today!
Important Dates and Information:
Math MAPS Testing ~ Thursday, 9/24 ~ 9:10-10:10pm (Tranter Math - 09/25) ~ Since we were unable to take our Math MAPS test due to technical difficulties at the MAPS testing site, we are scheduled to re-take our test on Thursday morning. Fingers crossed that it will work this time!
School Pictures ~Tuesday, 9/29 ~ Say Cheeeeese!
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math
We will be wrapping up Unit 1 this week. Our last lesson (1.9) is on Monday, then we will spend 2 days reviewing for the assessment. They will work on a review of concepts in class on Tuesday, then take a Unit 1 Quiz on Wednesday. We will discuss using the quiz results and a self-assessment to determine if they are ready to take the assessment. We spend a great deal of time in class discussing the importance of evaluating and reflecting on their own understanding of concepts to determine readiness for assessments, and independently seeking clarification if they are struggling with a concept as a way to promote ownership of their learning. We find when students evaluate their own learning process, they not only increase responsibility for their learning, but they also increase their assessment scores. You may want to spend some time this week assisting your child with self-evaluation of math concepts. Unit 1 Assessment is Friday, 9/25. We have also scheduled the CCP - Math to be due on Monday, 9/28.
Character Ed - Responsibility
In 5-2, September is Responsibility month! We just spent our second week discussing the importance of being responsible :) They have had a great time working in teams to practice a Reader's Theater, Accepting Responsibility and creating a Responsibility Collage. I've been impressed with the way students are challenging one another to increase their responsibilities at home! Some of your children are very proud to share their chores at home in our discussions, and they have all committed to looking for ways to increase their responsibilities. Hopefully, our discussions in class will spark some great discussions at home!Science
The students were quite engaged as they built joint models in science this week! They created short videos with their teams explaining the 4 major parts of a joint - ask them to share their video with you! They are posted for you to view on Edmodo. We moved on from the skeletal and muscular systems to the nervous systems this week as they tested their response time for different sensory organs. Ask them which organ has the shortest response time, and how they conducted the test to find that answer! Next week, we will continue in the nervous system and learn about reflexes...as we get to throw things at each other in class!
Reading
Reading
While we did continue to do some work in our new Schoolwide Launching Unit this week, we took a break for assessments. They took their Reading MAPS test on Tuesday, I evaluated their fluency on AIMSWeb, and then we spent several days benchmarking their reading level with Fountas and Pinnell. We will finish benchmarking next week, then we will return to the reading program. Though time-consuming, each of these assessments provide valuable information about your children as readers, and will allow me to differentiate my instruction to meet their specific needs throughout the year.
Writing
We continued working on focus in our WEX Personal Narrative Unit this week, and students had an opportunity to revise one of their journal entries.
We also just finished our second week of Grammar and Spelling instruction and assessments. For most weeks, Grammar and Spelling quizzes are given on Fridays for the concepts reviewed during the week. Grammar packets are distributed on Mondays, with a page completed as homework each night. These assignments are graded each day in class, and students are expected to correct any assignment they did not receive a passing score. The packets are due on Friday when they take the assessment. You may want to remind your child to review the grammar packets throughout the week to prepare for the quiz on Friday.
Spelling pre-tests are taken on Mondays. If students receive a 96% or better on their pre-test, they are assigned to the challenge list for the week. Spelling assignments are either given on Spelling City or on paper. They are assigned at the beginning of the week, and due on Fridays when they take the test. We have discussed the importance of reflecting on what type of spelling learner they are - some students learn better by typing the letters, and some learn better by writing the letters. I ask them to pay close attention to how they score on their spelling tests throughout the year to determine if they are using the most effective method for learning their spelling words. We also discuss using the pre-test as a guide for studying their words - they should only need to study the words they spelled incorrectly on the pre-test instead of all 25 words.
I do not send home grammar or spelling test scores. If you would like to see their spelling test scores, ask your child to log on to Spelling City, then click on My Records. If you would like to see their grammar scores, please email me and I will send you and electronic copy. They take these assessments on MimioVote (an electronic assessment system), so there is no print out of their assessment. Your child sees their score as soon as they submit their tests on their handheld device.
As with all assessments and assignments, if students do not receive a passing score (70%) or higher, they will be given an opportunity to improve their score with a re-test. They are given a contract with re-take work. The contract includes a due date for the re-take work, and an opportunity for them to reflect on the reason they did not pass the assignment. This contract should be signed by you. If students are not pleased with their score, they may ask to re-take the or re-do the assignment and will be given the same contract.
Spelling pre-tests are taken on Mondays. If students receive a 96% or better on their pre-test, they are assigned to the challenge list for the week. Spelling assignments are either given on Spelling City or on paper. They are assigned at the beginning of the week, and due on Fridays when they take the test. We have discussed the importance of reflecting on what type of spelling learner they are - some students learn better by typing the letters, and some learn better by writing the letters. I ask them to pay close attention to how they score on their spelling tests throughout the year to determine if they are using the most effective method for learning their spelling words. We also discuss using the pre-test as a guide for studying their words - they should only need to study the words they spelled incorrectly on the pre-test instead of all 25 words.
I do not send home grammar or spelling test scores. If you would like to see their spelling test scores, ask your child to log on to Spelling City, then click on My Records. If you would like to see their grammar scores, please email me and I will send you and electronic copy. They take these assessments on MimioVote (an electronic assessment system), so there is no print out of their assessment. Your child sees their score as soon as they submit their tests on their handheld device.
As with all assessments and assignments, if students do not receive a passing score (70%) or higher, they will be given an opportunity to improve their score with a re-test. They are given a contract with re-take work. The contract includes a due date for the re-take work, and an opportunity for them to reflect on the reason they did not pass the assignment. This contract should be signed by you. If students are not pleased with their score, they may ask to re-take the or re-do the assignment and will be given the same contract.
Have a fantastic week!
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the true goal of education” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cheers ~
Theresa Fowler
Saturday, September 12, 2015
5-2 Updates ~ 09/12/15
5-2 Updates!
Hello 5-2 Families :)
Important Dates and Information:
Morning Announcements - If you sent in a permission slip for Morning Announcements, your children were placed on the schedule, but please be aware that there are many children who are interested in participating. This means you may not see your child on the schedule until well into the school year. I will attach the schedule to the 5-2 Website. You will receive an email from Mrs. Watanuki the Friday before the week your child has duty. Your child is expected to be here at 8:45 every morning they serve on Morning Announcements.
Maps Testing ~
- Math ~ Monday, 9/14 ~ 9:10-10:10pm
It is important that your child is in school on these days, so please try to schedule any appointments outside of these times. If your child is absent due to illness, we will schedule make-ups, but it does mean they will be out of the classroom during instruction. Research shows that students perform better when they are well-rested and well-fed before taking assessments!
Room Rep Meeting ~ Thursday, 9/17 ~ 3-4pm ~ I will be discussing the need for regular copy moms to help us out with the 5th grade copying. Please let me know if you're interested!
Band Meeting ~ Wednesday, 9/16 ~ 7-8:30pm
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math
We spent much of this week learning and settling in to the routines of math stations the week. The students love the opportunity to be challenged at their level, and they are quite engaged in the learning process as they move through the stations. Using the math workshop model allows me to instruct students in smaller groups at their level, and affords each of them the opportunity to use technology every day. We primarily work on Everyday Math Online and Khan Academy. Students should be logging on to each of these sites at home throughout the week to practice learned skills in the classroom.
As a reminder, please be sure your child is practicing their multiplication and division facts with your students. The automaticity of their facts becomes increasingly important as they move through the 5th grade curriculum. They can review their facts by playing Facts Dash or Facts Workshop using their Everydaymathonline.com login.
Science
Our study of the human body began this week as we learned about the purpose of our skeletal system, how bones provide structure and protection for our body, and how joints allow us to move. Ask your child if they remember the three different major types of joints in their body, and the location of each of these joints! Next week, we will learn how the muscles work in pairs to move the bones, then they will have an opportunity to build models of joints using a variety of supplies in their science teams this week. While we don't have a unit assessment for a couple of weeks in science, it's important for students to keep up on the vocabulary learned in this unit. The graphic organizers they complete for each chapter has the most important information for each lesson - have your child continue to review these throughout the unit.
Reading
We began our new Schoolwide Literacy Program this week by learning about the Reading Workshop Model, and establishing routines and expectations. One of the focuses of our Launch unit is how to share our thinking as we're reading in a discussion format. I've been so impressed with the depth with which your children are thinking during our read alouds, and how respectful and thoughtful they have been while sharing their thoughts. They have been encouraged to share without raising their hands, but to offer their thoughts more naturally in a discussion as a whole group. This requires they pay close attention to one another in the discussion, waiting for an appropriate time to speak and respond to each other. The students absolutely loved this new format - ask them about the challenges of having a class discussion, and about why they like it so much!
I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy the weather on this beautiful weekend! While the temperature drops came quite suddenly this week, it's so nice to feel those fall temperatures rolling in. It won't be long before we see those leaves changing colors :) Maybe it's because I'm a teacher, but fall is definitely my favorite time of year!
We jumped into curriculum with both feet this week in all content areas...you may have noticed the increase in homework expectations. If you are noticing more than an hour of homework, your child is probably not using their classroom time wisely. This is a learned skill, and something we talk about often. If they're struggling at home with the amount of homework, you may want to reinforce using their independent time in the classroom to complete homework. If they seem overwhelmed, please include me in the conversation as your child may need some additional support with organization and making choices during work times.
Important Dates and Information:
Morning Announcements - If you sent in a permission slip for Morning Announcements, your children were placed on the schedule, but please be aware that there are many children who are interested in participating. This means you may not see your child on the schedule until well into the school year. I will attach the schedule to the 5-2 Website. You will receive an email from Mrs. Watanuki the Friday before the week your child has duty. Your child is expected to be here at 8:45 every morning they serve on Morning Announcements.
Maps Testing ~
- Math ~ Monday, 9/14 ~ 9:10-10:10pm
It is important that your child is in school on these days, so please try to schedule any appointments outside of these times. If your child is absent due to illness, we will schedule make-ups, but it does mean they will be out of the classroom during instruction. Research shows that students perform better when they are well-rested and well-fed before taking assessments!
Room Rep Meeting ~ Thursday, 9/17 ~ 3-4pm ~ I will be discussing the need for regular copy moms to help us out with the 5th grade copying. Please let me know if you're interested!
Band Meeting ~ Wednesday, 9/16 ~ 7-8:30pm
Coupon Books were sent home on Friday, 9/04. Please return your payment or unused book by Friday, September 18th. Please contact Sarah Klancnik or Jo Voelker with questions. Thank you for your support!
Olive PTA Spirit Wear Sale - continues and runs through 09/18. To place your order, visit the online store at Heads Up Apparel. Orders will be taken online only and your items will be delivered to your child's classroom early-mid October. Samples will be on display in the Commons. For more information, please contact Sarah Klancnik or Jolinta Voelker
Parent Patrol - we need your help to keep things running smoothly at Drop Off. Beginning on Monday, we will no longer have as many Olive staff members in the drop off area. Please consider volunteering for Parent Patrol from 8:40-9:05 two times a month. We provide you with a yellow vest, you provide the smile!
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math
We spent much of this week learning and settling in to the routines of math stations the week. The students love the opportunity to be challenged at their level, and they are quite engaged in the learning process as they move through the stations. Using the math workshop model allows me to instruct students in smaller groups at their level, and affords each of them the opportunity to use technology every day. We primarily work on Everyday Math Online and Khan Academy. Students should be logging on to each of these sites at home throughout the week to practice learned skills in the classroom.
Everyday Math Online is an excellent site for games and other resources we use in the classroom. We explored the site this week, and I shared where students can find and print Study Links should they misplace the copy they are given in classroom, as well as the online SRB. This SRB is a great alternative to the textbook so students do not have to carry their SRB back and forth from school. It has all of the same information as in the textbook, as well as video demonstrations of the concepts taught in the classroom. This tool is quite useful - I encourage you to explore it at home with your child.
As a reminder, please be sure your child is practicing their multiplication and division facts with your students. The automaticity of their facts becomes increasingly important as they move through the 5th grade curriculum. They can review their facts by playing Facts Dash or Facts Workshop using their Everydaymathonline.com login.
Science
Our study of the human body began this week as we learned about the purpose of our skeletal system, how bones provide structure and protection for our body, and how joints allow us to move. Ask your child if they remember the three different major types of joints in their body, and the location of each of these joints! Next week, we will learn how the muscles work in pairs to move the bones, then they will have an opportunity to build models of joints using a variety of supplies in their science teams this week. While we don't have a unit assessment for a couple of weeks in science, it's important for students to keep up on the vocabulary learned in this unit. The graphic organizers they complete for each chapter has the most important information for each lesson - have your child continue to review these throughout the unit.
Reading
We began our new Schoolwide Literacy Program this week by learning about the Reading Workshop Model, and establishing routines and expectations. One of the focuses of our Launch unit is how to share our thinking as we're reading in a discussion format. I've been so impressed with the depth with which your children are thinking during our read alouds, and how respectful and thoughtful they have been while sharing their thoughts. They have been encouraged to share without raising their hands, but to offer their thoughts more naturally in a discussion as a whole group. This requires they pay close attention to one another in the discussion, waiting for an appropriate time to speak and respond to each other. The students absolutely loved this new format - ask them about the challenges of having a class discussion, and about why they like it so much!
We set up our Reading Baskets and our Reading Notebooks this week. Our Reading Baskets are where they keep their Reading Notebooks, Reading Folders, several texts, and a few other supplies while at school. They are encouraged to keep both fiction and non-fiction books in their baskets, and to include both books they are currently reading and books they would like to read. Their Reading Notebooks are where they will record notes and information about what they are reading. The Reading Notebook is divided into 3 sections: Whole Group, Independent Reading, and Reading Log. You should see this notebook come home every night starting next week - they will be expected to complete a response in their notebook every night. Their notebook and selected books will come home in a bag every night - they should bring this bag back to school every day.
Each child chose a book on the human body to tie their non-fiction reading into our science unit. Since their BLB is to be written on a non-fiction book this weekend, many of your children have chosen to read their human body book for their BLB. I thought that was a great choice!
Writing
We started our WEX Personal Narrative Writing unit this week. We worked on the skill of focus, shifting from focusing on the moment to focusing on an object. They were also asked to describe an item that means the most to them - can you guess what they chose?? Ask them! I have been very impressed with the quality of writing I've seen your children produce! As a pre-test for this unit, students participated in a timed Personal Narrative writing prompt. I will be evaluating their essays to determine if students would benefit from enrichment during our writing unit.
Have a fantastic week!
Writing
We started our WEX Personal Narrative Writing unit this week. We worked on the skill of focus, shifting from focusing on the moment to focusing on an object. They were also asked to describe an item that means the most to them - can you guess what they chose?? Ask them! I have been very impressed with the quality of writing I've seen your children produce! As a pre-test for this unit, students participated in a timed Personal Narrative writing prompt. I will be evaluating their essays to determine if students would benefit from enrichment during our writing unit.
“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” – Pablo Casals
Cheers ~
Theresa Fowler
Saturday, September 5, 2015
5-2 Updates ~ 09/05/15
Hello 5-2 Families :)
We have been having a great time in 5-2 so far this week learning routines and doing several team building activities. Hopefully, your child has come home and shared some of these fun activities with you! Not only have they enjoyed the activities, but they have spurred some excellent reflection on how to work in cooperative groups throughout the year. Our discussions have included insights on the importance of asking clarifying questions and including everyone's ideas in the process.
Important Dates and Information:
Morning Announcements - Permissions slips were sent home this week. If your child is interested in being on our Morning Announcements team, please read the information carefully, and send in the permission slip. They will be put on a rotating schedule to serve in one week intervals. You will be notified when your child is on the Morning Announcement schedule - they are expected to be here at 8:45am during that entire week.
Band ~ Band lesson will begin next week. If your child signed up for band in the spring, they received information from Mrs. Kuzmanoff on Friday to bring home to you. If you have your child's instrument at home, please have them bring it to school on Wednesday. If you rented an instrument, Mrs. Kuzmanoff will have the instruments for them. Your child will be given a schedule of band lesson - they are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, with the whole band lesson at 8:10 on Wednesday mornings. Your child will be pulled for 30 minute lessons on a rotating schedule so they are not always pulled from the same subject. It is important that your child understands they are responsible for making up the work they miss while they are at their band lesson at home. In other words, on band days, they may have up to 90 minutes of homework.
Maps Testing ~
- Math ~ Monday, 9/14 ~ 9:10-10:10pm - my math class (Tranter ~ Wednesday, 9/9 ~ 9:10-10:10)
- Reading ~ Tuesday, 9/15 ~ 2:15-3:15pm
It is important that your child is in school on these days, so please make every effort for your child to be here. If your child is absent during MAPS testing, we will schedule make-ups, but it does mean they will be out of the classroom during instruction. Research shows that students perform better when they are well-rested and well-fed before taking assessments!
Band Parent Meeting ~ Wednesday, 9/16 ~ 7-8:30pm
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math ~ We started Unit 1 this week in math! We will cover Number Theory concepts in this unit, including factors and products, squaring and un-squaring numbers, prime and composite numbers, and prime factorization.
As I shared with you on Parent Night, I pre-test the students for every unit. This allows me to differentiate instruction for each lesson based on the results of the pre-test. I teach math in a workshop model, so students rotate stations. In the rotation, they will meet with me for instruction, spend time in their journals, and practice skills on Khan Academy or Everyday Math Online. If they demonstrate mastery on the pre-test, they will work on enrichment and advanced content; if they demonstrate a need for additional support, I will spend more time in instruction with them.
I also shared that homework is not graded because it is practice, but it is checked every day. If students do not demonstrate an understanding of the skills covered on their homework, they will be asked to re-do the assignment. Encourage your child to work through their homework each night - even if it is a struggle, they should do their best to complete as much of the homework as they can, but not to worry if they cannot finish it. We do review the homework every morning, so if they do not understand a concept, they will have a chance to discuss it with me.
Most nights, they will have a study link and math boxes for homework - this should take them approximately 20-30 minutes of their nightly 60 minutes of homework. If you find that your child consistently takes longer than 30 minutes to complete their math homework, please let me know!
They were also given a CCP (Common Core Packet) in math. This is a review packet of many different math skills they are expected to master in 5th grade. This packet is due at the end of the unit - the due date will be assigned as we get closer to the date. Please remind your child to complete pages when their homework load is lighter, and not to save the packet for the end of the unit. Some of the problems may be challenging - again, please have them do the best they can. We review these packets together when completed.
Science - We set up our science learning this week by doing a couple of experiments and reading complex text for answers to our questions. We started with the Meter Stick experiment - ask your child to explain why the meter stick did not fly up when I karate chopped it! They found the answer in an article, and we practiced writing responses that Stake a Claim, Cite Evidence, and Explain. I graded these online and gave your child feedback on their responses - ask them to show you their grade and feedback!
Then came the super exciting Egg Drop Day!! I hope you were able to follow along with the pictures on the blog that day :) We made the front page of AHSD25 homepage with our Egg Drop! Click here to read the article and watch the slideshow of pictures: http://www.sd25.org/pages/sd25 The photographer really captured your children engaged in the learning process! The question we asked them was which type of contraption would carry the egg safely to the ground when dropped from the ledge and then dropped from the roof! We had about 18 egg carriers make it to the roof round, and 4 carriers make it safely off the roof!! That's the most carriers that have ever made it to the roof and survived in all the years I have been at Olive!! Interestingly, the 4 that survived were the same type of egg carrier - ask your child which model worked best! But shhhhh...don't have them share it with younger siblings! We like everyone to have the same learning opportunity on Egg Drop Day :) On Friday, students were given complex text that helped them answer the question. They read the article with a friend, then answered the question independently. Some students did not finish their response during the class time allowed and brought it home for homework - this is due on Tuesday.
Reading - We learned about 6 different Notice & Note Signposts in reading this week. A signpost alerts readers to significant moments in a story, encouraging students to read closely at that point. Learning to spot these signposts and then to question their thinking enables readers to explore the text, finding evidence to support their interpretations. In short, these close reading strategies will help your children to become more careful readers. We will use them every time we read in 5th grade. Ask your child to pull out their Bookmark and explain each of these signposts to you. Your child was given the bookmark and asked to find THREE signposts in the books they are reading this weekend, and answer the questions. Please be sure they are reading for at least 20 minutes a day. The Bookmark is due on Tuesday.
We also logged on to KidBlog for the first time and discussed how to write a BLB (Book Lover's Blog). A BLB is 2 paragraphs - the first paragraph is a summary of what they have read in their book over the past week (6-8 sentences), and the second paragraph is their thinking paragraph where they explore a signpost in their book (4-6 sentences) Ask your child to log on to KidBlog and show you the expectations for our BLB's in the BLB post. Your child can always choose to write the BLB on paper instead of on KidBlog - either way is acceptable! The BLB is due on Tuesday.
Writing - We started writing this week with a practice WEX prompt. We do all our writing on computers in 5-2, so we practiced the routines of writing and turning the documents in to Edmodo. I'm reviewing their first journal this weekend to understand your children as writers, and I'm giving them feedback online.
They were also given an LA CCP (Language Arts Common Core Packet) this week. This is a review packet of the language arts skills they are expected to master in 5th grade. This packet is due in about 3-4 weeks - the specific due date will be assigned as we get closer to the date. Please remind your child to complete pages when their homework load is lighter, and not to save the packet for the end of the unit. Some of the problems may be challenging - again, please have them do the best they can. We review these packets together when completed.
Whew! We were BUSY this week! What a great start to 5th grade, though! I'm excited to settle into some routines next week :) As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns at all. Enjoy your weekend ~
We have been having a great time in 5-2 so far this week learning routines and doing several team building activities. Hopefully, your child has come home and shared some of these fun activities with you! Not only have they enjoyed the activities, but they have spurred some excellent reflection on how to work in cooperative groups throughout the year. Our discussions have included insights on the importance of asking clarifying questions and including everyone's ideas in the process.
Important Dates and Information:
Morning Announcements - Permissions slips were sent home this week. If your child is interested in being on our Morning Announcements team, please read the information carefully, and send in the permission slip. They will be put on a rotating schedule to serve in one week intervals. You will be notified when your child is on the Morning Announcement schedule - they are expected to be here at 8:45am during that entire week.
Band ~ Band lesson will begin next week. If your child signed up for band in the spring, they received information from Mrs. Kuzmanoff on Friday to bring home to you. If you have your child's instrument at home, please have them bring it to school on Wednesday. If you rented an instrument, Mrs. Kuzmanoff will have the instruments for them. Your child will be given a schedule of band lesson - they are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, with the whole band lesson at 8:10 on Wednesday mornings. Your child will be pulled for 30 minute lessons on a rotating schedule so they are not always pulled from the same subject. It is important that your child understands they are responsible for making up the work they miss while they are at their band lesson at home. In other words, on band days, they may have up to 90 minutes of homework.
Maps Testing ~
- Math ~ Monday, 9/14 ~ 9:10-10:10pm - my math class (Tranter ~ Wednesday, 9/9 ~ 9:10-10:10)
- Reading ~ Tuesday, 9/15 ~ 2:15-3:15pm
It is important that your child is in school on these days, so please make every effort for your child to be here. If your child is absent during MAPS testing, we will schedule make-ups, but it does mean they will be out of the classroom during instruction. Research shows that students perform better when they are well-rested and well-fed before taking assessments!
Band Parent Meeting ~ Wednesday, 9/16 ~ 7-8:30pm
What's Happening in the Classroom
Math ~ We started Unit 1 this week in math! We will cover Number Theory concepts in this unit, including factors and products, squaring and un-squaring numbers, prime and composite numbers, and prime factorization.
As I shared with you on Parent Night, I pre-test the students for every unit. This allows me to differentiate instruction for each lesson based on the results of the pre-test. I teach math in a workshop model, so students rotate stations. In the rotation, they will meet with me for instruction, spend time in their journals, and practice skills on Khan Academy or Everyday Math Online. If they demonstrate mastery on the pre-test, they will work on enrichment and advanced content; if they demonstrate a need for additional support, I will spend more time in instruction with them.
I also shared that homework is not graded because it is practice, but it is checked every day. If students do not demonstrate an understanding of the skills covered on their homework, they will be asked to re-do the assignment. Encourage your child to work through their homework each night - even if it is a struggle, they should do their best to complete as much of the homework as they can, but not to worry if they cannot finish it. We do review the homework every morning, so if they do not understand a concept, they will have a chance to discuss it with me.
Most nights, they will have a study link and math boxes for homework - this should take them approximately 20-30 minutes of their nightly 60 minutes of homework. If you find that your child consistently takes longer than 30 minutes to complete their math homework, please let me know!
They were also given a CCP (Common Core Packet) in math. This is a review packet of many different math skills they are expected to master in 5th grade. This packet is due at the end of the unit - the due date will be assigned as we get closer to the date. Please remind your child to complete pages when their homework load is lighter, and not to save the packet for the end of the unit. Some of the problems may be challenging - again, please have them do the best they can. We review these packets together when completed.
Science - We set up our science learning this week by doing a couple of experiments and reading complex text for answers to our questions. We started with the Meter Stick experiment - ask your child to explain why the meter stick did not fly up when I karate chopped it! They found the answer in an article, and we practiced writing responses that Stake a Claim, Cite Evidence, and Explain. I graded these online and gave your child feedback on their responses - ask them to show you their grade and feedback!
Then came the super exciting Egg Drop Day!! I hope you were able to follow along with the pictures on the blog that day :) We made the front page of AHSD25 homepage with our Egg Drop! Click here to read the article and watch the slideshow of pictures: http://www.sd25.org/pages/sd25 The photographer really captured your children engaged in the learning process! The question we asked them was which type of contraption would carry the egg safely to the ground when dropped from the ledge and then dropped from the roof! We had about 18 egg carriers make it to the roof round, and 4 carriers make it safely off the roof!! That's the most carriers that have ever made it to the roof and survived in all the years I have been at Olive!! Interestingly, the 4 that survived were the same type of egg carrier - ask your child which model worked best! But shhhhh...don't have them share it with younger siblings! We like everyone to have the same learning opportunity on Egg Drop Day :) On Friday, students were given complex text that helped them answer the question. They read the article with a friend, then answered the question independently. Some students did not finish their response during the class time allowed and brought it home for homework - this is due on Tuesday.
Reading - We learned about 6 different Notice & Note Signposts in reading this week. A signpost alerts readers to significant moments in a story, encouraging students to read closely at that point. Learning to spot these signposts and then to question their thinking enables readers to explore the text, finding evidence to support their interpretations. In short, these close reading strategies will help your children to become more careful readers. We will use them every time we read in 5th grade. Ask your child to pull out their Bookmark and explain each of these signposts to you. Your child was given the bookmark and asked to find THREE signposts in the books they are reading this weekend, and answer the questions. Please be sure they are reading for at least 20 minutes a day. The Bookmark is due on Tuesday.
We also logged on to KidBlog for the first time and discussed how to write a BLB (Book Lover's Blog). A BLB is 2 paragraphs - the first paragraph is a summary of what they have read in their book over the past week (6-8 sentences), and the second paragraph is their thinking paragraph where they explore a signpost in their book (4-6 sentences) Ask your child to log on to KidBlog and show you the expectations for our BLB's in the BLB post. Your child can always choose to write the BLB on paper instead of on KidBlog - either way is acceptable! The BLB is due on Tuesday.
Writing - We started writing this week with a practice WEX prompt. We do all our writing on computers in 5-2, so we practiced the routines of writing and turning the documents in to Edmodo. I'm reviewing their first journal this weekend to understand your children as writers, and I'm giving them feedback online.
They were also given an LA CCP (Language Arts Common Core Packet) this week. This is a review packet of the language arts skills they are expected to master in 5th grade. This packet is due in about 3-4 weeks - the specific due date will be assigned as we get closer to the date. Please remind your child to complete pages when their homework load is lighter, and not to save the packet for the end of the unit. Some of the problems may be challenging - again, please have them do the best they can. We review these packets together when completed.
Whew! We were BUSY this week! What a great start to 5th grade, though! I'm excited to settle into some routines next week :) As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns at all. Enjoy your weekend ~
“Children see magic because they look for it.”
Cheers ~
Theresa Fowler
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)