12/23/14

I hope everyone has a great winter vacation and I will see everyone back in class in 2015.

12/22/14

Students gathered together in the gym today for a presentation by Steve Lechner of scienceworks.com. This program will be a year-long enrichment opportunity for the school.

In social studies students continued to focus in on specific European explorers. Students have been compiling a graphic organizer containing important pieces of information concerning this men. After the break, students will be charged with selecting one of these men to compile a report on.

I look forward to seeing students tomorrow, on our last day before the vacation.



Homework

Students need to complete two assignments on tenmarks.com by December 23rd.


Trivia

In the movie Bug's Life, what kind of insects do the ants gather food for?

12/19/14

Students today completed their final writing assignment on Bud Not Buddy. Grade 5 has spent a lot of time on this book and from the start, I have been impressed with the diligent work displayed by my class. They have taken on a challenging book and done such nice work. I look forward to reading these essays over the weekend.

Room 312 also wrapped up our Christopher Columbus project in social studies. Students used their iPads to come up with a presentation which contained student's prior knowledge of Columbus, information gained during our class lessons as well as an opinion piece. I am happy to report that I have many students who seem to enjoy learning about history and these projects turned out nicely.

Next week is a short week so their will be no written homework, students will have one final assignment to complete on tenmarks.com

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Homework

Students who did not finish their first assignment on tenmarks, must complete it by tonight

12/18/14

Students were able to once again break up into their groups to continue to tackle our challenging fraction word problem. Working in pairs, students will be presenting their work in a "math congress". I look forward to seeing how these posters turn out and I am confident that all students will perform admirably.

In ELA, room 312 continues to be hard at work in completing our final paper on a key turning point in Bud Not Buddy. From my one-on-one conversations with my writers, it seems like students are choosing great scenes to write about.

Fifth grade also is now officially on to our last section in Wonder. I can't wait to find out along with my students what happens to these characters.



Homework

Math - last page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Thursday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What president was known as Old Hickory?

12/17/14

Short day and a short post, students are in the process of using the explain everything app on their iPads to show with both pictures and words the relationship between fractions.

We are also approaching the last section in the book Wonder. Students have really enjoyed this novel and are eagerly anticipating the last part of the story.

I will see parents and guardians tonight.



Homework

Math - third page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Wednesday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What country experiences the most tornados?

12/16/14

Students continued to work on their final writing assignment concerning Bud Not Buddy. This is an opinion writing piece that focuses in on a turning point in the story. I like the flexibility of this writing sample because the students can take it in any number of different directions. I am eager to see these finished products.

Room 312 is also making great progress in their Christopher Columbus project. Students have been creating some slides on their iPads in which they give their opinion as to wether or not Columbus should be viewed in a positive or negative light.

I look forward to seeing parents and guardians tomorrow night.

Homework

Math - second page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Monday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

On average one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow?

12/15/14

Students were hard at work back at school today. In math class, students began a week long look at a challenging fraction word problem. Students have been tasked with working in pairs to arrive at a solution to this problem. Today was a good day to collect background information and to begin to look at the problem piece by piece.

Students also are hard at work in social studies on an assignment in which they have to give their perspective on the lasting impact of Christopher Columbus. Students have been presented with the view points of the standard history book account of the Columbus voyage as well as an account from the perspective of the native inhabitants. Students will be working on this activity throughout the week.

I also wanted to mention that each student will be coming in with a detailed letter about a new website that I think will be a benefit to the class. Tenmarks.com is an educational site created by Amazon that will act as a supplement for room 312. Students will periodically be given digital homework assignments as well as being allowed to complete some work on their own. I have encouraged students to view this website as a friendly competition amongst the class. Students can earn rewards for completing work and I will be able to track their progress.

Another new introduction to the class this week is our weekly reading logs. Students will be given a new copy every Monday and will continue to quietly read every night. The difference is students will need to write about what they are reading on a daily basis and they will also need to have an adult sign their log before turning it in on Friday.


Homework

Math - first page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Monday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What is the largest reptile on planet Earth?

12/12/14

I wanted to begin this post by praising all of the members of the chorus for their great performance today, particularly the members of room 312. These students have been working hard and the show could not have turned out better.

Students took an assessment in math class today, which was a way for me to get a glimpse into where everyone stands as we progress deeper into the fraction unit. I am confident that students will have done well with these piece.

We continued our examination into the way two different cultures can view the same event differently. Students have been exposed to two different interpretations of the first contact between Christopher Columbus and the native people. Students will eventually be responsible for coming up with a writing assignment where they give their own interpretations of these events.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.


Homework

- Blog post due by Saturday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

12/11/14

Room 312 began their final writing assignment about Bud Not Buddy today. This project concerns focusing in on "turning points" within the novel. Students have been working hard during our reading blocks and I firmly believe that these papers will turn out well. This paper will also serve as a nice transition into our next writing unit, which will focus on opinion/argument writing.  This will be an ongoing assignment that will be completed next week.

In math class students continued their work with fractions. Students are becoming very adept at using number lines to place fractions as well as identifying fractions that are equivalent. Hand in hand with this work, students have also been reviewing multiplication and division. It is very important to keep these items fresh in the minds of students.

Once again, I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tonight during conference time.

Homework

Math - final page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What were the names of the three ships that Christopher Columbus and his men sailed on?

12/10/14

There was excitement in the air as students finished reading Bud Not Buddy today. Many students had correctly predicted the end of the novel and were happy to see where our main character ended up at the completion of the novel. I was impressed throughout the course of reading this novel with the enthusiasm and level of participation that students brought to class. We are going to begin our final writing assignment concerning the novel this week. I look forward to starting our next novel with the class after the winter break.

Students began to focus in on particular European explorers in social studies today. I began to read my class the picture book, Encounters, which does a great job of giving students a glimpse of the meeting of two cultures from a different perspective than usually seen.

I enjoyed meeting with some parents yesterday afternoon and look forward to meeting with more tomorrow evening.

Homework

Math - third page in math packet

Reading - finish reading chapter 19 in Bud Not Buddy. Students need to make three strong entries into their 3-step journal.

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

Which country sponsored Christopher Columbus' voyages? 

12/9/14

Although today was a very short one, students were able to accomplish a lot during our math block. Room 312 continued their work with fraction tracks. This work will continue over the course of the next few days. Students will continue to represent fractions on number lines and use their prior knowledge of equivalencies to help them place fractions on the line.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tonight.

Homework

Math - second page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 2 paragraphs) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What year did the Boston baseball team become the Red Sox?

12/8/14

This week, students will complete reading Bud Not Buddy. The class has thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have enjoyed reading it with such an invested group of students. We are going to start our final writing assignment this week which will be an important grade. I am sure students will give this work their due diligence.

Students worked with number lines in math class. The class were tasked with placing fractions onto blank number lines. This activity helps students continue to look for equivalencies among fractions with different denominators.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians over the course of the next two weeks during parent teacher conferences. 

Homework

Math - first page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 2 paragraphs) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What is the largest species of bird?

12/5/14

As room 312 completed this first week in December, students received their report cards today. I have  said repeatedly throughout this first term, that I am impressed with the work that my class has been able to accomplish. Students who have done well on their report cards should feel proud of their accomplishments. Those that may not be as happy should know that their is a lot of time left in the school year. Plenty of time to bring up any grades that may not be where you want them to be. I would just advise all of my students not to become complacent. Continue the strong work that you have begun in the first three months of the school year.

I look forward to getting to meet parents over the course of the next two weeks.

Grade 5 met up with out buddies in second grade today. The second grade students have been impressing me with their reading levels. And my class continues to make admirable book buddies.

Students also compiled a list of reasons that European explorers ventured out into the wide world in the 1400s. Next week we will begin to focus in on specific explorers.

I also wanted to mention, that room 312 won the prestigious Golden Sneaker award for the amount of students who walk to school. This award is akin to winning the Stanley Cup, so my students should feel proud. We hope to repeat as champs next week.

Unlike the Stanley Cup, I encouraged my students not to drink out of this trophy.


I hope everyone has a great weekend.

War of the World recording

http://sounds.mercurytheatre.info/mercury/381030.mp3

12/3/14

We are quickly approaching the end of Bud Not Buddy. As we near the finish, students are preparing for their final written assignment. Students will be tasked with selecting a scene that could be described as a turning point. We have been focusing in on these important events throughout the course of our reading periods. Students have enjoyed this book and I would expect that enthusiasm to shine through in their writing.

In social studies, room 312 began to focus in on the first interactions between European explorers and native Americans. We spent time today reading the picture book, Encounters. Students were tasked with attempting to use prior knowledge to help them determine what the natives were describing as Christopher Columbus arrived in America.


Homework

Math - third page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 18 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

What is the largest fish in the world?

12/2/14

In social studies, students focused in on the reaction of the people at large to Orson Welles's War of the Worlds. Students started to make connections to people's reactions to a possible alien invasion to the Native American's reaction to European explorers setting foot inside North America.

Room 312 continued our work with fractions during math class. This week will be spent adding and subtracting fractions. Students continued to use clock faces to help them in this process. I have been impressed watching my class discover equivalent fractions.

We are also approaching the end of Bud Not Buddy. Students continue to gather important information in their three step journals. I continue to enjoy the discussions I have had with my class about this great novel.




Homework

Math - second page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 16 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)ut

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

What is the largest amount of snow ever recorded in the city of Boston? (in inches)

Two important parent teacher conference notes

A reminder that conference registration period ends this Wednesday December 3rd at 5 p.m. If you have not already signed up and plan to do so make sure it is before that end time.

The second note concerns the actual conference appointments. There are some parents and guardians that have signed up for multiple time slots for the same student. Ideally we would have time to fulfill these, but Arlington has stressed to teachers that it must be twenty minutes per student. We are aware that this may prove challenging, but we must ask all parents and guardians to just sign up for 1 twenty minute block per student.

12/1/14

It was great to see everyone back at school this morning. From talking with students, it sounds like many people had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break. I was also happy to hear that my students continued to read over the four day weekend.

Students used clock faces to help their work with fractions today in math class.

In social studies, we began work on our European explorers unit. Students listened to a radio recording of the original War of the Worlds. The class then had a discussion comparing the reaction of native people to the reaction of those people who thought aliens had truly landed on planet Earth.


Homework

Math - first page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 15 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)ut

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

Who was the only person to be elected president four times?

11/26/14

I want to congratulate those fifth grade students who put together the powerpoint presentation and others who volunteered to speak at today's assembly. I thought it went very well and you could feel the enthusiasm from the younger grades about their eventual participation at science camp.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving with their friends and loved ones. I will see everyone back at school in December.

11/25/14

Students were able to get much accomplished on our last full day before the Thanksgiving break. Students are putting the finishing touches on their Native American project. Using the book creator app on their iPads, students have done some informative writing on their assigned tribe. I look forward to having students present their work to the class.

Students have also continued their work with fractions in math class. Students have been doing strong work and I hope that it continues as we progress deeper into this unit.

There is no written homework tonight, but students should read for a half hour tonight.




Trivia

Which president officially set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving?

11/24/14

Grade five continued deeper into Bud Not Buddy today. One of the things that I have enjoyed so much about this current group of students is that the book group discussions have been great. I can tell that students are enjoying the book and that enthusiasm carries over into the classroom. Students are eager to see where our main character ends up.

Students also used their knowledge about comparing fractions to play an educational game in math today. Members of room 312, were tasked with ordering fractions cards and explaining their reasoning for doing so.




Homework

There is no written homework this week, but I would encourage all students to continue to read for at least 30 minutes each night

Reading - if not complete in class, students need to finish their 3-step journal entries about chapter 14 in Bud Not Buddy


Trivia

Which state is the largest turkey producer in America?

11/21/14

As we approach the end of November, I continue to applaud my students for their performance. Today the grades for term 1 closed and members of room 312 continued to put their best foot forward.

Students continued to diligently work in math class on comparing fractions with unlike denominators. I have enjoyed getting a feel for where my students are in regards to this important subject matter. We will continue our work with this material into the new year. I continue to encourage my students to come for extra help on Wednesdays should the need arise.

As grade five gets deeper into both Wonder and Bud Not Buddy, I am having a difficult time judging which book my class is enjoying more. Students are active listeners and participants while working and discussing both books. This bodes very well for the rest of the year as students will have the opportunity to read other thought provoking books.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and want to remind students and families that next week is a short week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. There is no school Thursday and Friday and Wednesday is an early release day.


Homework


I have a few students who need to complete their blog post by 8 this evening.

11/20/14

Quick post today, students are hard at work on their final task in our Native American unit. They are in the process of putting together a presentation on their iPads concerning a specific tribe and the cultural region they were located in.

Students also continued their work in comparing fractions with different denominators. It has been worthwhile for me to get to listen to my students explain their thinking during these exercises.




Homework

Math - complete last page in packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Finish reading chapter 13 in Bud Not Buddy, need to make at least three STRONG entries in 3-step journal. No more rhetorical questions.

- Blog topic: What is something that you have liked or disliked about Bud Not Buddy to this point in the novel? Be as specific as possible and use examples from the text.

Spelling - test tomorrow, it would be a good idea to look over words for 10 - 15 minutes each night

Trivia

Where is the world's largest totem pole located?

11/19/14

Today was a momentous occasion in room 312. All students have now officially completed their narrative writing essays. I can attest to the amount of time and effort put into these pieces by all of my students. I have enjoyed getting to read these stories. Over the course of the next few days, students will get to share their work both with their fifth grade peers and their younger friends in second grade. I can't wait for my students to share their work with a wider audience.

In math class, we had a productive lesson comparing fractions. Students have been great listeners and have been active members of our math lessons.


Homework

Math - complete third page in packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog topic: What is something that you have liked or disliked about Bud Not Buddy to this point in the novel? Be as specific as possible and use examples from the text.

Spelling - test on Friday, it would be a good idea to look over words for 10 - 15 minutes each night

Trivia

Which state built the first subway system in America?

11/18/14

We officially began our work with fractions today. Students began to look at landmark fractions and to place these fractions onto number lines. It was an important first step into our new math unit. I continue to tell my students that I am here on Wednesdays after school for extra help. Students can come whenever they are having any issues.

Students continued their work with Bud Not Buddy today. Room 312 had a nice discussion concerning turning points. We also began to read chapter 11. I also collected students' three step journals today. These pages will be a grade on the first report card.


Homework

Math - complete second page in packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. If not complete in class, need to finish reading chapter 12 of Bud Not Buddy. Students also need to have a least 3 entries in their 3-step journal.

- Blog topic: What is something that you have liked or disliked about Bud Not Buddy to this point in the novel? Be as specific as possible and use examples from the text.

Spelling - test on Friday, it would be a good idea to look over words for 10 - 15 minutes each night

Trivia

What is the largest owl species in North America? 

11/17/14

Room 312 began an important week today. Grades for term one close this Friday, the 21st. Students want to finish strong and go the extra mile with any work that needs to be completed.

Grade 5 began our work with fractions today. Students were tasked with taking a beginning of the unit assessment. This was a challenge, considering that fractions have not been looked at to this point in the year. We will be spending a good amount of time on fractions over the course of the next few weeks, and today was a good first step.

I am also happy to report that all of the grade five students are now in the process of completing their narrative story as a final publishable copy. A lot of time and effort have gone into this writing and I am eager to give my students the chance to share their work with their peers.

Homework

Math - complete first page in packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog topic: What is something that you have liked or disliked about Bud Not Buddy to this point in the novel? Be as specific as possible and use examples from the text.

Spelling - test on Friday, it would be a good idea to look over words for 10 - 15 minutes each night

Trivia

What was the original name of the Boston Red Sox?

11/14/14

Today was a significant day for room 312 today. Grade 5 completed their assessment for unit 1 in math. I look forward to going through these over the course of the next few days. I hope that the hard work my class has been doing is reflected in these assessments.

Students also worked to complete an in class assignment which concerned the seven regions of North America where Native Americans settled. We have been learning about dwellings and artifacts that were local to different tribes.

We ended another week by once again meeting with out second grade friends in Ms. Dichter's class.

I hope everyone has a great weekend



Homework

Students who have not already done so need to complete their blog post by 8 tonight. The topic is: How does the author of Bud Not Buddy create a sense of suspense in the novel? Provide examples from the text.


Social Studies - Native American vocab quiz on Monday

11/13/14

Students returned to Bud Not Buddy today. As we passed the halfway point of this novel, students continue to actively engage with the text. They are participating in lively discussions and are doing an excellent job of staying on top of important events with their three step journals. I look forward to reading responses to this week's kidblog prompt. Students need to focus in on the idea of suspense as it pertains to this novel.

Tomorrow, room 312 will have their unit 1 assessment. Since the start of school, grade 5 has been diligently working in math class. Over the course of the last two days, students have been presented with review work. I believe that all of my students are more than capable of achieving a strong grade on this assessment. Starting next week, grade 5 will be moving on to work with fractions.

I think it is also worth pointing out that students in my class are enjoying reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Recently, the class created portraits of what they believe the main character in this novel, August, looks like. They turned out very well.

Tomorrow, students will get back into narrative writing and we are also looking forward to meeting up with our friends in Ms. Dichter's class for book buddies.





Homework

Math - test on Friday, complete last page in math packet.

Reading - Finish reading chapter 11 in Bud Not Buddy. Must make at least two entries into three step journal

- blog post for Friday: How has the author of Bud Not Buddy built suspense to this point in the story? Use evidence from the text to support your writing (chapter 10 is a great example to use)


Trivia

Who was president of the Confederacy during the Civil War?

11/12/14

Students are continuing to make progress towards out goal of finishing the narrative writing paper. I have had the opportunity to read a handful of the rough copies and I continue to conference with writers during this process. What I am reading and hearing, continue to impress me. Within the next two weeks, all students will have finished their first publishable piece of writing in fifth grade. This will be a significant day in our class and I look forward to having my students share their pieces with the class.

We also continue to make great progress in math, as room 312 continued their work with division. Students have been using different strategies to solve division problems, that I would consider to be challenging. I am confident that as we  approach the end of this unit, that students will be prepared for their assessment.




Homework

Math - complete next page of homework packet. Finish division word problem sheet for tomorrow.

- Math test on Friday

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- blog post on Bud Not Buddy due by Friday: How has the author built suspense in the novel to this point? Use examples from the text (chapter 10 is a great place to look to help answer this question)


Trvia
What is the name for an abnormal fear of spiders?

11/10/14

As we approach the close of grades for term one, students continue to be hard at work on their narrative stories. Many students are in the process of typing their work into Google docs. The goal is to have all students publish their final copy by November 21st.

Room 312 was presented with some challenging division word problems today. Students were able to call upon the various methods we have been working on to help them solve these problems. In a chapter that often creates problems for fifth graders, I am pleased with the work that is being done this year.

Students also leaned about different regions that Native Americans settled in. Using a graphic organizer, students began to focus in on specific areas and listed pros and cons for the different habitats.

I hope everyone enjoys their day off tomorrow and takes a moment to reflect on the sacrifice made by  the men and woman who have chosen to serve their country in uniform. Happy Veteran's Day.


Homework

Math - complete first two pages of homework for Wednesday

Reading - if not complete in class, finish reading chapter 10 and make 2 entries into three step journal

- blog post on Bud Not Buddy due by Friday: How has the author built suspense in the novel to this point? Use examples from the text (chapter 10 is a great place to look to help answer this question)




Trivia

In which state did the battle of Gettysburg take place?

11/7/14

Today was an exciting day for the Thompson community. Students and teachers throughout the building voted on a new motto for the school to adopt. Ballots were cast for one of the three following choices:

•  Thompson CARES
•  Be Your Best Self
• Try Your Hardest
• It will interesting to see which one of these Thompson adopts as their new motto.

In math class, students developed another strategy to help them solve division problems. Later in class, students broke up into small groups to solve some challenging word problems. Students worked well together and rose to the occasion.

Room 312 continues to be hard at work to publish their narrative stories. As I continue to conference with my students, I have been impressed with the quality of the work. This paper will be an important first term grade, but students are also taking pride in their work and striving to make their papers as strong as possible.

Trivia

George Washington grew up in what state?

11/6/14

In social studies, we continued investigating Native Americans. Students compiled a graphic organizer which clearly showed some early inventions that Native Americans were responsible for. We are going to start looking more closely at particular tribes over the next few days.

In math today, we had a lesson about the rules of divisibility. Students have continued to practice multiple strategies to solve a division problem. I continue to be impressed with the level of work being done by my classroom.

We also dived back into Bud Not Buddy. Students had an enlightening discussion about the idea of seeds growing in Bud's mind. Particularly the idea that Herman Calloway is in fact Bud's father. The level of participation in our class discussion is great. Students are eager to dive deeper into the book to see what happens next.





Homework

Math - final sheet in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Writing - students should continue to fine tune their narrative story idea, as we reach the final publication date

Grammar - verb quiz tomorrow



Trivia

True of False: Polar Bears prey on penguins.

11/5/14

After being out the building for meetings on Monday and students having the day off tomorrow, it was great to formally begin the month of November with my class.

Students continued their work with division strategies in math class. Students continue to impress me with both their involvement in the material and with their willingness to ask questions when something is not clicking for them. Keep up the good work.

Our writing lesson today, concerned focusing on the ending of our narrative stories. Students were read endings to some classic books to help them focus in on the components of a strong ending. Within the next week, students will begin to publish their stories. I am looking forward to seeing these finished products.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - next page in math packet

Writing - reread narrative story, looking to strengthen the ending of the story. Students should also get an adult at home to read their story. A fresh set of eyes will hopefully help to add key details or conclude the story on a strong note




Trivia

What is the smallest mammal on planet earth?

Progress Report Dates

New Progress Report Card Dates

·      SPECIALISTS SUBMIT GRADES November 14, 2014

·      PLC MEETING November 18, 2014

·      Grades Close on November 21, 2014

·      PROGRESS REPORT MEETING November 25, 2014

·      Kindergarten Progress Reports go home December 1, 2014

·      Grade One - Grade Five Progress Reports go home December 5, 2014

Please let your parent community and your staff know about these new dates. 

10/31/14

We wrapped up another great week of school in room 312 today. Students had a buddy activity with Ms. Dichter's class that involved some fun seasonal activities. The fifth grade class has been great mentors to their younger peers.

In math class, we finished our partial quotient lesson. The students created some great word problems and augmented them with some images from online. We moved on into an array model today. We want all fifth graders to have the ability to understand what is actually happening in a division problem and to have the tools necessary to solve these problems in a variety of ways.

I would also like to remind everyone that I offer extra help on Wednesdays after school should the need arise.

I hope everyone has a great and safe Halloween and enjoys their weekends.

Homework

Reading - blog post must be complete by tomorrow. This is a graded assignment.

10/30/14

I wanted to give special thanks to author Nicola Davies for coming into Thompson today. Ms. Davies was nice enough to share some of her experiences with fifth grade and read some of her books to the children. Grade five were active listeners and asked some great questions when the time came.

Thanks also to Ms. Halley for setting this unique experience up for the Thompson community.

Students in room 312 had an amazing math class today. We worked on the partial quotient division method. Students were active participants and were engaged fully in the material. A very productive math class. They are close to finishing a division word problem story using this method. Over the course of the next few days, we will begin developing a variety of methods to help solve division problems.




Homework

Math - final page in homework packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Finish three step journal entries for chapter 9.

Prompt question for Friday (2 paragraphs): How does Bud Not Buddy remind you of yourself, people you know or something that happened in your life? Explain your thinking.

Spelling - test on Friday


Trivia

What color is a polar bear's skin?

10/29/14

Students continued their work with division today in math class. We completed our division story posters, which will be displayed in the math corner in the classroom. I enjoyed getting to hear students show their understanding of new concepts by creating these stories.

Our lesson in writing today concerned focusing in on parts of our narrative story that are the most important. We learned some elaboration strategies that should serve us well as we approach the final steps before the stories are published.

Tomorrow, the Thompson School is lucky enough to have author Nicola Davies. Ms. Davies is a zoologist turned author from originally from Great Britain. I am sure that this will be a rewarding experience for all of the students in room 312.




Homework

Math - third page in homework packet

Reading - those students who did not finish, read chapter 7 and 8 in Bud Not Buddy. Must make at least two entries into 3-step journal as read.

Prompt question for Friday (2 paragraphs): How does Bud Not Buddy remind you of yourself, people you know or something that happened in your life? Explain your thinking.

Spelling - test on Friday


Trivia

Who is the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office?

10/28/14

We continued our work on division in math today. Students created a word problem and images which served to help students fully understand the concept of what division really is. These turned out very well.

Students also continued to read Bud Not Buddy. The class is using close reading strategies to help them develop a deeper meaning for the text. We had a meaningful discussion of what family means to our main character. Students have been asked to write this week about the story on kidblog. This writing assignment focuses in on students making a connection between the story and their own life. I look forward to reading these as the week moves on.




Homework

Math - second page in homework packet

Reading - Finish reading chapter 7 and 8 in Bud Not Buddy. Must make at least two entries into 3-step journal as read.

 Prompt question for Friday (2 paragraphs): How does Bud Not Buddy remind you of yourself, people you know or something that happened in your life? Explain your thinking.

Spelling - test on Friday


Trivia

What team did the Bruins defeat to win their first Stanley Cup?

10/27/14

It was great to see everyone back at Thompson today. I enjoyed getting to hear about the different experiences that my students had while at science camp. I expected some sluggishness on the part of the class, but that wasn't the case. Everyone came back ready to work.

We continued to investigate the interesting case of the Kennewick Man in social studies. Students are about to begin a mini project concerning the discovery of this ancient man. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

In math, we began our unit on division. This can be a challenging piece of work, but I am confident that my class is going to be giving it their all. We began our work today by filling out a graphic organizer and using connecting cubes to ensure that all students have a certain baseline of information on which to draw upon as we work throughout this material.

Finally in writing, students chose a seed idea with which they are going to eventually publish. Students identified this idea with a special green paperclip.


Homework

Math - first page in homework packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Prompt question for Friday (2 paragraphs): How does Bud Not Buddy remind you of yourself, people you know or something that happened in your life? Explain your thinking.

Spelling - test on Friday


Trivia


Which five animals comprise the 'big five' in Africa?

10/20/14

You could feel the excitement in the air today, as the fifth grade finished their last school day before departing for science camp. Students were shown their grades for their math exam. I was quite pleased with the scores that the class earned. You could tell that they put in the time and work necessary to get good grades. It definitely made me happy to see. They will be able to take the test home when everyone has completed it.

We continued our work with Bud Not Buddy during reading. Students read chapter six and had a nice discussion about the actual circumstances that Americans were faced with in the early 1930s. I look forward to picking this book back up after science camp.

During social studies, we continued are lesson on the first people in arrive in the Americas. Special attention was paid today to the nomadic lifestyle these people led. When we pick back up after the break we will investigate the mysterious case of human remains found in Washington state within the last two decades.

I would advise all of my students to make sure that they have everything that they need for their trip. Also, I think it would be wise for everyone to get a good nights sleep so they are ready to go early on Tuesday morning. I look forward to seeing everyone early tomorrow.



Trivia

In which country does the the goliath bird eating spider live?

10/17/14

Room 312 wrapped up another busy week today. Students took a test in math, which concerned multiplication strategies and order of operation problems. Students have worked hard these first few weeks in math and I am confident that it will be reflected in their grades.

We also officially began our unit on Native Americans today. It was a very interesting lesson about the first peoples to set foot in North America. Students were engaged with the lesson and were asking some great questions and impressed me with their background knowledge.

Book buddies went very well today. Room 312 chose a great buddy class to work with. The students in Ms. Dichter's room have made active partners for the fifth graders.

We have also started to read Wonder by R.J. Palacio in class together as a read aloud book. I have never read it before, but from talking to some students and other teachers, I have heard great things. Students have enjoyed getting into the early stages of this book.

Next week is an abbreviated week because of science camp. I am not planning on giving any homework next week and look forward to seeing my students down in Rhode Island.




The 2 paragraph blog post is due by 8 tonight.

10/16/14

Today room 312 reviewed for a math assessment that we are going to have tomorrow. The students have been working hard on multiplication strategies and on order of operation work. Both of these important concepts will be important stepping stones to have as we work our way through the rest of the year.

Students are about to begin a unit on the first peoples to arrive in North America in social studies. We will be learning about the journey into the North American continent and more about the people who undertook this perilous trek. We will be working on this Native American unit for the next few weeks and have had some informal discussions with my students, I get the sense that they are eager to get started.

In writing, students work with their writing partners to critique their first full narrative writing draft. Students were active partners and worked together well to ensure that everyone's work will improve. We concluded this lesson by sharing some of our comments as a whole group.

Tomorrow we will have a math assessment and we will also once again meet with Ms. Dichter's class for the second round of book buddies.





Homework

Math - final sheet in homework packet. This sheet is a technology component and must be signed by a parent and returned to school.  Students will also have an assessment on order of operations and multiplication tomorrow.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.

Blog - 2 paragraph response written on kidblog by Friday. The students need to respond to this prompt: What is a prediction that you have and what is the evidence from the text for this prediction?



Trivia: Which NBA player has won the most championships?

10/15/14

Today, room 312 finished their first round of writer's conferences with me. I can honestly say that I have been impressed with the level of thought put into these early drafts by my class. Each student has managed to touch upon a personal story that contains a 'heart'. Students have also been meeting with their writing partners. Students have been active participants in the writing process and have been critiquing their own writing. As this process continues over the next few weeks, I am confident that all of my students will end up with a sting finished product.

Students have also been hard at work in math. We continued our work with cluster problems. Strategies have been developed by all students to better help them attack multiplication problems.

We also had an in depth discussion about chapter 5 in Bud Not Buddy.



Homework

Math - second sheet in homework packet. Students will also have an assessment on order of operations and multiplication this week.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.

Blog - 2 paragraph response written on kidblog by Friday. The students need to respond to this prompt: What is a prediction that you have and what is the evidence from the text for this prediction?



Trivia: Who is the last major league baseball player to bat at least .400 in a full season? What year did he do this?

10/14/14

It was nice to see everyone back in school today after the long weekend. Students were lucky enough to have the chance to listen to some members of the Arlington fire department who came into the building to speak with the students about fire prevention.

We began work in math class today on cluster problems. These problems continue out work with multiplication by showing students the relationships between numbers. It was a very engaging lesson and the students were active participants.

I continued to have one on one conferences with my students in writing class. I have enjoyed getting to hear my students talk about their narrative stories.






Homework

math - first sheet in homework packet. Students will also have an assessment on order of operations and multiplication this week.

Reading - 30 minutes of quite reading.

Blog - 2 paragraph response written on kidblog by Friday. The students need to respond to this prompt: What is a prediction that you have and what is the evidence from the text for this prediction?





Trivia: What type of fish is Dory from Finding Nemo?

10/10/14

Another successful week has been wrapped up in room 312. I could feel the energy in the room all day today as kids were working. I am sure it had to do mostly with the interest level in the work being done and not the prospect of enjoying the upcoming three day weekend.

We took our first spelling test and from talking with some of the students, it appeared to have gone well. Our class also partnered up with Ms. Armstrong's class for a math activity. Students were grouped together to work on some challenging order of operation work.

In writing, students selected their topic that they will begin to turn into a publishable piece of narrative writing. I am eager to work with my class throughout this writing process as I have heard a number of great writing topics.

I hope everyone has a great long weekend and I will see everyone on Tuesday.

10/9/14

In math, room 312 continued to work with numerical expressions. Students have been writing these expressions in word form and have been using tape diagrams to accurately represent each problem. It is a challenging lesson, but the children are working hard.

We began chapter 3 in Bud Not Buddy. Students are really enjoying this book and are enjoying getting to know the main character more and more.




Homework


Math - complete final sheet in weekly math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.

Blog for Friday - How does the setting affect the characters in Bud Not Buddy? Special attention should be paid to our main character of Bud. This post should be 8 - 10 sentences in length.

Spelling - look over spelling list for twenty minutes each night in preparation for test on Friday




Trivia: What is the name of the villain that Buzz Lightyear is constantly in conflict with?

10/8/14

I wanted to give special thanks to Lydia's mother, who was nice enough to come into our classroom today. Ms. Powell, who is a published author, came into room 312 to work with the students on their personal narrative stories. The children were engaged in the lesson and did some really nice work. As we approach the end of the first bend in our personal narrative section, students continue to be very productive.

In math class, we started a lesson on numerical expressions. We also compared expressions using visual models.

In social studies, we used our giant inflatable globe to help us better understand the hemispheres. Students worked together to identify countries in all four of the hemispheres.





Homework


Math - complete third sheet in weekly math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.

Blog for Friday - How does the setting affect the characters in Bud Not Buddy? Special attention should be paid to our main character of Bud. This post should be 8 - 10 sentences in length.

Spelling - look over spelling list for twenty minutes each night in preparation for test on Friday




Trivia: Which actor was the voice of Woody in the Toy Story movies?

10/7/14

We finished discussing chapter 2 in Bud Not Buddy. We spoke about the role that rules play in Bud's life. We also spent some time discussing figurative language in terms of chapter 2.

In writing class, we spent time looking at action sequences and how good writers have the ability to draw out the most important action in their narrative story. Students in 312 have to write about an action sequence in their writer's notebook tonight for homework.

Homework


Math - complete second sheet in weekly math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quite reading.

Blog for Friday - How does the setting affect the characters in Bud Not Buddy? Special attention should be paid to our main character of Bud. This post should be 8 - 10 sentences in length.

Spelling - look over spelling list for twenty minutes each night in preparation for test on Friday

Writing - 1 paragraph in writer's notebook about an action sequence. Describe in detail one event.



Trivia: What is the largest land mammal?

10/6/14

Students continue to dig deeper into Bud Not Buddy. Our class discussion today focused on the conclusion of chapter one. Students have been using sticky notes to focus their reading and they have been picking up on important themes and character developments. We looked at the importance of family today and some important phrases that repeated throughout the chapter.

In math, students continued to work on order of operation problems. Students have been dealing with some challenging work that includes exponents. Progress is being made on a daily basis and I love seeing so many hard workers in room 312. Even if at first, things are a little confusing, my class does not give up.

I also wanted to pay tribute to my class on our website for the praise that was paid to them today. During morning announcements, Mr. Allen's class was singled out for their quiet, respectful lines. Keep up the good work.

My class has also being doing a great job making the morning announcements over the speaker in the morning from the principal's office.

I will see everyone tomorrow.



Homework


Math - complete first sheet in weekly math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quite reading.

Blog for Friday - How does the setting affect the characters in Bud Not Buddy? Special attention should be paid to our main character of Bud. This post should be 8 - 10 sentences in length.

Spelling - look over spelling list for twenty minutes each night in preparation for test on Friday



Trivia: What is the largest mammal on planet earth?

10/3/14

I was very happy with the way that book buddies went. The fifth graders in room 312 did a great job of reading with their young partners. I definitely have some great role models in my class and it was a great first partner activity. We look forward to working with Ms. Dichter's class in the future.

Students also engaged in a productive discussion on some key moments of chapter 1 in Bud Not Buddy. Students are using their sticky notes to identify key turning points, character traits and other interesting concepts from the novel. We have only been working with this book for two days, but I can't wait to get back into it next week. Keep up the good work room 312.

In math class, students paired up with fifth graders from Ms. Armstrong's room to practice order of operations problems. This can be a challenging concept, but over the course of the last two weeks I have seen students start to make serious progress in getting these concepts down.

This weekend I would like all of my students to be thinking about one of their narrative seed ideas that they can pick out of their notebook. This seed idea will serve as the foundation that they will start building upon for a publishable piece. Students need to remember that the idea that they select need to have a heart. I hope everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone back in class on Monday.

Homework
I have a number of students who have not completed their blog post for this week. I would ideally like everyone to have completed this no later than 8 o'clock tonight. Again the prompt is: Would you recommend your book to another reader? Why or why not.

This needs to be an 8-10 sentence response.

10/2/14

In writing, we continued our work with the novel Bud Not Buddy. The class engaged in a thoughful discussion about why rules are important and why having a job is a meaningful thing for people. Both topics tie into the early chapters in the novel. Students were presented with background information about the Great Depression, and used that knowledge to better access the reading. I look forward to continuing to explore this book with my class.

Students finished creating great promotional posters about the order of operations in math class. These posters turned out very well and they will be displayed in the classroom during the duration of our work on the topic.

Students also participated with Ms. Solomon, our math coach, on a challenging math problem. Students rose to the occasion and were fully invested in the lesson.

Tomorrow we will have our first book buddy activity with Ms. Dichter's second grade class. I will be looking to my class to act as strong role models for their young friends.



Homework


Math - fourth sheet in math packet, students should practice multiplication facts for 15 - 20 minutes a day and record on sheet

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading. Blog prompt for Friday: Would you recommend the book that you are reading to another reader? Why or why not?  Must be 8 - 10 sentences


Trivia: What are the two types of mammals that lay eggs?

10/1/14

It was great to see so many parents and other family members at curriculum night yesterday. I enjoyed getting to meet families and look forward to seeing more of you throughout the course of the school year.

I can't believe we have already completed the first month of the school year. If September was any indication, I think room 312 is going to have a productive year.

Students continued their work with order of operations in math today. In reading, the class began their first discussion about the novel, Bud Not Buddy. I for one am eager to dig into this book with my class.



Homework


Math - third sheet in math packet, students should practice multiplication facts for 15 - 20 minutes a day and record on sheet

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading. Blog prompt for Friday: Would you recommend the book that you are reading to another reader? Why or why not?  Must be 8 - 10 sentences


Trivia: An animal that does not have a backbone is known as a what?

Recommended 5th grade reading

http://www.greatschools.org/cgi-bin/showarticle/678

This is a link to a comprehensive list of fifth grade reading books. This list groups books by genre and gives a brief synopsis of each. Hatchet, Number the Stars would be two books that I would ask students not to read, as they are books that could potentially be used in class this year

9/30/14

In math today, students helped to complete a 12 by 12 multiplication table. This was a good chance to review and talk about any patterns or strategies to help students solve these problems. We also began work on an order of operation poster which will serve as a reminder of PEMDAS.

In social studies, students dug deeper into latitude and longitude. We are about to begin out next unit on the first peoples to arrive in North America.

Tomorrow we begin our work with the novel Bud Not Buddy. I enjoyed reading this book and think that my class will as well.

I look forward to meeting any parents or family members who attend curriculum night this evening.




Homework


Math - second sheet in math packet, students should practice multiplication facts for 15 - 20 minutes a day and record on sheet

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading. Blog prompt for Friday: Would you recommend the book that you are reading to another reader? Why or why not?  Must be 8 - 10 sentences

Grammar - assessment tomorrow about sentence types. Students were given a study guide today to look over.



Trivia: How tall was Abraham Lincoln?

Food drive information

Dear Thompson Families,

You are invited to participate in the Arlington EATS fall food drive! Now that school has begun
Arlington EATS is focused on ensuring all Thompson kids have enough healthy food during the
school day and over the weekend.
From September 29 through October 10, Arlington EATS will be collecting the following
food items:
○ Kindergarten - oatmeal and/or boxed cereal
○ 1st grade - rice and/or beans
○ 2nd grade - ultra-pasteurized (shelf-stable) milk and/or granola bars
○ 3rd grade - canned fruit and/or vegetables
○ 4th grade - mac & cheese and/or canned pasta
○ 5th grade - peanut butter/sunbutter and/or jelly
■ We always need healthy and easy-to-eat snacks (eg: bananas, clementines, cheese-sticks,
Gogurts, baby carrots) to distribute for snacks, so these items are welcome as well.
Your child should bring the items to his/her classroom and place them in the Arlington EATS box.
Each day we will tally the number of items contributed per classroom.
The class with the highest participation will receive extra recess during the week of
October 14!!
Thank you again for the support! Please remember to visit our website to make a donation or see
other volunteer opportunites: www.arlington-eats.org and like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Arlington.EATS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMINDER: If you believe your child could benefit from the free weekend food program but you
have not turned in the consent form, please contact Vicki Rose (main office) or Nicole Melnik (Room
108) at Thompson.

9/26/14

It was nice to see everyone dressed up for picture day. Room 312 used the day off to charge their batteries and they came to school ready to work today.

We continued our work with order of operation problems in math. The students have been presented with a variety of challenging work over the course of this week and they have risen to the challenge. I have been impressed with the effort on display. I have also been equally impressed with students' willingness to ask questions when there is confusion.

We wrapped up our first mini lesson in social studies by looking at actual mineral deposits taken from the ground at Sutter's Mill and watching a brief documentary about the gold rush.

Students continue to be hard at work in writing class, developing their narrative story ideas. There are steps left to climb before we publish finished copies, but I believe room 312 is up for the challenge.

One other item I wanted to mention was in regards to homework assignments not being completed. I have made the class aware that for every assignment not turned in on time, students will lose a portion of their recess time and this will also be reflected in my grade book. If there is a week that occurs where a student is missing multiple assignments, I will write a brief letter home to alert parents about the situation. I don't believe in giving out large amounts of homework, but I believe it serves a purpose. The assignments that are given serve to reinforce lessons from class and keep concepts fresh in the mind. I would greatly appreciate patents and guardians help in making sure homework gets completed.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and is able to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. I will see everone next week.

9/24/14

Room 312 completed their first mini project of the year in social studies today. I was impressed both by the creativity and the work ethic of my class during the last two weeks. These projects looked to have turned out very well and I believe they bode well for future work in this class.

Students continued to grow their personal narrative story in writing today. From talking with my students, I know that everyone comes from a diverse and interesting background. These backgrounds have served to produce some very compelling story ideas. We will continue to work on this unit in the coming weeks and I know that the finished products will be ones that the students will be proud of.

Room 312 has also partnered up with Ms. Dichter's second grade class for book buddies this school year. Periodically, we will read with our buddies and do activities to foster the feeling of school community. I am sure that the students of room 312 will serve as excellent role models for their young friends.




Homework

Math - next page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Blog post is due on kidblog by Friday. I would also continue to encourage all students to fill out a book talk sheet when they complete a book to get awarded a mark on our class reading log tally chart.


Trivia

A tough one tonight: Which U.S. president was the first to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize?

I look forward to hearing answers on Friday. I hope everyone enjoys their Thursday off from school.

9/23/14

The first day of fall was a busy day in room 312. Even though it was an early dismissal day, the class was still giving it their all. The students were active participants in our math lesson concerning multiplying by 10s. The class also did great work we when focused in on a challenging group math problem the last two days.

We read as a class the picture book, Salt in His Shoes. This book will help to guide our reading and to introduce important concepts when students are reading literary works this year.


Homework


Math - second sheet in math packet. Front and back.

Reading - blog post due by Friday

Writing - continue to work on first draft idea, be prepared to discuss this idea tomorrow with writing partner.



Trivia: what year did the Red Sox win their first World Series?