11/30/15

As the fifth grade returned to school from the Thanksgiving holiday, it was nice to see the enthusiasm that students brought with them into the classroom.

I was happy with the results of the unit one assessments from math class. There are a few students who need to take the test, but I look forward to sharing the results with room 312. During today's lesson, we began to turn our attention to fractions. This work will continue over the next few weeks and I am positive that students will bring the same level of attention to this that they did during our work in unit 1.

Later in the day, we began to look at the novel Bud Not Buddy. This book was quite popular with the fifth graders last year. I have many students who love to read and I believe that my class will all find something to like about this story. The fifth graders engaged in a worthwhile discussion about the cover of the book. I love to see the passion that the fifth graders bring to their group discussions.

Homework

Math - double sided faction sheet (complete both sides)

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, fill out log on nightly basis


Trivia

About how many pounds of turkey are consumed each Thanksgiving?

11/24/15

Room 312 took their unit 1 math assessment. The time and energy that the fifth graders have put into the first term has been second to none. I have seen great progress from all of my students and I look forward to sitting with these assessments over the weekend. I am quite confident that the results will be positive ones.

Finally, students completed an entertaining Thanksgiving activity that involved both some creative writing and a little math.

Tomorrow, students will have an opportunity to play a favorite board or card game. If students have a favorite at home, they are welcome to bring 1 game with them to school tomorrow. I would caution students to bring something easy to set up and play, because time will be an issue.

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

What is the largest turkey breed?

11/23/15

As we began our last week before the Thanksgiving break, the fifth grade had a busy day. During math class, the students completed their work with the Star Wars math problems from Friday. Time was also spent reviewing for the unit one assessment which will be given tomorrow. Students have worked tirelessly throughout the first three months of the school year and I believe that will be reflected in the results of these assessments.

Later in the day, students undertook a writing activity to generate ideas for future use during our narrative writing unit. Room 312 created a story blueprint of either a place or room that holds special significance for them. The fifth graders had some fun with this activity and I enjoyed getting to have students share their memories with the class.

This week, the fifth graders will also all have published their opinion writing pieces, these papers have taken a lot of time and work. I commend my students on their dedication to the writing process.

Homework

Math - unit 1 assessment tomorrow

Science - finish plant packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

Can you name all four members of the Beatles?

11/20/15

As we wrapped up our last full week in room 312, many different things happened today. Students once again partnered up with their peers in fourth grade to take part in a Star Wars math activity. Partners worked to solve area and perimeter problems in a collaborative effort. Students had an engaging and productive math period.

Later in the day, the fifth grade was able to have book buddies with our friends in Ms. Dichter's class. Per usual, the older students did a very nice job of working with their younger buddies.

I hope everyone enjoys the week and I will see everyone back at school on Monday for the start of the short pre-Thanksgiving week.

11/19/15

During math today, the fifth grades worked together on some Thanksgiving related division and line plot problems. The fifth graders enjoyed these group stations today and I believe there was much benefit to the work.

Later in the day, students continued their work with their long-form opinion pieces while others were writing about the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Students are eager to share their work with their classmates and I look forward to that next week.


Homework

Blog topic - choose a character trait that Jack Will has displayed in the novel Wonder. Use specific evidence from the book to support your claim. (This post must be a paragraph of at least 8 sentences.) Due - Friday 11/20

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - pg. 67


Trivia

How many voyages did Columbus make to the Western hemisphere in his lifetime?

11/18/15

Students began to look at the causes of European exploration of the western hemisphere today. This will lead into a closer examination of some other European explorers who left a lasting impact on the world around them. I continue to enjoy the enthusiasm with which my students have been engaging with this material.

Later in the day, students continued to forge ahead with their writing. The fifth graders turned a critical eye on their own writing over the last few days, and worked to improve certain components of their opinion pieces.


Homework

Blog topic - choose a character trait that Jack Will has displayed in the novel Wonder. Use specific evidence from the book to support your claim. (This post must be a paragraph of at least 8 sentences.) Due - Friday 11/20

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading




Trivia

Can you name two other European explorers who were contemporaries of Christopher Columbus?

11/17/15

Students were hard at work during math today. The fifth graders worked on a division compare activity, reviewed order of operation problems and finally ended the session by tackling a rather challenging volume problem. A busy period, but a very productive one.

Later in the day, the fifth grade continued their opinion piece on heroism. Students have been tasked with writing a piece in which they give their view of whether or not the young man William, from the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, was a hero no not. Students really took to this book and I have enjoyed getting to hear my students explain to the class what heroism means to them.

Homework

Blog topic - choose a character trait that Jack Will has displayed in the novel Wonder. Use specific evidence from the book to support your claim. (This post must be a paragraph of at least 8 sentences.) Due - Friday 11/20

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - practice MCAS problem



Trivia

How many men did Columbus take with him on his expedition to the new world in 1492?

11/16/15

Students completed their Columbus Day opinion pieces during social studies. The fifth grade has engaged in lively debate over the course of the last week concerning whether or not this holiday should be celebrated. Later this week, we will turn our attention for the causes of exploration and some of the other more well known names to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the 1400s.

Room 312 continued to progress through our work with division today. After the successful mixed up math session last Friday, the fifth graders are approaching the end of this unit. Later this week, we will have our end of unit assessment

Homework

Blog topic - choose a character trait that Jack Will has displayed in the novel Wonder. Use specific evidence from the book to support your claim. (This post must be a paragraph of at least 8 sentences.) Due - Friday 11/20

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - workbook page 65 (all). Workbook page 66 (just 1 problem)




Trivia

What were the names of the king and queen who funded Columbus' expedition?

11/13/15

On this Friday the 13th, I wanted to compliment my class on completing their character trait posters. I thought they turned out very well. Students were at their best presenting their characters to the rest of their classmates. This was a worthwhile activity and the fifth graders rose to the occasion.

Room 312 once again worked with their peers in the other fifth grade to complete some mixed up math problems. Students worked in stations to solve division problems. These Friday sessions continue to be a benefit to the class.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I will see students back in school on Monday.

11/12/15

As we returned to the classroom today after celebrating Veterans Day, students began to compose their Christopher Columbus essay in social studies. Over the course of this week, the fifth graders have been presented with different perspectives of the Columbus discovery. The students have been tasked with using this evidence to give their own point of view of whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. I look forward to hearing students share their opinions with the class.

We are rapidly approaching the end of unit 1 in math class. Students continued their work with some division cluster problems today. Room 312 also retouched upon some challenging order of operation problems. I am confident that as we approach the unit 1 assessment, the fifth grade is well prepared.

Finally, we ended the day by continuing to make nice progress in the writing department. I once again enjoyed getting to conference with my writers and work with them as they strengthen their clean water opinion papers.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.



Trivia

Where did Christopher Columbus believe that he was when he made land on his famous voyage?

Note about parent teacher conferences

I wanted to let everyone know that the conference schedule for this year is going to be a 15 minutes chunk of time for everyone. Although the sign-up genius site penciled everyone in for 20 minutes of time. The conferences will be 15 minutes, with 5 minutes of transition time in between.

11/10/15

During math today, students looked at divisibility rules for certain numbers. The fifth graders took the lead during this portion of the lesson and worked well together to come up with conditions and examples that worked for each number. Later in our math block, we continued our work with division cluster problems.

Christopher Columbus continued to be the topic of the day in social studies. After being exposed to the native perspective of events yesterday, room 312 was given a more traditional account of Columbus' exploration today. Students were then tasked with weighing the two different perspectives and writing a reflection, in which they gave their own perspective of the events.


Homework

Math - workbook page 62

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Trivia

Can you name three Civil Way generals?

11/9/15

During social studies, students began to turn their attention to Christopher Columbus. The fifth grade was presented with two different perspectives of the same event and asked to determine which they believed to be accurate. We began today's lesson by reading the book Encounter by Jane Yolen. This story presented an uncommon view point of events to the students. Later we followed that up by looking at a more traditional view of the Columbus expedition.

Later in the day, students once again put on their writer's hats and kept up the good work on their opinion writing pieces. We are getting closer to publishing these papers. Students looked to included transition words into their early drafts today.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Trivia

How long, in feet, is the Mississippi River?

11/6/15

Students wrapped up the week by continuing their hard work during our ELA block. My writers are making significant progress in their opinion writing pieces. Today, students looked at supplementing their writing with quotations. We talked about both the proper formatting and just what makes a good quote. Next week, we will continue our work as we make our way to publishing.

Earlier in the day, students were able to hear the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Students have recently begun their European explorer unit. To launch this unit we have been talking about the idea of perspectives and what tends to happen when two foreign cultures come into contact with one another.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.


Homework

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.

11/4/15

Students dedicated much of their ELA time to their opinion writing piece. The fifth graders are putting the finishing touches on their first drafts and today, we looked at the proper way to insert quotes into ones writing. Students talked about the reasons why inserting an appropriate quote would be a positive and then worked with a few examples.

Earlier in the day, the fifth grade began their next social studies unit on European exploration of the North American continent. Students kicked off the lesson by talking about what their reaction would be if they were to encounter an alien. This lead into an informative talk about what tends to happen when two different cultures come into contact with one another.

Tomorrow, I will be out of the building for meetings. I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday as we wrap up the first week of November together.


Homework

Math - workbook page 57 and 58

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Trivia

What was the name of a Civil War battle that took place in Pennsylvania?

11/3/15

It was nice to see everyone back in school as we started the month of November together. During math, we continued our work with division. Students were working on division cluster problems, which were very similar to the work that they did with multiplication a few weeks ago. Students are getting quite comfortable with using stories and cluster problems to better solve division problems.

Later in the day, the students continued their work on their opinion writing assignments. Students continue to collect data and quotes from reliable sources to back up their opinions. I have enjoyed getting to sit with my writers and listen in to them create compelling arguments. Later this week, we will look to inject more transition words into our writing.

Homework

Math - workbook page 54

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis

Character Trait project - today students were given directions for a character trait project that is due on November 13th. The directions are fairly straightforward, but if there is any confusion or questions that I can help to answer, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Trivia

What was the largest species of dinosaur?