12/23/15

It is hard to believe that the first four months of the school year have concluded. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and work with my students over the first few months of the 2015 school year. I very much look forward to picking up where we left off when we return in 2016.

I hope all of my students and their families have a peaceful and happy holiday break.

12/21/15

During math class, the fifth graders continued working in small groups to complete a multi-step fraction word problem. Groups have started to create a poster board that contains their solutions, explanations and visual models of their answers. The members of room 312 were very productive today.

Later in the day, the fifth graders worked on some holiday themed writing activities. This was a relaxing and enjoyable way for the students to show their creativity.

We were also fortunate enough to meet with our book buddies in Ms. Dichter's room one more time in 2015.

Wednesday, December 23rd will be a board game day in room 312. Students are welcome to bring ONE (1) board or card game with them to school that day.

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

In order, what are the three tallest peaks in the world?

12/18/15

It was nice to be back in my classroom today after having to attend some meetings yesterday. Students continued to be hard at work as we wrapped up the last full school week of 2015. During math time, the fifth graders began to look at a challenging fraction related word problem. Students were placed into smaller groups to tackle this activity. Today was a nice start when dealing with this work. I was happy with the level of discourse that the students engaged in. This problem will continue into next week.

Later in the day, the fifth graders used an excerpt from Bud Not Buddy to practice some of our close reading strategies. Students looked at the significance of Bud's name as well as the idea of doors opening and closing, and how that has and will continue to impact the direction of the novel.

For those families that are leaving this weekend to begin celebrating the holiday break, I wish you happy and safe travels. I will see everyone else back in class on Monday as we wrap up our final pieces of work of the 2015 year.

12/16/15

Today, room 312 continued to read Bud Not Buddy. Students used close reading strategies to work through chapters 3 and 4. We spent time working with a particular passage and answering some questions about that portion of the text. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to dig into this book with my class.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders continued their work with fractions and land plots. The last two days have been quite productive and I compliment my class for their dedication to the material.

Homework



Tenmarks - Finding equivalent fractions assignment on tenmarks.com. This assignment is due Friday, December 18. If possible, I would ask students to print out their certificates when completed.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.


Trivia

Which major league baseball player holds the record for most runs batted in (rbis)?

12/15/15

During today's early release day, the fifth graders began to look at land plots in math class. Over the course of the next few days, students will be looking to assign fractional values to pictures of land plot grids. These lessons will serve to build the working knowledge of the relationship between fractions with unlike denominators.

I look forward to seeing parents and guardians this afternoon for the last session of conferences.



Homework

Math - wb. page 63

Tenmarks - Finding equivalent fractions assignment on tenmarks.com. This assignment is due Friday, December 18. If possible, I would ask students to print out their certificates when completed.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.


Trivia

How many countries are there on planet earth?

12/14/15

As we began our last full school week of 2015 together, the fifth graders continued their work with fractions during math class. Today, the students had the option of playing one of three different fractions games that they have learned over the course of the last two weeks. I have noticed that students are getting more comfortable with their language and their ability to decompose fractions. Today was another beneficial session for the class.

Later in the day, the students began constructing the outline of a literary essay. This essay will eventually be published and I am eager to see students take what they learned from the first attempt at literary writing and carry that over into this material.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tomorrow afternoon for the final parent teacher conference session.

Homework

Math - workbook page 61

Tenmarks - Finding equivalent fractions assignment on tenmarks.com. This assignment is due Friday, December 18. If possible, I would ask students to print out their certificates when completed.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading.


Trivia

What state was Abraham Lincoln born in?

12/11/15

As we wrapped up another productive and worthwhile week together in room 312, I wanted to thank all of the parents and guardians for coming in this week for conferences. I enjoyed meeting with everyone and I look forward to continuing these meetings next week.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and is able to get outside and enjoy the weather. I will see everyone back at school on Monday morning.

12/10/15

We continued to read deeper into Bud Not Buddy today. Students have been using their 3-step journals and other close reading strategies to better comprehend the text. The class discussions have been great to this point. I also think that the reading groups have been working very well together. We ended our reading on a cliff hanger moment today, so the fifth graders are eager to progress into the story to find out what happens next.

Earlier in the day, members of 312 began to use fraction number lines to play an educational game with one another. Students have been making steady progress to this early point in the fractions unit and today was another productive day.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians during tonight's conference time.


I also wanted to ask all parents and guardians to please donate boxes of tissues to room 312. It is only December, yet we are already running out of our supply. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Homework

Math - workbook pages 57 and 58

Kidblog - What do you believe the author's purpose was in writing Wonder. In a two paragraph essay, talk about what you believe to be the big idea or message of the book. Use evidence from the text to support your point of view. This essay is due Friday December 11th.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who was the first man to walk on the moon?

12/9/15

Today, students worked in small groups during our ELA block. Students worked together to reread chapter one of Bud Not Buddy. While they read, students used strategies to help them better access complex text. The fifth graders were responsible for writing about some of the character traits that Bud has exhibited to this point in the story. The students have done a nice job with the novel to this point and I get the impression that this will continue as we move deeper into this story.

Later in the day, the fifth graders were presented with another literary essay. Room 312 read Eleven by Sandra Cisneros. This short story gave the students another opportunity to identify the author's message or intent in writing the story.

I also wanted to ask all parents and guardians to please donate boxes of tissues to room 312. It is only December, yet we are already running out of our supply. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Homework

Math - workbook page 53

Kidblog - What do you believe the author's purpose was in writing Wonder. In a two paragraph essay, talk about what you believe to be the big idea or message of the book. Use evidence from the text to support your point of view. This essay is due Friday December 11th.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What four presidents have their likenesses carved into Mount Rushmore?

12/8/15

Students continued to be hard at work on their European explorer reports during this early release day. Students have been working on this topic for the last two weeks and I give the class credit for digging deep and truly exploring the topic fully. I look forward to seeing the final results.

I look forward to meeting with parents later today and on Thursday.


Homework


Kidblog - What do you believe the author's purpose was in writing Wonder. In a two paragraph essay, talk about what you believe to be the big idea or message of the book. Use evidence from the text to support your point of view. This essay is due Friday December 11th.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

How old was George Washington when he passed away?

12/7/15

The fifth grade began to read Bud Not Buddy during our ELA block today. Last week was spent giving students a background into the setting and time period of the novel. I am confident that students will enjoy this award winning novel. During today's lesson, room 312 read chapter 1 together using out close read strategies. Students were tasked with using their 3-step journal to better access the text. I enjoyed getting to hear my students read and the meaningful discussion that followed.

Earlier in the day, we continued to use clock faces to help us better understand fractions. Just over the last two weeks, I have noticed the fifth graders improving in their ability to explain the relationship of certain fractions. I also commend my students for continuing to ask questions when things aren't quite clear.


Homework

Math - workbook page 44

Kidblog - What do you believe the author's purpose was in writing Wonder. In a two paragraph essay, talk about what you believe to be the big idea or message of the book. Use evidence from the text to support your point of view. This essay is due Friday December 11th.

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who was president when the Great Depression started?

12/4/15

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I look forward to seeing parents and guardians during conference time next week.

12/3/15

Students used clock faces in their fraction work during math class today. The fifth graders have been making steady progress this week at the start of our fraction unit. The level of discourse continues to be a real positive.

The fifth graders have also all selected an European explorer that they wish to investigate further. Over the next two weeks, the fifth graders will continue to gather information and type up a biography that gives a glimpse into the complicated lives of these explorers.


Homework

Math - wb. page 38, page 39 is optional

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

Visit Google classroom site to take a closer look at European explorer websites


Trivia

What is the largest planet in the solar system?

12/2/15

Today, the fifth grade continued their work with fractions. Students compared fractions with both like and unlike denominators. Later, the fifth graders worked to place fractions on a number line in comparison with landmark fractions. I have been terribly impressed with the level of discourse and the participation amongst the students.

During our ELA block, the fifth graders officially kicked off Bud Not Buddy. Students read the first chapter after previewing pertinent vocabulary and making some predictions about the direction of the story. I am a big fan of this book and I believe that my class will get a lot out of it.

Finally, during social studies, room 312 began their European exploration project. Students have been tasked with selecting an explorer to look at in depth. I can't wait to continue this work over the next few days.


Homework

Math - Turkey fraction sheet (students also need to order the fractions from the first 8 problems from least to greatest on the back of the paper)

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

Visit Google classroom site to take a closer look at European explorer websites


Trivia

How old was Marco Polo when he died?

12/1/15

The fifth grade continued their work with fractions today. Students have spent time creating a working definition of both numerators and denominators. Students have been active learners and have been participating fully in class. The fifth graders began to compare fractions with unlike denominators today.

Later in the day, room 312 read the short story Spaghetti by Cynthia Rylant. This short story helped to launch our literary writing unit. Students also looked at a practice literary essay to get them into the right frame of mind as we begin to look closer into this unit.

Homework

Math - wb. page 22

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

Visit Google classroom site to take a closer look at European explorer websites


Trivia

What is the largest species of bird native to North America?