12/22/16

The fifth graders progressed to round two of their fraction tracks tournament during our math time today. Prior to that exciting activity, the students worked on strategies to add fractions with unlike denominators. The students had a productive math sessions.

Later in the day, the members of M102 had their Bud, Not Buddy themed show and tell. The students did a nice job of explaining the significance of the items that they brought in. Thank you to those who participated.

As a reminder, this Friday the 23rd is board game day. Student may bring in one board or card game to school. Please no electronics.

Homework

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

12/20/16

Members of M102 began their table of contents for Bub, Not Buddy on chart paper today. The students have injected great humor into this project and they can not wait to show of their completed posters to their peers.

As a reminder, this Thursday the 22nd is Bud, Not Buddy Show and Tell. Students may bring in one item of personal significance to them. Friday the 23rd is board game day. Student may bring in one board or card game to school. Please no electronics.

Homework

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

12/19/16

The fifth grade began their final week before the winter break by taking some time to present their Native American projects to their peers. These reports turned out well and the fifth graders did a nice job of presenting their pieces to the full group.

Later in the day, the fifth grade reading groups met to create a table of contents for Bud, Not Buddy. The students were tasked with coming up with chapter titles for our recently completed novel.

As a reminder, this Thursday the 22nd is Bud, Not Buddy Show and Tell. Students may bring in one item of personal significance to them. Friday the 23rd is board game day. Student may bring in one board or card game to school. Please no electronics.

Homework

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

12/16/16

As a reminder, next Thursday the 22nd will be a Bud, Not Buddy related Show and Tell. Students are encouraged to bring in one (1) item of personal significance to them. I would strongly advise students to bring in something that isn't easily broken, as they will be responsible for their item while it is in school.

On Friday the 23rd, M102 will have a board game day. Students are encouraged to bring in one board or card game with them to school. Please no electronics.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to seeing students back at school on Monday as we begin our final week before the winter break. 

12/15/16

The fifth grade officially completed their native american projects during our social studies time today. Starting tomorrow, the students will present their digital reports to their peers.

Next week, the members of M102 will be taking part in a number of activities pertaining to the conclusion of Bud, Not Buddy. On Thursday, the students will have a show and tell in which they bring to class one (1) item that has special meaning to them, just like Bud and his suitcase of posessions in the story. They will also get together with their small reading groups to come up with titles for the chapters in the book.

Also, next Friday the 23rd will be board game day. Students are welcome to bring a board game or card game with them to school. Please no electronic games.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tonight.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - (due Friday 12/16) Shape times shape puzzle

12/14/16

The students began the day with a "healthy heart" morning energizer. The fifth graders learned a little about the human heart and then got their blood pumping with some movement.

Many members of M102 were able to finish their native american brochures during our social studies time. These projects have turned out great and I am looking forward to seeing and hearing the students present their finished projects to their peers in the next few weeks.

Finally, the day ended with the fifth graders continuing to work on their final piece of writing concerning Bud, Not Buddy. All and all, a very successful and productive day.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - (due Friday 12/16) Shape times shape puzzle

12/13/16

This very early release day saw the fifth graders working to compile strategies to compare the value of fractions. That led into the second part of the lesson, which saw the students select one of the fraction games that we have learned recently and play head-to-head matchups. The students continue to impress with their growing knowledge of fractions.

I look forward to seeing parents and guardiens this afternoon and on Thursday night.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - (due Friday 12/16) Shape times shape puzzle

12/12/16

Today, the students used their ELA time to begin to craft their final piece of writing for Bud, Not Buddy. The fifth graders have all selected a key turning point from the text. They will now write an opinion piece, in which, they state why they believe their scene is the most important one in the novel.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders returned to their native american projects. These are turning out great and I can't wait to see the finished products from all of the students.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - (due Friday 12/16) Shape times shape puzzle

12/9/16

Another successful week came to a close today. The fifth graders spent some time working on their final writing piece for Bud, Not Buddy. This will carry over into the early part of next week and the students appear to be off to great starts.

The fifth graders also spent some time coding today. Many of the members of M102 have serious technology knowledge and they put that to good use during this session. The students were on task and I was impressed with what I saw as I walked around the room.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

12/8/16

The fifth graders continued to work with fractions in relation to black clock faces. The fifth graders are doing a great job of logically comparing fractions with one another to determine which are greater. This lead into a new game called roll around the clock. Using fraction dice, the students went head-to-head to attempts to land as close to the whole number 1.

Later in the day, room M102 began to formulate their final writing assignment for Bud, Not Buddy. The students are tasked with writing about a key turning point in the novel. The work on this book has been top notch throughout and I anticipate that that will carry over into this final paper.



Homework

Math - worksheet due on Friday December 9th

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading per night. Reader's log is due Friday December 9th

12/7/16

The fifth graders are hard at work on their Native American brochures. The students are in the early stages of creating a coprehensive glimpse into the lives of a tribe and the region that they called home. I am eager to see how these projects develop over the next few lessons.

Later in the day, the members of M102 began to look at the issue of animal captivity in zoos. Students are going to be exploring the pros and cons of these facilities and then will be tasked with completing a performance based assessment to gauge their opinions.


Homework

Math - worksheet due on Friday December 9th

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading per night. Reader's log is due Friday December 9th

12/6/16

This early release day saw the members of M102 continue their work with fractions. The students began to use clock faces to help them solve some addition problems. I feel like the students are making some nice progress with their early fraction work.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians during the second half of the day.


Homework

Math - worksheet due on Friday December 9th

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading per night. Reader's log is due Friday December 9th

12/5/16

Math class saw the fifth graders trying out a new fraction related game. The students were given fraction flash cards and asked to place them on a number line. The goal of the game was to place all of your cards correctly on the number line, while attempting to block your opponent so that they were unable to place their cards. The dialogue during this lesson was great, as the members of M102 did a nice job of explaining their thinking and working together.

Later in the day, the students began their end of unit Native American brochure project. The fifth graders are going to be doing some research into the inner workings of particular tribes over the course of the next two weeks. They will then construct this information into a brochure, using their ipads. I look forward to seeing the finished results.



Homework

Math - worksheet due on Friday December 9th

Reading - 30 minutes of independent reading per night. Reader's log is due Friday December 9th

12/2/16

Students spent time today investigating some important details about the planets and natural satellites in our solar system during science class today.

The fifth graders received their report cards today. I was proud of the effort and dedication that all of the members of M102 displayed these first three months of the school year. I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians over the course of these next two weeks.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to seeing students back at school on Monday the 5th.

12/1/16

It is hard to believe that it is already December. The first three months of the school year have flown by. The students of M102 have truly impressed me with their work ethics and their ability to get along with one another these first few months.

This Thursday saw the fifth graders look closely at the lunar cycle of the moon during science class. Students were responsible for gathering pertinent notes while reading to help them answer some key focus questions.



Homework

Math - Squre numbers worksheet due Friday December 2nd (students should show work/reasoning on blank recording sheet which is attached)

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

11/30/16

The students began investigating some of the finer points of the cultural regions that Native American tribes resided in. The students will shortly begin a project that will see them research a particular tribe and compile information about the lifestyle of their selected tribe. This is always a high point of our early work and social studies and I am looking forward to starting this with my students.

Later in the day, the fifth graders continued to read Bud, Not Buddy with their small reading groups. We will be finishing our reading of this novel within the next two weeks.


Homework

Math - Squre numbers worksheet due Friday December 2nd (students should show work/reasoning on blank recording sheet which is attached)

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

11/29/16

During our work today, the fifth graders built up working definitions of numerators and denominators in math class. The students used graphic organizers to show examples and pictures of both of these key terms. The fifth graders are doing a nice job of laying the foundation for our continued work with fractions.

Later in the day, M102 continued to read deeper into Bud, Not Buddy. The students are doing a great job of discussing the key points of the later parts of the novel.


Homework

Math - Squre numbers worksheet due Friday December 2nd (students should show work/reasoning on blank recording sheet which is attached)

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

11/28/16

It was nice to see all of the students back at school as we officially kicked off the second term together. The effort and dedication on display throughout the first term from all of my students gives me high hopes for our continued work. We will be moving onto fractions in math and literary writing. I can't wait to see the members of M102 rise to the occasion with this new material.

During social studies, the students continued to learn more about native americans and the cultural regions that they were located in in the continental United States. Within the next two weeks, we will begin to work on our culminating project in this unit.


Homework

Math - Squre numbers worksheet due Friday December 2nd (students should show work/reasoning on blank recording sheet which is attached)

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

11/23/16

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday. I look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday the 28th.

11/22/16

A very big day in M102 today. The fifth graders wrapped up both unit one in math and finished their opinion writing pieces. I could not be more prouder of the effort that all of the students put into their work these past few months. They rose to the occasion on countless occasions and I am sure that the results will reflect that.

I look forward to wrapping up the week with the fifth graders tomorrow.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

11/21/16

The fifth graders spent one more day reviewing some of our multiplication, division and order of operation problems in preparation for tomorrow's unit one assessment. Members of M102 are feeling confident about this benchmark and I can't wait to continue into our next unit.

The second half of the day was spent writing. Many more members of the fifth grade were able to put the finishing touches on their opinion writing pieces today. The students are doing a great job of peer editing drafts. Students are offering meaningful critiques and the papers will be stronger for them.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

11/18/16

I wanted to compliment the members of M102 for another successful week of work. I look forward to seeing members of Boys In Motion at the Turkey Trot race tomorrow and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday as we begin our final week before the Thanksgiving break.



Homework

Blog - Make a prediction as to what will happen to Bud from this point forward in Bud, Not Buddy. Use evidence from the text to back up your point of view. This post must be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday 11/18

11/17/16

The fifth graders continued to prepare for their unit one math assessment next week during our math time. The students have made significant strides as a class in their ability to solve increasingly challenging division and multiplication problems. I have enjoyed getting to see the progress that the fifth graders have made. Will we continue this line of work tomorrow.



Homework

Math - word problem worksheet due on Friday 11/18

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog - Make a prediction as to what will happen to Bud from this point forward in Bud, Not Buddy. Use evidence from the text to back up your point of view. This post must be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday 11/18

11/16/16

The fifth graders are approaching the finish line in their opinion writing unit. Some are wrapping up drafts, while others have moved into the typing phase. The end result will be that all fifth graders will publish a final draft. The students should be commended for their hard work throughout this writing process. I am lucky to have a class filled with talented and passionate writers.

Earlier in the day, the students had one more social studies session to complete their Kennewick Man sketches on their iPads.



Homework

Math - word problem worksheet due on Friday 11/18

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog - Make a prediction as to what will happen to Bud from this point forward in Bud, Not Buddy. Use evidence from the text to back up your point of view. This post must be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday 11/18

11/15/16

The fifth graders continued continued to work with cluster problems during math today. The students are rapidly approaching the conclusion of our first unit and they continue to display very flexible minds when it comes to solving division problems. Next week, the members of M102 will take their unit one assessment on division, multiplication, order of operation and number sense concepts.

The students continued to read Bud, Not Buddy during ELA today. The students continue to use their skills for reading complex text to help them better understand some of the core concepts of the novel. I continue to enjoy getting to hear the students read and discuss the novel.

Homework

Math - word problem worksheet due on Friday 11/18

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog - Make a prediction as to what will happen to Bud from this point forward in Bud, Not Buddy. Use evidence from the text to back up your point of view. This post must be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday 11/18

11/14/16

The fifth graders spent their science time playing a Jeopardy review game. The questions dealt with the moon, the sun and the first manned mission to the moon. Both Mr. Quan and myself were impressed with the accumulated knowledge that the students brought into this lesson.

During math class, the students worked with division and multiplication cluster problems. These problems provided the students practice in working to solve division problems with unfriendly numbers. It was nice to see students increase their proficiency and lower their time in solving these problems. This work will continue into tomorrow's lesson.

Homework

Math - word problem worksheet due on Friday 11/18

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog - Make a prediction as to what will happen to Bud from this point forward in Bud, Not Buddy. Use evidence from the text to back up your point of view. This post must be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday 11/18

11/10/16

The fifth graders ended this short week by taking an assessment during math class. This assessment sought to gauge where the students are with some of the work that we have been doing recently with division. The students have been working hard the last few weeks and I am eager to sit with these assessments this weekend to see how the class did. Later in the class, the fifth graders worked together on some order of operations review puzzles.

Members of M102 also continued to work on their Kennewick Man project during social studies today. The fifth graders are thoroughly engaged with this project and are using the paper and explain everything apps on their iPads to help them craft their own version of the Kennewick Man. I can't wait to see the finished results.

I hope everyone has a nice long weekend. Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served the United States of America.

11/9/16

As we returned to school today, the fifth graders continued to read deeper into Bud, Not Buddy. The students began the lesson by responding to some focus questions. This lead into reading of new chapters. The fifth graders launched this new reading by discussing metaphors. I was impressed with the amount of background knowledge that the students brought to this lesson.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders shared out small group responses to a word problem that involved both multiplication and division. This multi-step problem required the students to work together to come up with multiple solutions to meet the parameters of the problem. This segued into more work with multiple towers.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading 

11/7/16

This short week began with the members of M102 starting to work on a project in social studies. The students have been learning about the first peoples to cross over into the North American continent. One such person has come to be known as the Kennewick Man. The students are tasked with creating a sketch of what this man possibly looked like and listing tools that he may have carried with him to ensure his survival. The fifth graders will be working on this project throughout the course of the week.

Later in the day, the focus of our mini-writing lesson was on transition words. Students continue to be heavily invested in their opinion writing and are making steady progress to the ultimate goal of a typed final draft.

Lastly, the fifth graders took part in a mock election today to give them some sense of the significance of the national election which will take place tomorrow.

I look forward to seeing all students back in school on Wednesday.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

11/3/16

The students of M102 spent some time investigating some tools used by the earliest Native Americans to enter the North American Continent. Fifth graders were tasked with reading an article and sketching these ancient implements and then writing about their importance. The students were animated and engaged in this lesson.

Later in the day, the fifth graders had a writing lesson that focused on rebuttals and the ability to counter differing point of views within their opinion pieces. The students continue to be hard at work on their papers and they are really taking shape. I have very much enjoyed getting to see these papers getting stronger and stronger.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading

11/2/16

Today, the fifth graders returned to Bud, Not Buddy. We are entering the middle chapters of the novel and I continue to be impressed with the level of enthusiasm that the students are displaying while reading this book. They seem to be enjoying it and that is displayed in their small group discussions and in their written responses.

We also worked with some word problems that involved division and its relationship with multiplication during our math block.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

11/1/16

As we began the month of November together, the fifth graders continued to craft divisibility rules to use as a guide as we progress through the next few lessons. The second half of the math class saw the students undertake another challenging multi-step word problem. I enjoyed seeing the students reasons their way through the early stages of the problem.

Later in the day, the members of M102 returned to their writing. Today's focus was on adding transition words to create more of a flow to the writing.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

10/31/16

The fifth graders continued to read deeper into Bud, Not Buddy today. The students continue to use their strategies for reading complex texts. I enjoyed getting to touch base with the reading groups and hearing them discuss some comprehension questions. I encourage all families to ask their students about this book, the students really do seem to be enjoying it.

Earlier in the day, the students looked at ancient tools and artifacts that have been discovered from the migration spots of the first peoples to enter into the North American continent. The students are engaged and inquisitive during our social studies work.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

10/28/16

The members of M102 ended the last full week of October by continuing their work with division. The students used their prior knowledge of multiples to help them deconstruct some division problem today. The students showed great fortitude when dealing with some of the more challenging problems today.

We once again were able to meet with our book buddies in second grade today. The students worked together on some fall releated arts and crafts activities.

Finally, the fifth graders continued their strong work during our writing time. Many students are well into their first official draft of their opinion writing pieces and many other students are getting ready to begin. I have enjoyed getting to conference with individuals and small groups to see where students are in their gathering of evidence.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading nightly

Writing - this week on the blog, students should respond to the following blog topic: What were your favorite moments of science camp? While at camp did you learn anything either academically or socially that proved meaningful?

This post should be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday October 28th.

Science - the students have a moon journal that they are asked to fill out at night on a nightly basis, starting tonight

10/27/16

We returned to Bud, Not Buddy during our ELA time today. The students began the lesson by responding to some close reading questions. The groups did a nice job of sharing their responses in the large class setting. I continue to enjoy getting to hear the students read in class. There are reading fluently and with understanding.

Earlier in the school day, the fifth graders created division posters to represent a word problem story with a solution and work show. The students impressed me with their passion for the subject matter today.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading nightly

Writing - this week on the blog, students should respond to the following blog topic: What were your favorite moments of science camp? While at camp did you learn anything either academically or socially that proved meaningful?

This post should be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday October 28th.

Science - the students have a moon journal that they are asked to fill out at night on a nightly basis, starting tonight

10/26/16

Today, we were lucky to have the author Melissa Stewart visit with the fifth grade class. Ms. Stewart worked with the students on an engaging lesson that focused on creating non-fiction writing. The students had a great time and the lesson proved beneficial.

Later in the day, the members of M102 officially turned their attention to division. The students were tasked with creating stories to match written division expressions. We also began to build our working vocabulary of division words. This work will continue over the next few weeks.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading nightly

Writing - this week on the blog, students should respond to the following blog topic: What were your favorite moments of science camp? While at camp did you learn anything either academically or socially that proved meaningful?

This post should be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday October 28th.

Science - the students have a moon journal that they are asked to fill out at night on a nightly basis, starting tonight

10/25/16

This early release day saw the fifth graders finish up their work with a challenging multi-step word problem. Using pictures, words and operations the fifth graders solved this problem and then were tasked with verbalizing their solutions to their peers. A very productive day.

Later in the day, the fifth graders had a lesson about the electoral college and the process to become president after the votes have been cast.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading nightly

Writing - this week on the blog, students should respond to the following blog topic: What were your favorite moments of science camp? While at camp did you learn anything either academically or socially that proved meaningful?

This post should be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday October 28th.

10/24/16

With science camp week have concluded, it was nice to return to the classroom with my students. The fifth graders had a tremendous time at camp last week. They engaged in countless entertaining and informative lessons and were able to enjoy the wilderness of Southern Rhode Island. I was grateful to get to spend time with the students down at Alton Jones.

As we returned to the classroom today, we began to turn our attention to the connection between multiplication and division problems. The students rose to the occasion during our work with multiplication and I am eager to see that work carry over as we begin to focus on division.

Later in the day, the students returned to their writing. They continue to make steady progress in their opinion writing and many students are in the process of starting their first official drafts. This week we will pay special attention to proper attribution of sources.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading nightly

Writing - this week on the blog, students should respond to the following blog topic: What were your favorite moments of science camp? While at camp did you learn anything either academically or socially that proved meaningful?

This post should be at least 4 paragraphs in length and is due Friday October 28th.

10/17/16

There was a lot of excitement in the fifth grade today as we wrapped up our last day before science camp. The students are eager to get down to Alton Jones for the week. To their credit, they were able to focus on their classwork today.

We continued to read deeper into Bud, Not Buddy today. The students looked at an excerpted passage from the novel today. Using some close reading strategies, they worked with their small reading groups to answer come comprehension questions pertaining to the portion of the text in question.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders continued their exploration of the sun during science class.


In regards to science camp next week, it is suggested that all students take a water bottle with them on the bus. The ride down will take less than 2 hours and there will be a movie shown on the bus. On Tuesday, the 18th, we are asking all students and parents to meet in the gym. That will serve as a collection point for children and their bags. The buses are aiming to leave by 8:30, but that may change slightly depending upon if they come to the Pierce of Thompson first.

Chaperones riding down on the bus should aim to be at school by no later than 8:15. Any chaperones driving should hopefully meet the buses down in Rhode Island around 10:30.

10/14/16

The fifth graders wrapped up another busy week. Today, the members of M102 took a mid-unit math assessment. This test touched upon multiplication and order of operations problems. The students worked very hard the first few weeks of school and I am confident that these assessments will reflect that.

Later in the day, the fifth graders teamed up with the students in Ms. Dichter and Ms. Bassham's rooms for their first book buddies meetings. The fifth graders were responsible and helpful while taking part in an introductory activity with their young buddies.

In regards to science camp next week, it is suggested that all students take a water bottle with them on the bus. The ride down will take less than 2 hours and there will be a movie shown on the bus. On Tuesday, the 18th, we are asking all students and parents to meet in the gym. That will serve as a collection point for children and their bags. The buses are aiming to leave by 8:30, but that may change slightly depending upon if they come to the Pierce of Thompson first.

Chaperones riding down on the bus should aim to be at school by no later than 8:15. Any chaperones driving should hopefully meet the buses down in Rhode Island around 10:30.

We are all looking forward to next week and I hope everyone has a great weekend.

10/12/16

Today, the fifth graders spent a significant amount of time with Bud, Not Buddy. The student returned to their reading groups and dived into chapter 4. While reading together, the small groups continued to mark up their texts using their 3-step journals. Special attention was paid to three focus questions which served to guide the reading and generate some meaningful discussion across the groups. The students then met back as a whole class and shared out some thoughts and opinions concerning recent developments in the novel.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders focused on the multiplication algorithm. We continue to want to see the fifth graders be versatile in their math work and I loved seeing the comfortability that the students showed in solving problems in multiple ways. Tomorrow, the members of M102 will take a mid-unit math assessment.

As a reminder, the Boys In Motion running club will have a practice after school tomorrow the 14th.

10/11/16

This early release day saw the fifth graders practicing different methods to solve 2 digit by 2 digit and 3 digit by 2 digit multiplication problems. On Friday, the fifth graders will take their mid-unit assessment. They have been working hard these last few weeks and I am confident that the students will rise to the occasion come Friday.

The second half of the day saw the students return to their research for their opinion writing pieces. The students are starting to compile their research into an early draft. Members of M102 used Google Classroom today to share links and videos. I was impressed once again with the attention to detail that the fifth graders showed in their research.

As a note, the fifth graders took home a reminder notice today about items to bring with them to science camp. Next Tuesday, the 18th, the Thompson School will depart for Alton Jones.

Also as a reminder, Boys In Motion will meet after school on Friday from 2:45 - 3:45.

I hope everyone enjoys the day off tomorrow and I will see the students back at school on Thursday.

10/7/16

The fifth grade wrapped up another successful week together. We continued to read deeper into Bud Not Buddy. Today's focus was to talk about the importance of family in the lives of the characters that we have met to this point. It continues to be a pleasure to get to hear my students reading aloud in class.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders talked about fire safety with members of the Arlington Fire Department.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Go Red Sox.

10/6/16

Today was a big writing day for the members of M102. The fifth graders were able to look at many sources of information pertaining to our topic (both hard copies and online). The students are looking to supplement their point of views with meaningful evidence. I was impressed with the diligence that was on display in class and commend my students for staying on topic throughout the session.

Earlier in the day, we worked to identify state capitols during social studies. The students worked well together and impressed me with their level of background knowledge.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Writing on Kidsblog - In a 3 paragraph essay, focus in on at least two (2) character traits of Auggie in the book Wonder. Students should use evidence from the story to supports their claims. Each paragraph should have 6-8 sentences. This is due by Friday, October 7th.

(Students may write this on a piece of paper if unable to type online)

10/5/16

It was so nice to return to Bud, Not Buddy with my fifth graders today. The students launched the lesson with a response to one of the guiding essential questions. We then transitioned to working within out small reading groups to tackle chapter two. The students continued to be active readers, using our stickys and our three-step journals to guide our understanding of the text.

Earlier in the day, the students were faced with some multiplication cluster problems during math. The students were tasked with breaking up these problems efficiently and then multiplying fluently.



Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Writing on Kidsblog - In a 3 paragraph essay, focus in on at least two (2) character traits of Auggie in the book Wonder. Students should use evidence from the story to supports their claims. Each paragraph should have 6-8 sentences. This is due by Friday, October 7th.

(Students may write this on a piece of paper if unable to type online)

10/4/16

It was nice to see the fifth graders back in school today. During our morning meeting, the students shared out fun or noteworthy moments from their weekends. The morning meetings continue to kick start the day on a positive note.

During our math time, the fifth graders worked with multiplication cluster problems. These problems served to get the students to verbally explain their thinking or to show it on paper, but without actually solving the problem. I enjoyed getting to see the members of M102 work through these problems.

Later in the day, we returned to our opinion writing. The students turned a critical eye on another article pertaining to the topic of whether or not chocolate milk should be served in the school cafeteria.

I also wanted to thank Bill Hayner, who taught an engaging lesson to the students concerning the branches of government. The students were a thoughtful and responsive audience.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Writing on Kidsblog - In a 3 paragraph essay, focus in on at least two (2) character traits of Auggie in the book Wonder. Students should use evidence from the story to supports their claims. Each paragraph should have 6-8 sentences. This is due by Friday, October 7th.

(Students may write this on a piece of paper if unable to type online)

9/30/16

The fifth graders returned to Bud Not Buddy during ELA today. Students continued to read the text critically and I was happy with the way that the groups worked together. We will continue to read the book over the upcoming weeks.

I also wanted to compliment the students for another great week of morning meetings. As part of responsive classroom, the fifth graders are taking part in meetings that include a daily message, a share out and an energizer. The students are doing a nice job of engaging one another and the days are getting off to positive starts.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and is able to watch the Patriots put a beating on the Bills.

9/29/16

The members of M102 continued their work with Bud Not Buddy during our ELA time. The students are engaging the text critically and are using our reading strategies to make inferences. The fifth graders were keying in on character traits of the main character today.

During math class, the students were faced with some order of operation problems. They rose to the challenge today and I was impressed with the perseverance of the group.

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading per night

9/28/16

The fifth grade officially kicked off their reading of Bud Not Buddy today. The students have been put into small reading groups and were rearing to get going. During today's reading of chapter 1, different active reading strategies were modeled for the students. I was happy with the effort exhibited by the groups today.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders turned their attention to order of operations during math class. The students were actively engaged in the subject matter and the progress that I saw just during this first lesson was a credit to the students.


Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading per night

9/27/16

During today's math lesson, the fifth graders continued to work with different strategies to solve multiplication problems. The students have been incorporating knowledge gained in the first few weeks of school and I was impressed with the versatility of the fifth graders. They are becoming more adept at solving problems using more than one strategy.

Later in the day, the students received their copies of Bud Not Buddy. M102 spent some time making predictions about the story based off of the image on the cover and the synopsis on the back. The students are excited to begin this story and so am I.

I look forward to seeing families tonight during curriculum night.



Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading per night

9/26/16

The fifth graders began their preparation for reading the novel, Bud Not Buddy, today. We spent time looking at the Great Depression and the impact it had on children. Later, the students received their copies of the book and we captured initial observations and connections to the front cover of the story. This is a great book, and I am eager to begin reading it with my students.

Earlier in the day, the fifth graders worked with 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problems. The students were tasked with solving these problems, showing their work with visual representations and finally creating a story for each problem.

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading per night



As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. These forms are due by next Tuesday, the 27th. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

I also wanted to spread the word that we are still looking for some chaperones for science camp. Ideally, we would like to have adults stay the four days of camp, but we would also be open to having people volunteer for portions of camp. Please contact me at: dallen@arlington.k12.ma.us if you are interested in helping out.

9/23/16

The students ended the week on a high note today. The members of M102 continued their investigation of the sun and shadows today. Using flashlights and their self made sundials, the fifth graders had an engaging lesson.

I also wanted to mention how proud I was of the students for their diligence when it came to the first post on the class blog. The fifth graders made informative prediction about the book Wonder and backed them up with meaningful evidence from the text.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.


As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. These forms are due by next Tuesday, the 27th. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

I also wanted to spread the word that we are still looking for some chaperones for science camp. Ideally, we would like to have adults stay the four days of camp, but we would also be open to having people volunteer for portions of camp. Please contact me at: dallen@arlington.k12.ma.us if you are interested in helping out.

9/22/16

The students have really impressed me this week with their grasp of some of our early math concepts. The working vocabularies of the class continues to grow and the students are starting to display their versatility in solving multiplication problems.

We also were able to read the picture book, Salt In His Shoes. This book tied in nicely with our nine core reading competencies. The students worked well together to complete some questions pertaining to the text.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. These forms are due by next Tuesday, the 27th. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

I also wanted to spread the word that we are still looking for some chaperones for science camp. Ideally, we would like to have adults stay the four days of camp, but we would also be open to having people volunteer for portions of camp. Please contact me at: dallen@arlington.k12.ma.us if you are interested in helping out.

Homework

Using the kidblog website, the students should respond to this prompt: Make a prediction about how August's time at his new school will go for him. Do you think that he will have a positive or negative experience at school? Why or why not? Please use evidence from the text to back up your point of view.

This post should be at least two paragraphs in length and should be posted by Friday, September 23rd.

9/21/16

This Wednesday saw the fifth graders look to locate states by their longitudes and latitudes. This lesson built on work that we began last week. I was pleased to hear students using their social studies vocabulary when discussing questions with one another.

Later in the day, the fifth graders worked together while learning a new game in math class. This game saw the students identifying the factors of certain numbers. The members of M102 worked well together during this activity.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. These forms are due by next Tuesday, the 27th. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

I also wanted to spread the word that we are still looking for some chaperones for science camp. Ideally, we would like to have adults stay the four days of camp, but we would also be open to having people volunteer for portions of camp. Please contact me at: dallen@arlington.k12.ma.us if you are interested in helping out.

Homework

Using the kidblog website, the students should respond to this prompt: Make a prediction about how August's time at his new school will go for him. Do you think that he will have a positive or negative experience at school? Why or why not? Please use evidence from the text to back up your point of view.

This post should be at least two paragraphs in length and should be posted by Friday, September 23rd.

9/20/16

This early release day saw the members of room m102 begin with a energetic morning meeting. The students continue to impress me with their willingness to listen to one another and the students seem to be making nice connections with one another.

Later in the day, the students did some work with factor rainbows and multiples during our math block.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. These forms are due by next Tuesday, the 27th. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Homework

Using the kidblog website, the students should respond to this prompt: Make a prediction about how August's time at his new school will go for him. Do you think that he will have a positive or negative experience at school? Why or why not? Please use evidence from the text to back up your point of view.

This post should be at least two paragraphs in length and should be posted by Friday, September 23rd.

9/19/16

As members of rome M102 returned to school this Monday, I wanted to begin this post with a compliment as to how morning meetings have been going. Every day begins with the class forming a circle to better see one another. After a brief share and reading of the morning message, the fifth graders take part in an energizer. This serves to foster a sense of community in the room as well as to begin the day on a light hearted note. I have enjoyed seeing my students interact with one another and be active listeners.

The students began to take a closer look at the nine reading competencies, which will guide our work with both literary and informational texts this school year. The initial look into this subject matter involved reading some picture books to exemplify key concepts.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Homework

Using the kidblog website, the students should respond to this prompt: Make a prediction about how August's time at his new school will go for him. Do you think that he will have a positive or negative experience at school? Why or why not? Please use evidence from the text to back up your point of view.

This post should be at least two paragraphs in length and should be posted by Friday, September 23rd.

Specialist Schedule

Monday - Gym

Tuesday - Music

Wednesday - Gym

Thursday - Art 

Friday - Library

9/16/16

As the members of room M102 completed their first full week of fifth grade today, I wanted to take the time to compliment the students. They have worked hard this week and have already started the process of creating a strong community environment. I have enjoyed these last two weeks and I can't wait to dive further into the curriculum over these next few months.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and is able to enjoy some time outside.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

9/15/16

During social studies today, the fifth graders brought their knowledge concerning the directions of the compass into their look at the continents. I have been impressed with the passion that the students are bringing into these initial lessons and I am eager to continue to work next week. We will soon turn our attention to longitude and latitude.

The students were also introduced to using sticky notes to guide their close reading of texts. Students will be using these notes throughout the course of the year, especially during our upcoming work with the novel, Bud Not Buddy.

Students in grades three through five also took part in an assembly concerning renewable energy. One fifth grade student was able to show off their acting skills:

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Students today, also received a permission slip for A.M. and P.M. patrols. Please return these as soon as possible if students are interested

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis. Due Friday

9/14/16

Room M103 began their science investigations today. The students will being studying the sun and its importance over the course of the next few weeks.

As a reminder to parents and guardians, the fifth graders should be looking to return signed and completed science camp forms as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Students today, also received a permission slip for A.M. and P.M. patrols. Please return these as soon as possible if students are interested

Homework

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

Decorate writing notebook

9/13/16

The fifth graders continued to progress deeper into Wonder during class read aloud time. The students really seem to be enjoying this novel. While being read to, the members of M102 have also been writing down some connections between Wonder and other novels that they have read. The students continue to impress me with their meaningful writing.

During math class, the students continued to tackle some challenging math puzzles. These puzzles incorporate some of the vocabulary that we have been using recently.

Students also received the information and sign up packets for fifth grade science camp. Students are coming home with a number of important documents. Please take the time to look at these and return certain ones as soon as possible.

Homework

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

Decorate writing notebook

9/12/16

As we began our first full week together, the fifth graders continued to work with factors and multiples during our math time. The level of difficulty continues to rise, and the fifth graders rose to the challenge today.

We also officially kicked off our first social studies unit. We out going to spend some time looking at the continents and oceans. The students impressed me with their levels of background knowledge that they brought to the subject matter.

Homework

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

Decorate writing notebook

9/8/16

The students continued to work with multiples and factors today. The students have been building their working math vocabulary this week and I was impressed with the use of important terms duing today's lesson. The students worked capably in small groups.

Later in the day, the members of M102 were able to share their first creative writing piece with their peers. Using a "scar map", the students collected potential narrative story ideas in a fun way. I enjoyed getting to hear the students share.



Homework

By next week, I would like all students to have decorated their writing notebooks to reflect their likes and interests. As a frame of reference, her is a picture of mine:

9/7/16

Day two saw the fifth graders kick of their first unit in math class. The topic of today's lesson were factors and multiples. The students engaged one another in some meaningful discussions and worked nicely together when it came time to answering some questions using manipulatives. This work will continue on Thursday.

Later in the day, the students undertook their first creative writing project. This activity saw the students create scar maps. These maps will be used to generate future narrative writing pieces.

Homework

By next week, I would like all students to have decorated their writing notebooks to reflect their likes and interests. As a frame of reference, her is a picture of mine:

9/6/16

It was great to see the students return to the Thompson School today. I was happy to get to meet the 26 students who will be in my classroom this year.

The fifth grade began their day with some getting to know one another activities that tie into responsive classroom. Later in the day, the fifth graders were able to undertake an art project which allowed them to share some details about themselves with their peers.

We also spent some time today outlining some of the expectations and guidelines that are in place because the fifth grade will be outside in the modular classrooms this year.

I enjoyed this first day together and am eager to start this new year with the fifth graders. I look forward to seeing all of my students tomorrow for our first full day together.

Homework

By next week, I would like all students to have decorated their writing notebooks to reflect their likes and interests. As a frame of reference, her is a picture of mine:

Trivia

What species of fish is Dory?

6/24/16

It was an honor and a privilege to have learned and worked with my 30 students this year. I am proud of the effort and accomplishments made by all of the members of room 312.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and exciting summer vacation. I wish all my students good luck as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

6/21/16

After spending yesterday at Georges Island, the fifth graders returned to the classroom today. The students were able to create a caardboard arcade today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U

This activity allowed the students the ability to work together and to use their imagination to craft some interesting things. This was an enjoyable experience for all students.

6/17/16

The fifth graders had a great day today. The students enjoyed board games inside and had a luau outside. Everyone had a great time. I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

As a reminder, the fifth graders are traveling to Georges Island on Monday.

6/16/16

I was honored to share this day with all of the fifth grade students as they celebrated their graduation ceremony today. The students handled themselves well and the graduation turned out great. It was nice to talk with so many family members before and after.

As a reminder, tomorrow is board game day for room 312. Students may bring in their favorite board or card games. No electronic devices are allowed.

6/15/16

Today, the fifth graders had one last walk through for their graduation ceremony. The students seem to be prepared and are all eager to take part in the event. I look forward to tomorrow.

Later in the day, the fifth graders had their second round of show and tell. We all enjoyed getting to hear what meaningful items were brought in. The students did a nice job of listening to one another.

Friday will be round 2 of board game day in room 312. Students may bring in their favorite board or card game. No electronic devices are allowed.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the earliest recorded snow fall in Massachusetts?

6/14/16

The students competed in a spirited game of Revolutionary War trivia during social studies today. The members of 312 spent time over the last few days creating questions of varying degrees of difficulty. They did a nice job with that and the game today was an enjoyable way to officially wrap up the unit.

During math class, the students worked on some Tizits. These 3-D optical illusion puzzles were a big hit. We also continued to work on some volume problems, that were a continuation of yesterday's work.

Tomorrow, room 312 will also have a second round of show and tell. Students are encouraged to bring in one (1) item that has significant meaning to them. Items should be appropriate for school and students are also responsible for whatever they are bringing into the building.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the most powerful earthquake in recorded history? And where was it located?

6/13/16

A very big day for the members of room 312. All members of the class have now published a finished copy of their informational writing pieces. These papers took weeks of work on the students part. Lots of research, drafting and editing went into this effort. The students impressed me with their dedication to this project. I am very happy with the results. Each student will be receiving a hard copy of their writing, families should absolutely ask to read these.

During math class, the class used manipulatives to deal with some volume problems. The students used prior work with area and volume problems to start tackling this new batch of work.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who was the oldest president to be elected?

6/10/16

I hope everyone has a great weekend and is able to get out and enjoy the nice weather.

I look forward to seeing all of the members of Boys in Motion tomorrow morning during our road race. Get a good night's sleep boys.

6/9/16

The students are hard at work crafting concrete poems during our ELA time. Once again, the fifth graders are throwing all of their creativity into this and the early results are quite promising.

Earlier in the day, the students scoured a few different online sources to prepare Revolutionary War trivia questions. As we are winding down this unit, the students want the opportunity to test each other's knowledge. Tomorrow, the members of 312 will take the trivia challenge.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog Post (due Friday the 10th) - Of all of the books that you have read this year (including read alouds and others classroom books) which has been your favorite? Explain in detail why this is so. (must be at least 3 paragraphs in length)

Trivia

How tall is the tallest natural peak in the United States of America?

6/8/16

Today, the fifth graders continued to look at some problems pertaining to perimeter and area. The students were tasked with figuring the dimensions of fencing around a piece of property. I thought that today's lesson was a productive one.

Later in the day, the fifth graders were able to share some of their recent biography poems with the rest of their classmates. The students were creative and very funny in their descriptions of themselves.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog Post (due Friday the 10th) - Of all of the books that you have read this year (including read alouds and others classroom books) which has been your favorite? Explain in detail why this is so. (must be at least 3 paragraphs in length)

Trivia

What is the largest island in Boston Harbor?

6/7/16

The fifth grade began their final read aloud book of the year today, Bridge to Terabithia. The students have enjoyed the other selections that we have spent time with this season and I look forward to diving into this book with the members of room 312.

During math class, the students looked at perimeter and area problems.



Homework

Math - workbook page 28

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog Post (due Friday the 10th) - Of all of the books that you have read this year (including read alouds and others classroom books) which has been your favorite? Explain in detail why this is so. (must be at least 3 paragraphs in length)

Trivia

How many Americans saw action during the D-Day invasion?

6/6/16

The fifth graders continued to work in small groups on some summer vacation related word problems during math class. The students were doing a nice job of working together to come up with strategies to tackle each problem.

Later in the day, they continued their informational writing pieces.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Blog Post (due Friday the 10th) - Of all of the books that you have read this year (including read alouds and others classroom books) which has been your favorite? Explain in detail why this is so. (must be at least 3 paragraphs in length)

Trivia

How many books has Roald Dahl written?

6/3/16

It was an eventful day for the fifth graders today. The first part of the day was spent at the Ottoson, taking a tour of the building. Later the school took part in field day. The students all seemed to have a great time.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

6/2/16

During our social studies time today, the members of room 312 worked to create trading cards of some of the famous figures of the Revolutionary War. The students are collecting important pieces of information that tie the figures to the event in question and then are illustrating a picture of them. The students are very much enjoying this project. Hoy many King George cards will it take to trade for a Thomas Jefferson? Hopefully we will find out tomorrow.

As a reminder, field day is this Friday. The fifth grade will be representing the United States of America, so dress accordingly. Also, the fifth graders will be visiting the Ottoson Middle School on Friday to take a tour of the building.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

How many states seceded during the Civil War?

6/1/16

The start of the month of June saw the fifth graders working in small group to create working definitions of what a quadrilateral is. The students then compared and contrasted cards that featured different shapes on them. The second part of math class was dedicated to looking at a multi-step word problem that will be continued over the next few days.

Many students are also putting the finishing touches on their Biography Poems. The students are giving a snapshot into their lives and are being very creative in their finished products.

As a reminder, field day is this Friday. The fifth grade will be representing the United States of America, so dress accordingly. Also, the fifth graders will be visiting the Ottoson Middle School on Friday to take a tour of the building.


Homework


Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the largest land mammal in the continent of Asia?

5/31/16

As we ended the month of May together in room 312, the fifth graders worked on a challenging math word problem that dealt with taking a summer road trip. The students did a nice job of working together on these problems.

Later in the day, we continued to progress with our informational writing.

This upcoming Friday is field day at the Thompson School. The fifth grade will be representing the United States of America during the day. It would be great if all students could wear clothes that have red, white and blue colors.


Homework

Math - complete quadrilateral information sheet if not done in class

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the largest land mammal in Africa?

5/27/16

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend with friends and family.

5/26/16

Today was a big writing day for the students. The fifth graders are at different points in the process. Today, some students were able to grade themselves on their informational writing using the same rubric which I will be grading them. Students took an honest look at their pieces and looked to assess themselves on items such as their introduction, their organization and their command of grammar. Other students used their time to put the finishing touches on an early draft or to type a final draft. I continue to enjoy going through this process with my class.

I was also quite happy with the results of the math assessment from yesterday. The fifth graders impressed me with their grasp of fractions and decimals.

I would also like to ask families to have their children bring in empty 2 liter soda bottles. The students are using these in science class and as of right now, there are not enough for each student. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. 

Homework

Math - Engage New York worksheet (metric conversions)

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who was the last person to sign the Declaration of Independence?

5/25/16

During today's lesson, the fifth graders got together with their small reading groups for one last time concerning Number the Stars. The students worked together to continue the story after selecting from a list of unanswered questions. The students were creative and worked well together to craft a continuation of the novel. The students did such a nice job throughout our work with this novel and I thought today was a fun and productive way to wrap up our time with the story.

Earlier in the day, room 312 had some time to work on their biography poems. We are going to spend some time on poetry as we approach the conclusion of the year and this was a nice way to kickstart the mini unit.


Homework

Math - expressions # 3 worksheet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What player has hit the most homer runs in Fenway Park?

5/24/16

The fifth graders spent some time investigating the Battle of Trenton today. The members of 312 were presented with an article about this important Revolutionary event and were tasked with working together to answer some comprehension questions.

Later in the day, we were able to return to our informational writing. The students were hard at work and I enjoyed the conferences that I was able to have.

Tomorrow, room 312 will have a math assessment.


Homework

Math - assessment tomorrow

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What day was the Battle of Trenton fought?

5/23/16

Congratulations to the fifth graders for completing their testing today. The students rose to the occasion and approached each testing day with a positive attitude.

I look forward to returning to a normal work schedule with my students starting tomorrow.





Trivia

Who is the only president to hold a patent?

5/19/16

This Thursday saw the students continuing with their writing. I have enjoyed my time conferencing with the students and I am truly impressed with the early drafts that I am seeing. The students paid special attention today to the use of transition words in their writing. This work will continue into next week.

Earlier in the day, room 312 continued to work with converting units of measurement. Students are becoming quite adept at converting units in the metric system. They are taking their prior knowledge from the decimal unit and applying it to this new work.

I would remind everyone that tomorrow is a fifth grade testing day. The students will take the first portion of the science MCAS assessment. I would ask all students to be in school on time tomorrow and to try to get a good night's sleep tonight.

Homework

30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who has scored the most goals in Bruins team history?

5/18/16

The students finished reading Number the Stars today and then turned their attention to a comprehension assessment. The students worked with their small reading groups to answer these questions. The second part of the ELA session was spent writing about some unanswered questions that the novel had. The fifth graders used their creativity to continue the story.


Homework

Math - workbook page 89

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - MCAS practice, due tomorrow


Trivia

How many United States presidents were born in New England?

5/17/16

During this early release day, the members of room 312 were able to return to their informational writing pieces. The students are making steady progress and I feel like every day there are positive elements added to each piece. The students have been eagerly sharing their writing with their classmates and I continue to enjoy getting to read this early drafts.

Homework

Math - complete workbook page 83

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - MCAS practice, due tomorrow


Trivia

What year did the swan boats open in Boston Common?

5/16/16

As we returned to school on this Monday, the students started to work with metric conversions of measurement. The students have some prior experience with this topic from earlier this year and I was happy with the encouragement and cooperation that the students displayed as they worked with one another.

Earlier in the day, we spent time investigating the Battle of Yorktown and its overall importance in the American Revolution. The students were engaged during this lesson.



Homework

Math - workbook page 88

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - MCAS practice, due tomorrow



Trivia

What was the first book that Lois Lowry wrote?

5/13/16

The fifth graders spent a large part of this Friday continuing to work on their informational writing pieces. Many students were able to share their early drafts with their peers today. I was also able to conference with some students and enjoyed reading their drafts. We will continue with our writing next week.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

5/12/16

The fifth grade completed their math testing window today. The students have worked incredibly hard over the last few testing weeks and I am proud of the effort that they have shown.

Today, the members of 312 were able to share their early drafts of their informational writing pieces with some of their peers. Students were looking to make edits and comment on their classmate's writing. A productive writing session.


Homework

Science - MCAS packet due on Friday May 13

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the earliest recorded 90 degree day in the city of Boston?

5/11/16

Today, the students completed the third unit in their math portion of the PARCC assessment. I am proud of the students for their dedication and level of attention during these testing days. They are never fun, but the students are rising to the challenge.

Later in the day, room 312 approached the conclusion of Number the Stars. Students are eager to see how the story resolves and I continue to be impressed with the work that is being done by the small reading groups.

Tomorrow is the final day for fifth grade math PARCC testing. Let's finish strong.


Homework

Science - MCAS packet due on Friday May 13

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the fastest time to win the Boston Marathon in the women's division?

5/10/16

The fifth grade was able to spend some time today using protractors to help them correctly measure various types of angles. The students did a nice job of using some of our recent math vocabulary and worked well together.

Later in the day we continued to read further into My Brother Sam Is Dead. This novel ties in nicely with what we are currently investigating in social studies.


Homework

Science - MCAS packet due on Friday May 13

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

What is the fastest time to win the Boston Marathon in the men's division?

5/9/16

The fifth graders took the first portion of their math PARCC assessment this morning. The students appeared to all put their best foot forward and I am confident that this week of testing will go well.

Later in the day, the fifth graders continued to explore the advantages and disadvantages that the American and British armies had during the Revolutionary War. This is a meaningful lesson, as there is a lot of overlap into the informational writing topics that many students have selected.




Homework

Science - MCAS packet due on Friday May 13

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Trivia

Who has scored the most points in Boston Celtics' history?

5/6/16

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

5/5/16

During math today, room 312 spent some time learning how to convert units of metric measurement. The students asked meaningful questions and worked well together to answer some conversion problems.

The later part of the day was spent working on our informational writing pieces.



Homework

Math - placing decimal in product worksheet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - finish MCAS packet for Friday

Trivia

How many World Series titles have the Boston Red Sox won?

5/4/16

Room 312 spent some time taking a close look at the Declaration of Independence during our social studies time. The students explored the inalienable rights guaranteed in this document and its importance in American history.

Later in the day, the students returned to their reading groups to continue to dig deeper into Number the Stars. As we approach the conclusion of this novel, I can sense the anticipation building amongst the students to see what happens next. The work in and around this book continues to be quite strong.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - finish MCAS packet for Friday

Trivia

How many homeruns has David Ortiz hit at Fenway Park?

5/3/16

The fifth graders continued to work with multiplication of decimals and fractions during our math lesson today. The students have acclimated well to this new material and I thought that the group work, in particular, was a positive. Students are helping one another and discussing misconceptions. It was a treat to see.


Homework

Math - multiplying decimals worksheet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - finish MCAS packet for Wednesday

Trivia

What day did George Washington die?

5/2/16

I wanted to commend my students for finishing the ELA portion of the PARCC test today. Once again, the fifth graders were in school on time and came prepared to work.

Later in the day, room 312 continued to make progress in their informational writing. The students had the opportunity to peer edit their early draft today. I have loved what I have seen from the students to this point. I was also impressed with the constructive critiques that the students offered one another today.

Homework

Science - practice MCAS packet due on Wednesday




Trivia

Which battle ultimately led to the surrender of British forces during the Revolutionary War?

4/29/16

Congratulations to the fifth graders for completing day 2 of their ELA PARCC testing. The students have one more day of ELA testing on Monday.

I hope everyone has a great weekend

4/28/16

I wanted to compliment my students for arriving at school on time and in a positive state of mind. It wasn't the most enjoyable day for everyone, considering the testing being done. Yet, the students soldiered through. As a reminder, the fifth grade will also being testing tomorrow and on Monday.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

Where was Paul Revere born?

4/27/16

Today, the fifth graders continued to progress with their informational writing papers on the Revolutionary War. The students have been using the resources at their disposal and have been working diligently to craft a meaningful writing piece about a topic pertaining to the Revolutionary War period. I was able to conference with individual students today and I am encouraged with the work that has been done to this point.

We also continued to progress deeper into Number the Stars. We are getting into the later stages of the novel. Today the students used some comprehension questions to guide them in their reading.

Tomorrow, the fifth grade begins the ELA portion of the PARCC assessment. I would encourage all students to get a good night's sleep, eat a nice breakfast and arrive at school in a timely fashion. I am confident that the students will do very well on this.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

Which hill in Charlestown actually saw the heaviest fighting during the Battle of Bunker Hill?

4/26/16

This Tuesday, saw the fifth graders take a small assessment during math class to gauge their progress in regards to their comprehension of the work done with decimals to this point in the unit. The students appeared to be quite confident in their performance on this assessment. I look forward to going through these results.

Later in the day, we did some work with a narrative writing piece that asked the students to put themselves into the shoes of a character in a short story. The students were enthusiastic and active participants during this work.


Homework


Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

How many colonial soldiers fought in the battle of Bunker Hill?

4/25/16

It was nice to see all of my students back at school today. The class appears to be well rested and came prepared to get back into the swing of things during today's lessons. This is an eventful week, with the start of the PARCC testing window. Room 312, kicked of the work week with a very productive day.

Fifth graders began to type their George Washington persuasive letters during our social studies time today. The students were quite convincing in their attempts to persuade Washington to accept command of the Continental Army.

Later in the day, the members of room 312 continued to work on their informational writing. I have begun to conference with my students and I have enjoyed getting to read these early pieces of writing.

Homework

Math - workbook page 68

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading


Trivia

Which president was on the 2 dollar bill?

4/15/16

I hope everyone has a great April vacation and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school the last week of April, as we enter the home stretch of the school year.

4/13/16

During social studies today, the fifth graders continued to craft their persuasive letters. These letters, which are written from the point of view of John Adams to George Washington, are coming along nicely. The students are making convincing arguments as to why Washington should take charge of the Continental Army.

Later in the day, the students read deeper into Number The Stars. We are getting to some of the more meaningful moments of the book and the students are very much enjoying this novel. After reading, the fifth graders continued to work together in their small reading groups on comprehension questions that dealt with important turning points to this point in the story.

I continue to encourage my students to visit a library outside of school to supplement their resources.

Homework

Math - workbook page 62

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - worksheet due Wednesday

Trivia

What date was the Battle of Bunker Hill fought?

4/12/16

I wanted to compliment the entire fifth grade class for their performance during today's concert. They really did a nice job and both songs sounded great.

Room 312 continued to work with decimals in conjuncture with tenths and hundredths grids during today's math lesson. Later this week, we will have a small math assessment before vacation.

I continue to encourage my students to visit a library outside of school to supplement their resources.

Homework

Math - workbook page 60

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Science - worksheet due Wednesday

Trivia

What day did World War II in the European theater end?