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