11/27/19

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

11/26/19

Our math lesson focused on subtracting fractions. This was the first dedicated time to working on this concept. Many of the students did a nice job of carrying over some of the principals we used in adding fractions to this new investigation. This work will continue tomorrow.

We also had another writing session during the second half of the school day.

As a reminder, dismissal time is at 12 o'clock tomorrow.

11/25/19

We began our last week of November by taking a short assessment during math class. This assessment served to track the student's progress with the first batch of lessons in our fraction unit.

Later in the day, we returned to our opinion writing. The goal is to have all fifth graders completed by next Friday.

11/22/19

We concluded our last full week of school in the month of November by having our last Storytelling session with Valerie Tutson. The fifth graders did a nice job of crafting interesting personal stories these last two weeks and it was nice getting to here them tell them today.

During social studies, the kids worked on answering some questions pertaining to the Boston Massacre. Using an engraving made by Paul Revere and a short article, the students did a nice job with this.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Go Boys In Motion and Go Patriots.

11/20/19

The fifth graders looked to finish their taxation without representation focus questions during the early stages of our social studies lesson. We also introduced some of the pertinent details concerning the Boston Massacre, which will be out next lesson later this week.

The fifth graders also had a chance to meet with their book buddies in second grade. The pairs of kids practiced telling each other their stories that they have been working on with our guest instructors.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading and fill out log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 11/ 22

11/19/19

The fifth graders continued their early work with adding fractions during our math investigation. Today, using blank clock faces and dice the students practiced adding fractions and discussing their strategies. This lead into completing some workbook pages.

We also finished looking at the last chapter in the first section of Home of the Brave during out ELA time.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading and fill out log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 11/ 22

11/18/19

The students had their second storytelling session with Valerie Tutson this afternoon. They worked on editing their beginnings and endings during this time period. We will meet with her one more time later this week.

Our math lesson saw the fifth graders using clock faces to add fractions. We began the lesson with the creation of an anchor chart that contained many different equivalent fractions.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading and fill out log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 11/ 22

11/15/19

We wrapped up another very productive week in class today. The fifth graders learned who will be in their book groups that will start next week. We also finished work on our Taxation Without Representation flip books.

The students are in the middle of a storytelling workshop. As part of that, they have all begun creating an oral story that they are going to practice telling to family members at home. They have a worksheet that family members should write down a few notes on after listening to the story being told. Kids need to have this completed by next Monday the 18th.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Go Patriots.

11/14/19

The students created a flip book centered around some of the onerous taxes placed on the colonies in the runup to the Revolutionary War during our social studies time.

Fifth graders were also introduced to a new math game that involved organizing fractions cards by their value. This lead into completing some workbook pages that tied into the game.

The students are in the middle of a storytelling workshop. As part of that, they have all begun creating an oral story that they are going to practice telling to family members at home. They have a worksheet that family members should write down a few notes on after listening to the story being told. Kids need to have this completed by next Monday the 18th.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/15

11/13/19

The fifth graders took part in a workshop with the author Norah Dooley and Valerie Tutson during the early stages of the school day. The goal of the workshop is to get each student to craft an oral story about their lives that they can then share with their peers. Today was an exciting day.

During science, small groups worked with a set of planetary cards to classify planets by certain characteristics. The fifth graders worked well together during this time.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/15

11/12/19

The students took part in a storytelling assembly lead by author Nora Dooley today. Tomorrow, each individual fifth grade class will have time to work on the ideas presented today in their classrooms.

We also had another productive writing lesson during our ELA time. The students had time to peer edit each other's first drafts.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading per night

11/8/19

We concluded the week by continuing our investigation of equivalent fractions. The fifth graders looked to finish some workbook pages from yesterday and then they worked in pairs to organize fraction flashcards into a given order.

Our science lesson saw the students classifying planets in groups. The kids had to find details about a planet's composition, size and distance from the sun.

I hope everyone has a nice long weekend and a Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served.

11/7/19

The students explored the various taxes placed on the colonies by the British Parliament during our social studies time. They ultimately responded to some focus questions that they did a nice job with.

We also had a productive math lesson that saw the fifth graders look to compare the value of different fractions. Today's lesson produced some interesting discussions points.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading per night, reader's logs due 11/8

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/8

11/6/19

The heart of our math lesson today, saw the fifth graders working with equivalent fractions. This lesson had the students using graphing paper to shade in representations of fractions. While challenging at times, the students rose to the occasion and were able to end on a strong note.

Later in science class, members of A303 were able to start exploring the planets in our solar system. The students did a little reading and then worked in small groups to classify the planets. This activity will continue later this week.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading per night, reader's logs due 11/8

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/8

11/5/19

It was a big day in math class. The fifth graders have officially crossed over into unit 3. This unit will see the students working with fractions. Today served as a nice jumping off point and the kids worked well with the introductory lesson.

We also spent time writing about what we are reading during our ELA time in the second half of the day. The students continue to respond to prompts concerning the novel, Home of the Brave. 


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading per night, reader's logs due 11/8

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/8

11/4/19

The first school day in November saw the fifth graders hard at work on their opinion writing pieces. Fifth graders are hard at work looking to complete the first draft of their pieces. I was able to complete a few more conferences with students who have finished their first drafts.

Math class saw the fifth graders continue to work with units of measurement in relation to volume problems. The students had a productive lesson.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading per night, reader's logs due 11/8

Math - volume worksheet due Friday 11/8