1/31/20

It is hard to believe that today was the last day of January. We concluded the fifth month of the 2019-2020 school year by taking part in an exciting series of science experiments. A representative of the Museum of Science visited the school to engage the kids with a series of tests pertaining to the states of matter. The fifth graders thoroughly enjoyed this enrichment opportunity. 

We also continued to create growth stories that tied into coordinate graphs during out math time. As we approach the halfway point of unit five, the student are doing a great job of gradually accumulating information.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

1/30/20

The students continued to work in their small reading groups to answer questions pertaining to the anchor text, A River Ran Wild. As we head into next week, the groups are going to undertake a timeline project that ties into this book.

We also had a productive science lesson in the second half of the school day.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 1/31

1/29/20

The students continued to create growth stories in math class that they then represented on coordinate graphs. A303 students have impressed in the last two weeks with this work. Starting tomorrow and continuing over the next few days, the kids will work with data collected about some incredible animals.

We had a writing session this afternoon. All of the students have selected a literary essay that they will be looking to craft an essay about over these next few weeks. The focus of today's work was on creating a strong lead paragraph.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 1/31

Math - finish workbook pages 294, if not done in class

1/27/20

The students began to read the book A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry during ELA. This book tells the story of the Nashua River and the impact that pollution has had on the New England landmark. After reading the story, the fifth graders worked in small groups to answer some comprehension questions.

Our math time was spent continuing to work with coordinate graphs. Many of the fifth graders were able to finish a graph that they created using a data table.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night, fill out reader's log on a nightly basis. Due Friday 1/31

Math - finish workbook pages 289 and 290, if not done in class

1/24/20

We wrapped up the week working with more coordinate grids and data tables in our math lesson. The kids have really taken to the early lessons in unit 5 and I felt like this week was a positive one across the board in A303.

We also returned to our writing during the later stages of the school day. All of the fifth graders have know selected the literary essay that they will be writing about over the next few weeks.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

1/23/20

The fifth graders traveled to the Museum of Science this morning for the Explore the Universe in the planetarium. This presentation was informative and engaging and the fifth graders seemed to really enjoy it.

When we returned to the school in the later stages of the school day, the students in A303 undertook the second lesson in our new math unit. The students continued to work with graphs and interpreting the data contained within them.


Homework

Reading - any reading group who has not finished their novel, needs to finish reading it at home by the end of this week.

1/22/20

We began unit 5 in math class this morning. This unit will see the kids working with temperature, height and growth models represented on coordinate graphs. The first session saw the students comparing the temperature in two different cities.

During our ELA time, we also kicked off our next reading unit. This current events unit will see the kids looking at the importance of clean water and its impact on people all over the world.

As a reminder, the fifth graders are traveling to the Museum of Science this Thursday the 23rd.

Homework

Reading - any reading group who has not finished their novel, needs to finish reading it at home by the end of this week.

1/21/20

The fifth graders are getting close to the end of unit 4 in math class. Today's lesson saw the kids working on both multiplication and division problems that larger numbers. Tomorrow, we will take an end of unit quiz.

As a reminder, the fifth graders are traveling to the Museum of Science this Thursday the 23rd.

Homework

Reading - any reading group who has not finished their novel, needs to finish reading it at home by the end of this week.

1/17/20

The students finished their iReady winter testing window. My compliments to the class for working hard on these important assessments this past week.

We returned to our work with data tables during math class. This week has been a productive one in terms of our current math investigation. The kids did a nice job.

Have a nice weekend.

1/15/20

Students in A303 began the reading portion of their iReady exam this afternoon. The students appeared to have given their best effort and I look forward to going over the results these next few days.

We continued to work on multi-step word problems that pertain to a data table during our math work. The kids are doing a fine job of persevering through some challenging work.

The fifth grade is traveling to the Museum of Science on Thursday January 23rd. Please sign and return field trip permission slips as soon as possible.

1/14/20

The fifth graders began the final investigation in unit 4 this morning. The work in this unit is centered on multi-step word problems using data tables. Today was a great first day. I was impressed with the students ability to work with the given data.

Tomorrow, the kids will begin the reading portion of their iReady exam.

The fifth grade is traveling to the Museum of Science on Thursday January 23rd. Please sign and return field trip permission slips as soon as possible.

1/13/20

The students began the winter sessions of their iReady assessment this afternoon. The math portion of the exam was the focus today. On Wednesday, the kids will look to complete the reading portion of the assessment.

We were also able to meet with our reading groups this afternoon. The goal is to have all groups finished with their novels by this Friday.

1/10/20

We wrapped up a very productive week this Friday by progressing in different subjects. Our math time was spent taking an assessment to gauge the student's understanding of the first two investigations in unit four. These five questions will serve to give me a firm idea of where everyone stands as we enter the last investigation of this unit.

Our science time was spent learning about the water cycle and completing a graphic organizer. The kids also watched a short video pertaining to the topic.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

1/9/20

The students worked to read and then annotate a short story during our ELA time today. Starting next week, the fifth graders will be exposed to a collection of short stories. At that point, they will select one to start crafting a literary essay about.

We also continued to work on describing and comparing strategies that are used to solve two-digit divisor division problems.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night. Reading log due Friday 1/10

Math - workbook page 241, due Friday 1/10

1/8/20

Today, we had the pleasure of visiting with the author and illustrator Raul the Third. The fifth graders were an attentive audience and it was a rewarding enrichment opportunity.

Students also worked in their reading groups during ELA time. The goal is to have all students finished with their novels by next Friday.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night. Reading log due Friday 1/10

Math - workbook page 241, due Friday 1/10

1/7/20

The fifth graders practiced using a graphic organizer to compile information about a literary essay during our ELA time. Later this week and into next week, the students will be exposed to a number of different essays and they will look to work with the essay in a similar manner to today's lesson.

As a reminder, the author and illustrator Raul the Third is going to visit with the fifth graders tomorrow afternoon.

https://www.raulthethird.com/


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night. Reading log due Friday 1/10

Math - workbook page 241, due Friday 1/10

1/6/20

Our first full week of school in the new year, saw the students in A303 continue their work in unit four with division. Today's lesson saw the kids work to refine some of the strategies that they have been using recently. This work will continue into tomorrow's lesson as well.

The fifth graders also met with their book groups again. I continue to be impressed with the dedication the students are showing. The ensuing class discussions about the novels have been great to hear.


Homework

Reading - 30 minutes of reading per night. Reading log due Friday 1/10

Math - workbook page 241, due Friday 1/10

1/3/20

We ended this short week by undertaking a fun kickoff lesson in our second unit of writing. The fifth graders are transitioning into literary essay writing in this term. To launch that unit, the kids looked at a video about a youth soccer team in Thailand. This lead into some practice with using graphic organizers.

During social studies, we dug into the famous ride of Paul Revere. After a video showing a reenactment of that night, the students looked at a poem that commemorated that important night in American history.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Go Patriots.

1/2/20

It will take me a few more days to get used to typing the 20 at the end of the date. It was great to see the kids back at school today to start the new year. During our morning meeting, the fifth graders were able to share some of the highlights of their winter vacations.

We continued to make progress in our math time. The focus of our work today was on creating a word problem and then solving it with a visual element on poster paper.

Fifth graders were also able to meet with their book groups to progress deeper into their novels during ELA time.