5/31/22

We finished up the month of May with a quality fantasy book group session. The students responded to a writing prompt concerning the quest that their main character is one and then they transitioned to some group reading. We are going to return to our informational writing tomorrow morning.

5/27/22

The fifth graders have earned this long Memorial day weekend after all of the work they put in this week. On top of concluding the final session of their MCAS testing for the year, much work was done towards completing our informational writing as well as working with our fantasy book groups. 

I hope everyone has a nice weekend and look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday as we prepare for our final push towards the end of the school year.

5/26/22

Congratulations to all of the fifth graders for completing the final portion of their science MCAS this morning. All six sessions are now complete. 

Tomorrow, we will end the week by returning to a normal routine.

5/25/22

We returned to a normal schedule this Wednesday. Fantasy book groups and informational writing refinements were the points of emphasis during the school day. I loved to see so much progress being made towards wrapping up our final piece of writing. Our informational essays are going to be great.

Tomorrow, the kids are going to take the second session of their science MCAS test.

5/24/22

The fifth graders wrapped up the first portion of their science MCAS this morning. One down, one to do. All of the fifth grade classrooms will conclude the science portion of the test and MCAS as a whole on Thursday.

5/23/22

Due to a school wide change in plans, the fifth grade science MCAS has been shifted to tomorrow and Thursday. I applaud the fifth graders ability to deal with this change seamlessly. We were able to have a productive writing session as well as another quality math lesson. 

There will be no homework this week due to MCAS testing. 

5/20/22

Fifth graders took part in a wonderful enrichment opportunity this afternoon when they gathered outside with some parent volunteers to paint paving stones. These are going to be transformed into a permanent part of the walkways around the Thompson School. The kids enjoyed this activity and the stones turned out great.

As a reminder the fifth graders are taking their science MCAS exams next Monday and Tuesday. Please have all students bring their devices, fully charged, to school both days.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.   

5/19/22

Fantasy book groups continued to make progress with their novels this morning. Most of the groups were able to read two full chapters and then respond to a writing prompt. The groups are greatly enjoying their fantasy books to this point.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes per night, fill out log, due on Friday May 20th

5/18/22

The fifth graders practiced for their upcoming science MCAS exam this morning. By getting their feet wet with some of the site's testing features, the kids will be better prepared for next week.

We also had another very productive writing block. Compliments to all of the kids on their work the last few weeks in our writing classes.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes per night, fill out log, due on Friday May 20th

5/17/22

The students met with their fantasy book groups to progress deeper into their novels. Each group was responsible for responding to a writing prompt at the conclusion of their session today as well.

Tomorrow and Thursday, the students in A303 are going to do some preparation for next week's science MCAS exam. Session one is on Monday and session two will be Tuesday. 

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes per night, fill out log, due on Friday May 20th

5/16/22

Writing and fantasy book groups are going to be our two areas of focus over these next two weeks. The goal this week is to have all fifth graders finish the first draft of their informational essays. We are trending in that direction after another solid day of informational writing.

Homework

Reading - 30 minutes per night, fill out log, due on Friday May 20th

5/11/22

Today was a productive day on two fronts for the fifth graders in room A303. We had another productive writing lesson during the later stages of the school day. Body paragraph drafting as well as conferences and peer editing were all taking place during this time. The papers are shaping up nicely. 

The fifth graders also reviewed two multi-step word problems in preparation for tomorrow's start of math MCAS testing. It very much seems like the kids are in a positive frame of mind heading into the assessment.

Tomorrow and Friday will see the fifth graders taking their math MCAS tests. Please have all Chromebooks charged and ready to go both days.

5/10/22

Fantasy book groups were the main order of business during our work today. Each of the groups is making steady progress through the early chapters of their fantasy novels. The level of discourse during this time continues to be worthwhile. 

The students will be taking math MCAS tomorrow and Friday. Please make sure all kids have their Chromebooks and that they are fully charged for tomorrow and Friday.

5/9/22

The early part of this week will see the fifth graders continuing to work on their Revolutionary War writing pieces. Each of the kids will look to have the first drafts of their body paragraphs complete by Wednesday. Lots of quality writing took place this afternoon.

As a reminder, the fifth graders will be taking their math MCAS exams this Thursday and Friday.

5/6/22

We concluded the first week of May with a very productive writing session. Many of the fifth graders wrapped up the first draft of their informational writing pieces and transitioned into the first body paragraph. Some solid foundations being laid for these important pieces of writing.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

5/5/22

The fifth graders took part in an excellent enrichment activity that tied into our Revolutionary War unit this morning. Everyone was able to explore a "Traveling Trunk" which allowed the kids to explore this time period using artifacts and documents from the era. Working in small groups, the student explored a number of stations that taught them about the early stages of the Revolutionary War leading into the battles of Lexington and Concord. Fantastic start to the school day. 

Homework

Reading - 25 minutes of reading per night, fill out reading log. Due Friday 5/6

5/4/22

The kids continued to work well within their fantasy book groups this morning. Both the pace and the conversations that are taking place are excellent. We will return to our fantasy books on Friday.

We turned our attention to the First Continental Congress during social studies this afternoon. Students learned about some of the participants and the importance of this body.

Homework

Reading - 25 minutes of reading per night, fill out reading log. Due Friday 5/6

5/3/22

The fifth graders put some time into their informational writing piece during our ELA time. Each student has selected a Revolutionary War topic to write about and then used a graphic organizer to help them collect information from at least two sources. This will continue on Thursday. 

All of the fifth grades all had their picture taken for the class yearbook.

Homework

Reading - 25 minutes of reading per night, fill out reading log. Due Friday 5/6

5/2/22

The fifth graders began the day with a visit from staff from the Gibbs School. After a brief presentation, the kids were able to ask some questions that they had about sixth grade.

Later in the day, fantasy book groups were able to meets. After reading, they did some writing about the quest that their main characters are undertaking.

Homework

Reading - 25 minutes of reading per night, fill out reading log. Due Friday 5/6