11/27/24

During read aloud, we finished the first portion of Auggie & Me. The fifth graders really enjoyed this story.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend.

11/26/24

We continued our work with fractions during our afternoon math session. The kids worked in pairs to play an ordering fractions game and then finished up some outstanding workbook pages from the end of last week.

The fifth graders were also able to meet with their second grade book buddies this morning. Each of the pairings took part in some Thanksgiving themed coloring pages.

As a reminder, tomorrow is an early release day. The school day will conclude at 1130 with grab and go lunches available to the kids.

11/22/24

We concluded the last full school week in November by continuing our work with fractions. The fifth graders looked to compare the values of fractions and then order them. Steady progress is being made with this important subject matter.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

11/21/24

The students used the fraction number line that they created yesterday to help them complete some workbook pages this afternoon in math class. The kids were comparing the values of fractions using those aforementioned number lines as well as visuals. Productive chunk of time.

The fifth graders were also able to continue to make progress with their monologues during ELA time. This work continues tomorrow morning.

11/20/24

Each of the groups that was created in ELA has selected a scene and a character to use as the narrator of a monologue. Over the next two weeks, they are going to work on a script for their performance. Today was a productive day in that regard. I continue to look for quality cooperation and teamwork in the classroom as they are at work on this important piece of work.

11/19/24

During math class, the kids zeroed in on equivalent fractions. To show these relationships they used various grids to show the fractions visually. This was a productive lesson. We spend the second part of the session reviewing some concepts from unit two.

11/18/24

We began two important work areas today. In ELA class, the kids are going to be working to create monologues for characters in Esperanza Rising. This will be the culminating activity for our work with this novel. We are also going to work our way through the first few lessons in unit 3 in math class.

11/15/24

The fifth graders crushed their literary essay writing this week. We used our ELA time this morning having the kids partner up to peer edit each other's writing. They were looking to offer constructive feedback. This was productive and went well.

Next week we will begin our exploration of fractions. This important topic is at the core of fifth grade math and I look forward to working with the fifth graders on these lessons. Their work throughout the first two units has been uniformly strong.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

11/14/24

Each of the students finished a draft of their literary essays. Tomorrow, the kids are going to be partnered up for a peer editing session. They will have certain criteria that they are looking for and will offer their thoughts about each other's writing.

We wrapped up unit two in math this afternoon by taking an assessment. Tomorrow, we will look to enter the world of fractions as we begin unit three.

11/13/24

A fair amount of the fifth graders finished their draft of their literary essays this morning. A few were able to start typing their pieces. The next two days will see the fifth graders assigned a partner to peer edit each other's work. We are doing an excellent job with our focus and attention to detail.

Tomorrow, the kids will take a math assessment which will conclude our work in unit two.

11/12/24

Writing will continue to be our focus this week in ELA. Each of the fifth graders completed their lead paragraphs for their literary essays last week. Many have progressed into their body paragraphs. This week, we will have a lesson on crafting strong concluding paragraphs and we will look to have all members of A303 complete their initial drafts. Later this week and into next, the kids will look to type their piece and publish.

We were also able to meet with our second grade book buddies today. This Wednesday the 13th, is World Kindness Day. Each of the partnerships worked on an activity pertaining to the celebration and then spent some time reading together.

11/8/24

During ELA we focused on drafting body, or proof, paragraphs. The fifth graders carried over yesterday's positive momentum into today's writing session. I was very happy with the diligence that the kids put towards their work.

The members of A303 received back their volume quizzes from last week during math class. They did very well on these.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend.

11/7/24

In ELA, the fifth graders analyzed an example of a literary essay using the painted method. We looked to identify main topics, supporting details and focus statements. With the second half of the session, the kids began to draft their lead paragraphs. We will return to this work tomorrow.

During math class, the members of A303 worked in small groups to try to determine the volume of the classroom using cubic feet. This was an exciting lesson.

11/6/24

Working in pairs, the fifth graders looked to craft a draft of a "two-voice" poem. Using previous graphic organizers, the kids told wrote a poem from the perspective of two different characters viewing the same event. This was a productive session. Tomorrow, we are going to turn our attention to literary essay writing.

Math class, saw us continuing to work with volume problems. The kids completed two important workbook pages and then returned to some unfinished material from Monday.

11/4/24

The next few weeks will see the fifth graders working on a literary essay that ties into Esperanza Rising. We spent ELA time today putting the finishing touches on the assessment to mark the end of our reading. 

As a reminder, the kids do not have school tomorrow because of the Thompson being used for town wide voting.