12/23/14

I hope everyone has a great winter vacation and I will see everyone back in class in 2015.

12/22/14

Students gathered together in the gym today for a presentation by Steve Lechner of scienceworks.com. This program will be a year-long enrichment opportunity for the school.

In social studies students continued to focus in on specific European explorers. Students have been compiling a graphic organizer containing important pieces of information concerning this men. After the break, students will be charged with selecting one of these men to compile a report on.

I look forward to seeing students tomorrow, on our last day before the vacation.



Homework

Students need to complete two assignments on tenmarks.com by December 23rd.


Trivia

In the movie Bug's Life, what kind of insects do the ants gather food for?

12/19/14

Students today completed their final writing assignment on Bud Not Buddy. Grade 5 has spent a lot of time on this book and from the start, I have been impressed with the diligent work displayed by my class. They have taken on a challenging book and done such nice work. I look forward to reading these essays over the weekend.

Room 312 also wrapped up our Christopher Columbus project in social studies. Students used their iPads to come up with a presentation which contained student's prior knowledge of Columbus, information gained during our class lessons as well as an opinion piece. I am happy to report that I have many students who seem to enjoy learning about history and these projects turned out nicely.

Next week is a short week so their will be no written homework, students will have one final assignment to complete on tenmarks.com

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Homework

Students who did not finish their first assignment on tenmarks, must complete it by tonight

12/18/14

Students were able to once again break up into their groups to continue to tackle our challenging fraction word problem. Working in pairs, students will be presenting their work in a "math congress". I look forward to seeing how these posters turn out and I am confident that all students will perform admirably.

In ELA, room 312 continues to be hard at work in completing our final paper on a key turning point in Bud Not Buddy. From my one-on-one conversations with my writers, it seems like students are choosing great scenes to write about.

Fifth grade also is now officially on to our last section in Wonder. I can't wait to find out along with my students what happens to these characters.



Homework

Math - last page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Thursday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What president was known as Old Hickory?

12/17/14

Short day and a short post, students are in the process of using the explain everything app on their iPads to show with both pictures and words the relationship between fractions.

We are also approaching the last section in the book Wonder. Students have really enjoyed this novel and are eagerly anticipating the last part of the story.

I will see parents and guardians tonight.



Homework

Math - third page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Wednesday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What country experiences the most tornados?

12/16/14

Students continued to work on their final writing assignment concerning Bud Not Buddy. This is an opinion writing piece that focuses in on a turning point in the story. I like the flexibility of this writing sample because the students can take it in any number of different directions. I am eager to see these finished products.

Room 312 is also making great progress in their Christopher Columbus project. Students have been creating some slides on their iPads in which they give their opinion as to wether or not Columbus should be viewed in a positive or negative light.

I look forward to seeing parents and guardians tomorrow night.

Homework

Math - second page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks.com by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Monday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

On average one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow?

12/15/14

Students were hard at work back at school today. In math class, students began a week long look at a challenging fraction word problem. Students have been tasked with working in pairs to arrive at a solution to this problem. Today was a good day to collect background information and to begin to look at the problem piece by piece.

Students also are hard at work in social studies on an assignment in which they have to give their perspective on the lasting impact of Christopher Columbus. Students have been presented with the view points of the standard history book account of the Columbus voyage as well as an account from the perspective of the native inhabitants. Students will be working on this activity throughout the week.

I also wanted to mention that each student will be coming in with a detailed letter about a new website that I think will be a benefit to the class. Tenmarks.com is an educational site created by Amazon that will act as a supplement for room 312. Students will periodically be given digital homework assignments as well as being allowed to complete some work on their own. I have encouraged students to view this website as a friendly competition amongst the class. Students can earn rewards for completing work and I will be able to track their progress.

Another new introduction to the class this week is our weekly reading logs. Students will be given a new copy every Monday and will continue to quietly read every night. The difference is students will need to write about what they are reading on a daily basis and they will also need to have an adult sign their log before turning it in on Friday.


Homework

Math - first page in math packet

- students also must complete their first assignment on tenmarks by Friday the 19th

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading, complete the log entry for Monday

Science - continue to complete moon journal on a nightly basis


Trivia

What is the largest reptile on planet Earth?

12/12/14

I wanted to begin this post by praising all of the members of the chorus for their great performance today, particularly the members of room 312. These students have been working hard and the show could not have turned out better.

Students took an assessment in math class today, which was a way for me to get a glimpse into where everyone stands as we progress deeper into the fraction unit. I am confident that students will have done well with these piece.

We continued our examination into the way two different cultures can view the same event differently. Students have been exposed to two different interpretations of the first contact between Christopher Columbus and the native people. Students will eventually be responsible for coming up with a writing assignment where they give their own interpretations of these events.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.


Homework

- Blog post due by Saturday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

12/11/14

Room 312 began their final writing assignment about Bud Not Buddy today. This project concerns focusing in on "turning points" within the novel. Students have been working hard during our reading blocks and I firmly believe that these papers will turn out well. This paper will also serve as a nice transition into our next writing unit, which will focus on opinion/argument writing.  This will be an ongoing assignment that will be completed next week.

In math class students continued their work with fractions. Students are becoming very adept at using number lines to place fractions as well as identifying fractions that are equivalent. Hand in hand with this work, students have also been reviewing multiplication and division. It is very important to keep these items fresh in the minds of students.

Once again, I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tonight during conference time.

Homework

Math - final page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What were the names of the three ships that Christopher Columbus and his men sailed on?

12/10/14

There was excitement in the air as students finished reading Bud Not Buddy today. Many students had correctly predicted the end of the novel and were happy to see where our main character ended up at the completion of the novel. I was impressed throughout the course of reading this novel with the enthusiasm and level of participation that students brought to class. We are going to begin our final writing assignment concerning the novel this week. I look forward to starting our next novel with the class after the winter break.

Students began to focus in on particular European explorers in social studies today. I began to read my class the picture book, Encounters, which does a great job of giving students a glimpse of the meeting of two cultures from a different perspective than usually seen.

I enjoyed meeting with some parents yesterday afternoon and look forward to meeting with more tomorrow evening.

Homework

Math - third page in math packet

Reading - finish reading chapter 19 in Bud Not Buddy. Students need to make three strong entries into their 3-step journal.

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 1 paragraph) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

Which country sponsored Christopher Columbus' voyages? 

12/9/14

Although today was a very short one, students were able to accomplish a lot during our math block. Room 312 continued their work with fraction tracks. This work will continue over the course of the next few days. Students will continue to represent fractions on number lines and use their prior knowledge of equivalencies to help them place fractions on the line.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians tonight.

Homework

Math - second page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 2 paragraphs) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What year did the Boston baseball team become the Red Sox?

12/8/14

This week, students will complete reading Bud Not Buddy. The class has thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have enjoyed reading it with such an invested group of students. We are going to start our final writing assignment this week which will be an important grade. I am sure students will give this work their due diligence.

Students worked with number lines in math class. The class were tasked with placing fractions onto blank number lines. This activity helps students continue to look for equivalencies among fractions with different denominators.

I look forward to meeting with parents and guardians over the course of the next two weeks during parent teacher conferences. 

Homework

Math - first page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading

- Blog post due Friday (8-10 sentences a paragraph, 2 paragraphs) Were you pleased with how Bud Not Buddy ended? Why or why not? Use examples and quotes from the text to back up your point of view.

Spelling - test on Friday, study

Trivia

What is the largest species of bird?

12/5/14

As room 312 completed this first week in December, students received their report cards today. I have  said repeatedly throughout this first term, that I am impressed with the work that my class has been able to accomplish. Students who have done well on their report cards should feel proud of their accomplishments. Those that may not be as happy should know that their is a lot of time left in the school year. Plenty of time to bring up any grades that may not be where you want them to be. I would just advise all of my students not to become complacent. Continue the strong work that you have begun in the first three months of the school year.

I look forward to getting to meet parents over the course of the next two weeks.

Grade 5 met up with out buddies in second grade today. The second grade students have been impressing me with their reading levels. And my class continues to make admirable book buddies.

Students also compiled a list of reasons that European explorers ventured out into the wide world in the 1400s. Next week we will begin to focus in on specific explorers.

I also wanted to mention, that room 312 won the prestigious Golden Sneaker award for the amount of students who walk to school. This award is akin to winning the Stanley Cup, so my students should feel proud. We hope to repeat as champs next week.

Unlike the Stanley Cup, I encouraged my students not to drink out of this trophy.


I hope everyone has a great weekend.

War of the World recording

http://sounds.mercurytheatre.info/mercury/381030.mp3

12/3/14

We are quickly approaching the end of Bud Not Buddy. As we near the finish, students are preparing for their final written assignment. Students will be tasked with selecting a scene that could be described as a turning point. We have been focusing in on these important events throughout the course of our reading periods. Students have enjoyed this book and I would expect that enthusiasm to shine through in their writing.

In social studies, room 312 began to focus in on the first interactions between European explorers and native Americans. We spent time today reading the picture book, Encounters. Students were tasked with attempting to use prior knowledge to help them determine what the natives were describing as Christopher Columbus arrived in America.


Homework

Math - third page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 18 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

What is the largest fish in the world?

12/2/14

In social studies, students focused in on the reaction of the people at large to Orson Welles's War of the Worlds. Students started to make connections to people's reactions to a possible alien invasion to the Native American's reaction to European explorers setting foot inside North America.

Room 312 continued our work with fractions during math class. This week will be spent adding and subtracting fractions. Students continued to use clock faces to help them in this process. I have been impressed watching my class discover equivalent fractions.

We are also approaching the end of Bud Not Buddy. Students continue to gather important information in their three step journals. I continue to enjoy the discussions I have had with my class about this great novel.




Homework

Math - second page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 16 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)ut

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

What is the largest amount of snow ever recorded in the city of Boston? (in inches)

Two important parent teacher conference notes

A reminder that conference registration period ends this Wednesday December 3rd at 5 p.m. If you have not already signed up and plan to do so make sure it is before that end time.

The second note concerns the actual conference appointments. There are some parents and guardians that have signed up for multiple time slots for the same student. Ideally we would have time to fulfill these, but Arlington has stressed to teachers that it must be twenty minutes per student. We are aware that this may prove challenging, but we must ask all parents and guardians to just sign up for 1 twenty minute block per student.

12/1/14

It was great to see everyone back at school this morning. From talking with students, it sounds like many people had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break. I was also happy to hear that my students continued to read over the four day weekend.

Students used clock faces to help their work with fractions today in math class.

In social studies, we began work on our European explorers unit. Students listened to a radio recording of the original War of the Worlds. The class then had a discussion comparing the reaction of native people to the reaction of those people who thought aliens had truly landed on planet Earth.


Homework

Math - first page in math packet

Reading - 30 minutes of quiet reading. Complete reading chapter 15 in Bud Not Buddy if not done in class. Must make at least 2 entries in 3-step journal.

- blog for week: What is a lesson that the author wishes to impart to the reader? Use specific examples from the text to back up your point of view. (2 paragraphs in length)ut

Science - start filling out moon chart on daily basis


Trivia

Who was the only person to be elected president four times?