4/17/26

We wrapped up the week by doing some quality writing in our ELA class. Each of the fifth graders has made nice progress with their Jackie Robinson essays. Quite a few were able to finish their first draft this morning and others are very close. We will look to have all of the kids complete this piece of writing by early the week after vacation.

I hope everyone has a nice vacation week.

4/15/26

The fifth graders had another solid math class in the late morning. Building off the work that was done yesterday, the kids continued to multiply fractions by fractions and represented these equations using fraction bars.

Tomorrow the fifth graders are welcome to bring in a board or card game to play with their second grade book buddies.

Homework

Math - double sided worksheet due on Friday 4/17

4/14/26

The fifth graders prepared for our next text based discussion in ELA by completing an important piece of work. Working in pairs, the members of A303 looked to devise a list of what they believed were the three most important reasons for Jackie Robinson's success.

Homework

Math - double sided worksheet due on Friday 4/17

4/13/26

We began the day and the final week before vacation with a productive math lesson. The kids worked to solve a series of problems that saw them multiplying whole numbers by fractions and mixed numbers. Each of the kids looked to show their thinking using visual representations. This work will continue throughout the week.

On Thursday and Friday, the fifth graders are welcome to bring in one board or card game.

Homework

Math - double sided worksheet due on Friday 4/17

4/10/26

We concluded the work week by wrapping up our exploration of an essay that Jackie Robinson wrote in the 1950s, reflecting on his life and the impact to future generations. The kids responded to some questions and then worked to gather some definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary from the essay.

Next week, the fifth graders are welcome to bring in a board or card game on Thursday for book buddies and to leave that in the classroom for our classwide board game time on Friday.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

4/9/26

In math class, the members of A303 began unit seven. This unit will see the kids multiplying fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers. Using visual aides today, the fifth graders worked in pairs to solve a series of word problems. Some early fits and starts, but I was happy with the progress that the kids made. We will begin tomorrow's lesson by focusing on a few key problems from today's work.

Homework

Math - pre-algebra worksheet due in class on 4/7

4/8/26

The fifth graders reread a portion of the text that dealt with a key moment in Jackie Robinson's life during ELA. This lead into a piece of writing, where the kids looked to analyze the moment from various perspectives. Tomorrow, we will begin our lesson by discussing their pieces of writing.

Homework

Math - pre-algebra worksheet due in class on 4/7

4/7/26

During our all block time this morning, the fifth graders worked on some grammar practice. They looked to identify and correct grammar, spelling and punctuation errors in a variety of sentences. This work is paying of in their personal writing.

Homework

Math - pre-algebra worksheet due in class on 4/7

4/6/26

We have two important goals in room A303 this week. The first is that the kids are going to complete their mid-unit Jackie Robinson assessment. Some of the fifth graders were able to cross that line today. We will look for the rest of the class to finish up tomorrow.

The second key item this week is to wrap up our decimal unit during math class.

Homework

Math - homework will be given tomorrow

4/2/26

The fifth graders started work on their mid-unit assessment during ELA this morning. Each of the kids is tasked with responding to two writing prompts. The majority of the class was able to complete the first portion today. We will look to wrap this up next Monday.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend.

4/1/26

The fifth graders spent their ELA time reading the last portion of our Jackie Robinson anchor text. This portion of the book and our larger class discussion dealt with legacies and what Robinson's is. We ended the lesson with a fruitful class discussion. Tomorrow, the members of A303 are going to respond to a writing prompt.

3/31/26

The month of March wrapped up today with the fifth graders taking the second and final session of their ELA MCAS test. My compliments to the kids for putting their best foot forward these past two days. Tomorrow, we will return to a normal routine. On Thursday we will meet with our second grade book buddies.

3/30/26

The fifth graders took the first portion of their ELA MCAS this morning. Tomorrow, they will take the second session. We will return to a regular schedule on Wednesday.

3/27/26

We spent our ELA time wrapping up yesterday's work with our Jackie Robinson text. We also dedicated some time to working specifically with grammar and punctuation. The kids were tasked with correcting errors that they identified in a series of sentences. The kids did a nice job with this.

As a reminder, the fifth graders are taking their ELA MCAS test on Monday and Tuesday next week. Please work to ensure that all students arrive at school on time so that testing can commence at the expected time. I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

3/26/26

The kids used various strategies to compare values of decimals and them to add them during math class this afternoon. With the remaining time, the fifth graders played another round of "Fill 2".

Homework

Math - decimal worksheet, due in class on Friday 3/27

3/25/26

The kids continued to read about Jackie Robinson's life during our ELA time this morning. They dealt with a portion of the text that same how Robinson's life was changing in numerous ways as his fame grew. The later stages of the lesson saw the kids responding to a writing prompt.

Homework

Math - decimal worksheet, due in class on Friday 3/27

3/24/26

The fifth graders took a decimal assessment this morning in math class. Their work has been top notch throughout the early going in this unit, and I am sure that will be reflected in the results. Tomorrow, the kids are going to start working to add decimals.

Homework

Math - decimal worksheet, due in class on Friday 3/27

3/23/26

The fifth graders undertook a writing assignment during our ELA time this afternoon. After revisiting a key portion of the text from last week, each of the fifth graders responded to a writing prompt. This work will continue tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the fifth graders will take their first decimal assessment during our math time.

Homework

Math - homework will be given later this week

3/19/26

The focus of our ELA work this morning was taking a closer look at the people in Jackie Robinson's life who helped support him during his playing career. Using our an excerpt from our anchor text, the fifth graders looked to gather evidence to support their opinions. The kids did a fine job with this.

In the afternoon, all of the fifth grade classrooms took part in the "Understanding Our Differences" zoom presentation.

3/18/26

The fifth graders did some writing after reading the most recent section of our Jackie Robinson anchor text. The kids continue to practice drafting quick, cogent summaries of their readings. I was impressed with the level of dedication during our ELA time this morning. Tomorrow, we are going to wrap up this lesson and have some of the kids share their writing with the larger class.