It's hard to believe that February is almost gone! We have made really good use of the month, though! The students have done an AMAZING job on their fractions, we are moving along on our reading novels, and social studies and science are both whizzing right along!
Math-We are learning about ratio and percent this week. This is a short, fast-paced and fun unit for the kids.
Reading-Our groups are continuing to read great novels. We are making a Book Tapestry instead of doing a traditional book report with the novels we are reading in guided reading.
Spelling-Our list this week focuses on three word roots: tele (meaning from a distance), geo (meaning earth), and therm (meaning heat). Learning to spell and understand the meanings behind these common roots will help your students as they run across a myriad of words in middle school and beyond.
Social Studies- Your student should have brought home a map, a blank file folder, and a sheet of instructions to make a Wagon Train game last week. The game is due this Friday. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to stop by the room! An example is in the display case, and, of course, I am available to answer questions.
Science-We have learned about traits being passed from parent organism to offspring, learned vs. instinctive behavior, variations, and now we are on to the fascinating world of Specialized Structures. These are body parts that give an organism a survival advantage in its environment. We are going to be having a lot of fun with this topic in the coming weeks. We should be finished with this unit during SEP week.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Week!
We have had a great time so far this February. We've covered a lot of material and had a lot of fun doing it!
Math-We are learning how to find a fraction of a number, how to multiply and divide fractions, and will be working on the relationships between decimals, fractions, and percents. We have had a lot of fun playing math bingo. Rather than just calling out a number, the kids have to solve a problem like, "take the square root of 81 and multiply it by 2 to the third power." (That would be 9 x 8) Each and every child is making progress in math. We have a class full of marvelous mathmeticians!
Reading- We are continuing to work in our guided reading groups. Each of the groups is now working on their second novel since coming back from the Christmas holiday. Be sure to have your child tell you about the books they are reading!
Spelling- Our list this week will continue our study of prefixes and suffixes.
Language Arts-Last week we reviewed the rules of capitalization. This week we will be reviewing the rules of using commas.
Science-Your child should have brought home the science fair packet last week. Please make sure you fill out the form that needs to be returned with your child's name and the name of the experiment! In class we are continuing our study of heredity. We are learning about inherited traits, variations, and instinctive versus learned behaviors.
Social Studies- We are learning about life on wagon trains! This week we will be making maps of the journey, seeing pictures of landmarks the pioneers would have seen, and learning about the hazards these brave men and women faced. Your child will be bringing home a file folder and instructions for a board game he/she will be creating about traveling in a wagon train. The "start" must be St. Louis, MO, since that is where the wagons left from, and must end in either Salt Lake, Oregon, or California. There will be an example in our display case at the end of the week in case you have any questions.
*Just a reminder- We are participating in SUU's Food Fight. The student athletes at SUU have organized a "food fight" contest among the elementary schools for the purpose of collecting food for the Iron County Care and Share. The reward for the class that collects the most food is a pizza party, but the real winners will be the people in our community who are fighting hunger.
*Also, keep documenting the time spent reading on the blue "kite" papers! Last year North had the most participants, and we were the recipients of a cash award as a result. Those funds helped to pay for our new playground equipment.
*Spring SEPs will be March 7 through the 11th. We will be getting your child registered for middle school during the conference. I will be sending home a schedule on Wednesday.
Thank you so much for your support!
We have had a great time so far this February. We've covered a lot of material and had a lot of fun doing it!
Math-We are learning how to find a fraction of a number, how to multiply and divide fractions, and will be working on the relationships between decimals, fractions, and percents. We have had a lot of fun playing math bingo. Rather than just calling out a number, the kids have to solve a problem like, "take the square root of 81 and multiply it by 2 to the third power." (That would be 9 x 8) Each and every child is making progress in math. We have a class full of marvelous mathmeticians!
Reading- We are continuing to work in our guided reading groups. Each of the groups is now working on their second novel since coming back from the Christmas holiday. Be sure to have your child tell you about the books they are reading!
Spelling- Our list this week will continue our study of prefixes and suffixes.
Language Arts-Last week we reviewed the rules of capitalization. This week we will be reviewing the rules of using commas.
Science-Your child should have brought home the science fair packet last week. Please make sure you fill out the form that needs to be returned with your child's name and the name of the experiment! In class we are continuing our study of heredity. We are learning about inherited traits, variations, and instinctive versus learned behaviors.
Social Studies- We are learning about life on wagon trains! This week we will be making maps of the journey, seeing pictures of landmarks the pioneers would have seen, and learning about the hazards these brave men and women faced. Your child will be bringing home a file folder and instructions for a board game he/she will be creating about traveling in a wagon train. The "start" must be St. Louis, MO, since that is where the wagons left from, and must end in either Salt Lake, Oregon, or California. There will be an example in our display case at the end of the week in case you have any questions.
*Just a reminder- We are participating in SUU's Food Fight. The student athletes at SUU have organized a "food fight" contest among the elementary schools for the purpose of collecting food for the Iron County Care and Share. The reward for the class that collects the most food is a pizza party, but the real winners will be the people in our community who are fighting hunger.
*Also, keep documenting the time spent reading on the blue "kite" papers! Last year North had the most participants, and we were the recipients of a cash award as a result. Those funds helped to pay for our new playground equipment.
*Spring SEPs will be March 7 through the 11th. We will be getting your child registered for middle school during the conference. I will be sending home a schedule on Wednesday.
Thank you so much for your support!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
February 7, 2011
Important information:
Valentine's Day - Next Monday is Valentine's day. I try to keep it pretty low key in the classroom. We will have some Valentine-themed math, and in the afternoon we will set aside some time to pass out cards and treats. If your child brings one valentine, please make sure he/she brings enough for all. We currently have 26 students. Your child will bring home an alphabetized list of names this week.
Direct Writing Assessment- The Direct Writing Assessment will be the last full week of February. Please make sure that your child is here if at all possible that week!
Math- Your students are doing amazingly well as they navigate adding and subtracting fractions! I am very pleased with their progress. Give your child a pat on the back for the extra effort I have seen from every single child during this unit!
Reading- We are continuing our guided reading groups, our classroom Harcourt story and comprehension activities, and we are currently working on reading non-fiction text.
Spelling- Our spelling words this week continue to focus on prefixes and suffixes. Being able to correctly spell and identify the meanings of these prefixes and suffixes really helps the students navigate through the higher level text they will be experiencing from this point forward in their schooling.
*Also, please look for a note to come home this week regarding the spelling bee information. We are so lucky to have a PTA willing to go through the extra effort required to ensure our students have this opportunity!
Social Studies- Our Westward Movement unit continues to move forward. Your student can now tell you about the Trail of Tears and the Texas Revolution. We will be focusing in the next two weeks on the California Gold Rush, and on the great migration west in wagon trains. There will be an at-home project that goes along with the wagon train section. Your student should be able to complete the project with little to no help. I will post more information on the project next week.
Science- Our electricity unit has been completed, and most of the students did extremely well on the end of unit test. We are currently beginning our last unit for fifth grade science. It is on heredity. We will be focusing on inherited traits, as well as adaptations that allow organisms to survive in specific environments.
Science Fair- One of the ILOs (Intended Learning Outcomes) for fifth grade science is that the students will be able to come up with a question, then be able to design and perform an experiment to answer that question, using the scientific method. Because this is one of the key things the state expects fifth graders to be able to do, your child will be participating in the science fair this year. Boards will be available to purchase at the school office for a nominal fee. Please look for the science fair packet to come home this week. The date of the science fair is currently set for March 18th. This is one week prior to the end of third quarter. I am so excited to see what the students decide to do! The science fair really does turn out to be one of the most fun days of fifth grade.
Valentine's Day - Next Monday is Valentine's day. I try to keep it pretty low key in the classroom. We will have some Valentine-themed math, and in the afternoon we will set aside some time to pass out cards and treats. If your child brings one valentine, please make sure he/she brings enough for all. We currently have 26 students. Your child will bring home an alphabetized list of names this week.
Direct Writing Assessment- The Direct Writing Assessment will be the last full week of February. Please make sure that your child is here if at all possible that week!
Math- Your students are doing amazingly well as they navigate adding and subtracting fractions! I am very pleased with their progress. Give your child a pat on the back for the extra effort I have seen from every single child during this unit!
Reading- We are continuing our guided reading groups, our classroom Harcourt story and comprehension activities, and we are currently working on reading non-fiction text.
Spelling- Our spelling words this week continue to focus on prefixes and suffixes. Being able to correctly spell and identify the meanings of these prefixes and suffixes really helps the students navigate through the higher level text they will be experiencing from this point forward in their schooling.
*Also, please look for a note to come home this week regarding the spelling bee information. We are so lucky to have a PTA willing to go through the extra effort required to ensure our students have this opportunity!
Social Studies- Our Westward Movement unit continues to move forward. Your student can now tell you about the Trail of Tears and the Texas Revolution. We will be focusing in the next two weeks on the California Gold Rush, and on the great migration west in wagon trains. There will be an at-home project that goes along with the wagon train section. Your student should be able to complete the project with little to no help. I will post more information on the project next week.
Science- Our electricity unit has been completed, and most of the students did extremely well on the end of unit test. We are currently beginning our last unit for fifth grade science. It is on heredity. We will be focusing on inherited traits, as well as adaptations that allow organisms to survive in specific environments.
Science Fair- One of the ILOs (Intended Learning Outcomes) for fifth grade science is that the students will be able to come up with a question, then be able to design and perform an experiment to answer that question, using the scientific method. Because this is one of the key things the state expects fifth graders to be able to do, your child will be participating in the science fair this year. Boards will be available to purchase at the school office for a nominal fee. Please look for the science fair packet to come home this week. The date of the science fair is currently set for March 18th. This is one week prior to the end of third quarter. I am so excited to see what the students decide to do! The science fair really does turn out to be one of the most fun days of fifth grade.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)