Thinking about our Character's Thoughts!

Today we used the books Thank You Mr. Falker and Mr. Peabody's Apples (video below!) to show how reader's use the character's thoughts and the story as a whole to deepen their understanding of the book's message or theme (the heart of the story). We discussed how when we think metacognitively we notice that our thinking changes. WOW! We are working on using what we learn in our mini-lessons and practicing it with our own independent books with a post-it.

This Week in Room 33! Sept. 29- Oct. 3

I hope everyone enjoyed their 3-day weekend! Here's what to expect this week in 5th grade:

Science- We are continuing our study of weather! We are LOVING our science stations and time to meet with small groups to read and discuss weather and science-related texts while also studying nonfiction text features. This week we will finish up lesson 1 (chapter 7) on the water cycle and begin lesson 2 on the ocean.

Writing- I am SO excited to continue with our second half of our personal narrative unit! I hope you have enjoyed seeing your student's first personal narrative in their portfolio (binder that came home last Wednesday). This portfolio with the green sheet filled out (with parent signature) and the self evaluation checklist filled out are due Tuesday. This week we will focus on using a mentor text to continue to raise the level of our writing!

Math- Chapter 2 math tests will come home today! Please review with your child. ***Friendly reminder- it is the student's responsibility to return tests that were fixed (a grade in the 70s, students have a choice to fix and a grade in the 60s or below must be signed and fixed!) This week we are beginning chapter 3 on division. We will relate division to multiplication (please keep practicing those math facts at home!), dividing with 2-digit dividends, division patterns, and estimating quotients.

Reading- We will continue our study on fiction texts, specifically thinking about how the character's thoughts and actions help us understand the deeper meaning of the text. We will discuss and differentiate between themes and main ideas. Students are continuing to read their independent books and using the lessons in class to help them better understand and think about their own books. They should be tracking their thinking using at least 1 post-it note a day. These are kept in their reader's notebooks at school. I am SO proud of our readers! Many students are exceeding my goals of completing 1-2 books a week- WOW! :)

Social Studies- We will begin our study of chapter 2 in our text titled Ancient Americans!


October Dates/Reminders-
*Oct. 17- Half day and end of 1st quarter
*Oct. 27 & 19- Conferences (I will send out time slots in a separate email!)
*Oct. 30- Pumpkin Run, Fall Festival, Halloween Parties
*Oct. 31- No School!

Staying Focused and On Task!

Today Mrs. Smith led a lesson on how to train your brain to focus in order to stay on task! In order to keep our stamina in reading, writing, science, math, and social studies we need to be in charge of our focus! I am so proud of our focused learners! Ask your student about the candle, clock, and bubble exercise we did today and have them practice again at home!

Science Stations and Reviewing for our Math Test!

Thank u mr. Falker

We read thank u mr.falker for writing because it is a personal narrative.

This Week in Room 33! Sept. 22-25

Here's what to expect this first week of FALL! :)

Science- We are continuing to track weather data in our science notebooks using weather.com and beginning our study of chapter 7 in our textbook. We are so excited to begin a science "workshop" approach in which students will be engaged in science stations and small group instruction with a teacher! 

Writing- We will be putting the final touches on our first personal narratives! We are so excited to see the final products and share our stories! 

Math- It is time for our chapter 2 test on multiplying whole numbers! Our test is on Thursday. Keep practicing those math facts at home! Students are encouraged to study at home by using their homework sheets in their binder. They can also access the online textbook for further practice (see video in parents page). I am proud of our mathematicians! 

Reading- We are continuing to discuss strategies good readers use when reading fiction texts. Our focus this week is on understanding stories by paying attention to the characters thoughts, actions, and feelings. Engage your student in a conversation about the independent book they are reading now and the characters in their book! 

Social Studies- We will finish our study of chapter 1 this week and complete an open-book writing assessment to show what we have learned!

Reminders-

Wed. is picture day!

No School on Friday!

Diagram of a listener

Today our buddy class talked about the difference between listening and understanding. 

Bingo

Today we got all 5 letters so we get 10 bingo chips because it was x2. Don't forget tomorrow is Concord spirit day! Wear green and gold or Concord/Lindbergh shirts!

Story arc or story map

Today we learned how readers pay attention to the events that lead up to the climax and how the characters solve the problem. This is called a story arc or the plot. :)

-EMMA G. blue hippos

This Week in Room 33! Sept. 15-19

Here's what to expect this week in 5th grade:

Science- Our Scientific Investigations test is this Wednesday! The study guide is due Tuesday. We will review it together to prepare for our test. The test will cover scientific tools, qualitative vs. quantitative observations, writing testable questions, writing a hypothesis, independent and dependent variables, and constants. Students can click on the following link to study vocabulary words- FLASHCARDS. This was made through a website/app called QUIZLET. We will begin our next unit on weather this Thursday!

Writing- We are working hard at REVISING our personal narratives! This week we are focusing on elaborating on important parts, adding scenes from the past and future, ending stories, and putting the final touches on our pieces. I am so proud of our writers! 

Math- Place value tests went home last week and we have begun chapter 2 on multiplying whole numbers. This week we are working with exponents, multiplication patterns, problem solving using a table, the distributive property, and estimating products. It is SO IMPORTANT that your student knows their basic multiplication facts. Please quiz your child and have them practice using this site- MATH MAGICIAN. Thank you for all your hard work at home- it REALLY pays off! :) 

Reading- Has your student showed you their BIBLIONASIUM account? Students are asked to keep track of what they are reading and what they want to read on their bookshelf. This week we will talk about how we can write book reviews on the website and recommend books to each other! Parents can access their child's biblionasium with their own account and can even set challenges! A fantastic goal would be for students to read a book a week! 

This week we will also discuss how reader's read between the lines so they can uncover the story's deeper meaning and how readers make sense of the story by being alert to shifts in time and place. We will continue with our guided reading groups and we have library on Friday! 

Social Studies- We will complete our Free Enterprise Project presentations.

Reminders:

*Please turn in Field Trip form!

*Don't forget to send in a snack with your student each day!
*Early Release THIS WED.! Make sure your student knows how to get home!
*No School 9/26

Paper Airplane Investigation

Our testable question was- Which paper airplane, loose leaf, computer, or card stock, will fly the farthest? 

Free Enterprise Project

Today we worked on our free enterprise projects. Hopefully we will give our presentations tomorrow!

Writing challenge!

We were courageous writers today and redrafted our personal narratives. 

This Week in Room 33! Sept. 8-12

Did you know- Sept. 8th is Jack Prelutsky's birthday? Check out this awesome new site I found to see quotes from favorite authors and other famous people! http://quotes.lifehack.org

Here's what to expect this week in 5th grade:

Science- This week we are finishing up our paper towel investigation and working on our paper airplane investigation! We have been busy practicing the steps of the scientific method and will be ready for our first test on Wed., Sept. 17th. Students will work on their study guide on Friday. It will be due next Tue., Sept. 16th.

Writing- We are continuing our personal narrative unit and will be setting goals, flash drafting, thinking about the heart of our story, bringing forth the story arc, and elaborating on important parts. 

Math- Our Chapter 1 Test is on Wednesday. The study guide, pgs. 67-69 #1-7 all #8-26 EVENS, is due Tuesday for our review day! On Thursday, we will begin Chapter 2, Multiply Whole Numbers. 

Reading- In reading we are continuing to show our thinking using post-it notes and our reader's notebook. We will also discuss how books are more enjoyable when you know how stories tend to go and how readers of complex stories synthesize to retell. We are beginning our guided reading groups this week! 

Social Studies- We will spend this week working on our Free Enterprise project! Check out our instructions HERE.

Reminders:

*Please send in field trip permission slip this week!

*Please send in a snack each day!

*Early Release 9/17

*No School 9/26

Check Out Our Genre Presentation!

We worked hard on our google drive accounts and added slides to our shared presentation. Enjoy! Check it out below!

This Week in Room 33! Sept. 2-5

I hope everyone enjoyed their 3-day weekend! Here's what to expect this week in 5th grade:

Science- We are working hard as scientists by completing our evaporation investigation and working on our paper towel investigation this week! We are using the scientific method and our science notebooks to record our data and conclusions.

Writing- We have completed our writer's notebook training and are ready to begin our first writing unit on personal narratives! Last week, students signed their writer's notebook contract (we wrote it together!) and promised to bring it home every night and bring it back to school in the morning. Ask to see your student's notebook and contract (glued in the front). 

Is your child STUCK on what to write about at home? Check out THIS SITE!

Math- We are continuing to work in math stations and with place value. This week we are representing decimals using models, understanding place value through the thousandths, comparing decimals, and ordering decimals. Our chapter 1 test will be Wed., Sept. 10th. 

Reading- In reading we are continuing to study genres within fiction and nonfiction by creating a shared google slide (I will share this on the blog when we finish!) We will discuss and learn how we can keep a record of our reading using a site called Biblionasium (more details to come later this week!), how we can track our thinking using post-its and different ways we can write about our reading. 

Check out the below screen shot from our new website Biblionasium- is your child reading 20 every night???

Social Studies- We are continuing to study chapter 1 from our textbook and will focus on our nation's resources and conservation. We will begin our Free Enterprise Project in class this week! 

September Dates/Reminders:

*Please turn in Field Trip form!

*Don't forget to send in a snack with your student each day!
*Bus Driver's Day this Friday! 9/5
*Early Release 9/17
*No School 9/26