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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

12/16/2016

Happy New Year!!! I hope you had a wonderful winter break with your families, and enjoyed a restful vacation. Due to our two week absence, this week’s ANDERLE ADVENTURES will only contain our highlights for the week. Look for a regular edition of the ANDERLE ADVENTURES next week!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will begin our Hands-On Equations algebra unit. Hands-On Equations uses a visual and kinesthetic instructional approach to clarify abstract algebraic concepts. It will look very different to you than the algebra you and I learned in school! It is an amazing program that naturally lends success to all students, so don't be worried!

READING:
We will begin our next Schoolwide reading unit which focuses on the fiction genre. Students will explore the structure of fiction, elements of a story, and point of view. Our whole class novel study/response to literature unit on The Liberation of Gabriel King (which coincides with our next WEX unit) will begin this week as well!

PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Students will finalize their 15 Day Challenge projects and beginning sharing this week!

SCIENCE:
We will wrap up our Human Body in Motion unit this week with a special project in the LMC!

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, 1/11........................................................................................................................................READING MAP TEST @ 1:15pm

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Monday, December 12, 2016

12/12/2016

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Wishing each of you and your families a wonderful holiday season. Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year!!!! See you all in 2017!!!!!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week we continued moving through Unit 5. Students practiced writing fractions as decimals. We also learned how to convert fractions into percents, and students created bar and circle graphs.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of nonfiction signposts continued last week, as we examined Contrasts and Contradictions, Extreme or Absolute Language, and Number and Stats.

Contrasts and Contradictions:
When the author shows you how things/people/ideas contrast or contradict one another, or shows you something that contrasts or contradicts what you already know, you need to stop and ask yourself...What does this make me wonder about (or why does this matter)? We learned that the answer will help us see details that show the main idea, compare and contrast, understand author's purpose, infer, make a generalization, notice cause and effect. Students also learned that phrases such as on the other hand, by contrast, however, and another viewpoint provide direct signals of a contrast.

Extreme or Absolute Language:
Extreme or Absolute Language makes an exaggerated, overblown, and probably untrue claim. It admits of no exceptions, and it seems to forbid doubt or questions. When readers spot this language, they will be alerted either to the strength of the author's feelings or to the possibility that the writer is exaggerating and may even be deceiving or misleading the reader.
In class, students learned that when you're reading and you notice the author uses language that leaves no doubt, exaggerates, or pushes to the limit, we should stop and ask ourselves, "Why did the author say it like that?" We learned that the answers will tell us something about the author's point of view or purpose. The author might even be exaggerating to make us think a certain way.

Numbers & Stats:
Authors use numbers and statistics to provide precision-or to avoid it. This signpost helps students make comparisons, draw conclusions, make inferences or generalizations, differentiate fact and opinion, identify details, recognize evidence, and understand the author's purpose or bias.
Students learned that when you're reading and you notice specific numbers, number words, or amounts, you should stop and ask yourself, "Why did the author use these numbers or amounts?"

PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
We continued using our WEX time last week to work on our 15 Day Challenge Personalized Learning projects. Students continued to move through the research process and document their findings. We also reflected on individual progress and gave feedback to peers as well!

SCIENCE:
Our study of the Human Body in Motion continued last week as we studied how the nervous, muscular, and circulatory systems support movement. First, students discovered that our bodies have a built-in protective mechanism (reflexes), and examined two reflexes involving the eyes-how the pupils change to limit the amount of light that enters them, and how to blink to protect them from harmful substances. We then compared these involuntary responses to the voluntary movements from our experiment last week, to discover that the nervous system is responsible for both kinds of motion in the body! Next, students experienced the effects of muscle fatigue as they performed repetitive exercises with their hands. Finally, during our last experiment, we learned to take our pulse and discovered that our heart rate increases as exercise intensity increases. Students then related this finding to the increased needs of muscle cells during exercise, realizing that the heart beats faster to deliver more raw materials to active muscles and to remove their waste.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will finish up Unit 5, with our final test on Wednesday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our nonfiction Notice & Note study will come to an end this week. Students will examine the following signposts and strategies:
Quoted Words, Word Gaps
Possible Sentences, Somebody Wanted But So, Poster.

PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
We will continue working on our Personalized Learning Projects. Hopefully our research will be completed by the end of the week!

SCIENCE:
Our study of the Human Body in Motion will come to an end this week, as we examine the respiratory and digestive systems.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, 12/14..........................................................................Unit 5 Math Test (Anderle)
Friday, 12/16.............................................................................Winter Break Begins @ 3:35pm
Tuesday, 1/3...........................................................................................Classes Resume

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Monday, December 5, 2016

12/2/2016

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Happy December! Fifth grade continues to be super busy! It's hard to believe that our final weeks of the calendar year are already upon us!!!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week we began Unit 5: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents. Students examined parts and wholes, and practiced finding fractions of fractions. We also explored mixed numbers and equivalent fractions. In addition, students ordered and compared fractions, and learned how to convert fractions into decimals.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of nonfiction continued last week with Notice & Note Stances, Signposts, and Strategies. We began the week by creating the questioning stance. Students were asked to read with the following questions in mind:
What surprised me?
What did the author think I already knew?
What changed, challenged, or confirmed what I already knew?
"Reading with these Big Questions in mind encourages a critical, attentive stance and develops habits of mind that-if we can instill them in our students-may help them deal more attentively and intelligently with the nonfiction texts they will encounter throughout their lives."

15 DAY CHALLENGE:
Students enthusiastically began our 15 Day Challenge, personlalized learning project! Our first step was examining the idea of what we would like to learn or master in 15 days. Next, students brainstormed topics and ideas, and formulated questions to drive their learning. We spent the rest of the week researching/learning, documenting, and reflecting on our findings each day. Students also worked with partners to provide peer feedback before setting goals for this week's research.

SCIENCE:
Our study of The Human Body in Motion continued last week. Students examined where our bones move, and discovered many of our body's major joints. Our class learned that muscles and bones work together to move our limbs. Students incorporated this understanding as they built model limbs that can bend and straighten! In addition, we also learned how the nervous system supports movement. Students conducted an experiment that used different senses to catch a ruler between their fingers.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving through Unit 5. Students will practice converting fractions into decimals and percents. We will also examine bar and circle graphs.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of nonfiction will continue with an exploration of the following signposts:
Contrasts and Contradictions
Extreme & Absolute Language
Numbers & Stats
Quoted Words

15 DAY CHALLENGE:
We will continue to explore our topics this week during our Personalized Learning time.

SCIENCE:
Our study of the Human Body in Motion will continue this week. Students will examine reflexes and working muscles.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, 12/6...........................................................................................Robert Crown: The Science Behind Drugs
Thursday, 12/8........................................................................................Band Concert @7pm
Wednesday, 12/14.................................................................................Unit 5 Math Test
Friday, 12/16.................................................................................................Winter Break begins @ 3:35pm!!!!

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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

﻿Monday, December 12, 2016

Monday, December 5, 2016

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Monday, December 12, 2016