Wow, it’s hard to believe that our final week of September is here! We’re busy as ever in fifth grade, moving through our units and of course having lots of fun doing so!
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week, we continued our work with whole number multiplication. Students learned how to multiply by powers of 10, and used exponents to solve problems. In addition, students multiplied 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers.
READING WORKSHOP:
Last week's reading workshop began with students considering their own reading identities. We reflected on our individual strengths, challenges, and interests as readers, and practiced using "fix up" strategies when we noticed the meaning of the text broke down. Students also activated schema before reading to help make connections and build understanding. Our final mini-lessons of the week focused on the importance of adding evidence from the text to support our opinions, and the power of conversation. Students learned that readers come together to have conversations in order to both share thinking, and grow ideas together. We developed a protocol to follow during our classroom conversations, and can't wait to implement our strategies this week!
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Being a Writer lessons last week focused on getting ideas from nonfiction. Students explored nonfiction text and non-book examples of writing throughout the week. We practiced writing question and answer books, advertisements, and even brochures!
SOCIAL SCIENCE:
Our social science time last week focused on the rising tension in the colonies and the causes of the American Revolution. As a class, we spent time further examining the French & Indian War, The Proclamation of 1763, various acts (Stamp, Sugar, Tea, etc.), and of course the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. On Thursday our class participated in a fun-filled simulation where they could see the colonists’ perspective of No Taxation Without Representation first hand. Students earned Shillings and were then “taxed” for use of various everyday school items. Seeing King Heidi take 40% of their shillings, along with Parliament’s 50% just outraged our class! Of course everyone received equal amounts after the activity.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving through Chapter 2 this week. Students will practice dividing whole numbers.
READING WORKSHOP:
This week's workshop topics include: conversation, analyzing who we are as readers, making plans for ourselves as readers, and growing ideas.
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We will begin our second writing unit of the year, The Writing Process. Students will spend the week moving through the writing process for a self-selected draft.
SOCIAL SCIENCE:
This week we will continue examining the causes of the American Revolution and learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord. We will also examine the arguments from the Loyalists, Patriots, and Neutralists as they decided whether or not to declare independence.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday, 9/27: Boston Tea Party In-School Field Trip (2:15pm)
Friday, 10/5: No School (SIP DAY)
Monday, 10/8: No School (Columbus Day)
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week, we continued our work with whole number multiplication. Students learned how to multiply by powers of 10, and used exponents to solve problems. In addition, students multiplied 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers.
READING WORKSHOP:
Last week's reading workshop began with students considering their own reading identities. We reflected on our individual strengths, challenges, and interests as readers, and practiced using "fix up" strategies when we noticed the meaning of the text broke down. Students also activated schema before reading to help make connections and build understanding. Our final mini-lessons of the week focused on the importance of adding evidence from the text to support our opinions, and the power of conversation. Students learned that readers come together to have conversations in order to both share thinking, and grow ideas together. We developed a protocol to follow during our classroom conversations, and can't wait to implement our strategies this week!
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Being a Writer lessons last week focused on getting ideas from nonfiction. Students explored nonfiction text and non-book examples of writing throughout the week. We practiced writing question and answer books, advertisements, and even brochures!
SOCIAL SCIENCE:
Our social science time last week focused on the rising tension in the colonies and the causes of the American Revolution. As a class, we spent time further examining the French & Indian War, The Proclamation of 1763, various acts (Stamp, Sugar, Tea, etc.), and of course the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. On Thursday our class participated in a fun-filled simulation where they could see the colonists’ perspective of No Taxation Without Representation first hand. Students earned Shillings and were then “taxed” for use of various everyday school items. Seeing King Heidi take 40% of their shillings, along with Parliament’s 50% just outraged our class! Of course everyone received equal amounts after the activity.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving through Chapter 2 this week. Students will practice dividing whole numbers.
READING WORKSHOP:
This week's workshop topics include: conversation, analyzing who we are as readers, making plans for ourselves as readers, and growing ideas.
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We will begin our second writing unit of the year, The Writing Process. Students will spend the week moving through the writing process for a self-selected draft.
SOCIAL SCIENCE:
This week we will continue examining the causes of the American Revolution and learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord. We will also examine the arguments from the Loyalists, Patriots, and Neutralists as they decided whether or not to declare independence.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday, 9/27: Boston Tea Party In-School Field Trip (2:15pm)
Friday, 10/5: No School (SIP DAY)
Monday, 10/8: No School (Columbus Day)
