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Monday, September 30, 2019

9/29/2019

Happy last day of September! It was another great week in fifth grade! Hopefully you received the email link from Mr. Larson for conferences. If not, please use this link to sign up for a slot. I will be sending out a pre-conference survey form later this week!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week we continued moving through Chapter 2. Students practiced dividing by 2-digit numbers and began to examine the order of operations.

READING WORKSHOP:
Students had a busy week in reading workshop last week! We began to examine ourselves as readers by collecting data on our reading habits. Students also explored how to determine the theme of a text. We brainstormed common themes in fiction and examined how to use evidence from the text to determine its theme. In addition, students learned the difference between the main idea and theme.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our writing focus last week shifted from creators to editors as we examined the writing process. Students began by selecting a draft from their writing notebook to use for publication. After selecting drafts, we spent the remainder of the week revising our work. Students looked for places in their writing that were confusing or needed to be deleted.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
Our study of the American Revolution continued last week! Students learned all about the Declaration of Independence, including the influence of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the arguments for independence, and who wrote and revised this important document.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 2 this week. Students will continue to practice using the order of operations to solve expressions. We will also solve real world multiplication and division problems. Our final test is scheduled for Friday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our reading workshop topics for the week include: book talks, character development, determining main idea in nonfiction text, and analyzing data to set goals.

WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
We will continue to move through the writing process this week. Students will confer with peers, revise overused words, and create strong opening sentences.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
The American Revolution will continue in fifth grade! This week students will finish up our study of the Declaration of Independence, and learn all about the Battle of Bunker Hill.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, 10/3: Chapter 2 Math Test (Anderle)
5th Grade Battle of Bunker Hill Reenactment (pm)

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Monday, September 23, 2019

9/22/2019

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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. and division. Students multiplied 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers and practiced dividing by 10s, 100s, and 1000s.

READING WORKSHOP:
Last week's reading workshop focused on 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 practiced all week implementing them. Little by little, we made daily progress in our conversational skills!

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! In addition, students spent time conferring with their writing partners as well. We developed a set of questions to use to help guide our feedback from partners.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
Our study of the American Revolution continued last week! Students examined the fight for freedom as we further explored the arguments in support of Loyalists, Patriots, and Neutralists. Additionally, students were given a review sheet that covers the important causes of the American Revolution and vocabulary that we've learned about. We will be having a test over this information on Friday!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving through Chapter 2 this week. Students will practice dividing by 2-digit numbers, and examine the order of operations.

READING WORKSHOP:
This week's workshop topics include: who we are as readers, making a reading plan, book talks, and elements of a story.

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 on a self-selected draft.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
This week we will learn about The Battle of Lexington and Concord, as well as the Declaration of Independence.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, 9/27: Causes of the American Revolution Test
Monday, 9/30: Picture Day!
Friday, 10/4: 5th Grade Battle of Bunker Hill Reenactment

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Monday, September 16, 2019

9/15/2019

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Fifth grade continues to be busy and exciting! We finished our first round of goal settings last week, and I have to say...I am impressed! Our class set the bar high, and I can't wait to see the progress we make!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH
In math last week, we began Unit 2: Whole Number Multiplication and Division. Students practiced using patterns to multiply by 10s, 100s, and 1000s. We also reviewed rounding and estimating, and powers of 10.

READING WORKSHOP
We finished up our Notice & Note Literary Signposts study last week with our sixth signpost! Our final signpost of the week (and of the unit) was Memory Moment; when you're reading and the author interrupts the action to tell you a memory. Using an excerpt from Hope was Here, by Joan Bauer, students practiced answering the question, "Why might this memory be important?" We learned that the answers will tell us about the theme and conflict, and might even foreshadow what will happen later in the story.

Additionally, we officially put together our structure for our Reading Workshop! Students reflected on real reading vs. fake reading, and discussed the importance of engaging in their texts. We also examined the roles of the teacher and students during our reading workshop time. Using a few helpful hints and reminders, students learned how to activate schema to gain a deeper understanding of text, and explored how good readers know when to stop and jot to track their thinking.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP
Being a Writer was awesome last week! Students explored a prewriting technique, quick writes, to get their writing juices flowing. We also explored point of view and learned how to get ideas from nonfiction texts. In addition, our class loved writing from the perspective of a thing during our I am... creations!

SOCIAL STUDIES
Life during the American Revolution continued last week in fifth grade! Students examined how key events such as the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Intolerable Acts affected the colonists and increased tension between England and the Colonies.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH
We will continue moving through Unit 2. Students will practice multiplying by 2-digit numbers, and dividing by 10s, 100s, and 1000s.

READING WORKSHOP
This week we will consider our reading identities, dive into thinking strategies, and begin to explore to the power of conversation.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We will continue to focus on getting ideas from nonfiction. Students will also participate in our first pair conferring experiences!

SOCIAL STUDIES:
This week students will compare and contrast Loyalists, Patriots, and Neutralists! Hopefully, we will also have time for our first look at the Declaration of Independence.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, 9/20: In School Field Trip...Boston Tea Party Skype! (2:15-3:15)

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Monday, September 9, 2019

9/8/2019

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Fifth grade is off to an amazing start and we're really having a great time building our classroom community. I've enjoyed conferencing with individual students for our first round of goals this trimester. Our class really seems to understand the importance of being goal driven---I'm impressed!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
Last week in math we finished up Chapter 1. Students practiced solving real world math problems and reviewed the major concepts from the unit. We are ready to move on and tackle Chapter 2!

READING WORKSHOP:
Our reading focus last week continued with Notice & Note as we learned about two more signposts.

Using an excerpt from Riding Freedom, by Pam Munoz Ryan, students found and analyzed Words of the Wiser; when you're reading and a character (who's probably much older and wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice. We practiced answering the question, "What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?" Answering this question helped us find the theme for the story.

The next signpost students explored was Again and Again; when you're reading and you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over. Using excerpts from Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, students practiced answering the question, "Why does this keep showing up again and again." We learned that these answers will tell us about the theme and conflict, and might even foreshadow what will happen later.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Students continue to enjoy our writing time together! Last week's lessons focused on getting writing ideas from poetry and our own lives. It's been wonderful to see the excitement in the room when students are given the opportunity to share some of their writing work!

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
The 1760/1770s have arrived at Patton School! Students examined some of the rising tension in colonies that led to the American Revolution. We learned about the French and Indian War, The Proclamation of 1763, The Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act. Students were given their first bank of Shillings on Friday...which came with a laundry list of Queen Anderle's Royal Taxes! This is such a super fun time of year in fifth grade and we're excited for this week's adventures (be sure to ask your child about today's social studies lesson)!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will begin Chapter 2, Whole Number Multiplication and Division. This week we will practice multiplying by tens, hundreds, and thousands.

READING WORKSHOP:
Students will learn about the final signpost, Memory Moment. We will also move into our launching Schoolwide unit and focus on who we are as readers.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing we will learn how to get ideas from our own lives. We will also examine a prewriting technique, and point of view.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
The American Revolution will continue this week as we explore the impact of taxes on the colonists. We will also learn about the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Intolerable Acts.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, 9/20: Boston Tea Party Skype! (More information soon...)

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Monday, September 30, 2019

Monday, September 23, 2019

Monday, September 16, 2019

Monday, September 9, 2019

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