Blog Archives

Monday, September 27, 2021

9/25/2021

Happy Fall and happy last week of September! The weeks are just flying by in 5th grade! I can't believe it's nearly October! 🍁

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Multiplication Week was a success!! Students spent the beginning of the week learning shortcuts for multiplying by 100s, 1000s, and powers of 10. We spent the remaining days practicing multiplication of 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers by 2 digit numbers. After a super busy practice week, we had a chance to wrap up our fun with an exciting multiplication bingo game day on Friday!!

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 also practiced identifying themes in fiction text. Using our completed read aloud, Towers Falling, students learned a structure to use when finding the theme and how to support it with specific evidence from the text. Additionally, students practiced activating schema to gain a deeper understanding of text.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Being a Writer lessons last week focused on getting ideas from nonfiction. Students explored text examples of nonfiction writing throughout the week. We practiced writing I could be...poems and question and answer books. Students also had an opportunity to share their Learning from the Past writing projects.

SCIENCE:
We continued moving along in our Earth in Space unit as we shifted our focus from seasons to stars! Students learned that different stars range in size, brightness, and distance from Earth. We also examined the notion that stars appear to travel through the sky in a predictable daily pattern, caused by the rotation of earth.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
This week in math we will shift from multiplication to division.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our mini-lessons this week will focus on who we are as readers, book talks, and partner talks.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week we will begin our second writing unit, The Writing Process. Our focus for the week will be on selecting a draft to publish, and the revision process.

SCIENCE:
We will wrap up our Earth in Space unit this week. Students will examine constellations.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Monday, 10/4: PICTURE DAY!!

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Monday, September 20, 2021

9/18/2021

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Another busy week passed us by in fifth grade! Our class has been working hard to make sure our classroom community continues to be a safe and welcoming place. Last week we finished up our Classroom Charter (it's like a class promise!) and determined that in our classroom, we want to feel safe, welcomed, respected, trusted, and appreciated. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of the careful and thoughtful work our kids put into creating this pledge! 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
In math last week, we finished up Chapter 1 with a final assessment on Tuesday. We also began Chapter 2: Whole Number Multiplication and Division. Students practiced using patterns to multiply by 10s.

READING WORKSHOP:
We officially put together the structure for our Reading Workshop last week! Students examined the roles of the teacher and students during our workshop time, and reviewed stopping and jotting as we read and discussed our mentor texts. We also spent time examining our reading identities and learned about one another's reading habits during partner interviews.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
With our MAP Testing on Monday, absence from school on Thursday, and fire drill on Friday, much of our writing time was cut short last week. We were, however, lucky enough to squeeze in a couple of lessons! Students practiced using a new prewriting technique and explored point of view.

SCIENCE:
We continued moving along in our Earth in Space unit as we shifted our focus from sunlight to seasons! Students examined how seasons occur due to the tilt of the earth during its revolution around the sun. Our scientists put this claim to test on Friday and recorded observations of the sun and its shadows!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will continue moving through Chapter 2. This week we will focus on multiplying by 100s, 1000s, and powers of 10. We will also practice multiplying by 2-digit numbers.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our workshop lessons this week will focus on activating schema, the power of conversation, and finding evidence for the theme of a text.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our first writing unit will come to an end this week. Students will gather writing ideas from nonfiction, work with writing partners for peer conferences, and share interview stories from our writing extension project.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Earth and Space will continue this week as we spend our time exploring Earth's orbit and stars, and examine constellations.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Friday, 9/24: Learning from the Past Writing Extension Project Due and
FLASHLIGHT FRIDAY (During Independent Reading)
Looking ahead...
Monday, 10/4: Picture Day!

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Monday, September 13, 2021

9/10/2021

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We had another great (and super short) week in 5th Grade!! Your children continue to amaze and inspire me with their flexibility, creativity, and readiness to learn! I can see our classroom community growing stronger each day, and for that, I am extremely grateful! 🥰

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we wrapped up Chapter 1. Students practiced rounding and estimating sums, differences, products, and quotients. We also got our feet wet with our first round of problem solving!

READING WORKSHOP:
We finished up our Notice & Note Literary Signposts study last week with our remaining signpost.

Our final signpost 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.

WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
Our writers continue to flourish! Last week students explored a prewriting technique, quick writes, to get their writing juices flowing. We also continued to gather writing ideas from our own lives.

Our fifth graders are also participating in a fun (and meaningful) writing extension project. After learning from famed author, Patricia Polacco, about how to use writing experiences from your own life to create stories, our students are going to utilize this practice too! On Friday, students were assigned part one of a two part project. First, students have been asked to interview a family member or friend about a special story from his or her life. Second, students will write about this interview and share their story (optional) with the class.

SCICENCE:
Earth In Space continued last week as we examined Earth's rotation and revolution. Students examined several pieces of evidence to prove that the earth is rotating.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS: 📌
MATH:
We will wrap up Chapter 1 with a review of the major concepts on Monday and a test on Tuesday. Students will also begin Chapter 2: Whole Number Multiplication and Division. Our focus for the week will be on multiplying by 10s, 100s, and 1000s.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our class will kick off our official Readers' Workshop this week! We will begin establishing roles and routines, while students consider their reading identities and craft their reading lives.

WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
Writing this week will focus on exploring point of view and getting writing ideas from nonfiction.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Earth and Space will continue this week as we spend our time exploring the sun, shadows, and seasons.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 📆
Monday, 9/13: READING MAP Test @ 1:15pm
Tuesday, 9/14: Chapter 1 Math Test (Anderle)
Thursday, 9/16: NO SCHOOL
Friday, 9/17: Writing Extension Project (Interview) Due

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

9/4/2021

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Fifth grade continues to be off to an amazing start and our classroom community is growing stronger with each new day. From Smiles & Frowns, Put-Ups, and development of our Class Charter....to Individual Goal Setting meetings, writing share time, and read aloud discussions...we are learning so much about one another!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we continued moving through Chapter 1. Students identified the place values in digits up to 10,000,000 and practiced reading and writing numbers in expanded form.. We also compared and ordered numbers, and solved number pattern word puzzles. We're currently planning for our Chapter 1 Test on Tuesday, September 14th..

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

Our first signpost of the week was Tough Questions; when you're reading and the character asks himself a really difficult question. Using excerpts from A Long Walk to Water, written by Linda Sue Park, students practiced locating tough questions and answered their own question, "What does this question make me wonder about." We learned that these answers will tell us about the conflict and might give us ideas about what will happen later in the story.

Next, Using an excerpt from Riding Freedom, written 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.

Finally, students explored Again and Again moments; 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. We learned about the importance of incorporating sensory details into our work, practiced writing creative "Scranimal" poems, and explored ideas from personal experiences to use during writing time.

SCIENCE:
Earth in Space continued last week with a focus on Earth's gravitational force. Students used models and evidence to support the claim that gravity pulls objects toward the center of the Earth.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS: 📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 1 this week. Students will practice rounding and estimating sums, differences, products, and quotients.

READING WORKSHOP:
Students will learn about the final Notice & Note Literary Signpost, Memory Moment.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing we will continue to learn how to get ideas from our own lives.

SCIENCE:
Our Earth in Space focus for the week will be on Earth's rotation and revolution.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 📆
Friday, 9/10 MATH MAP TEST @ 9:15am
Monday, 9/13: READING MAP TEST @ 1:15pm
Tuesday, 9/14: Chapter 1 Math Test (Anderle)
Thursday, 9/16: NO SCHOOL

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