Mrs. Anderle's Class - Class News 2023-2024

Mrs. Anderle's Class

Monday, May 6, 2024

5/4/2024

It’s hard to believe that we have reached the final weeks of the school year! This will (most likely) be the final installment of The Anderle Adventures for the 2023-2024 School Year...and what a school year it has been!! Working with your children has been such an incredible privilege. Thank you for all you've done to support your child's journey here at Patton School! I'm looking forward to celebrating our remaining milestones together over these last few weeks! 💗 💗 💗

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we continued moving through Chapter 10, Percents. Students practiced solving multi-step word problems involving fractions, decimals, and percents.

READING WORKSHOP:
Students put their nonfiction reading skills to the test last week as we began to examine what life was like on the early frontier and the Oregon Trail. We also practiced listening comprehension and discussion skills while participating in our final read aloud of the school year.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We continued moving through our Expository Nonfiction unit last week. Students finished up their topic research, organized their information into subtopics, and began drafting their work.

SCIENCE:
Our Ecosystems unit continued last week in science! Students explored the idea that matter in nature's waste is broken down by scavengers and decomposers. Students also observed dung beetles and carrion beetles, and explained how scavengers feed on the matter of nature’s waste.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will wrap up our final math unit of the year with an assessment on Tuesday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our nonfiction study of pioneer life will continue this week, as will our comprehension practice with our final read aloud

WRITERS' WORKSOP:
Our writers will move into the revising and publishing phases of the writing process, and put the finishing touches on their expository nonfiction texts.

SCIENCE:
This week's study of Ecosystems will focus on our consumers, decomposers, and the Prairie Ecosystem!

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Monday, 5/6: Band Concert @ Hersey
Tuesday, 5/7: Make-A-Wish Pie in the Face
Thursday, 5/9: Make-A-Wish Walkathon
Thursday, 5/16: 5th Grade Track Meet @ South
Friday, 5/17: Afternoon Frozen Rehearsal
Monday, 5/20: Full Day Frozen Rehearsal
Tuesday, 5/21: Blue Cast Performance 9:30-11:00 & 7:30-9:00
Wednesday, 5/22: White Cast Performance 9:30-11:00 & 7:30-9:00
Friday, 5/24: NO SCHOOL (SIP DAY)
Monday, 5/27: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, 5/28: Monday Schedule
5th Grade Recognition @ TMS 7pm
Wednesday, 5/29: Spirit Day
Thursday, 5/30: Fifth Grade Trip
Friday, 5/31: Last Day of School
CLAP-OUT at 2:30pm

Monday, April 29, 2024

4/28/2024

Happy (almost) May! I can't even believe the final month of school is upon us! Hold on tight...these next 4 weeks are going to fly by!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 10: Percent. Students examined fractions, decimals, and percents. We also learned how to find the percent of a whole number.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our Poetry unit came to an end last week as we completed the last of our mini-lessons. Students learned that readers of poetry understand how the stanzas of a poem fit together to build the overall structure and meaning. We examined poetic structural elements and determined how these elements help build meaning. Students also learned that readers of poetry build their understanding of a poem by inferring meaning line by line. Additionally we explored my favorite author's award winning poetry/picture book (Kwame Alexander), The Undefeated.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We continued moving through our Expository Nonfiction unit last week. Students developed questions to drive their research process, and learned how to organize their research findings. Writers took notes from various text and online resources, and learned how to cite sources for our bibliographies.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems continued last week. Students used evidence of a decomposing tree and bison to explain the decomposition sequence.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will continue moving through Chapter 10, focusing on real world percent problems.

READING WORKSHOP:
We will begin our final nonfiction study of the school year, focusing on Westward Expansion and The Oregon Trail.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Students will continue moving through the research process for their expository nonfiction essays.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week!

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Wednesday, 5/1: Photo's Dine & Share Night
Friday, 5/3: Walkathon Pajama Day

Monday, April 22, 2024

4/20/2024

We had another great week in 5th grade, especially with our field trip to the Rolling Meadows Courthouse on Wednesday!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we finished up Chapter 9 with a final assessment on Ratios.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our poetry unit continued last week! Students unlocked unknown words to gain a sense of the overall meaning of a variety of poems, and considered similarities between poems to build bridges across our learning.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Last week our writers continued to examine nonfiction topics of interest. We focused on the environment and nature, and explored the format of various nonfiction texts.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems continued last week. Our scientists discussed the survival needs of animals, examined the link between energy and matter, and explored the survival needs of living things.

Our study of Ecosystems continued last week. Our scientists discussed the survival needs of animals, examined the link between energy and matter, and explored the survival needs of living things.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will begin our final math chapter of the year, Chapter 10: Percents. Students will spend the week examining fractions, decimals, and percents.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our Poetry unit will continue this week!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week our writers will begin researching their topics for our expository writing project.

SICENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week!

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Wednesday, 4/24: Math MAP Test (PM)
Friday, 4/26: FROZEN TICKET ORDERS & LOU'S FUNDRAISER $ DUE
5th Grade Field Trip to Thomas Middle School (AM)

Monday, April 15, 2024

4/14/2024

We had another super busy week, filled with all kinds of fun! Things continue to move quickly as the end of the year approaches!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we continued moving through Chapter 9. Students practiced solving real world ratio problems.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry continued last week in fifth grade! We learned that readers ask questions about poems to make connections, make discoveries, and deepen their understanding. Students also learned that readers use background knowledge and content to figure out words and phrases.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Last week our writers continued to examine nonfiction topics of interest. We focused on the environment and nature, and explored the format of various nonfiction texts.

SCIENCE:
Science last week focused on Food Chains and Food Webs. Students examined the relationship between organisms in our everyday world. We had the best time playing a food chain card game that helped deepen our understanding of organisms' interrelationships.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 9 with a final assessment on Tuesday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry will continue this week in fifth grade!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit will continue this week.

SCIENCE:
Our study of Ecosystems will continue this week as students examine matter and energy in ecosystems.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Tuesday, 4/16: Chapter 9 Math Test (AM)
Reading MAP Test (PM)
Wednesday, 4/17: 5th Grade Field Trip to the Rolling Meadows Courthouse (AM)
Friday, 4/19: FROZEN T-SHIRT ORDERS DUE
Candor Health Presentation Human Reproduction (PM)
Wednesday, 4/24: Math MAP Test (PM)
Friday, 4/26: FROZEN TICKET ORDERS & LOU'S FUNDRAISER $ DUE
5th Grade Field Trip to Thomas Middle School (AM)

Monday, April 8, 2024

4/7/2024

What a great week back after spring break! 💗 It's hard to believe that there are just 8 weeks left of the school year! Time is flying by in fifth grade!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 9: Ratio. Students learned how to find ratio and examined equivalent ratios.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry began last week in fifth grade! Our opening interactive read aloud lessons focused on what we notice about poetry. We learned that readers pay attention to the look of poetry. Students noticed the variety of ways that poems are structured and how they affect the meaning of a poem. Next, we payed attention to the techniques writers use to create sound in poetry. Students examined the roles of rhythm, repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia in poetry. We also learned that readers use the words on a page to create images in our minds. Finally, we practiced visualizing as we listened to "Imagine a Place" by Sarah L. Thomas, and students determined author's purpose, inspiration, and big ideas from two poems in "Locomotion: by Jacqueline Woodson!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit began last week! Students explored nonfiction texts and topics, and generated ideas for question/answer books.

SCIENCE:
We officially kicked off our final science unit of the year, Ecosystems! Students began thinking about the key components of an ecosystem. We observed the living and non-living components of sample ecosystems and identified interactions between them. Students also discussed the definition of an ecosystem, and explored the grounds of Patton School to search for different interactions within this ecosystem. Additionally, our scientists discussed the survival needs of animals, examined the link between energy and matter, and explored the survival needs of living things.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 9 this week with a final assessment on Thursday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Poetry will continue this week in fifth grade!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Expository Nonfiction writing unit will continue this week.

SCIENCE:
We will continue our study of Ecosystems!

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Monday, 4/8: Solar Eclipse Day!!
Thursday, 4/11: Chapter 9 Math Test
Tuesday, 4/16: Reading MAP Test (PM)
Wednesday, 4/17: 5th Grade Field Trip to the Rolling Meadows Courthouse (AM)
Friday, 4/19: Candor Health Presentation Human Reproduction (PM)
Wednesday, 4/24: Math MAP Test (PM)
Friday, 4/26: 5th Grade Field Trip to Thomas Middle School (AM)

Monday, April 1, 2024

4/1/2024

Welcome back! 💗 Happy April! I hope you had a wonderful spring break with your families, and enjoyed a restful vacation. Due to our absence last week, 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 Chapter 9, Ratios, this week.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our next reading unit, Poetry, will begin this week! Students will record what they notice about poetry, pay attention to the sounds of poetry, and use visualization and imagery to understand poetry.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We are moving on to our next writing unit, Expository Writing, this week! Students will begin to explore nonfiction writing topics.

SCIENCE:
We will begin our final science unit of the year, Ecosystems!

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Thursday, 4/4: Spring Class Photo/Club Pictures**WEAR 5th GRADE SHIRT**
Friday, 4/5: 5th Grade Digital Citizenship Lessons w/Officer O'Leary (pm)

Monday, March 18, 2024

3/13/2024

These last two months have seriously flown by! Wishing you all a fantastic spring break filled with lots of rest and relaxation! 💗

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Fifth grade math was again compromised a bit last week due to testing. We were able to squeeze in a little time together and we continued to focus on improving our problem solving skills.

READING WORKSHOP:
During literacy time last week we continued working in our small groups, focusing on nonfiction reading skills.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Opinion Writing unit continued last week. Students worked on revising and editing their introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions. We met with writing partners to elicit feedback and we proofread for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
In social studies last week we continued our focus on The Bill of Rights. We learned all about the rights protected in the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will shift gears and use this upcoming "broken" week to focus on a fun and exciting hands-on algebra program!

READING WORKSHOP:
We will finish up our nonfiction small groups.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing students will publish their opinion essays and share their work during our next Gallery Walk.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Social studies this week will focus on a continuation of our Bill of Rights study.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
Tuesday, 3/19: NO SCHOOL (Election Day)
HAPPY SPRING BREAK!!!
Monday, 4/1 Classes Resume!
Thursday, 4/4: Spring Photos *WEAR 5TH GRADE SHIRTS*

Monday, March 11, 2024

3/7/2024

We survived our first week of testing....THREE DOWN....just FIVE MORE to go!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
We spent our two math days last week working on problem solving skills, and a review of fractions, decimals, rounding, and division!

READING WORKSHOP:
During literacy time last week we moved back into our small groups, focusing on nonfiction reading skills.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Opinion Writing unit continued last week. Students worked on constructing their introductions, began developing their body paragraphs with supporting details, and added transitional words and phrases.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
Last week during social studies we examined the Bill of Rights. Students explored the purpose in creating the Bill of Rights and learned about the 1st and 2nd Amendments.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
Our math time this week will continue to serve as a review of various fifth grade concepts, as our regular math periods will be spent IAR and ISA Testing.

READING WORKSHOP:
We will continue our nonfiction small group work.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing students will construct their concluding paragraphs.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Social studies this week will continue to focus on the Bill of Rights.

UPCOMING EVENTS 📆
**Please see our testing schedule for the week, (which includes our Illinois Science Assessment Testing sessions) along with our Spring Countdown days!
Tuesday, 3/12: Feed My Starving Children Event @ 4:45-6:15pm

Monday, March 4, 2024

3/3/2024

Happy March! Testing season is upon us and I'm sure the next three weeks will fly by! Hold on tight....it's hard to believe we've completed our second trimester of 5th grade!!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we finished up Chapter 8. Students practiced classifying triangles and polygons. We reviewed the major concepts from the unit on Thursday and took our final assessment on Friday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our literacy time last week was spent wrapping up our nonfiction text study, Freedom Walkers. Throughout the week, students examined new vocabulary terms and practiced using various comprehension strategies to better understand this complex text. As we finished exploring this story behind the Montgomery bus boycott, students learned about the legacy these boycott heroes left behind. We continued using evidence to support our opinions in constructive responses, and created a detailed summary of this story's events.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Opinion writing continued last week in fifth grade! Students read and discussed persuasive essays on the topics of animal testing and school uniforms, and considered the author's audience and purpose. Our writers also continued to experiment with developing their own opinion essays.

SCIENCE:
Our Investigating Matter unit came to an end last week with a few final exciting lessons! This time we focused on heating and cooling matter, and whether or not a material's weight changes once it's heated cooled, or mixed with other substances. Through an investigation of water/ice, olive oil and tea, and glycerin soap and paraffin wax, students learned that the weight of matter is conserved when heated or cooled. Next, students compared separate weights of water, salt, and oil with mixtures of those materials. Through measuring, weighing, and graphing data, students discovered that the total weight of matter is conserved in mixtures. And finally, on Friday, our class examined the changing properties of matter as they created Oobleck mixtures!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
Three out of five of our math blocks this week will be used for testing. We will enjoy our time together on Monday and Friday practicing our problem solving skills.

READING WORKSHOP:
We will move back into our small reading groups for the next three weeks and continue to focus on fiction and nonfiction reading comprehension skills.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing we will continue moving through our Opinion Writing unit.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
We will begin our next social studies unit, The Bill of Rights.

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Please see our testing schedule below, along with a fun Spring Countdown!

Monday, February 26, 2024

2/25/2024

Happy end of February! I can't even believe it! Time is flying by in fifth grade!!

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK💡
MATH:
Last week in math we began Chapter 8: Polygons. Students examined equilateral, isosceles, and scalene triangles, and learned how to classify triangles based on their properties.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our literacy time last week focused on the nonfiction text, Freedom Walkers. Throughout the week, students examined new vocabulary terms and practiced using various comprehension strategies to better understand this complex text. As we continued to explore this story behind the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, students practiced questioning and making connections as they learned about the many boycott heroes who walked to victory.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our Opinion Writing unit began last week, and our class seemed to really enjoy exploring this genre. Throughout the week, students read and discussed persuasive essays, and determined each author's purpose and audience. We also took a closer look at the information that's presented in a persuasive essay and the structure and organization that must be present for it to be effective.

SCIENCE:
Students continued investigating matter last week! This time students identified four mystery materials based on tests that revealed their properties. Students recorded their observations, which served as evidence to explain the idea that materials can be identified based on their properties.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS📌
MATH:
We will finish up Chapter 8 as we explore and classify polygons. Our final assessment for this brief chapter will be on Friday.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our nonfiction study of the text Freedom Walkers will come to an end this week.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in writing we will continue moving through our Opinion Writing unit.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
We will wrap up our Investigating Matter unit this week by heating and cooling matter, examining mixtures, and creating oobleck!

UPCOMING EVENTS📆
Friday, 3/1: Chapter 8 Math Test
**See below for our Illinois Science Assessment and Illinois Achievement Readiness testing schedule that begins next week.