Mrs. Anderle's Class
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Monday, September 28, 2015

9/28/2015

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Wow, it’s hard to believe that October begins on Thursday! 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 estimation and computation. Students examined the components of open number sentences and solved addition and subtraction number stories. We also conducted two experiments to collect and analyze data. Our first experiment focused on our reaction times and finding the landmarks for our data set. Our second experiment focused on probability and chance events. Students recorded results for the number of times pushpins landed face down. In addition, we practiced making magnitude estimates for addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems.

READING WORKSHOP:
Literacy last week focused on our remaining Notice & Note literary signposts, along with our first mini-lesson from the Schoolwide program, Studying Ourselves as Readers.


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. 


Our second signpost of the week 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.

Our final signpost of the week 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.

After learning our final signpost, students were super enthusiastic to put all of their hard work to the test! We began to explore the novel Among the Hidden, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, looking for signposts and their meanings. Using a Signpost Log to document their findings, students practiced locating signposts and answering their important questions to deepen their understanding of the text. I am so proud of our class' hard work and effort with these signposts!

Our final reading component of the week focused on studying ourselves as readers. Students learned that readers need to have an understanding of their pace and stamina when reading in order to develop a clearer sense of themselves as readers. We began an additional reading log to track the time and amount read each day. 

WRITERS' WORKSHOP: 

Our WEX focus for the week was on focus. Students focused on setting and sound, and also completed their first revision assignment.

SCIENCE:
Our study of the human body in motion continued as students explored how the circulatory system supports movement. They learned to take their pulse and discovered that their 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. We also learned how the respiratory system supports movement. Students discovered how breathing rate increases with exercise, and the increased needs for oxygen by their more active muscles. We breathed through straws of varying diameters to appreciate how much we depend on a healthy respiratory system to perform even minor physical activities. During our final science exploration of the week, students 
 learned that their muscles depend on a healthy digestive system to provide the nutrients and water their cells need to produce energy and function. We experimented to see how digested gelatin passes through a filter easier than undigested gelatin, and realized the need for food to be digested before it can enter the bloodstream.    

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will finish up Unit 2 this week. Students will review multiplication of whole numbers and decimals, and review the major concepts from the unit. Our final test will be on Friday.

READING WORKSHOP
:
Our Schoolwide mini-lessons will continue this week, along with our literary signpost practice and exploration of Among the Hidden. 
Mini-lesson topics include: making a plan for ourselves as readers, book talks, and partner talks.
​

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our WEX time for the week will focus on using showing details.

SCIENCE:
Our Human Body in Motion unit will come to an end this week. We will create two projects, one focusing on cells and one focusing on poetry in motion. Our final human body assessment will be on Thursday.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, 10/2.............................................Unit 2 Math Test (Anderle)
Monday, 10/5.........................................Picture Day! & SPARK
Thursday, 10/8........................................Historical Reenactment Field Trip (am)
Friday, 10/9.............................................No School (Institute Day)
Monday, 10/10........................................No School (Columbus Day)


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Monday, September 21, 2015

9/21/2015

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Happy (almost) fall! The weeks are just flying by in fifth grade, and we’re having lots of fun each day!

Here's What Happened This Week:
MATH:
In math last week we finished up Unit 1, Number Concepts. Students reviewed the major concepts from the unit and took the final test on Tuesday. Awesome job, 5-1...Our first math test was a success! Next up, we began Unit 2, Estimation and Computation. Students reviewed and practiced adding and subtracting whole and decimal numbers. 


READING WORKSHOP:
Literacy last week focused on nonfiction text, the Notice and Note literary signposts, and our READING MAP TEST. During the first half of the week, students used the nonfiction text, Bones and Muscles, to practice asking questions and determine important details. We inferred the meaning of unfamiliar words by using context clues, and completed an examination and synthesis of the skeletal and muscular systems’ interdependent relationship.

Students were also introduced to the next two literary signposts, Aha Moments and Tough Questions. Using an excerpt from Crash, by Jerry Spinelli, students found and analyzed Aha Moments; when you're reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out. We practiced answering the question, "How might this change things?" Answering this question helped us realize that if the character figured out a problem, we probably just learned about the conflict; or, if the character understood a life lesson, we probably just learned the theme. 

Our second 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, 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.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our WEX focus for the week continued to be on focus! Students practiced focusing on perspective and an object. We also worked with our writing partners to practice giving feedback to one another on self-selected journal entries.

SCIENCE:
We enthusiastically continued our Human Body in Motion unit last week! Students 
experienced the effects of muscle fatigue as they performed repetitive exercises with their hands. We also examined the inside of bones and learned how calcium helps to form and maintain bones.

This Week's Highlights:
MATH:
We will continue moving through Unit 2. Students will solve addition and subtraction numbers stories, review magnitude estimates, and conduct two experiments to collect and analyze data. 

READING WORKSHOP:

We will continue our work with Notice and Note as we learn the final three literary signposts. We will also begin our first Mini-Lesson from Schoolwide: studying ourselves as readers.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:

Our WEX time for the week will once again focus on focus! Students will focus on setting and sound, and complete their first revision assignment.    

SCIENCE:
Our Human Body in Motion unit will continue this week! We will determine what our muscles need to thrive, and examine how we breathe hard for our muscles.  


UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, September 21.................................MATH MAP TEST (Anderle)



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Monday, September 14, 2015

9/14/2015

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We are moving right along in fifth grade! Our class continues to work hard, and enjoys learning new concepts together! These last few weeks have truly been a pleasure! 

Here's What Happened Last Week:
MATH: 
In math last week we finished up Unit 1, Number Concepts. Students examined squares and square roots, and learned how to find the prime factorization of numbers. We also began reviewing the major concepts from the unit in preparation for tomorrow's test.

READING WORKSHOP:
Literacy last week 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 and implemented a protocol to follow during our conversations, and learned how to use a repertoire of strategies to begin conversations. In addition, students used different conversational moves, like asking questions and using textual evidence, to develop, support, and defend an idea about a text.

This week's texts:
My Life in Dog Years (A class favorite!)
A Day's Work

Students also learned the first literary signpost from Notice & Note Strategies for Close Reading. We used the text "Thank You, Ma'm" to examine Contrasts and Contradictions; when you're reading and a character says or does something that contradicts what he has been saying or doing all along. We learned to ask ourselves the question, "Why is the character doing that?" to help make a prediction or inference about the plot and conflict.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Our WEX focus for the week was on focus! Students practiced adding details and focused on writing about one moment in time.

SCIENCE:
We enthusiastically continued our Human Body in Motion unit last week! Students shared their limb models and demonstrated muscle, bone, and joint movement. We also learned how the nervous system supports movement. Students conducted an experiment that used different senses to catch a ruler between their fingers. 
We also 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 earlier experiment to discover that the nervous system is responsible for both kinds of motion in the body! 


THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH: 
We will review Unit 1 again today, and document/reflect on our study habits. Our Unit 1 test will take place tomorrow, and we will also begin Unit 2, Estimation and Computation, this week.

READING WORKSHOP:
We will continue examining the Notice & Note reading signposts this week, with a focus on Aha Moments and Tough Questions. Students will also use the nonfiction text, National Geographic's Bones and Muscles, to explore domain specific vocabulary and synthesize the interdependent relationship between the skeletal and muscular systems in helping our bodies move.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week in WEX we will focus on perspective.

SCIENCE:
Our Human Body in Motion unit will continue this week! 
We will conduct an experiment to work our muscles and determine what our muscles need to thrive.  

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, 9/15...................................Unit 1 Math Test (Anderle)

                                                         Advanced Math MAP Test
Friday, 9/18.......................................Reading MAP Test
Monday, 9/21....................................Math MAP Test (Anderle)
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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

9/8/2015

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Welcome to the first official issue of  5-1’s weekly Class News! Our year is off to a wonderful start, and I am truly enjoying getting to know our class! 

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:

MATH:
In math last week we began Unit 1, Number Concepts. We reviewed arrays, factors, and factor pairs. Students also learned the rules for divisibility, and classified numbers as prime or composite.

READING WORKSHOP:
Our new literacy program, Schoolwide, is up and running in our classroom! Last week we completed our first five Interactive Read-Aloud Lessons with much success! Students examined the components of a Reading Workshop and considered 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. In addition, students activated schema before reading to help make connections and build understanding. Our class really enjoyed each of our read aloud texts as well:
The Hard Times Jar
Old Henry
When Jessie Came Across the Sea
My Life in Dog Years
For the Love of the Game

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
We officially began our first WEX unit last week on Personal Narratives. Students reviewed the WEX Writer's Mindset, Rules for Writing Time, and Rules for Sharing. We practiced focusing on one moment and even participated in a super fun brainstorming activity!

SCIENCE:
Our Human Body in Motion unit is off to a great start! It is such a pleasure to watch our scientists explore the human body systems! So far we've participated in a vigorous physical activity (jumping jacks) and observed its effects on ourselves and a partner. Students recorded their ideas about what was happening inside their bodies to account for the changes they observed. Students also examined where our bones move, and discovered many of our body's major joints. In addition, our class learned that muscles and bones work together to move our limbs. Finally, the amazing scientists of 5-1 incorporated this understanding as they built model limbs that can bend and straighten! Watch out for our Limb Videos later this week!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will learn about square numbers and square roots, as well as factor strings and prime factorization. We will also begin reviewing for our upcoming Unit 1 Math Test (Tuesday, September 15th).

READING:
Our Interactive Read-Aloud Lessons will continue! This week we will explore the power of conversation.

WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
This week our WEX focus will be focus! We will focus on adding details and focusing on a moment. 

SCIENCE:
Our Human Body in Motion unit will continue! This week we will learn how our muscles know when to move.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Friday, September 11......................................Patriot Day
Tuesday, September 15..................................Unit 1 Math Test (Anderle)
Wednesday, September 16.............................Constitution Day

FALL MAP TESTING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, 9/15................MATH MAP Advanced Math (Morkert) AM
Friday, 9/18...................READING MAP (PM)
Monday, 9/21................MATH MAP (Anderle) AM



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