We have had such a great couple weeks...I have lots of pictures to share (other than the video I posted prior to this post...DON'T MISS IT!) but I can only download those at home, so I can't use my planning time today to share the pix...I can, however, share some important information and let you know what we've been up to!
MSA Testing - Please read carefully!
Next week...Monday, March 12 - Friday, March 17,
your child will be taking the Maryland State Assessments.
Academically, they are very well prepared.
But I need your help to ensure they do well. Please make sure your child...
1. has a great night's sleep!
2. has a healthy breakfast...make sure they have some protein!
3. arrives to school on time...8:15 is best!!
4. has a lot of downtime at home in the evenings...he/she will be more wiped out than usual!
If you have any questions about the testing schedule, please don't hesitate to email me!!
Brown Envelopes
Your kids are bringing home brown envelopes today. Please read the letter inside...put the "thing" that I'm asking you to return in the same envelope, and have your child return the brown envelope to me by Thursday...Friday at the latest. I have told your children that it is important paperwork that is between you all and me...this is just one more thing that will help your child get a great start on their MSA tests!!
Reading/Language Arts
This week we have finally started our novel unit...we will be doing lots of different activities with our novels. The kids will write responses to the chapters, they will have jobs to complete for their daily reading that they will share in Literature Circles, and they will answer comprehension questions during group work with me. Our class is reading three different books right now. All of the books are leveled at the fifth grade reading level or above. They are all Caldecott winners and the kids are going to love them! For this first go, each student was assigned a book. For the second part of the unit, they will get to choose which novel they would like to read.
As you all know, we have finished our biography unit. (See previous post for the slide show of the Wax Museum and all its prep!) The kids will be bringing home their grades for this unit. Each student is given two reading grades...research and comprehension...and two communication grades...essay and presentation. The packet is chock full of comments, so please take time to go through it with your child.
We are working on an argument/opinion piece of writing right now. The kids have read an article about the possibility of the Senate voting to do away with the dollar bill and go with the dollar coin...they have chosen a side and are writing arguments using facts to support their opinions. I am anxious to read these writing pieces.
Science
We are heavy into our Chemical Tests unit! The kids are working with five unknown powders and conducting lots of tests to narrow down what they know about each one. So far the kids have done a water test and a filtration test. These two tests have given them information about the solubility of the powders. Next we will use vinegar, iodine, red cabbage juice, and heat to see how each powder reacts. We will be looking at the observable properties during these tests.
Math
We are working with fractions...last week we focused on equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions...these are not easy tasks...and although some kids are finding it rather easy, once asked to use the skill in order to solve a problem, it's a whole new ballgame. Last week I asked the kids this question...
If you were really hungry and loved pizza would you rather eat 14/28 of a pizza or 16/24 of a pizza?
Some of the kids knew right away that the pizza cut into 24ths had bigger slices so they knew that was a bigger choice...good thinking! But I asked the kids to simplify the fractions and prove it was bigger...it was great watching their brains kick into overdrive!! We will continue with fractions this week...comparing and ordering fractions as we continue to practice equivalence and simplifying.
Again, I have pictures to share and will load them from home sometime this week. Thanks for your patience...I know I'm really late on this blog. Have a good week!!
