Math – We finished unit 7
with many students successfully completing the unit, though some students are
having a harder time with the concepts as they get more abstract and more
reliant on prior knowledge. We start
unit 8 Monday which covers more fractions and ratios, with the test tentatively
scheduled for March 7th.
Science – We have been busy chewing gum and blowing
bubbles in science as we explore how to write a research paper on the best
bubblegum. The research paper will be
due next Friday and should be set up in the format shared in the sample paper
sent home today. Next week we will start
our third unit of the year; landforms.
Social Studies – This
week we have been busy working on our Prezis as we prepare to present on the 13
colonies to each other. We have also
decided we need to figure out our favorite president which will be explored
during resource time.
Reading – Genre study has
been a blast so far and the students are zipping through books. I am having a hard time keeping up with all
of their reading, which is a wonderful thing.
My group will be in the lab next week as we start to plan our book
trailers and using Animoto to set them up.
Writing – I truly loved the
fiction stories created by students; such an imagination and sense of
problem/solution. I will be conferencing
with them today and then sending home all of our feedback along with the
stories either today or Monday. We start
our next writing unit; Writing about Reading,
this afternoon. A wonderful unit that
allows us to really explore and connect deeply with the things we read.
Special Notes –
* What a great week it has been,
we are in a groove, the students are working hard and we are enjoying what we
are learning. It is a joy to come in and be their teacher
every day.
* Thank you so much for an
incredible Valentine’s Day Party. The
students loved it, the food was yummy and the kids ate way too much candy.
*
Thank you all for signing up for conferences, notes will be sent home
with available times if you have not signed up yet. Please indicate 2 choices of those times and
I will get you scheduled.
* Thea and I will be at the carnival tomorrow, she will be
the little girl all in pink and a tutu I am guessing!
* My literacy
assessment meeting went very well and we had some great discussions of how to
move forward challenging and reaching all students.
* If your child will
miss school around spring break, please let me know.
* Guidance has been
sending out Step Up slips to discuss and sign with your child, please return
them as soon as possible.
* We are going to
the Engineering Expo on April 18th all day and will take as many
parents as possible! This all day field
trip is a fantastic chance for students to get interested in all aspects of
engineering and it is a great field trip.
Please email me to let me know if you would be interested in going with
us.
* The students will be teaching teachers in Oklahoma on Monday how
to do a Mystery Skype. I am excited to
give them this opportunity to present to adults.
* Literacy week is coming the first full week of March and
with it comes a book swap. On Thursday March
7th at 2 PM our 5th grade students will partake in a book
swap, more info will be coming soon.
* I have some dates for you to put on your calendars:
Carnival Saturday, February 16th 2 PM, Sub all day February 28th, PAC
Choral Performance Thursday, February 28th at 6:30 PM, Pi day and Mrs. Ripp’s birthday March 14th,
Spring Break starts after Friday March 22nd and goes to March 31st.