Welcome to Week 16! Only 5 school days until Winter Break!
This week is also report card week. Report cards will be handed to students on Monday at the end of school. Please sign and return the envelope so that we know you have seen your students report card. In addition, please fill out and return your classes conference week sign-up for January. Conference times will be handled on a first come first served basis, so the sooner your student returns it, the better the chance of getting your top choice.
On to the week:
In math we are doing a quick chapter on shapes. Last week we learned how to identify parallel and perpendicular lines as well as measure angles using a protractor. This week we will continue with investigations into polygons, triangles, and quadrilaterals. Students will be able to identify each of the figures and use their knowledge of these figures to determine angles and types of shapes.
In reading we will continue to work on the difficult comprehension strategy of inferring. We have been practicing and studying how we use text clues as well as back ground knowledge to make decisions on what is occurring within the books that we read. Although most of us do it naturally as we read, inferring can be a difficult strategy to practice and become comfortable with. We will continue this strategy as we get into our individual historical fiction books after the winter break.
In writing we are continuing to complete our personal narratives. Students were asked to complete a rough draft of their narrative by Monday. This week we will spend a great deal of time editing and revising our stories. This class has struggled mightily with writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, and grammar) throughout this year. We will be working very hard on this aspect of our writing this week. We hope to get a final draft by Friday.
That's it for now. Thank you for all your support this year!
Sincerely,
Allyn and Alaina
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Week 15: 2-digit Division Test, Intro to Historical Fiction, and Personal Narratives
Welcome to Week 15!
In math this week we will be completing our Chapter 5 assessment. Students will be doing some peer instruction and practice work to prepare for our test on Wednesday. Late in the week we will start our last section of math before Winter Break which is a quick section on shapes. It should be a fun way to end a very full first trimester of math.
In reading students will be starting our second genre study with a look at Historical Fiction. Once again, students will be setup in reading ability groups surrounding a historical fiction text on World War 2. Prior to receiving their books, students will be given some insights into the second world war and the people that were involved. In addition, the class will be studying the important comprehension strategy of inferring.
In writing students will continue to work on personal narratives. Now that our students have received ample time to play with a few different ideas for their narratives, they will be asked to choose one idea to write their narrative with. This week and next students will work through the writing process from brainstorming to writing a final draft.
Just a FYI....Ms. Therriault will be out this week. We miss her, but the classroom has continued to run smoothly thanks to our fabulous students and great guest teacher (Mr. K).
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
-Allyn and Alaina
In math this week we will be completing our Chapter 5 assessment. Students will be doing some peer instruction and practice work to prepare for our test on Wednesday. Late in the week we will start our last section of math before Winter Break which is a quick section on shapes. It should be a fun way to end a very full first trimester of math.
In reading students will be starting our second genre study with a look at Historical Fiction. Once again, students will be setup in reading ability groups surrounding a historical fiction text on World War 2. Prior to receiving their books, students will be given some insights into the second world war and the people that were involved. In addition, the class will be studying the important comprehension strategy of inferring.
In writing students will continue to work on personal narratives. Now that our students have received ample time to play with a few different ideas for their narratives, they will be asked to choose one idea to write their narrative with. This week and next students will work through the writing process from brainstorming to writing a final draft.
Just a FYI....Ms. Therriault will be out this week. We miss her, but the classroom has continued to run smoothly thanks to our fabulous students and great guest teacher (Mr. K).
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
-Allyn and Alaina
Monday, November 29, 2010
Week 14: Two Digit Division, Finishing Realistic Fiction, and Writing
Welcome to Week 14! We hope everyone had a restful week away from school. Back to the grind....
In math this week we will continue to look at division by two-digit divisors. In particular, students will be dividing with 1-digit quotients (answers), dividing with 2-digit quotients (answers), estimating and dividing greater numbers, and finding missing information within a problem. The kids have done a great job with math these past few weeks. We have really pushed through some tough topics and the kids have taken it all in stride. They are showing great persistence!
In reading we will be completing our study in realistic fiction. Students will be finishing their realistic fiction novels (if they haven't already) and completing their comprehension packets early this week. In addition, we will practice some of the concepts that we have been working on throughout this section. These include summarizing, thick and thin questioning, and understanding why a story is a realistic fiction or not.
In writing, students will be beginning another section of our writing curriculum. This time around students will be creating a personal narrative.
One last note, due to a family situation, Ms. Therriault will not be at school this week. She will be leaving detailed plans for our fantastic subs and Mr. Woods will be doing his very best to keep everything running as smoothly as it does with Ms. Therriault in the classroom. Thank you for understanding.
Sincerely,
Allyn and Alaina
In math this week we will continue to look at division by two-digit divisors. In particular, students will be dividing with 1-digit quotients (answers), dividing with 2-digit quotients (answers), estimating and dividing greater numbers, and finding missing information within a problem. The kids have done a great job with math these past few weeks. We have really pushed through some tough topics and the kids have taken it all in stride. They are showing great persistence!
In reading we will be completing our study in realistic fiction. Students will be finishing their realistic fiction novels (if they haven't already) and completing their comprehension packets early this week. In addition, we will practice some of the concepts that we have been working on throughout this section. These include summarizing, thick and thin questioning, and understanding why a story is a realistic fiction or not.
In writing, students will be beginning another section of our writing curriculum. This time around students will be creating a personal narrative.
One last note, due to a family situation, Ms. Therriault will not be at school this week. She will be leaving detailed plans for our fantastic subs and Mr. Woods will be doing his very best to keep everything running as smoothly as it does with Ms. Therriault in the classroom. Thank you for understanding.
Sincerely,
Allyn and Alaina
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Week 13: 2-digit division, realistic fiction, and turkey day
Welcome to Week 13! It's Thanksgiving week and one of my favorite holidays. Please remember that Wednesday is a half day.
In math this week students will be working through two sections. The first will look at dividing by multiples of 10. The second sections will be dividing with two digit divisors and getting one digit quotients. Each of these sections will require a good amount of practice and use of math facts. Please take a look at your students math this week to see how they are doing.
Speaking of math facts....the kids (and parents practicing with their kids) have done an extraordinary job getting their math facts down. At the beginning of the year we were very nervous about how low our students were testing in math facts. So nervous, in fact, that we created a number of incentives to motivate the kids to continue working on their facts. As a result of their great efforts, the classes averages have risen to great levels. They went from 22 to 26 in addition, 16 to 23 in subtraction, 13 to 21 in multiplication, and 10 to 18 division problems correct in one minute. As you probably remember, 25 correct in a minute is the end of the year 5th grade standard. Amazing! As a result, we have scheduled some rewards for the kids. These are: a free recess either this Tuesday or next Tuesday. A movie this Wednesday. And a Spirit Day (PJ day) and our half day of reading is on Dec. 1st. Nice work kids and parents!
In reading this week, most groups will finish their novels if they haven't already. When the groups are finished, they will be completing a project to go along with their book. These projects will be due the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The only group who will not be doing a project is Walk Two Moons. That group will be finishing their book and their packet over the Thanksgiving weekend. Their packet will be due Dec. 1st.
In social studies we have completed our brief study of explorers. We are going to be moving into our investigation of the settlement of America. Our essential questions are: Why do people move? Why did people move to America?
In the coming weeks in writing, we will be starting to write personal narratives. Look for more information to be coming home regarding writing after the Thanksgiving Break.
That's it for now. We hope everyone is able to have a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday!
-Allyn and Alaina
In math this week students will be working through two sections. The first will look at dividing by multiples of 10. The second sections will be dividing with two digit divisors and getting one digit quotients. Each of these sections will require a good amount of practice and use of math facts. Please take a look at your students math this week to see how they are doing.
Speaking of math facts....the kids (and parents practicing with their kids) have done an extraordinary job getting their math facts down. At the beginning of the year we were very nervous about how low our students were testing in math facts. So nervous, in fact, that we created a number of incentives to motivate the kids to continue working on their facts. As a result of their great efforts, the classes averages have risen to great levels. They went from 22 to 26 in addition, 16 to 23 in subtraction, 13 to 21 in multiplication, and 10 to 18 division problems correct in one minute. As you probably remember, 25 correct in a minute is the end of the year 5th grade standard. Amazing! As a result, we have scheduled some rewards for the kids. These are: a free recess either this Tuesday or next Tuesday. A movie this Wednesday. And a Spirit Day (PJ day) and our half day of reading is on Dec. 1st. Nice work kids and parents!
In reading this week, most groups will finish their novels if they haven't already. When the groups are finished, they will be completing a project to go along with their book. These projects will be due the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The only group who will not be doing a project is Walk Two Moons. That group will be finishing their book and their packet over the Thanksgiving weekend. Their packet will be due Dec. 1st.
In social studies we have completed our brief study of explorers. We are going to be moving into our investigation of the settlement of America. Our essential questions are: Why do people move? Why did people move to America?
In the coming weeks in writing, we will be starting to write personal narratives. Look for more information to be coming home regarding writing after the Thanksgiving Break.
That's it for now. We hope everyone is able to have a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday!
-Allyn and Alaina
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Week 12: One-Digit Division Test, Realistic Fiction Continued, and Erosion Test
Welcome to week 12! One week away from one of our favorite holidays- Thanksgiving!!
This week we will be completing two of the units that we have been enjoying over the last couple of weeks. The kids have worked tirelessly on their long division as well as their erosion unit in science. We are very excited to see what each of the kids has taken away from these units.
In math, we will be reviewing our one-digit division unit on Monday with some peer tutoring. Students who need a review of a section or two will get the chance to practice some problems as well as receive help from a classmate who has mastered the material. On Tuesday we will test to see what our kids can do. The rest of the week we will spend getting into our 5th chapter of the year. This one is very closely related to the present chapter as it is looking at two digit division. We are very impressed with the overall progress of our kids in all areas. Our math facts are definitely starting to turn around. The kids should be proud and excited about their new abilities!
In reading we are going to continue working in our realistic fiction novel study. To help your student, encourage them to add more detail to their answers. They need to use specific examples from the story to support their answer or opinion. Many students are forgetting to support their answer with evidence. Your students have turned in their reading packets three times now. It would be a good idea to ask to see their packet and review our comments with him or her to help them understand how they can improve their work. This will also give you an idea of how they are doing.
Lastly, in science we will be reviewing many of the concepts that we have hit during our first science unit. These include systems, weathering, erosion, deposition as well as the use of questions, hypotheses, and procedures during an investigation. At the end of the week we will test the kids using short answer, multiple choice, and essay format to see what the kids have learned. We are modeling the method that the science MSP uses so that students will be comfortable with the test when they get the MSP in the Spring.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Allyn and Alaina
This week we will be completing two of the units that we have been enjoying over the last couple of weeks. The kids have worked tirelessly on their long division as well as their erosion unit in science. We are very excited to see what each of the kids has taken away from these units.
In math, we will be reviewing our one-digit division unit on Monday with some peer tutoring. Students who need a review of a section or two will get the chance to practice some problems as well as receive help from a classmate who has mastered the material. On Tuesday we will test to see what our kids can do. The rest of the week we will spend getting into our 5th chapter of the year. This one is very closely related to the present chapter as it is looking at two digit division. We are very impressed with the overall progress of our kids in all areas. Our math facts are definitely starting to turn around. The kids should be proud and excited about their new abilities!
In reading we are going to continue working in our realistic fiction novel study. To help your student, encourage them to add more detail to their answers. They need to use specific examples from the story to support their answer or opinion. Many students are forgetting to support their answer with evidence. Your students have turned in their reading packets three times now. It would be a good idea to ask to see their packet and review our comments with him or her to help them understand how they can improve their work. This will also give you an idea of how they are doing.
Lastly, in science we will be reviewing many of the concepts that we have hit during our first science unit. These include systems, weathering, erosion, deposition as well as the use of questions, hypotheses, and procedures during an investigation. At the end of the week we will test the kids using short answer, multiple choice, and essay format to see what the kids have learned. We are modeling the method that the science MSP uses so that students will be comfortable with the test when they get the MSP in the Spring.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Allyn and Alaina
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Week 11: Long Division, Realistic Fiction, and Weather and Erosion
Welcome to week 11! Remember that this is a short week. We have no school on Thursday the 11th for Veteran's Day.
This week in math we will be continuing our work in long division. In particular, this week we will be looking closely at understanding factors, prime and composite numbers, and drawing pictures to get a stronger understanding for an equation. This is the final week of this first division chapter. The kids have done exceptionally well. We have had a high degree of success and are seeing a great deal of confidence in their work.
In science we will be nearing the conclusion of our erosion and weathering unit. This week we will complete a third erosion investigation, begin looking at the results or erosion and weathering on our planet, and looking at how other cultures use earth materials.
We will be continuing the same thread in reading as we did last week. Here is last weeks description if you would like to read it again (or for the first time)
In reading this week we are going to continue our work in our book groups. Students are continuing to focus on predicting, questioning and summarizing. However, we are also asking students to answer comprehension strategies. After reading through, and grading, their packets this weekend, we are going to put a big emphasis on how to answer a question. Students are asked to write in complete sentences. Please look over your student's reading comprehension packet with them to help them understand my notes to them on how they can improve their work.
One way to ensure their answer is in complete sentences is to use the question to start the answer. An example of this would be: Why did Mrs. Therriault ask me to do this assignment? One way to start this answer would be: Mrs. Therriault asked me to do this assignment because...
Students are also being asked to provide evidence from the story to support their answer. In this case, we are looking for students to use details to explain their answer, use quotes to prove their answer or describe the events of the story in detail. These are all ways students can "use evidence". Saying, "because it said so in the book" will not count as evidence.
Please let us know if you have any questions or conerns,
Allyn and Alaina
This week in math we will be continuing our work in long division. In particular, this week we will be looking closely at understanding factors, prime and composite numbers, and drawing pictures to get a stronger understanding for an equation. This is the final week of this first division chapter. The kids have done exceptionally well. We have had a high degree of success and are seeing a great deal of confidence in their work.
In science we will be nearing the conclusion of our erosion and weathering unit. This week we will complete a third erosion investigation, begin looking at the results or erosion and weathering on our planet, and looking at how other cultures use earth materials.
We will be continuing the same thread in reading as we did last week. Here is last weeks description if you would like to read it again (or for the first time)
In reading this week we are going to continue our work in our book groups. Students are continuing to focus on predicting, questioning and summarizing. However, we are also asking students to answer comprehension strategies. After reading through, and grading, their packets this weekend, we are going to put a big emphasis on how to answer a question. Students are asked to write in complete sentences. Please look over your student's reading comprehension packet with them to help them understand my notes to them on how they can improve their work.
One way to ensure their answer is in complete sentences is to use the question to start the answer. An example of this would be: Why did Mrs. Therriault ask me to do this assignment? One way to start this answer would be: Mrs. Therriault asked me to do this assignment because...
Students are also being asked to provide evidence from the story to support their answer. In this case, we are looking for students to use details to explain their answer, use quotes to prove their answer or describe the events of the story in detail. These are all ways students can "use evidence". Saying, "because it said so in the book" will not count as evidence.
Please let us know if you have any questions or conerns,
Allyn and Alaina
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Week 10: Division by 1-digit, Realistic Fiction, Explorers, and Erosion
Welcome to Week 10! We had a great week last week. The kids worked hard, showed great leadership, and are showing an improving amount of maturity. We certainly appreciate all of our students hard work! On to the week.
In math we will be continuing our 4th unit, this one on 1-digit division. This week students will be estimating quotients (answers), connecting models and symbols, working with zeros in the quotient, and understanding factors. The kids have truly begun showing a much higher level of confidence during math time. They are working hard on learning new concepts and many students are improving on their math facts so that the concepts are easy to complete. We have noticed that the students that are still struggling with math facts are able to complete the concepts with a high degree of success, but oftentimes their math facts trip them up. Keep working on those multiplication factors! THEY ARE THE KEY!
In science we are studying the affects of water over earth materials. We have discussed weathering, erosion, and deposition. Last week we completed our first investigation on erosion and deposition. This week we are going to change the investigation slightly when we add more flow to our streaming water over the earth materials. Through these investigations students are practicing writing hypotheses, forming procedures to test the hypothesis, writing a conclusion, and re-writing or making stronger our original hypothesis using our new knowledge. We are working very hard to make each investigation be very similar to what is going to be asked of your student on this years MSP test. So far the kids are enjoying science and really grasping the concepts well!
In reading this week we are going to continue our work in our book groups. Students are continuing to focus on predicting, questioning and summarizing. However, we are also asking students to answer comprehension strategies. After reading through, and grading, their packets this weekend, we are going to put a big emphasis on how to answer a question. Students are asked to write in complete sentences. Please look over your student's reading comprehension packet with them to help them understand my notes to them on how they can improve their work.
One way to ensure their answer is in complete sentences is to use the question to start the answer. An example of this would be: Why did Mrs. Therriault ask me to do this assignment? One way to start this answer would be: Mrs. Therriault asked me to do this assignment because...
Students are also being asked to provide evidence from the story to support their answer. In this case, we are looking for students to use details to explain their answer, use quotes to prove their answer or describe the events of the story in detail. These are all ways students can "use evidence". Saying, "because it said so in the book" will not count as evidence.
Each assignment is listed by day of the week and by the book your student has been assigned. The homework for reading this week is as follows.
Monday: Walk Two Moons(W2M) 9 &10, Junebug(June) 5, Bridge to Terrabithia(BT) 6, Landry News(LN) 8 & 9, and Wild River(WR) 4
Tuesday: W2M 11 &12, June 6, BT 7, LN 10 &11, WR 5
Wednesday: W2M 13&14&15, June 7, BT 8, LN 12 & 13, WR 6
There is no reading homework Thursday or Friday.
In writing this week students will have one last chance to revise and edit their papers. Students will be given a rubric that will explain how their papers will be graded. On Tuesday night, students will be asked to publish their story to be turned in on Wednesday. ANY LATE PAPERS WILL NOT RECEIVE FULL CREDIT. Students can handwrite or type their published papers. It will take Mrs. Therriault a little bit of time to grade them since their are 56 papers. Again, encourage your student to refer back to the rubric while they are publishing to ensure they are producing quality work. While there is not a length requirement, we are looking for quality.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns,
Allyn and Alaina
In math we will be continuing our 4th unit, this one on 1-digit division. This week students will be estimating quotients (answers), connecting models and symbols, working with zeros in the quotient, and understanding factors. The kids have truly begun showing a much higher level of confidence during math time. They are working hard on learning new concepts and many students are improving on their math facts so that the concepts are easy to complete. We have noticed that the students that are still struggling with math facts are able to complete the concepts with a high degree of success, but oftentimes their math facts trip them up. Keep working on those multiplication factors! THEY ARE THE KEY!
In science we are studying the affects of water over earth materials. We have discussed weathering, erosion, and deposition. Last week we completed our first investigation on erosion and deposition. This week we are going to change the investigation slightly when we add more flow to our streaming water over the earth materials. Through these investigations students are practicing writing hypotheses, forming procedures to test the hypothesis, writing a conclusion, and re-writing or making stronger our original hypothesis using our new knowledge. We are working very hard to make each investigation be very similar to what is going to be asked of your student on this years MSP test. So far the kids are enjoying science and really grasping the concepts well!
In reading this week we are going to continue our work in our book groups. Students are continuing to focus on predicting, questioning and summarizing. However, we are also asking students to answer comprehension strategies. After reading through, and grading, their packets this weekend, we are going to put a big emphasis on how to answer a question. Students are asked to write in complete sentences. Please look over your student's reading comprehension packet with them to help them understand my notes to them on how they can improve their work.
One way to ensure their answer is in complete sentences is to use the question to start the answer. An example of this would be: Why did Mrs. Therriault ask me to do this assignment? One way to start this answer would be: Mrs. Therriault asked me to do this assignment because...
Students are also being asked to provide evidence from the story to support their answer. In this case, we are looking for students to use details to explain their answer, use quotes to prove their answer or describe the events of the story in detail. These are all ways students can "use evidence". Saying, "because it said so in the book" will not count as evidence.
Each assignment is listed by day of the week and by the book your student has been assigned. The homework for reading this week is as follows.
Monday: Walk Two Moons(W2M) 9 &10, Junebug(June) 5, Bridge to Terrabithia(BT) 6, Landry News(LN) 8 & 9, and Wild River(WR) 4
Tuesday: W2M 11 &12, June 6, BT 7, LN 10 &11, WR 5
Wednesday: W2M 13&14&15, June 7, BT 8, LN 12 & 13, WR 6
There is no reading homework Thursday or Friday.
In writing this week students will have one last chance to revise and edit their papers. Students will be given a rubric that will explain how their papers will be graded. On Tuesday night, students will be asked to publish their story to be turned in on Wednesday. ANY LATE PAPERS WILL NOT RECEIVE FULL CREDIT. Students can handwrite or type their published papers. It will take Mrs. Therriault a little bit of time to grade them since their are 56 papers. Again, encourage your student to refer back to the rubric while they are publishing to ensure they are producing quality work. While there is not a length requirement, we are looking for quality.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns,
Allyn and Alaina
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