Thursday, January 28, 2016

Week of 1/25-1/29

Families and Friends of 5D,

Here's a glimpse into our week...


  • In math, the students completed Unit 4 with an assessment on Friday.  We are officially half way through our Every Day Math program.  During the week, students shopped for themselves to spend $500.  Some shopped with a theme in mind!  Some themes were Man Caves, Boho Bedroom, Outdoor Fun, Game Room, Design and Decor among many others.  
  • In literacy, students self-edited their research writing, then peer edited and finally met with either me, Ms. Matlack or Mrs. Metz to complete a final edit.  Next week the students will create a way to present their research.  Documentaries, educational books, brochures, Animotos and Interactive Google Slides are among some of the choices students have brainstormed.
  • Spellingcity.com was introduced and given as homework a few nights this week.  On this, all students have 7 spelling and vocabulary activities followed by two assessments.  The students learned where to find their word list right on their home page.  They need to find the tab for "Search", scroll to "Word Lists" and then find their list on the left hand side under "Recent Lists".
  • In science, the students have chosen groups and then brainstormed a scientific question around matter to test.  On Thursday each group wrote up an official lab report including materials and procedure. Each individual will work on a hypothesis as well as thinking throughout the experiment.  They will be performing their experiments on Monday.
Please make sure your child has returned their form for the Grade 5 versus SMS Staff Basketball game.  It's sure to be a memorable night!

 Valentine's Day is right around the corner!  We will host a party on Friday, February 12th at 1:30-2:30 pm.  If your child would like to bring in Valentines, please make sure he/she brings in one for every child in the class.  I'll send home a class list.  At this time, the students will showcase their Research Presentations to all of you!

For the celebration we will need snacks and drinks.  I will send an email closer to the date and everyone can reply all if they can bring something.  Thank you!!!

Hope you all had wonderful weekends. We skied Sunday River as a family and had a blast! Until Monday...

Shannon

Friday, January 22, 2016

Week of January 18-22

Hello family and friends of 5D,

Here are some happenings from our week!


  • In math we problem solved using the coordinate grid. The students started a City Project as well. On Friday we visited 6 game centers with 5H.
  • In writing, all students took notes on their research topic (using their Padlet page).  As fifth graders, it is of utmost importance to find a system for writing notes that makes sense for you! All students took notes a little differently.  Some did it right on Padlet while others used sticky notes, excel spreadsheets and tables right in google docs.
  • On Friday, I modeled writing quality blog comments on KidBlog.  If the students log on, they can see the recipe right in my latest blog.  The students did extremely well with this so I will have them comment on blogs again next week.
  • On Friday, we met with our 2R Reading Buddies to help them fluently read like a true character.
  • We started The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis.  This is an oldie , but surely a goodie.  These characters are so vivid and funny.  Make sure to ask your child about them!
  • In science, we did a few experiments and weighed many different objects.  Oobleck was definitely a highlight!  On Friday we worked with oil, corn syrup and water.
NOTE TO SOME: some students did not finish their Coordinate Grid City and brought it home for homework.  Mostly they have coloring left.  It is due Monday morning.

A few things we also talked about....

Having Chromebooks is a wonderful privilege and as a class we discussed the appropriate use of them.  All students need to make sure they are working on the task at hand with 100% effort.  Please feel free to ask your child all about our discussion.  

Homework responsibility was another topic we touched upon.  My goal is to get all the students ready for the demands of CMS.  I've noticed that some homework has been coming in late and KidBlog is not being utilized to its expectancy.  We also talked about how hectic our schedules can be and that there needs to be a plan to make sure homework is getting done.  Please ask your child about this as well.  Any support at home would be greatly appreciated!  

And finally....

I want to let you know that Molly from our class has found a NH issue that she feels strongly about and wanted to involve all of fifth grade.  She visited each classroom to talk about signing a petition to help save the NH bobcat from being trapped.  Each class signed her petition and she'll be mailing these to Governor Hassan!  Way to go, Molly!

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!  Until Monday....

Shannon

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Week of January 11-15

❤️Families and Friends of 5D,

Here are some happenings from our week.


  • In math, we have worked on comparing and ordering decimals as well as rounding.  We also used coordinate points to plot points on a coordinate grid.  
  • In reading, we have continued with non-fiction and raising the level of the complexity of text we are reading.  As readers, when we get stuck, we need to use tools and strategies to figure out what we are reading.
  • All students have discussed what makes certain research reports compelling.  As a class we watched a documentary about the Transcontinental Railroad and then pointed out what helped give it a "WOW" factor.  In doing this, the students started to think about their next move in research writing.  With a Padlet page as our research organizer, each student thought deliberately about what research they wanted to include.
  • We had visitors during our math class on Thursday!  These people were a part of Instructional Rounds for the SAU.  Ask your child all about it!
  • On Wednesday, we made Valentine cards with our 2R Reading Buddies for the troops.
  • With 5H, we started out science unit on Matter.  The students have listened to a great song called "Matter Chatter" and have done their first experiment.  More will be coming next week!

Mr. Fosher has completed the Geography Bee with our class and we have a winner..... drum roll....

JOHNNY!!!  Congratulations to you as you compete with others for the SMS title!

Questions to promote school talk...

  1. What are you studying in math?  What did the visitors on Thursday ask you?
  2. Did you choose a new research topic?
  3. Show me your Padlet page.
  4. Tell me about what you did for the matter experiment?  What did you prove?
  5. How is coding with Mr. G going?
I hope you all have a wonderful three day weekend!

Until Tuesday....

Shannon 

Cup Experiment









Thursday, January 7, 2016

Happy 2016

Friends and Family of 5D,

I hope everyone has had a fantastic start to 2016!  The students got right back into the swing of things. We took lot of time Monday to go over classroom rules and expectations.  By Tuesday, we were working like a well-oiled machine!

Some things we did this week....


  • We started unit 4 in math which is all abut decimals and graphing on the coordinate plane.So far we have explored building decimals with manipulatives as well as standard, word and expanded form.  
  • We returned to our Research Writing and each student self assessed their own on a rubric. After the self assessment, every student wrote down a "Glow" (something he/she has excelled at) as well as a "Grow" (something he/she needs to work to improve).  I modeled how to write an ending for a research report as well.  Then all students worked to write/refine their own.
  • Non-fiction writing involved tackling tougher words using a few different strategies.  Students were encouraged to read ahead, picture what is happening, ask themselves if the word seemed positive/negative/neutral and to think of the meaning of parts of the word.  Students then went off to model this strategy in their own reading.
  • We continued reading from The Fourteenth Goldfish.  This book is quite comical!
  • Students continued working on infomercials to get people to move to their colony.  Through WeVideo, each pair worked to create a script, then find music and pictures to go along with the script.  So far, they look fantastic.  They'll be showcased on Monday and I'll try my best to post them here.
Needs (only if you have them to spare)

We will be beginning our next science unit all about matter.  If you have any of these items at home, they'd be greatly appreciated.

  1. Corn Starch
  2. Corn Syrup
  3. Vegetable Oil

Thank you for all you do!  I hope you relax and enjoy your weekend.

Until Monday....

Shannon