Week of January 22-26th

Hello 5D Families,

Well, we eased into our first 5 day week of 2018 (with a two hour delay to boot)!  We've worked really hard in all academic areas.  Check out some of our happenings...

Math

• We learned how to change improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa
• We connected fractions, decimals and percents
• Reviewed for an assessment 
• Our next unit is adding/subtracting fractions with unlike denominators

Literacy

• Many kids completed their Mixbook
• They are welcome to work on these at home
• We begin our next unit on Argument next week

Social Studies

• Colonization families have been assembled
• We researched names, jobs, climate, hardships etc of the regions
• Our read aloud is very informative and realistic of the time period
• Kids figured out their needs vs haves and then bartered between the regions
• Ask your child all about it!

Anxiety with Mrs. Eitler

• We brainstormed new strategies to help when we are nervous and anxious
• Kids made a Fortune Teller using strategies they would find useful
• Mrs. Eitler will begin small "Stress Busters" groups
• Let me know if you are interested for your child (if you have not already)

Valentine Buddy Breakfast

• Please send in $2 cash for the breakfast with our buddies on 2/14.  A notice went home with the details as well as a class list for Valentines.

Early Release on 2/7-dismissal at 12:50

My report cards will go home on Thursday, 2/1 as I won't be in school on Friday and din't want to leave that for my guest teacher.

Grade 1 fundraiser to collect money for Africa will take place on Friday 2/2.  Students can bring in a $1 to shop at the market.  

Pictures from our week

STEMbassadors from UNH working with 5D

Enjoy your quality time this weekend!

Shannon

Week of January 15-19th

What a short week we had with Wednesday's storm.  Even with a shortened week, the kids worked so hard!  Here's a glimpse...

Math

• compared and ordered fractions
• learned and taught cross multiplying on SeeSaw
• worked on a Community Project with 5L

Literacy

• I continued benchmark assessments (I'm almost through!)
• Kids explored on Mixbook

Mixbook is a design website that students are using to create their own non fiction book!  More details will follow!

Social Studies

• we began our social studies unit of Colonization with 5L
• three regions
• push and pull reasons for colonization

Report cards go home in 2/2/18

Early Release on Wednesday 2/7/18

Dismissal at 12:50

February Break 2/26-3/2

Valentine's Buddy Breakfast on 2/14/18

We will enjoy a french toast breakfast with our buddies on Valentine's day!  I'm asking for $2 cash from each student for this.  Let me know if you have any questions... 

Mouth Guards for PE

Ms. Locke highly recommends mouth guards for the upcoming floor hockey unit.

Enjoy your weekend!

Shannon

Week of January 8-12, 2018

Hello all!

Good news!  We thrived and survived our first full week of 2018!  I'm happy we have an extra day off though in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Ask your child all about the book we read today.  It was all about MLK Jr and it was written by a student in my last year's class!

Here's a glimpse into our week...

Math

• Found equivalent fractions
• Simplified fractions to simplest form/lowest terms
• Reviewed fractions as division
• Use EdPuzzle as well as self guided videos
• Took a quick check assessment
• iReady mid year diagnostic on Thursday!

Literacy

• BENCHMARKING!!!  I love having students read and reflect on it with me 
• My, they have grown!  I'll report on it in report card
• Literacy menu

Science 

• finished up an experiment with data, analysis and conclusion
• completed a lab report
• Reflected on SeeSaw

Words Their Way-

• assessed on Monday and Friday; new sorts coming Tuesday!
• Kids are in groups according to a pre-assessment.  Make sure to reiterate to your child that they are right where they need to be to learn best!  

Buddies

• We did a stem activity about building the tallest tower out of pipe cleaners

Mrs. Eitler

We talked all about kids' stressors that cause anxiety and then talked about the strategy of guided meditation!  Kids then practiced this strategy in class.  I'd highly recommend looking up guided meditation for kids on youtube to use at home!  Small "Stress Busters" groups will start to work with Mrs. Eitler to explore other strategies.  Let me know if you'd be interested for your child to be part of this!

Memory Book Cover Contest drawings due Tuesday!

Guided Meditation

MLK Book written by a past 5D student

Buddy STEM activity

Until Tuesday....

Shannon :)

January 5, 2018

Happy New Year to all!

We had a short, successful week back.  The snow on Thursday was a nice little break for our re-entry into 2018!

Here's what we did this short week back....

Math

• Began a fraction unit
• Centers included self guided learning with videos
• Learned that fractions and division have a lot in common

Literacy

• Worked on conclusions for our research report
• We will be creating amazing books from all our research
• Took a grammar diagnostic on www.noredink.com

If your child would like to access this at home, he/she is more than welcome to!  It's an interactive way to learn all about grammar in a personalized way!

Science

• We are working on a self guided performance task on Matter
• Students worked solo or in pairs to perform an experiment and take data
• From this, each student will write a conclusion based on the outcome of the experiment

STEMbassadors!

They are coming to work with 5D on Friday 1/26 to do some cool activities!  Make sure if your child wants to be a part of the Saturday event, have them bring in their form ASAP!

Anxiety

Judy Eitler will be coming in on Tuesday to work with all of 5D around what anxiety is and strategies to help.  She's planned two lessons for the month of January and then will follow up with smaller groups to work on strategies.  Please let me know if you'd be interested for your child to attend a small group!

Qurater 2 closes on Friday, January 19.  Report cards will go home on Friday, February 2nd.

Enjoy the weekend!

Shannon

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!  Your donations to the food bank and the family in need was amazing!  (Well over $550 total!!!!) Your generosity is what this time is all about!  When presented with all this, I got a little teary due to the true meaning of the holidays.  I want you all to know how appreciative I am of all that you do!

Thank you for the Barnes and Noble gift card as well as the Amesbury Sports park gift card.  I can't wait to make more memories with Sean and Lizzie!

Thank you for all the extra treats too.  I'm seriously overwhelmed and my heart is full!  No wonder you have such amazing kids!

I hope you all have a restful, relaxing and energizing week with your families making lots of memories!  See you in 2018!

Love,

Shannon

Week 14

Happy Weekend to All!

Another week in the books and I'm really impressed with how much we got done!  Here's a glimpse into our week!  These kids deserve a vacation soon.... oh, wait....  :)

Before I forget!!!!  Early Release next Wednesday, the 13th!  12:50 Dismissal.

Math:

• Interpret remainders in problem solving with division
• Double digit divisors
• Reviewed and took an assessment
• Played math games with 5L
• Decimal division is next week!

Literacy

• Chose a high interest and engaging research topic
• Took notes on subtopics and details
• Flashdrafted with our notes
• Went back to the drawing board with some research
• Peer edited our writing with a partner

Word Work

• Returned to homophones
• Worked in pairs to define and use each homephone
• Played games

Read Aloud

• UGLY by Robert Hoge is our new read aloud
• PLEASE, ask your child about it (memoir-true story)

Science

• 5D visited Mrs. Craig and Mrs. Pinsonnault for Science this week
• Make sure to ask them about traveling
• I missed them and was pretty sure they grew an inch when they were gone each day

Have you heard about HOLIDAY DESK WARS????  

Haha, it's been a great week to pull some teamwork together.  Each table group earns points for doing the right thing and working as a team.  The team with the highest points will earn a little free time at the end of each week.  We will be having a full on table decoration competition judged by some SMS teachers and staff during the final week before vacation!

Party Time!

We will celebrate with a holiday brunch on Thursday, December 21st from 10-11.  More details will be coming in future details.  All are welcome.  I sent home a note about the holiday food drive as well as a family in need we can help.  See the attached link. Letter

The Gingerbread Boys!

The Santa Claus People

The Christmas Tree Santas

The Ornaments

The Elf-Reys

Enjoy your weekend!!

Shannon

Lucky Week 13!

Hello everyone!

Wow, December is here and these students are changing and growing each and every day.  I cannot begin to tell you the amount of work and motivation I'm seeing from every single student!  Here are some of the things we did this week...

Math:

• Worked hard on learning divisibility rules
• Demonstrated these rules in SeeSaw
• Began whole number division
• Divided to decorate some UGLY sweaters!

Literacy:

• Read A LOT of non-fiction texts in 5D
• Talked about how to keep EYES and MINDS in the book
• Took notes using a format called "Topic, Sub Topic, Details"
• Started learning about Informational Text Structures
• Sorted text structures for better understanding

Read Aloud

• We are finished with Scar Island

Science

• We began our MATTER unit with 5L early this week
• Chemical/Physical change in 5D
• Students will be traveling to the other four classrooms for two days each to learn about matter
• Students will be responsible for taking notes and observations over these two weeks
• This unit will culminate with a project

Early Release on Wednesday, December 13th. Dismissal at 12:50

Holiday Party!!!

Our party will take place on Thursday, December 21st from 1:30-2:30.  We will host 

a holiday book swap (wrap a book you've already read).  Details for food and other 

information will come later.  All are invited!

Winter Break begins Friday, 12/22 at 3 pm!

Science Matter Sort

Science Groups Experiment with Physical/Chemical Changes

Informational Text Structures!