Snyder and Davis 5th Grade News… 10/4/13
Live Kind Choose Happiness Unleash Learning
What we have been up to…
Math: Classes read the book, The Fly on the Ceiling, and discovered that Rene’ Descartes created the coordinate grid system. We worked with various grids including the one on our classroom ceiling! It was fun making connections with the book and how people use the coordinate system in their daily lives. Numerous grid games were played on both game boards and the computer. Currently, each student is completing a coordinate grid picture. Make sure to ask your child about this. The picture assignment is due Oct. 11 (as it is meticulous and students will need additional time to complete this neatly and accurately.) Each child chose an individual project with coordinate grids to complete for the end of our grid studies. Projects will also be due Oct. 11 and shared that day. Suggestions were given on Oct. 2 and some work time in class will be given. Thank you in advance if you provide any extra support with this learning experience.
Other info…We continue to problem solve and engage in Number Talks. I worked with students needing extra help with subtracting decimals today and will be working with students on Monday during part of their recess if they still need help with coordinate grids.
Reading: We continued to put our reading detective skills to use this week by getting our “clues on.” We discovered the importance of using context clues to help us discover the meaning of unknown words. We looked for clues of the word’s meaning in the sentence the word is in, and also the sentences surrounding the word. We discovered that using context clues help us stay focused on what we are reading, helps us understand what we’re reading, and helps us build our vocabulary.
Ivan continues to touch our hearts as he is finding his way in helping his friend Ruby in our read aloud, The One and Only Ivan.
Science: We continue to focus on the effect variables have on our investigations. We learned that only one variable should be different in an experiment and that is what is being tested. We began a new investigation, working through the design process and conducting a controlled experiment. We will continue collecting data to analyze and formulate conclusions. Ask about our pendulum experiment!
Social Studies: Classes know about the importance of absolute location and continue working on latitude and longitude. We connect this concept with math…coordinate grids. Students have been practicing these skills in class on world maps.
Word Study: It is normal routine for us to have a pretest on Monday and words should come home that day. We have talked about picking appropriate words for our skill level…not too hard that it leads to so much frustration, but challenging enough so we are learning new patterns and vocabulary. Starting Monday, October 7, students who need challenged more may choose words from a word bank that is much more difficult. Parent activity will be assigned on Monday for homework (choose 1) and S.O.S. (choose 1) on Tuesday evening. Tests will be on Fridays. Thanks for any support with these skills.
Upcoming events:
Friday, October 4 Interims sent home today (progress report will be sent each 12 weeks) *Please send back (on Monday, October 7) the signed parent slip (yellow) that you received the interim. You may keep the interim. Thank you.
Book orders due today for Snyder and Davis classes. No cash orders please. You may send the order form in on/by this date or order online.
Thursday, October 10 Picture Day…info sent home this week about this
HCR PTO at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 11 Walk-a-thon Celebration (during school time)
Friday, October 18 COI Day (Teacher Inservice Day) …No school
Wednesday, Oct. 23 Donuts for Dads…information will be sent later
Friday, November 1 End of the 1st 12 weeks…progress reports go home at a later date, not today
Saturday, November 9 HCR Carnival (more info later)
Live Kind Choose Happiness Unleash Learning
What we have been up to…
Math: Classes read the book, The Fly on the Ceiling, and discovered that Rene’ Descartes created the coordinate grid system. We worked with various grids including the one on our classroom ceiling! It was fun making connections with the book and how people use the coordinate system in their daily lives. Numerous grid games were played on both game boards and the computer. Currently, each student is completing a coordinate grid picture. Make sure to ask your child about this. The picture assignment is due Oct. 11 (as it is meticulous and students will need additional time to complete this neatly and accurately.) Each child chose an individual project with coordinate grids to complete for the end of our grid studies. Projects will also be due Oct. 11 and shared that day. Suggestions were given on Oct. 2 and some work time in class will be given. Thank you in advance if you provide any extra support with this learning experience.
Other info…We continue to problem solve and engage in Number Talks. I worked with students needing extra help with subtracting decimals today and will be working with students on Monday during part of their recess if they still need help with coordinate grids.
Reading: We continued to put our reading detective skills to use this week by getting our “clues on.” We discovered the importance of using context clues to help us discover the meaning of unknown words. We looked for clues of the word’s meaning in the sentence the word is in, and also the sentences surrounding the word. We discovered that using context clues help us stay focused on what we are reading, helps us understand what we’re reading, and helps us build our vocabulary.
Ivan continues to touch our hearts as he is finding his way in helping his friend Ruby in our read aloud, The One and Only Ivan.
Science: We continue to focus on the effect variables have on our investigations. We learned that only one variable should be different in an experiment and that is what is being tested. We began a new investigation, working through the design process and conducting a controlled experiment. We will continue collecting data to analyze and formulate conclusions. Ask about our pendulum experiment!
Social Studies: Classes know about the importance of absolute location and continue working on latitude and longitude. We connect this concept with math…coordinate grids. Students have been practicing these skills in class on world maps.
Word Study: It is normal routine for us to have a pretest on Monday and words should come home that day. We have talked about picking appropriate words for our skill level…not too hard that it leads to so much frustration, but challenging enough so we are learning new patterns and vocabulary. Starting Monday, October 7, students who need challenged more may choose words from a word bank that is much more difficult. Parent activity will be assigned on Monday for homework (choose 1) and S.O.S. (choose 1) on Tuesday evening. Tests will be on Fridays. Thanks for any support with these skills.
Upcoming events:
Friday, October 4 Interims sent home today (progress report will be sent each 12 weeks) *Please send back (on Monday, October 7) the signed parent slip (yellow) that you received the interim. You may keep the interim. Thank you.
Book orders due today for Snyder and Davis classes. No cash orders please. You may send the order form in on/by this date or order online.
Thursday, October 10 Picture Day…info sent home this week about this
HCR PTO at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 11 Walk-a-thon Celebration (during school time)
Friday, October 18 COI Day (Teacher Inservice Day) …No school
Wednesday, Oct. 23 Donuts for Dads…information will be sent later
Friday, November 1 End of the 1st 12 weeks…progress reports go home at a later date, not today
Saturday, November 9 HCR Carnival (more info later)