| August 2008
Dear 5Her,
Welcome back! I am looking forward to meeting you as a Hunnewell 5th grader. I know many of you
already from Reading Buddies, the hall, recess, or siblings. I am excited that we get to be a class
community this year. Fifth grade is really a special year, (and not just because you are the oldest!)
I had a fantastic summer with my family. We spent a lot of time at the beach in Rhode Island and
read some great books. I am really looking forward to working with you and wanted to give you some
fifth grade info.
Math
One of my favorites - and I hope yours too by the end of the year. We have wonderful “messy”
exemplars to solve, fractions, decimals, percents, division, multiplication, data, area, volume, shapes
and numbers to play with all year. You will also find math in other big projects too!
Reader’s Workshop
We have independent reading, novel studies, author studies, read aloud, reading groups and YES
Reading Response Journals. The RRJs are a great way for us to talk about books and for you to
develop your thinking as a reader.
Writer’s Workshop
In 5H we work to develop strong writers who can organize ideas and communicate them clearly. We
will write science and social studies, personal narratives, poems, articles and yes, even some fiction.
We also have word study each week. We will focus on different spelling patterns and Greek and Latin
root words.
Social Studies & Science
Travel to Ancient China and Egypt this year! They are two great units filled with research, art, reading
and writing. Our core science units are Design, Light and Microscopes. We will begin the year with a
Design study - including an extension project about building bridges.
Homework
Yes - every day :) It is a chance to practice what you learn in school. There will also be some longer
term projects and homework is an opportunity to practice breaking tasks into smaller parts. You will
receive an assignment notebook to record homework daily, and have an adult sign your notebook
each night. You will also be expected to read a minimum of 30 minutes each night.
Supplies
3 one subject notebooks
Pencils & erasers
Pencil box
Hunnewell supplies scissors, markers, rulers, colored pencils and glue sticks, but some people prefer
their own. It is up to you. I am sure that you have lots of questions. Don’t worry. Once school
begins on September 2nd, they will be answered. Looking forward to seeing you then!
Sincerely,
Ms. Haskell
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