Updated 11/1/09
Topics we are currently working on:
Math: Everyday we do TWO math lessons. We do our Warm Up lesson each
morning when we arrive at school. Warm Up topics cover a variety of
concepts, calculations, and problem solving opportunities. Some problems are
a review of previously studied material and others are challenging word
problems. Our second math lesson is an ongoing unit of study. We are
currently reading and interpreting graphs and charts. Topics we have studied
in math includes: place value, multiplication, and long division with a 1
digit divisor, rounding, factors, prime & composite, properties, rounding to
the millions place
Reading: Each week we have many opportunities to read silently, read aloud,
or listen to others read. Each day we have an independent reading period.
Much time is spent teaching children to read, they need to time to actually
do it! During this period students have to opportunity to read something of
their own choosing. We also do some shared reading. Often we read a story
from our reader as a whole class. We also meeting in smaller guided reading
groups. These groups meet approximately two times a week. As you know, we
also read whole class novels. Our next novel is An Owl in the Shower. I have
begun reading this aloud to class.
Grammar: We study grammar in isolation and try to use what we've learned in
our writing. We have studied: what is a sentence, the 4 types of sentences,
subjects & predicates (simple and complete), dependent and independent
clauses.
Writing: To make writing an easier and more enjoyable activity, we write
EVERY day! Sometimes the time is spent on a genre piece such as our personal
narrative or a DBQ essay. The rest of the time is spent on journal writing.
Sometimes journal entries are topics chosen by the student, other times they
are responses to prompts provided by me.
Reading Response: The reading and writing connection is an important one.
Students must have the ability to explain the thinking they are doing while
reading both orally and in writing. To do this, our class has reading
response notebooks. In these notebooks, students write me a weekly
(sometimes biweekly) letter about what they are reading during independent
reading time. The focus of the letters is on the thinking strategies
students are using while they are reading.
Social Studies: We are spending much time preparing for the 5th Grade NYS
Social Studies test. Time is spent practicing our weekly vocabulary words
EVERY day. We are spending time studying geography. We are also
practicing reading maps, charts, and graphs. Reviewing old tests is helping
us to become comfortable with the format. We are noticing lots of our
vocabulary words in the test questions. Time has been spent reviewing NY
State history, economics, and government. We wrote two teacher directed DBQ
essays and last week wrote a third with guidance. This week we will write
another DBQ essay. I love the GROWTH I saw in this last set of essays. Many
students scored a “4 “(excellent). Essays were well organized into multiple
paragraphs. Most importantly, ideas were supported with details from the
documents. Originally, we thought DBQ were hard. When we work hard, look
at the great work we can do!
Science: We are studying the parts of an ecosystem. We are also focusing on
owls and their role in the food chain. This week we will review the steps of
the Scientific Method and will begin our Owl Pellet Dissection Lab. This is
very exciting, ask for details at home!!!!
Thank you's:
We'd like to send a big thank you to Mrs. Peek for coming in to help us
dissect owl pellets. Identifying the parts can be difficult and we really
appreciated her help!
Thank you to all the parents who sent in paper products, juice, and treats
for our Halloween party. Thank you also to the parents who joined the class
for the party. I'm sorry I missed you.