Student Reflection 12/20/13

In math this week we learned that a larger sample gives us a better estimate of the data.

After a week of clues, our Secret Santas were revealed today!

News From 5-4 12/20/13

News From 5-4 12/20/13

News From 5-4
December 20, 2013

We've been so busy these past three weeks! The fifth graders have been hard workers and have been focused on their second trimester goals. Today we had a chance to work on a fun holiday math challenge, identify signposts and figurative language in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and reveal our Secret Santas.  As always, I was impressed by the kindness 5-4 expressed toward one another throughout these special activities. They have so much fun together! I sure am one lucky teacher. :)

Dates to remember:

1/6   Return from Winter Vacation

1/14  PTA Meeting

1/16  School Board Meeting

1/20 No School MLK Jr. Day

1/21 No School Institute Day

Here's what has been happening the past few weeks:

Literacy:
We have been practicing close reading strategies in the informational text, Freedom Walkers. This book had given the fifth graders insight into the what led up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and about the civil rights leaders who led the fight for equality. We've been using this text to practice making a claim and supporting it with evidence from the text. We are practicing quoting the text in a meaningful way and looking at the assessment rubric for claim and evidence.
We are more than half way through our guided reading novels. In addition to noticing and noting the signposts in literature, we are also working on recognizing figurative language and problems and solutions in these novels.
In vocabulary we are back to working on prefixes.

Math:
We've been working on Unit 6: Using Data & Adding and Subtracting Fractions. We've covered measurement, probability, stem and leaf plots, mystery plots, and circle graphs. After break, we'll begin working on adding and subtracting fractions and finding common denominators. Many students have been passing from levels to level on the fast fact tests. Thank you so much for encouraging and helping your child study! 
Social Studies:
We studied the Declaration of Independence, including the events that led to its writing, the Second Continental Congress, Common Sense, and Thomas Jefferson's role.

We also studied the Revolutionary War. We compared and contrasted the American and British forces, key factors that allowed the American colonies to defeat the more powerful British, and the major provisions of the Treaty of Paris.

Writing:
In grammar, we've been focusing on verbs. After break, we'll continue with verb tenses, main and helping verbs, and linking verbs.
During Wex, we are  using the novel The Liberation of Gabriel King to practice writing in response to fiction. We have been focusing on the main characters, Gabe and Frida, to help us learn to develop characters in our own writing. We have also been using this book to help us compare and contrast the different view points and structure of two texts related to the same topic.

I'll be thinking of each of your fifth graders over break. They are such a light in my life! Thank you for sharing them with me. Enjoy family time and celebrating the holidays these next two weeks.

Sincerely,
Kelly

Student Reflection- 12/6/13

In social studies, we played tug-of-war to help us understand the Revolutionary War.  There was a larger, stronger team versus a smaller team. This represented the British army being larger, more organized, and stronger than the colonies' army. The smaller team was told they would be given candy if they won (representing the prize of independence), except one person who didn't
receive the prize (representing the slaves and indentured servants who fought).  An extra team came in to help when the smaller team was struggling, which represented our allies, The French. Half of the large team had to stand further back to represent the distance between the colonies and Britain. The larger team had to pull the rope 20 feet toward their side, representing that the British had to claim new land, while the colonists were just defending and holding their own territory.

Mrs. Lytle organized an amazing service project for the fifth graders. We created placemats for the Meals on Wheels program. During this holiday season, the recipients of the meals will also be surprised by a colorful, cheerful placemat to put it upon. Think of all of the spirits we are lifting! We're so proud of ourselves for making people smile and "filling their bucket."