Hello 5-2 Parents ~
I hope you all enjoyed some relaxing time with your families over Winter Break, and found a way to stay warm in this crazy weather!! Brrrr!!
I apologize for the delay in getting updates to you in the few weeks between conferences and Winter Break. Several factors (including my computer crashing and a pipe bursting in our classroom!) left me either unable to update our blog, or swamped with catch up work. It was a crazy month! All should be well going forward (fingers crossed!), so you should be able to expect regular weekend updates going forward :)
I apologize for the delay in getting updates to you in the few weeks between conferences and Winter Break. Several factors (including my computer crashing and a pipe bursting in our classroom!) left me either unable to update our blog, or swamped with catch up work. It was a crazy month! All should be well going forward (fingers crossed!), so you should be able to expect regular weekend updates going forward :)
The new year brings some new expectations for your student as they are in the final stretches of their 5th grade year! I will no longer be stamping their assignment notebook every afternoon - students are now expected to check the assignment board every afternoon, and copy down the assignments due. Of course, I will be reminding them of their assignments and responsibilities at the end of every day, but I will no longer check in with each individual student. They are also expected to turn in assigned homework in the morning of it's due date. While they will still be receiving reminders to turn the assignments in, I will not check in with them individually to turn their work in. If the work is not turned in at the expected time, it will be marked late. We are working to transition them to more independence and ownership of their learning as they begin to prepare for middle school. Encourage them to maintain organization and listen for those reminders!
Important Dates
Robert Crown: Michael/Linda Program ~ January 15th - Next week, Robert Crown will be presenting information about how your children's bodies are changing as they enter puberty. Boys and girls will be separated for the presentations, and will receive different information in each of their programs. See below for a specific description of the information that will be covered:
*You already signed a permission slip for this program earlier in the school year, so this is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions or concerns at all about this presentation, please let me know. I would be happy to dicuss the material covered in greater depth with you before the presentation.
MICHAEL/LINDA - PUBERTY EDUCATION FOR BOYS/GIRLS – 85 Minutes
The Michael/Linda program is a unique opportunity for a pre-adolescent "boys only" and “girls only” education about puberty. We discuss the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty and also compare the female and male reproductive anatomy. Each participant takes home a comprehensive booklet as a resource.
Students will…
- Increase knowledge about human anatomy, the changes which occur during puberty, and the reasons for these changes.
- Understand that the changes of puberty are a normal part of human development and will increase their comfort for discussing this topic with trusted adults.
- Learn skills to take care of their bodies as they experience the changes of puberty.
*You already signed a permission slip for this program earlier in the school year, so this is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions or concerns at all about this presentation, please let me know. I would be happy to dicuss the material covered in greater depth with you before the presentation.
MLK Day ~ Monday, January 20th - No School
SIP Day ~ Tuesday, January 21st - No School
SIP Day ~ Tuesday, January 21st - No School
Math
My math class wrapped up Unit 5 before break with a Unit Assessment. Look for these graded to tests to come home on the first day back for a sign and return. We will begin Unit 6 when we return with a pre-test on our first day back. In Unit 6, students investigate data displays and sample size. They learn how to match "mystery plots" with data, and they learn how to read and use contour maps to display certain kinds of data. Also in Unit 6, students add and subtract fractions and relate finding common denominators to the idea that every fraction has many equivalent names. Initially, I had their Unit 6 Assessment scheduled for next Friday, 1/17, but the school closing will push test day into the following week. I will keep you posted.
Social Studies
We finished up our study of the Revolutionary War before break as well with a Unit 13 Assessment. These tests should have come home with your child on Friday, 12/20 for a sign and return. Please be sure to check in with your child if you have not seen it yet. They also enjoyed a research project on a specific battle of the Revolutionary War ~ they learned more about their assigned battle, then created a timeline hallway display combining their new knowledge to teach others about their learning. This unit ends our Social Studies instruction for the next 6 weeks - we will return to study the Constitution at the end of February.
Science
When we return to school, we will begin our Watery Earth unit in science. During this unit, your
child will think about global and local water resources. Students will learn about the water
cycle and how Earth’s water is distributed. They’ll learn that water on Earth is abundant, but realize
that there is a limited amount of fresh, clean water available for people to
use and that we must protect the water on Earth from pollution and
overuse. The most important goal
of the Watery Earth unit is to encourage students to use what they learn about
water to make choices and take actions in their own life that have a positive
impact on water resources.
During the Water Earth Unit, your child will participate
in the following classroom activities.
· ~ Discover that Earth’s water exists in large and
small bodies of water on Earth’s surface, in aquifers
underground in frozen
glaciers and ice caps, and as vapor in the air.
· ~ Build models of the water cycle to demonstrate
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and percolation.
· ~ Learn about where their tap water comes from, how
it is made drinkable, and where it goes after use.
· ~ Discuss the essential and non-essential ways their
family uses water and explore water conservation strategies.
· ~ Learn about different types of water pollutants and
various treatment methods.
· ~ Investigate an issue pertaining to protecting water
resources, take action to positively impact that issue, and communicate their
accomplishment.
During this unit, your child will need one clean 2-liter bottle, cut in half separating the top from the bottom. Please send in this bottle by next Friday, 1/17. Thank you!
Reading
We will spend some time when we return this week learning more about the global changes our planet is undergoing, and specifically spend time looking at how author's purpose/perspective drives their writing. They will begin by reading Kofi Annan's speech to the world leaders at a UN Council Meeting on the topic, then they will compare his views to several scientists' writing on global warming, to determine how their views impact their perspective when portraying opinions as fact. Underlying this discussion will be a critical analysis of how writers use fact and opinion to sway their audience.
Writing
When we return to school, your child will be participating in a reading and
writing unit entitled, Writing in
Response to Fiction. During this unit, students will gain a
deeper understanding of the relationship between reading and writing and will
learn essential reading and writing strategies that they will need in order to
respond to fiction throughout their educational careers. The students will be
reading the book, The Liberation of
Gabriel King, by K.L Going.
The Liberation of Gabriel King is a well written and highly engaging
historical fiction novel about a friendship between two fourth grade students,
Gabriel King, a Caucasian boy, and his friend Frita, an African-American girl.
The setting of the story is rural Georgia in 1976, the year of the
bicentennial, and Jimmy Carter is President. The author writes about racial
prejudice and the presence of the Ku Klux Klan. Frita’s goal is to liberate
Gabe from his fears. Together they list their fears and pledge to conquer them
one by one during the summer between fourth and fifth grade.
In order to prepare them for this novel, we will spend some time reading and discussing Freedom Walkers and Rosa Parks to give our students context as to the setting and the civil rights struggles that were present at that time in our history.
In order to prepare them for this novel, we will spend some time reading and discussing Freedom Walkers and Rosa Parks to give our students context as to the setting and the civil rights struggles that were present at that time in our history.
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”
Stay Warm ~ Theresa Fowler
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