Hello 5-2 Families ~
So exciting to see those warmer temperatures heading our way, and those record-setting snow banks shrinking away!! Hoping they'll be gone by the end of the week, and we can all enjoy some long needed time in the sun over break :)
We have run out of tissue in 5-2! We use tissues for more than just our runny noses...the students use tissues as erasers for their laptop whiteboards. Since we use these whiteboards almost daily, we use quite a few tissues! If you could please send in a couple of boxes, we would really appreciate it! Thank you so much :)
Important Dates
Thursday, March 20th & 21st ~ As you have heard, these are now student attendance days due to the number of extreme weather days we have had to take this winter. This means we will no longer meet for parent-teacher conferences. Many questions during the 5th grade spring conferences are about middle school transitions, including placement into classes. I will do my best to continue to update you via this blog about the transitions, and try to answer those questions that I am frequently asked about the transition. Several other questions are related to the end of the year 5th grade activities. Again, I will keep you posted about all those activities via this blog. If you have ANY questions at all, please do not hesistate to contact me. I fully appreciate the additional anxiety families feel during this transition, and want to make it as smooth as possible :)
If I feel it is important to still meet with you about the progress of your child, I will reach out to you individually to set up a time to meet. If I do not reach out to you, please assume your child is making progress and I have no concerns about them. Several parents have approached me about setting up a conference time because those days have been canceled. If you have pressing concerns, I would be happy to meet with you. But if you have questions that can be answered via email, please feel free to contact me this way instead. It can get challenging trying to schedule 19 parent-teacher conferences after school :) That being said, I would be happy to meet with all 19 of you if there is a need!
Additional Note ~ Several of you have asked about math placement testing for middle school, so I wanted to update you on what I know. In the past, students have taken 3 math placement tests the week after spring break. We used these tests, as well as performance in class and on the MAPS test to determine middle school math placement into 3 different levels (Regular, Honors, High Honors). The process for placement is changing this year, and we have been informed the math levels will change as well - from three levels to two levels of middle school math. Unfortunately, we haven't been given much information about how the process will be changing. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is working with district to get as much information as possible on this process, but has not received many details yet. I will send out information regarding this process as soon as I have been given information. As of now, I have NOT been given any information that the students will test after spring break. I will keep you informed as I am informed of the changes to this process.
Spring Break ~ Monday, 3/24 - Friday, 3/28 ~ Enjoy!!
So exciting to see those warmer temperatures heading our way, and those record-setting snow banks shrinking away!! Hoping they'll be gone by the end of the week, and we can all enjoy some long needed time in the sun over break :)
We have run out of tissue in 5-2! We use tissues for more than just our runny noses...the students use tissues as erasers for their laptop whiteboards. Since we use these whiteboards almost daily, we use quite a few tissues! If you could please send in a couple of boxes, we would really appreciate it! Thank you so much :)
Important Dates
Thursday, March 20th & 21st ~ As you have heard, these are now student attendance days due to the number of extreme weather days we have had to take this winter. This means we will no longer meet for parent-teacher conferences. Many questions during the 5th grade spring conferences are about middle school transitions, including placement into classes. I will do my best to continue to update you via this blog about the transitions, and try to answer those questions that I am frequently asked about the transition. Several other questions are related to the end of the year 5th grade activities. Again, I will keep you posted about all those activities via this blog. If you have ANY questions at all, please do not hesistate to contact me. I fully appreciate the additional anxiety families feel during this transition, and want to make it as smooth as possible :)
If I feel it is important to still meet with you about the progress of your child, I will reach out to you individually to set up a time to meet. If I do not reach out to you, please assume your child is making progress and I have no concerns about them. Several parents have approached me about setting up a conference time because those days have been canceled. If you have pressing concerns, I would be happy to meet with you. But if you have questions that can be answered via email, please feel free to contact me this way instead. It can get challenging trying to schedule 19 parent-teacher conferences after school :) That being said, I would be happy to meet with all 19 of you if there is a need!
Additional Note ~ Several of you have asked about math placement testing for middle school, so I wanted to update you on what I know. In the past, students have taken 3 math placement tests the week after spring break. We used these tests, as well as performance in class and on the MAPS test to determine middle school math placement into 3 different levels (Regular, Honors, High Honors). The process for placement is changing this year, and we have been informed the math levels will change as well - from three levels to two levels of middle school math. Unfortunately, we haven't been given much information about how the process will be changing. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is working with district to get as much information as possible on this process, but has not received many details yet. I will send out information regarding this process as soon as I have been given information. As of now, I have NOT been given any information that the students will test after spring break. I will keep you informed as I am informed of the changes to this process.
Spring Break ~ Monday, 3/24 - Friday, 3/28 ~ Enjoy!!
Math
We continue to work on Unit 8 concepts ~ adding and subtracting mixed numbers, then multiplying and dividing fractions. These concepts have proven to be challenging for several students, so we have slowed down the process and worked to re-teach several of the concepts. Since Spring Break falls in the middle of this unit, I have decided to quiz the first half of the Unit 8 concepts on Monday (adding and subtracting mixed numbers). I want to be sure these concepts are solidified before we leave for break. We spent Thursday and Friday reviewing and reteaching these concepts, and even had an additional review session during lunch on Friday. I believe the students are ready for this test, but many should be reviewing the steps involved in adding and subtracting mixed numbers this weekend. Quizing them on Monday will give me the opportunity to re-teach students who need to re-take the test before they leave for spring break. We will begin to multiply and divide fractions for the remainder of the week, then finish up the unit after break.
Social Studies
We finished up studying the Branches of Government in chapter 14 this week and tested on the Constitution on Thursday. Unfortunately, all of our students have not taken this test yet. I will send home the graded tests for a sign and return when all students have completed the test.We begain chapter 15 - the Bill of Rights - on Friday. Students will work on a project helping them to become familiar with the first 10 ammendments to the Constitution, then we will be testing chapter 15 on Friday.
Reading
Our final reading week in Unit 4 will focus on the elements of a fable. Students will read several fables this week, and compare and contrast the elements in these fables. A fable lends itself nicely to understanding the comprehension strategy of author's purpose, so we will focus on this strategy.
At the same time, students will be working on the packets they received on Friday for the novels they are reading, Punished. This is a short and fun novel that helps him to explore various figurative language elements found in fiction, such as onomatopoia, personification, and puns. They have had fun reading these novels, finding the content amusing. The novels and packets are due on Friday. While they will be given some time in class this week to work on these packets, they should be working on them at home as well.
At the same time, students will be working on the packets they received on Friday for the novels they are reading, Punished. This is a short and fun novel that helps him to explore various figurative language elements found in fiction, such as onomatopoia, personification, and puns. They have had fun reading these novels, finding the content amusing. The novels and packets are due on Friday. While they will be given some time in class this week to work on these packets, they should be working on them at home as well.
Writing
We began work on our persuasive essays this week with a brainstorming session on topics they are passionate about persuading parents or teachers to consider. Students didn't struggle to come up with these topics ~ expect to hear some discussion about later bedtimes, cell phone use, less homework, and more recess. I'll apologize ahead of time as I'll be working on developing their arguing skills and their ability to persuade...I know some of them already have quite advanced skills in this area :) I've told them I will be expecting excellent essays convincing me to change my mind!
We will continue work on these essays throughout the week, with their final essays due on Friday, 3/21. These essays will be written in class, so you should not see them come home until after spring break.
We will continue work on these essays throughout the week, with their final essays due on Friday, 3/21. These essays will be written in class, so you should not see them come home until after spring break.
Cheers!
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