October 5-9

This week is another 5 day week-YAY!!!!!!
Here a few things we will be doing this week:

Writing: Discussing informational writing expectations, looking at examples, reviewing research dos & don'ts, learning some background about Native Americans in general, then Wednesday beginning research for a paper & project.  Each student will be assigned a tribe to research.  I have books from local libraries and recommended websites to guide their research.  The students will first record all their research on a graphic organizer, then complete the writing process with their typed research paper, and finally design either a Google-presentation (like powerpoint) or a brochure.  This will probably take us a few weeks to complete.

Math: We are finishing adding & subtracting decimals and will probably take the post assessment on Wednesday.  Then we will be getting into adding & subtracting fractions.  

Science: Monday & Tuesday the students will be learning about food chains & webs.  Monday I will assign a food web poster project.  Friday will be a work day for the poster project.  Students will be able to print pictures, look for pictures in magazines, and design/work on their posters.  The final product will be due on Tuesday October, 20th (the day before we leave for Glen Helen).  

Social Studies: Wednesday & Thursday we will be finishing up regions of the United States.  We still have the Southwest & Northeast/Mid-Atlantic.  We are integrating some Social Studies content (the Native American topics) during Writing time too.

Reading: We are learning about Main Idea, how to determine the main idea of a text as well as support it with details.

Word Study: We will be starting word study this week.  For the first 8-day rotation, the class will all be doing the same spelling principle to practice & get used to routines & procedures.  Look for your student's 5 High Frequency Words in his/her planner as well as a ziploc with his/her principle words.  Your child should be studying the 5 HFWs in the planner as well as ALL of the words from the principle baggie.

I am in a DLT (District Leadership Team) meeting on Tuesday afternoon so the students will have a sub from 12-3:30.  Thursday the entire 5th grade team is out for a full day of Literacy training.  Friday is a scheduled 2-hr delay.

Please look in your child's planner to see the learning targets that we focus on each day.  Your child should be able to explain what they mean/what he/she learned.  Also, look for your child's data binder to come home on Friday!  I will send home data binders each day the reading logs are due from now on (so about every 2 weeks).