Fifth Grade

We had a productive week!  Here’s what we’re up to in fifth grade:
 
Math
We are talking about how area and volume are related, and how you can express those relationships by writing expressions with parentheses. We have been building rectangular prisms and showing how the volume of a rectangular prism is equal to the area of the base layer x the number of layers present. We are simultaneously talking about order of operations as it relates to volume.
Dinnertime question: What do parentheses in an expression mean? (Answer: Do that part first!)
 
ELA
In writing, are working on our personal narratives, using exciting word choice and spicing up our writing. We are also identifying the inferences we make when we read. Good readers infer all kinds of information from a text. Understanding character development is based on the ability to make inferences.
Dinnertime question: What are the clues that would allow someone to infer that you are in a grouchy mood? What about a happy mood?
(Clues may be: frown, stomping, looking down)
 
Science
We are clearly defining states of matter this week and have started making some recycling posters for the school in order to educate other students about the products that are and are not recyclable in our school. We are taking care of God’s creation through education!
Dinnertime question: What do you most often see in the recycling bin that should go in the trash?
 
Social Studies
Students are finishing up their research about their assigned region of the United States and will be working together on a poster about that region.  Map quizzes are finished and will be coming home today.
Dinnertime question: What is one interesting fact that you have learned about the region that you are studying?
 
Religion
We have learned how to look up a verse in the four Gospels and have talked about the many books that make up the Bible. Today we are examining some Bible verses about peace for Peace One Day. Students have also written examples of how they embody one of the SLEs of being self-aware and engaged learners, responsible decision-makers, and faith-filled learners. They are beautiful and are up on the wall outside the classroom. Stop by and see them!
 
Reminders for next week:

• Oktoberfest – This Saturday, September 22 from 1pm-8pm – Come and enjoy the fun!
• Picture Day – Tuesday, September 25 – Free Dress
• Noon dismissal – Friday, September 28 for staff development / FREE DRESS / PBIS assembly at 11:30

Spelling Words for the week of 9/24-9/28
-ou and -ow

1. hour
2. boundary
3. eyebrow
4. county
5. countdown
6. anyhow
7. sour
8. around
9. mountain
10. thousand
11. aloud
12. allowed

Review Words:

1. neighbor
2. particular
3. worship

  It was so wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School night last night! Thank you for taking the time. If you think of any more questions that you may have, please feel free to email me any time. Here’s what went on this week:
 
Math
We started talking about volume of rectangular prisms today. In our monthly math calendar, we are looking at how fractions can sometimes be represented as money (a dime is one tenth of a dollar) and sometimes the model of a clock can be easier to understand (if you shaded from 12-4 on the clock, that would represent one third of the clock). Earlier in the week, we were still doing an inventory of what math skills students already have so I could determine where the best starting point was.
 
Language Arts
We spent a chunk of time this week talking about the main idea of a text. Students noticed that the main idea of a paragraph is often found in the topic sentence, or the first sentence, of the paragraph. This will guide our personal narrative writing, where we will use the same strategy – topic sentence, followed by supporting details. We had our first spelling test today!
Dinnertime question: How did the spelling test go for you today? Did your study strategy seem to work for you?
 
Science
We continued our study of matter this week. Students learned what the different phases of matter are, and sorted characteristics of each phase.
Dinnertime question: How is the particle arrangement in a solid, liquid, or gas different from each other? (Hint: It has to do with how closely “packed” together the particles are…)
 
Religion
Students have finished up their Holy Trinity pictures in class and we talked about our Student Learning Expectations (SLEs):

1. Faith-filled learner
2. Responsible decision-maker
3. Self-aware and engaged learner

 
Students came up with personal examples of each one for our bulletin board. They also reflected on which one they will focus their attention on this month.
Dinnertime question: Which SLE do you feel you are a good example of and which one needs some work?
 
Social Studies
Students completed our interactive notes about world geography and  there will be a quiz next Wednesday, September 19 on it. Study guides will be going home in their home/school folders this weekend. The study guide was also emailed home.
 
Spelling words for the week of 9/17-9/21 
/er/ spelled with -er, -ur, -ar, -or

1. remember
2. answer
3. Thursday
4. worship
5. surprise
6. instructor
7. governor
8. popular
9. particular
10. neighbor
11. anchor
12. behavior

Review words:

1. vehicle
2. assemble
3. example

 

Successful First Week!

It has been such a lovely week getting to know your kiddos. This is an enthusiastic class of generous, helpful, and excited learners! I wanted to give you a little heads up about what went on this week in case, like me, you get the typical kid answer of "fine" when you ask about school. 

We started the week with some getting to know you activities and setting the stage for a successful year: goal setting, talking about expectations, and encouraging some classroom community. We welcomed two new students to Holy Family in fifth grade: Getzemani Urena and Jack Kiesel. 

We also dove right into work. We work  hard during the day in fifth grade, and rest in the evenings, allowing time for family, extracurricular activities, and of course, reading! Here is what we were up to this week:

Math - We started off talking about what math class should look like and sound like and today we played the Product Game. It will be coming home next week (Monday) as a homework assignment due Thursday. One goal I have for each of them in math this year is to experience what we called "gentle frustration" in math. If they are overly frustrated, they are not able to learn, but if everything is easy peasy, they aren't learning either. What I want is that happy medium where they have a "Huh...I don't know what to do here" moment.
Dinnertime question: How did it feel  playing the Product Game? 

Language  Arts - We started brainstorming to write personal narratives so that I can get a sense of their writing and began today to talk about the main idea in a text. I am in the middle of conducting reading interviews with each student. I'm about halfway through. I hope to use these interviews to guide them towards books that they may love, and ones that may stretch their thinking.
​ Dinnertime question: What are you writing about for your personal narrative?

Science - We are learning about physical and chemical changes and have started talking about matter and mass.
​ Dinnertime question: Can you tell me an example of a physical change and a chemical change? (If they forget, ask them about paper...)

​ Religion - The Holy Trinity is on the docket for this week and next week. We saw lots of beautiful representations of the Trinity in art from around the world - both simplistic and complex. Students are designing their own Holy Trinity drawings. 
Dinnertime question: How can water help us to understand the concept of the Holy Trinity?
​
Social Studies - We have started our study of geography and maps. We talked about the hemispheres today and how maps can vary depending on perspective. Our standard Mercator projection is not the only one! 
​Family Study option: Look up various types of map projections. How does the shape and relative size of the continents change in the different projections?

​It has been such a pleasure to be in the class with your children this week. Thanks for trusting me with them. As always, if you have any questions, please call or email any time. 


Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!
​


    Can you believe that it's almost time for back to 
  school? I hope you have had a wonderful summer 
 and that you have had time as a family (and 
 individually) to relax and recharge. I am very much  
 looking forward to this year and I hope you are, 
​ too!