Good afternoon and happy Friday!  I cannot believe that I have only 2 more weeks left with these awesome 5th graders!  

Social Studies: This week we have been learning about the Southern and Middle colonies.  We researched about different colonial jobs and presented our learned information in a gallery walk around the room.  We are looking forward to learning about the American Revolution next week.

Writing:  During writing this week we finished up our D.A.R.E. essays.  We focused on using precise language to get our point across to our reader.  The kiddos should be very proud of their hard work!

Reading:  In reading this week we continued our author study by comparing and contrasting the setting and characters from books by the same author.  We learned how this can help us to know our author better.  We also met with our book clubs twice this week and have been practicing asking questions that require higher level thinking.

Math: In math we were able to spend time playing the stations that we created last week.  We also reflected on our progress this year and have been working on clarifying concepts that are still challenging for us.  We also had our PIE PARTY today!! Congratulations to all of the kiddos who finished their fifth grade pie on ALEKS!  For those that finish their pie before the end of the year I will have a prize for them as well….so keep working hard!

I wanted to also say thank you to everyone who sent gifts and cards in for me for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I feel very lucky to work at a school that has such a supportive community.  I have the best job in the world!! I am going to miss these kiddos so much when they go to middle school!  Thank you, again, for all you do.  I hope all of the moms enjoy your special day on Sunday!  You deserve it!

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco

Good afternoon!  It has been a busy week in 5th grade.  We are getting very close to the end of the year...3 more weeks!  We have a lot of fun things happening during the next couple of weeks and also lots of important learning!

Social Studies:  This week we have been learning about the 13 colonies.  We spent most of our time this week discussing the New England colonies.  We wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth pretending that we had just arrived in the New England colonies and also researched some of the games played during this time.  Some students even wrote songs to express some of the strong emotions of various groups.

Writing:  In writing we are working on our DARE essays.  Each student will write an essay and a few will be picked to be shared at our DARE graduation during the last week of school.  The kids have used their DARE books and their experiences from DARE class to create a strong argument about why people should not do drugs.

Math:  This week in math the kids have been paired up to work on creating a math station.  They were each given a topic that we covered this year and then began creating a fun activity to go along with the topic.  We have so many creative thinkers in our classroom!

Reading:  We have started a unit on becoming a fan of an author.  We have spent time getting to know one of my favorite authors, Patricia Polacco.  The kids have learned about how they can find out more about their favorite authors by looking more closely at characters from the books they read.

Upcoming Events:
5/7: Fly Up Day @ Truman and Sperreng 1-3 PM
5/8 : DARE essays due

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks!

--Miss DiFranco--

Happy Friday!!

This week in 5th we spent a lot of time preparing for the MAP test that will start on Wednesday for our class!  The kids had the chance to switch between the 5th grade rooms to learn about math, reading, writing, and science this week.  They had so much fun!

I am so proud of all the hard work that they have done this year and now they are going to get to show everything that they have learned.  Please encourage your child to go to bed early, eat a healthy breakfast, and RELAX!!  I know they are all going to do fabulous!

Please make sure that you have sent in headphones and a MAP note for your child to read before taking the MAP test.  It can just be a short note to help them relax before they start the test.  Thank you!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Please let me know if you have questions!

Thank you,

Miss DiFranco

Happy Friday!  What a wonderful 1st week back from Spring Break!

Writing:  This week in writing we have been focusing on publishing our argument/opinion essays.  The kids have been working on using strategies to sway their audience into taking their side.  Sometime within the next couple of weeks they will have the chance to present to a panel of teachers and cafeteria workers about whether they think we should serve or not serve chocolate milk in the cafeteria.  They have been working extremely hard on these pieces of writing and I am very proud of them!

Math: In math this week we started our chapter on geometry.  We have learned about polygons, triangles, quadrilaterals, parallelograms, 3-D figures, and volume.  We have learned a lot this week...WHEW!  The kids have been doing an awesome job in this unit and are very excited to be learning these topics.  I encourage the kids to practice classifying shapes so that they feel confident with the new information.

Reading:  This week we have spent time practicing answering constructed answer questions on the computer.  Because we have practiced writing on the computer so often the kids seem very excited about being able to use the computer for test-like questions! They also enjoy reading from the e-library that we have available here at school.

Upcoming Events:

4/3: No School

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy the nice weather this weekend!  It is much needed. :)

Science:  During science this week we started a new chapter on force and motion.  Lesson one taught us how force can cause objects to move in different ways.  We also discussed positive and negative charges and how like forces repel each other and opposite charges attract each other.  We also started learning about simple machines.

Writing:  In writing we continued to revise and edit our first argument letter about whether or not chocolate milk should continue to be served in the cafeteria.  On Wednesday we wrote the clean copy of our letter and signed, sealed and delivered them! We are excited to see if our letters worked!

Math:  We finished up chapter 11 in math this week.  We have been discussing the metric and customary systems and the different units used to measure capacity, mass, and length.  Our main focus this chapter has been converting between units and learning about the relationships of the various units.  Our chapter 11 test will be on Wednesday, March 11.  I encourage the kiddos to start studying on Monday so that they feel ready for the test Wednesday.  We will be reviewing on Monday and Tuesday as well.  I will be sending study materials in an email on Monday afternoon.  

Reading: We have continued working in our test preparation unit for reading.  We have looked at various texts and made predictions about questions that test makers could ask us about the text.  We have continued practicing test taking strategies this week especially using context clues and background knowledge to understand questions that may be confusing to us because of the way the question is worded.

Upcoming Events:

3/8 : Spring Musical 4:00 pm

3/12: Parent Teacher Conferences

3/13: Blue Ribbon Assembly - Wear your Blue Ribbon Shirt!

3/13: Half Day

3/16 - 3/20: Spring Break

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Miss DiFranco

Happy Friday!! I hope everyone had a fantastic week.

Science:  We spent several days reviewing for a science quiz on Chapter 9 that was given today.  The quiz was six questions and was presented as a Google Form.  The kids enjoyed getting to use the computers for the quiz and did a wonderful job.  We will start a new chapter on Force and Motion next week.

Writing:  In writing this week we have been focused on rereading and revising our letters about whether we should keep serving chocolate milk in the cafeteria or remove it from the menu.  We have spent a lot of time reading through a variety of sources to locate powerful quotes that we can embed in our letters.  The kiddos have learned that is not only important to have a strong argument but to also have evidence to support their opinion.  We have been having a lot of fun with this unit.

Math:  This week in math we have started Chapter 10: Measurement.  The first few lessons were focused on learning how to measure objects using yards, inches, and feet.  The kids also learned how to convert between each of the units.  Today we learned about how to measure the weight of objects using ounces, pounds, and tons.  We are working on mastering the conversion between these unit as well.  The kids even learned hand motions remember when they need to multiple or divide to convert!  I’m sure they would be excited to show you. :)

Reading:  During reading this week we have continued to talk about main idea and details.  We also talked about different sentece starters that can be used in our writing to introduce a quote when citing information from a source.  We have been using our new knowledge to practice for questions we will see on eValuate.

 

 

If you have not already, please submit your child’s pictures for the 5th Grade Memory Book as soon as possible.  We only have 4 kiddos that have not turned their pictures in.  If you do not have a scanner at home you may send your pictures in and they will be scanned for you and then returned.  We would like every child to have a page in the memory book!  

Upcoming Events:

3/6: Half Day

Have a great weekend,

Miss DiFranco

Happy Saturday!!   I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Science: The kiddos have started presenting their Planet Research Projects this week.  The hard work that they put into their projects is obvious!  We will continue to share projects next week.

Writing:  This week we kicked off our Argument/Opinion Unit in writing.  The kids have been asked to choose a side of whether they should or should not serve chocolate milk in the cafeteria.  They have been collecting evidence for their claim and will write a letter next week that will explain their thinking.  They have gotten really into it and I am looking forward to reading their letters.

Math:  We spent a couple of days reviewing for our Chapter 10 math test this week.  The test was taken on Friday and was sent home with the kids.  They did awesome!!  I was so impressed with how well everyone did on the test.  It is evident that they are spending more time preparing for tests and I hope to continue building these habits this year.

Reading:  During reading we have been working on learning how to read multiple articles and cite them within our writing.  It has tied nicely into our writing unit.  It is important for them to understand that they must include quotation marks around text that they take directly from a source.  It is never too early to start working on this skill!

Upcoming Events:

2/23: Six Flags Scholastic Reading Logs Due

2/25: Field Trip to the Science Center

2/27: Middle School Forms Due

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!  

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco

Happy Saturday!!  I hope you all had a great week and are ready to enjoy a three-day weekend with the kiddos!

Science: This week in science the kids were given time to work on their research projects.  We had previously said that they would be due yesterday but I have given them a few more days to work on them because we had some changes to our schedule this week.  We also began setting up a Force Investigation in our science notebooks that will test the amount of force we need to use when pulling a toy car across a ramp covered in different materials (felt, aluminum foil, carpet, etc).  This investigation is a great way for us to review the steps in the scientific method.

Writing:  On Monday and Tuesday this week the kiddos worked to finish publishing their memoirs.  On Wednesday they were given an opportunity to share their memoir with our class if they wanted. They worked so hard and the memoirs turned out to be so heartfelt.  We are now getting ready to start our next unit on Argument/ Opinion Essays.  The kids seem excited!

Math: This week in math we have covered multiplying and dividing fractions (lessons 10.6 -  10.11).  We will finish up chapter 10 on Tuesday and then will review for our test on Wednesday and Thursday.  The test will be Friday, February 20th.  Please encourage your child to study more than a day in advanced for the test.  I will be sending some study material through email early next week.  Thank you for your support at home!

Reading: We are continuing to work in our test-preparation unit this week.  We have discussed how, as test-takers, we can predict the types of questions the test-maker might ask based on the genre of the passage.  We have also practiced predicting the answer to multiple-choice questions before even looking at the answer choices.  This helps us to not get tricked by the answers the test-makers has written.

Upcoming Events:

2/16: No School - President’s Day

2/17: PRISM Projects Due (please bring to school so they can be checked before Science Night)

2/19: Science Night

2/20: Math test

Please remember to send in the Middle School Form that was sent home on Tuesday.  You need to fill out the bottom portion and then rip off the yellow copy.  All I need back is the top copy (white form).  Thank you! Have a great weekend!

Miss DiFranco

Happy Friday!!

Science:  This week we completed several lessons on both the inner and outer planets in the solar system.  Students have had the opportunity to work on their research this week for their planet research project that is due next Friday.  I am impressed with knowledge they have gained from this chapter so far and love the excitement they have brought to each lesson.

Writing:  We have been working on revising and editing our memoirs this week.  We have learned several new strategies for rereading and adding important details to our writing. We have also been using our writing checklists to double check that we have included all of the important pieces in our memoir.  Yesterday the kiddos began to publish their writing pieces.  We will celebrate all of our hard work in writing our memoirs on Wednesday of next week.

Math:  We took our chapter 9 test on Tuesday and I was very impressed with the scores they received on this test.  I have been working with the kids on holding themselves accountable for their own learning by studying for tests at home.  Thank you for the support you provide them with.  We also began a new chapter on Wednesday.  This chapter is about learning how to multiply and divide fractions.  Today we learned how to multiply whole numbers by fractions!

Reading:  On Monday we began our test taking preparation unit.  We have been looking at texts that could appear on an ELA test and using those to predict the types of questions the test-makers may ask.  We have also practiced identifying the type of text in order for us to understand the passage more fully.  

Upcoming Events:

2/10: Middle School Presentation at Concord

2/11: Early Release

2/13: Classroom Valentine’s Day Exchange

Have a great weekend.  Enjoy the nice weather!

Miss DiFranco

Happy Friday!  I hope you all had a wonderful week!

This week in Fifth grade we have been very busy, as always! :

Science:  In science we are continuing to learn about the solar system and space.  This week the kiddos started working on a Planet Research Project.  We picked planets out of hat and then began collecting information on our assigned planet.  Once the research portion of the project is finished they will create a presentation to share with the class.  They are very excited!

Writing:  Our second memoir is underway and I have seen tremendous growth in each and every child’s writing.  Each week they amaze me with their deep thinking and their descriptive writing.  I challenged them, this time around, to pick a topic that was more meaningful to them than they had chosen for their first piece.  At first they were feeling frustrated that they had to write a whole new memoir but this week their attitudes have turned around.  The pieces they are creating are AMAZING and their enthusiasm for their work is what makes me most proud!

Math:  This week’s main focus was working with mixed numbers.  We have learned how to turn an improper fraction into a mixed number and how to add/ subtract mixed numbers.  We even learned how to subtract mixed numbers with renaming.  Today we spent time reviewing for our Chapter 9 test that will be given on Tuesday, February 3rd.  We will review again on Monday to make sure that we are confident going into this test.  I sent out an email earlier today giving you a practice test and other resources to use to make sure they are feeling ready on Tuesday for the test.  I appreciate you taking time to go over these concepts with them at home.  

Reading:  We have read several more historical fiction books this week.  They serve as great mentor texts for our own writing and for comparisons across genres.  Our discussions this week were mainly centered on characters and setting in historical fiction books and how they can help us better understand a specific time period and the effects of the event.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Please always feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.  Thank you for everything you do!

Meredith DiFranco

Good afternoon!

We have had a busy week here in 5th grade!


Writing: We finished our first memoir this week!  We spent most of our time drafting our memoir.  The kids have learned how to peer edit/revise and how to ask themselves questions to help them come up with ideas on how to push their writing forward.  We will start our second memoir on Monday.

Math: We had our chapter 8 test on Tuesday and are now about halfway through chapter 9.  We have been learning how to add/subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.  Our knowledge about LCM has really come in handy during this chapter!  We have also been practicing how to change an improper fraction into a mixed number.  I continue to ask the kiddos to practice their basic facts at home.  I also asked the kids to go on to ALEKS (an online math program that we use here at school) this weekend.  It is a great resource!

Reading: We have been reading and learning about historical fiction.  The kids have really enjoyed reading fiction stories about true events from history.  They are so curious about the events and I have been encouraging them to select these types of books from our school library.  We will continue on with this unit next week.

Our field trip to The Sheldon Concert Hall will be on Tuesday, January 27th.  If your child has not brought in their field trip permission slip please sent it with them on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco

Science: We have been learning about the sun and its physical characteristics.  The kids are so excited about this chapter and it has been really fun watching them learn hold such knowledgeable conversations around these topics. It has even inspired some of them to read nonfiction books about space!  :)

Writing: We have started drafting our first memoir this week.  We have been learning a variety of strategies to use when writing which has helped us as our drafting has gotten underway.  I have given each kiddo a checklist that breaks down each part on their writing.  On the checklist each section is described. This helps them hold themselves accountable for the work they do.   I am looking forward to reading these thoughtful memoirs when they are all finished!

Math: Fractions!  This week we continued to work with fractions and reviewed for our chapter 8 test.  The test will be given on Tuesday (1/21).  The kiddos completed the study guide from the book on Thursday and we went over it today during math.  I also sent another study guide home with them today that they were able to start in class.  If they use these study guides and their previous homework sheets to prepare for the test I am sure they will do great!

Reading: We wrapped up our discussions about theme and started talking about historical fiction.  I read them the book Star of Fear, Star of Hope by: Jo Hoestlandt to start off our discussion.  The kids were so intrigued by the book.  We will continue talking about the characteristics of historical fiction next week.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful three day weekend!  

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco

Happy Friday!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break and had a smooth transition back into school with the kiddos.  I was thrilled to see their smiling faces on Monday morning after not seeing them for two weeks!

Science: We have started a new chapter this week, the solar system!  The kids are super excited and interested in this topic.  This week we started off our unit by reading books, watching video clips, making vocabulary cards, and engaging in conversations with our peers all based around how the Earth revolves and rotates.  Next week we will be learning about stars.

Writing:  At the beginning of this week students participated in an On-Demand writing session as the final piece of our informational unit.  We are now underway in our unit based around memoirs.  We have enjoyed reading memoirs and using mentor texts to help guide us as we create our own memoirs.

Math:  It is that time of the year where we have begun working on fractions.  While many students expressed concerns about fractions, they are doing a great job of pushing themselves and sticking with the problems even when they become tricky.  I introduced them to the “ladder method” today which is a shortcut they can use for several of the concepts we have discussed this week: simplifying fractions, greatest common factors, and least common multiple.  Ask them to show you!  It is pretty fancy. :)

Reading: We have been working on finding themes in a variety of books during reading.  We also discussed the difference between a main idea and theme.  Reading has been a great supporting resource for writing this week!  

Social Studies:  We have been learning about European explorers this week .  Students have been practicing how to read a text and then take notes on the information.  Main idea and supporting details have playing a huge role in our social studies work.

This week we also started the D.A.R.E. program.  All 5th grade classes will have a police officer come to their classroom for a 45 minute lesson, centered around drug abuse prevention, each week.  Our D.A.R.E. days are on Tuesday afternoons.  The kids are very excited!  

I hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend.  Stay warm!

Sincerely,

Miss DiFranco