4th Grade Math: We finished Unit 1 this week and will test on Tuesday. Monday I'll take the data from their quizzes to use to target kids who need specific skill review. They'll work in small groups on a study guide to help them review and prepare for Tuesday's test. Next up in Unit 2: Using Numbers and Organizing Data.
5th Grade Math: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Writing: Most of the kids have chosen a topic that they'd like to use for our first writing cycle. This week I introduced the concept of a "narrative graph." I showed them how you can plot a story's events on the graph and it looks a bit like a roller coaster. We'll use this important visual a LOT in reading and writing this year. Next week I'll ask the kids to commit to their first topic, and we'll move forward with the writing process: (brainstorming), drafting, revising, editing, publishing. The majority of this work will be done in class. Ask your kids about what they've written about this week.
Reading: The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg has clearly kept us engaged, based on my email from the other day. We're about halfway through, but the second half reads quicker than the first. Our character, plot and vocabulary work has tied in nicely with the start up of Treasures skill-review; I'll look forward to seeing how that transfers over to our first Treasures Unit. Because we're doing so much work to interact with the book while reading it, we won't do a big culminating project at the end. Rather, we'll use the work we've already done for a small wrap-up.
We'll start Treasures next week, which means we'll also start Spelling next week! Be on the look out for the weekly spelling packet, assigned Mondays, due Fridays.
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Science: Our lessons were focused on recording accurate, detailed observations about our mealworms. We did a funny demonstration of a scientist who observed with opinion vs one who observed with fact. Ask your kids about the insults that Maya threw at me!! :) I also introduced the scientific method. More about how we'll use that next week...
Miscellaneous:
- 5th grade families can start to hand in Camp Edwards permission slips and fees. They are due at the beginning of November.
- If you were not at Curriculum Night to sign up for a conference, please email me at mroskos@op97.org
- After you've read the "D97 Effective Student Behavior Handbook," don't forget to sign and return the gold sheet that was folded inside.
