All students will have math class this week in their homerooms. This is to allow the fifth graders to have promotion practice and complete necessary lessons needed to complete their year.
Our focus in Math this week will be to reason and solve comparison word problems. Comparison word problems contain multiplicative comparison word problems as well as additive comparison word problems. The unknowns are in varying positions. Students are not expected to identify the names of the problem types. We will use factors to help us identify solutions to various expressions.
*A great website that allows students to work at their own pace on word problems/real world application of multiplication & division:
http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
In reading we will use Reader's Theater to perform plays. We will discuss the various elements of a play, how dialog is created, and how stage directions effect the action in the play. Students will use plays that have been created to perform. They will discuss how the character's words and actions help the actor identify ways to personify this character on stage. They may create a backdrop and use props for their performance, but it is not necessary. The most important goal is to perform the written play to the class.
For a link to Reader's Theater Scripts, click below:
http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
Wax Museum:
Thank you to all parents who were able to attend our wax museum presentations last week. We value your feedback and input on this project for the teachers to improve/continue next year. Feel free to email us with your comments.
For a link to view an example of a wax museum, please click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XThAWn1zAgw
This tool can be downloaded on your home computers to assist students with reading text that may be challenging. We use this in class for webpage research and for revising our writing. Students can listen to what they have typed and determine if it sounds right to revise. In addition, when gathering research, this tool allows them to read difficult text. We have this program at school, but it is a great tool for home use as well:
www.naturalreader.com
For a link to Reader's Theater Scripts, click below:
http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
Wax Museum:
Thank you to all parents who were able to attend our wax museum presentations last week. We value your feedback and input on this project for the teachers to improve/continue next year. Feel free to email us with your comments.
For a link to view an example of a wax museum, please click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XThAWn1zAgw
Writing:
This week we will ask students to reflect on our wax museum, write a letter to students in next year's class, and then write from their hearts.
Students will pre-write by drawing a heart. In the heart, they will write down the most important things to them. They will then color-code these items into various categories: family, hobbies/interests, jobs, service/faith, etc. This heart will serve as a pre-write so that they can compose a piece about something important to them. We will not take this piece through the entire writing process. Our goal is that it serves as a springboard for students to continue writing all summer long!
A link to a website for information on the 6 Traits of writing is below:
http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm
Natural Reader:This week we will ask students to reflect on our wax museum, write a letter to students in next year's class, and then write from their hearts.
Students will pre-write by drawing a heart. In the heart, they will write down the most important things to them. They will then color-code these items into various categories: family, hobbies/interests, jobs, service/faith, etc. This heart will serve as a pre-write so that they can compose a piece about something important to them. We will not take this piece through the entire writing process. Our goal is that it serves as a springboard for students to continue writing all summer long!
A link to a website for information on the 6 Traits of writing is below:
http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm
This tool can be downloaded on your home computers to assist students with reading text that may be challenging. We use this in class for webpage research and for revising our writing. Students can listen to what they have typed and determine if it sounds right to revise. In addition, when gathering research, this tool allows them to read difficult text. We have this program at school, but it is a great tool for home use as well:
www.naturalreader.com
Spelling:
*Our spelling program involves the use of developmental word study rather than traditional spelling books. This“Words Their Way” approach allows students to practice target spelling patterns that best address their individual needs as a speller. Students work in spelling groups to analyze the pattern and look for clues as to how to generalize the correct spelling of words within that pattern/sound.
Students will then take an end of the year post-assessment to help demonstrate their progress with the patterns they have learned all year.
