Friday January 31st

PROGRESS REPORTS WERE SENT HOME YESTERDAY WITH ALL

5th GRADE STUDENTS. YOU CAN CHECK YOUR FIFTH GRADER’S GRADES AT ANY TIME USING CMT GRADEBOOK.

MATH

Barber- Continued forgiving method using one digit division. We will continue the forgiving method on Monday. Don’t forget to start working on your weekly review.

Brazier- We used geoboards, pictures and symbols today to represent fractions and mixed numbers. We are working on finding a fraction for a particular quantity when a unit whole is given. Strand 5 DPP now due on Thursday, February 6.  

Kornas -  CPF 4.2. WEEKLY REVIEW HANDED OUT IN CLASS.

HOMEWORK FOR ALL: WEEKLY REVIEW. DUE WEDNESDAY.

SWITCHES

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier): Character Study Test

HOMEWORK: READ “JOY RIDE”AND ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-8. DUE MONDAY.

SCIENCE: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): W.M. Poster feedback.  Muscular system introduction.

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): HOMEWORK: STUDY W.M. WORDS AND DEFINITIONS

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber): We will start spelling again for a week in February.

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber): Presentations will begin Wednesday.

WRITING WORKSHOPS

BARBER: Persuasive Essay - Day 5: Writers use reasons to support their claims. HOMEWORK: WRITE 4 CLAIMS FOR MONDAY

BRAZIER: “Essayists consider why their claim matters.”

KORNAS:  Writing Workshop - Study Persuasive Essay  - H.W. - RECORD REASONS AND EXAMPLES IN PARAGRAPH #3 AND #4 (FROM BLUE SHEET) ONtTO WHITE CHART IN PERSUASIVE ESSAY FOLDER.

Thursday January 30th

PROGRESS REPORTS WERE SENT HOME WITH ALL

5th GRADE STUDENTS TODAY.

MATH

Barber- Began learning the forgiving method of division.

HOMEWORK: USE THE FORGIVING METHOD TO SOLVE THE DIVISION PROBLEMS ON YOUR WORKSHEET. DO YOUR BEST, IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE BRING QUESTIONS TO CLASS.

Brazier- We solved some challenging and amusing puzzles today. We also filled in the Math section of our progress reports. Strand 5 DPP now due on Thursday, February 6.  

Kornas - Filled in math section of progress reports.  CFP TOMORROW over solving division problems like we did on Jan. 23rd homework (The paper that we checked in class today.)  I will send out two more practice problems via e-mail that are optional to help students practice and prepare for the CFP tomorrow morning. (I will also send the answer key :)

SWITCHES

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier):Reading Log Reflections. Test Preview/Practice.  Open-note test tomorrow.

TOMORROW’S TEST QUESTION: Write a paragraph in response to “What is something about your character that you believe to be important?”

Suggestions for doing well on the test:

* Make one thoughtful claim or statement. A strong claim is more than one word.

* Push past what’s obvious and stated in the text so the thinking is your own.

* Avoid words like cool, nice, good, bad, crazy, smart, and stupid. (Avoid one-word claims altogether.)

* Make sure the support you provide is clearly about your one claim.

* Give enough information for anyone (whether or not they’ve read your text) to follow your thinking.

* Prove your point! Write with authority. Act like the expert.

* Include a “key quote.”

* Write at least four sentences.

* Edit your work when you’re ‘done.’

SCIENCE: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): H.W. BONING UP ON YOUR SKELETON

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): H.W. - STUDY W.M. WORDS AND DEFINITIONS

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber): We will start spelling again for a week in February.

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber): Friday is the last day for groups to work on their explorer presentations. Presentations will begin Monday.

WRITING WORKSHOPS

BARBER: Day 4 of our persuasive essay unit: writers write things they care about.  HOMEWORK: CREATE A LIST OF 4 THINGS/TOPICS THAT STUDENTS CARE ABOUT.

BRAZIER: Our unit on Argument/Essay Writing continued. Today, we observed that claims need to be supported with reasons. (Reasons then need to be supported with evidence.)

HOMEWORK: FIRST, WRITE THREE CLAIMS OF YOURS ABOUT LIFE. NEXT,  WRITE DOWN AS MANY REASONS AS YOU CAN ABOUT EACH OF YOUR THREE CLAIMS. Reilly would have written “pets improve the quality of one’s life” as her claim. Among her reasons would have been: (1) Pets improve the quality of one’s life because they offer unconditional love; (2) Pets improve the quality of one’s life because they provide companionship; and (3) Pets improve the quality of one’s life because they enhance one’s mood.

KORNAS:  Writing Workshop - Study Persuasive Essay text (reasons and examples)

January 2014 Spelling Bee Participants

Thursday January 23rd

MATH

Barber- CFP 4.1 completed today; We will begin the forgiving method tomorrow.

Brazier- Strand 5 pre-test: We attempted the whole test then corrected some of it as a class. We will finish this task tomorrow. Strand 5 DPP due on Monday, February 3.  

Kornas - More Division.  H.W. - WORKSHEET WITH 4 DIVISION PROBLEMS ON IT.  EACH PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED USING THE STRATEGY AND STEPS I MODELED AND WE PRACTICED IN CLASS TODAY. STUDENTS SHOULD REFER TO THEIR NOTES AS A REMINDER OF HOW TO DO THE PROBLEMS.  YES, YOU NEED TO ESTIMATE FOR EACH PROBLEM AND YES, YOU NEED TO DO A CHECK FOR EACH PROBLEM.

SWITCHES

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier):”Readers collect ‘key quotes.’” Open-note test on Friday.

TOMORROW’S TEST QUESTION: Write a paragraph in response to “What is something about your character that you believe to be important?”

SCIENCE: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): Began “You and Your Body” science unit today.

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): H.W. - STUDY W.M. WORDS AND DEFINITIONS

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber):

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber: Continued working on explorer presentation. STUDENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PRESENT NEXT WEEK.

WRITING WORKSHOPS

BARBER: Day 3 of our persuasive essay unit: writers reread and notice.

BRAZIER: Our unit on Argument/Essay Writing continued today. Among other things, we studied the structure of existing essays. As we analyzed them, we took note that all essayists give strong reasons for their claim.

ASK: WHAT IS A CLAIM YOU MADE TODAY AND WHAT WAS A REASON OF YOURS TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM? Also: WHAT MIGHT YOU BE FIRED UP ENOUGH TO WRITE A WHOLE PERSUASIVE ESSAY ABOUT?

KORNAS:  Writing Workshop - Put persuasive Essay Notebook together.

Wednesday January 22nd

MATH

Barber- Division with zeros. Reviewed homework from 1/21. USE STUDY GUIDE TO PREPARE FOR CFP 4.1 TOMORROW (1/23).

Brazier- Comprehensive review of Strands 1-4, including a careful review of the Strand 4 test. Extra Credit due tomorrow. Strand 5 DPP due on Monday, February 3.  

Kornas - CFP 4.1 (Finding Area, Division Vocabulary and Division using an Area Model)

H.W. - CODE NAMES worksheet

SWITCHES

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier):”Readers notice and analyze patterns of behavior.” Open-note test on Friday.

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): Create W.M. Teams, analogy practice

H.W. - STUDY W.M. WORDS AND DEFINITIONS

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber):

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber: Began working on explorer presentation. STUDENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PRESENT NEXT WEEK.

WRITING WORKSHOPS

BARBER: Day 2 of our persuasive essay unit: What writers see and notice about already-written essays.

BRAZIER: Our unit on Argument/Essay Writing continued today. We studied in depth the essay writing of former students of mine, noting what goes into this work.

ASK: “WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WRITING A PERSUASIVE ESSAY? LIST AS MANY THINGS AS POSSIBLE.” [Your child should be able to list more than five things!]

KORNAS:  Persuasive/Argument Essay - Study a persuasive essay.  Find reasons/evidence to support an opinion within the essay.

Tuesday January 21st

MATH

Barber- Review notes from 4.2 review and complete practice problems given. CFP4-1 ON THURSDAY..

Brazier- Misc. Challenge Problems. Calculate Final Strand 4 Grade. Extra Credit Opportunity. Strand 5 DPP due on Monday, February 3.  

Kornas - Division using Area Model.  CFP TOMORROW OVER AREA AND DIVISION. H.W. Practice PROBLEMS TO HELP PREPARE FOR CFP - BOTH SIDES (DO THE AREA MODEL TOO FOR #1)

HOMEWORK FOR ALL: WEEKLY REVIEW. DUE TOMORROW. PLEASE NOTE THAT, FROM NOW ON, MR. BRAZIER’S MATH CLASS WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT WEEKLY REVIEW FROM BARBER’S & KORNAS’ CLASSES.

SWITCHES

No switches on Tuesdays

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier):

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas):

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber):

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber):

WRITING WORKSHOPS

BARBER: Day 1 persuasive essay:  Writers look for evidence.

BRAZIER: Our unit on Argument/Essay Writing began today. We studied the essay writing of former students of mine, noting what goes into work of this kind.

KORNAS:  Begin persuasive essay unit.

Friday January 17th

DID YOU KNOW? Battle of the Books teams are now forming. There was an informational meeting today at lunch for interested students.

Correction regarding number of students on teams:  

Teams will consist of 3-5 team members.

School resumes on Tuesday (01/21/14)

MATH

Barber- 4.2 Using the area model to divide.  Discover the WHY behind the way we we do the traditional method.  

Brazier- Math Olympiad and other challenge problems.  

Kornas - Division using Area Model.  H.W. - STUDENTS WERE GIVEN A DIVISION PROBLEM ON GRID PAPER THAT IS DUE ON TUESDAY.

HOMEWORK FOR ALL: WEEKLY REVIEW. DUE WEDNESDAY. PLEASE NOTE THAT, FROM NOW ON, MR. BRAZIER’S MATH CLASS WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT WEEKLY REVIEW FROM BARBER’S & KORNAS’ CLASSES.

SWITCHES

Reading: (Teacher - Mr. Brazier): “Patterns help a reader see what’s important.”

HOMEWORK: YOUR FIFTH GRADER SHOULD REGULARLY BE READING SELF-SELECTED “JUST RIGHT” TEXTS. THIS IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT.

Word Masters: (Teacher - Mrs. Kornas): Last W.M. presentations today.  Students should begin studying all the words in the WM packet.

Spelling: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber):

Social Studies: (Teacher - Mrs. Barber): Chapter 5 introduction and assign groups the explorer whom they  will read about.  

WRITING WORKSHOPS

All fifth grade classrooms today took a pre-test for the Argument Writing (Persuasive Essay) unit that will begin on Tuesday.

BARBER:

BRAZIER:

KORNAS: