December 1st

SPELLING

Brazier: Word Study activities.

* PERSONALIZED SPELLING TEST ON FRIDAY. OFFICIAL CLASSROOM SPELLING BEE ON DECEMBER 16. TO PREPARE FOR THE LATTER, STUDY THE BLUE LIST OF WORDS HANDED OUT IN CLASS.

Barber: Review the first 10 words from the “Frequently Misspelled words” list.

* TEST ON THURSDAY ON THE FIRST 10 WORDS. OFFICIAL CLASSROOM SPELLING BEE ON DECEMBER 16. TO PREPARE FOR THE LATTER, STUDY THE ORANGE LIST OF WORDS HANDED OUT IN CLASS.

Kornas:  Each student has their own personal spelling list in his/her planner.  The spelling test will take place on Thursday.

HOMEWORK: STUDY FOR TEST ON THURSDAY.

MATH

Here are two questions to ask your fifth grader to gauge their understanding of (a) the need for fractional parts to be of equal length and (b) the importance of understanding what one whole represents.

(a) What is mathematically inaccurate about saying, "My half is bigger than your half?" (Answer: Halves are equal.)

(b) Why is someone who says "I ate half the cake" not necessarily a giant pig? (Answer: It depends what one is; it depends how big the cake is.)

Brazier - Switch 1: Using pattern blocks to build a deeper understanding of fractions. Strand 3 DPP due on 12/08.

Brazier - Switch 2: Using pattern blocks to build a deeper understanding of fractions. Strand 3 DPP due on 12/15.

Martinez - Switch 1: Using pattern blocks to build a deeper understanding of fractions.

Martinez - Switch 2: Using pattern blocks to build a deeper understanding of fractions.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Barber Switch 1 and 2: Why did the explorers come to the New World? Introduction and vocabulary for chapter 4.

Kornas Switch 1 and 2: Introduction to Chapter 4.  

H.W. CHAPTER 4 VOCABULARY

READING WORKSHOP

Barber:. “Readers take note thinking with flags”

Brazier: “Readers compare characters.”

* ASK: “What is the name of the main character in the text you’re reading independently? What is a theory that you have about him/her? What makes you say that?”

Kornas: “Readers read with theories in mind and revise or confirm their thinking.”

Martinez: “Readers write quality entries in their reading notebook.”

WRITING WORKSHOP

Barber:  “Checklists remind writers what they know.”

Brazier: “Checklists help writers remember what they’ve learned (and they also serve to  remind writers of what they’re aiming toward).”

* ASK: “Tell me a way in which the Narrative Checklist improved your writing today.”

Kornas: “Writers create strong leads by studying the work of other authors.”

HOMEWORK: MORNING THINKING HAMBURGER PARAGRAPH DUE TOMORROW.

Martinez: “Writers end their personal narratives with a bang.”