TGIF 5V Families!Another awesome week in room 504. Some important dates to remember:
Here's a look at what we did this week.....Reading: In reading, we continued with our discussion in guided books groups. We will be wrapping those books up next week. This will conclude our Historical Fiction unit. Next, we will be moving into no another nonfiction unit. Our next writing unit is research based argument writing. During reader's workshop, we will be looking at shorter text and articles, examining things like bias, and thinking critically about the author's credentials and information they are presenting in their writing. We will be reading about several different topics: Should students have homework? Should animals be kept in captivity? Should schools require uniforms? Should the school day be shorter? This is a great unit because we really get to dive into topics that interest us, and we begin form opinions about things that matter to each of the students based on research we have collected.
Writing: In writing, we finished up our publication of our informational unit. Next week, students will complete an on demand assessment where they will be asked to write an informational text about a topic that interests them. Our hope is that they will apply some of the new writing principles that they learned when writing about the westward expansion, into this new piece. Once their informational texts (the pre assessment, done before they received any instruction, the guided writing piece that they did in class on the westward expansion, and their post writing piece, that they will complete independently next week) are all published on their websites, I will have students log into their accounts at home to show you these beautiful writing pieces. Math: In Math, we complete the mid chapter check. I went over the results with students, and pulled a couple of small group or individual students to go over any concepts that needed more practice. In most cases, students need to be sure to read the directions carefully. Many students lost points because they needed to find the estimated answer, but found the actual answer. Overall, I think students are starting to get a really good handle on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. We will continue this work next week as we wrap up this adding and subtracting fractions unit. Science: In Science, we continued to label our Mr. Bones skeleton and talk about the different bones and their jobs. S.S. We moved on to our World Wars section, and began discussing the causes and events leading up to both WWI and WWII. We also read a really moving story, Jars of Hope by Jennifer Roy about a real woman named Irene Sendler, a Polish social worker, who saved over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. Roy is a local author who currently lives in Saratoga, NY. If you haven't heard this story, check it out! It is inspirational and moving. I got chills while reading it! Even though it is written about a terrible time in the world, it reminds me of the good in the world, and how strong and brave people can be! Have a great weekend!
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In some ways, January has felt VERY long.....but in "school time", it feels like it flew by! Your children are learning so much, and are becoming such active participants in their own learning. There are so many wonderful things happening in the classroom, this blog could never do all of that work justice. Nevertheless, here are some important things to keep in mind in the coming weeks, as well as a look at some of the things we are working on in the classroom..... Parents : |
Happy Friday everyone! We had a great week in 5V, and we did a lot of great learning. I want for the parents to know that working with this particular class has already been such a pleasure. We have an energetic and excited group of students, and from the second they walk in the door in the morning, they are enthusiastic and ready to learn. It makes the day really fun, and it makes coming to work every morning an absolute pleasure. *Also, if you have not signed up for a parent/teacher conference, please use this form to do so. If none of the available times work for you, please let me know-we can definitely work something out! |
Here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind:
Here's a look at what we did this week!
Reading: In reading, we talked about using stop and jots to keep track of our thinking about our reading. We looked at how to write stop and jots using examples from the text to support our thinking. We practiced writing several stop and jots together, using our read aloud book, Wonder. We also discussed how we will use these Stop and Jots to help us when writing our books letters this year. Next week, we will being working in our guided reading groups!
Writing: In writing, we chose one of our writing "seeds" to begin working on as a published piece. We looked at different ways to write a strong lead. We applied the new strategies we talked about to our own writing. We also began to examine how writers use dialogue to make their writing interesting and detailed. We will continue this next week, and will begin applying it to our own writing.
Math: In math, we wrapped up chapter 1 with order of operations and expressions. We took the chapter 1 test on Friday. Those will be coming home next week. We will begin chapter 2 next week. Chapter 2 talks about dividing whole numbers.
Social Studies: In Social Studies, we continued our study of map skills by using latitude and longitude coordinates to locate places on a map. We talked about how and when people use latitude and longitude in real life.
Science: In Science, we continued our discussion of the skeletal and muscular system by examining the parts of a bone. We also began reading Why Do I Get Sunburn? as a class to look at how our skin works and the different purposes it serves to our body and it's systems.
Word Study: Our word study principle this week talked about the different way that words make the long /a/ sound.
- Monday 10/9: NO SCHOOL: Columbus Day
- Friday, 10/13: Share and Celebrate at 1:15 (hosted by Mr. Fry's 5th Grade)
- Friday, 10/20: Field Trip to NYS Capitol and state Museum
- Wednesday, 11/1: No school: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Thursday, 11/19: Veteran's Day Share and Celebrate at 1:15 *Hosted by Mrs. Vandenburgh's class**
- Friday: 11/10 : NO SCHOOL, Veteran's Day
- Tuesday: 11/14: 11:30 Dismissal, Parent/Teacher Conference
- Wednesday: 11/22: No School
- Thursday: 11/23: No School
- Friday: 11/24: No School
Here's a look at what we did this week!
Reading: In reading, we talked about using stop and jots to keep track of our thinking about our reading. We looked at how to write stop and jots using examples from the text to support our thinking. We practiced writing several stop and jots together, using our read aloud book, Wonder. We also discussed how we will use these Stop and Jots to help us when writing our books letters this year. Next week, we will being working in our guided reading groups!
Writing: In writing, we chose one of our writing "seeds" to begin working on as a published piece. We looked at different ways to write a strong lead. We applied the new strategies we talked about to our own writing. We also began to examine how writers use dialogue to make their writing interesting and detailed. We will continue this next week, and will begin applying it to our own writing.
Math: In math, we wrapped up chapter 1 with order of operations and expressions. We took the chapter 1 test on Friday. Those will be coming home next week. We will begin chapter 2 next week. Chapter 2 talks about dividing whole numbers.
Social Studies: In Social Studies, we continued our study of map skills by using latitude and longitude coordinates to locate places on a map. We talked about how and when people use latitude and longitude in real life.
Science: In Science, we continued our discussion of the skeletal and muscular system by examining the parts of a bone. We also began reading Why Do I Get Sunburn? as a class to look at how our skin works and the different purposes it serves to our body and it's systems.
Word Study: Our word study principle this week talked about the different way that words make the long /a/ sound.
Happy Friday Everyone!
A couple of important dates to keep in mind in the coming weeks:
Friday, 9/29: Apple Fun Run at 1:15 pm
Friday, 10/6: Emergency Early Release Drill : Dismissing 15 minutes early
Monday 10/9: No School: Columbus Day
Friday 10/13 Share and Celebrate hosted by Mr. Freeman's class
Friday: 10/20 Field Trip to NYS Capitol from 9:00 am-1:30 pm. **Permission Slip coming home on Friday 9/22. FOr electronic copy click here: drive.google.com/file/d/0B5824N1-pY7_eUtQMC1PdXVnN1E/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday 10/25: LES School Picture Day
Thursday 10/26: 11:30 Dismissal: Parent Conference Day
Wednesday 11/1: NO SCHOOL: Parent Conference Day
Thursday 11/9: Veteran's Day Celebration HOSTED BY MRS. VANDENBURGH'S 5th GRADE: Save the Date! (Begins at 1:15 pm)
Friday 11/10: No School
Tuesday 11/14: 11:30 Dismissal: Parent Conferences
A couple of important dates to keep in mind in the coming weeks:
Friday, 9/29: Apple Fun Run at 1:15 pm
Friday, 10/6: Emergency Early Release Drill : Dismissing 15 minutes early
Monday 10/9: No School: Columbus Day
Friday 10/13 Share and Celebrate hosted by Mr. Freeman's class
Friday: 10/20 Field Trip to NYS Capitol from 9:00 am-1:30 pm. **Permission Slip coming home on Friday 9/22. FOr electronic copy click here: drive.google.com/file/d/0B5824N1-pY7_eUtQMC1PdXVnN1E/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday 10/25: LES School Picture Day
Thursday 10/26: 11:30 Dismissal: Parent Conference Day
Wednesday 11/1: NO SCHOOL: Parent Conference Day
Thursday 11/9: Veteran's Day Celebration HOSTED BY MRS. VANDENBURGH'S 5th GRADE: Save the Date! (Begins at 1:15 pm)
Friday 11/10: No School
Tuesday 11/14: 11:30 Dismissal: Parent Conferences
A Few other reminders if you haven't done these already...
Here's a look at what we did this week:
Reading: In reader's workshop, we continued to discuss ways to make reader's workshop effective and efficient. We discussed ways that readers choose books, and how to know if a book is "just right". We discussed the fact that as readers we want to be reading books that are just right most of the time. We also went over why readers abandon books, and when to know when it is ok to do so. We also talked about how to log our reading throughout the year, and that we will use the information about books we've read to evaluate ourselves as a reader. We will use the information we log at various times during the year to help us think about who we are as a reader and how we can continue to push ourselves.
Writing: In writing, we continued to work on strategies for coming up with ideas for narrative writing. We used turning points (first times, last times, and times we've learned something) to come up with ideas for a small moment story. We choose one of those ideas and wrote about it. Next week we will discuss a few more strategies for coming up with ideas before we begin to draft a personal narrative piece.
Math: In math, we continued working on place value patterns and examined powers of ten exponents. The students are doing a great job with these concepts. Next week, we will begin multiplication. Please continue to practice math facts at home whenever possible!
Word Study: Our word study principle this week was looking at Proper nouns. We discussed that a proper noun is a specific person, place or thing. We made a list of many different examples of proper nouns, and talked about how no matter where these words fall in a sentence, they are always capitalized. This tied in nicely to our map skills unit in S.S. As we were looking at maps and identifying continents, countries, oceans, etc, we discussed that every time we write these words, they should begin with a capital letter.
S.S.: In S.S. We began our map skills unit. We used atlases to identify the continents and the oceans. We also did some activities that required us to navigate through the atlas, using the glossary, index and timelines.
Science: We will being Science curriculum next week.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Have a great weekend!!!
Writing: In writing, we continued to work on strategies for coming up with ideas for narrative writing. We used turning points (first times, last times, and times we've learned something) to come up with ideas for a small moment story. We choose one of those ideas and wrote about it. Next week we will discuss a few more strategies for coming up with ideas before we begin to draft a personal narrative piece.
Math: In math, we continued working on place value patterns and examined powers of ten exponents. The students are doing a great job with these concepts. Next week, we will begin multiplication. Please continue to practice math facts at home whenever possible!
Word Study: Our word study principle this week was looking at Proper nouns. We discussed that a proper noun is a specific person, place or thing. We made a list of many different examples of proper nouns, and talked about how no matter where these words fall in a sentence, they are always capitalized. This tied in nicely to our map skills unit in S.S. As we were looking at maps and identifying continents, countries, oceans, etc, we discussed that every time we write these words, they should begin with a capital letter.
S.S.: In S.S. We began our map skills unit. We used atlases to identify the continents and the oceans. We also did some activities that required us to navigate through the atlas, using the glossary, index and timelines.
Science: We will being Science curriculum next week.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Have a great weekend!!!
Hello 5V Families!
We made it through our first week, and what a GREAT week it was! The kids did such a fabulous job adjusting to the new routines and learning about each other as new members of their class. We have such a GREAT group of students, and we had a lot of fun these first few days.
A couple of reminders:
Also, if you haven't sent back the pink Early/Emergency Release form, please send that in this week. If you need another one, let me know, I can send it home!
During the first week, we worked on establishing routines in the classroom, getting to know each other, and began talking about things we can do in the classroom to HELP learning. Next week, will begin reader's and writer's workshop, as well as our first unit in math: Place Value, Multiplication and Expressions.
As always, if you have ANY questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. My door is ALWAYS open!
Have a great weekend!
-Mrs. Vandenburgh
We made it through our first week, and what a GREAT week it was! The kids did such a fabulous job adjusting to the new routines and learning about each other as new members of their class. We have such a GREAT group of students, and we had a lot of fun these first few days.
A couple of reminders:
- Open House for 4th/5th Grade: Thursday, 9/14 at 6:00 pm
- Share and Celebrate: Friday 9/15 at 1:15 pm
- Thursday, 9/21 NO SCHOOL
- Friday, 9/29: Apple Fun Run at 1:15
- Friday, 10/6 Early Dismissal Drill: dismissal will start 15 minutes early
Also, if you haven't sent back the pink Early/Emergency Release form, please send that in this week. If you need another one, let me know, I can send it home!
During the first week, we worked on establishing routines in the classroom, getting to know each other, and began talking about things we can do in the classroom to HELP learning. Next week, will begin reader's and writer's workshop, as well as our first unit in math: Place Value, Multiplication and Expressions.
As always, if you have ANY questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. My door is ALWAYS open!
Have a great weekend!
-Mrs. Vandenburgh
Classroom News
Use this page to keep up to date on what we are doing in the classroom. Also, don't forget to check out See Saw for student posts and stories. (We will set this up in September)
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