Practice PowerPoint Problems for Unit 2 Test

We have our Unit 2 Test Friday Morning.  Here is the study guide for 6 very similar problems to those on the test:

 Link to Powerpoint.  

It's highly recommended to review 6 a-e.  Remember, you will normally need to download the PowerPoints first.

Academic Calendar & Connections Week of December 12

Monday, December 11

Mathematics Review for Unit 2 Module Test.  No Homework.

Tuesday, December 12

Mathematics - Review for Unit 2 Module, Lesson 29 Problem Set Book, 1 -3.  Exit Ticket - Lesson 29 Homework.

Differentiation Structure:
Perennial Math Group  with Mr. Morris.  
Partial Quotient Division Group with Mr. Hagstrom
Zearn Independent Learning Group on Computers

Language Arts:  Critique of Expository Writing Essay - "Suggestions for Cafeteria Improvement." Paragraph by paragraph analysis of Structure and Technique.
Students began Draft No. 2.  This is to be completed as homework. 
.
Wednesday, December 13

Mr. Hagstrom away for District Flash Training

Parent - Teacher Conferences

Dear Families,

I look forward to seeing you at our scheduled times on Wednesday or Thursday. Most families have scheduled meetings already, but for those who still need to, I still have some appointments available on Thursday at scattered times.  The easiest way to reach me is by email and suggest a couple time periods that could work for you and, if you wish, provide an easy contact telephone for me to confirm a time.  My email is  hagstromb@issaquah.wednet.edu.

Meetings are scheduled every 20 minutes.  Students are welcome to join as the family wishes, but this is elective. You child has helped prepare some of their sample work (math samples and record, Composition Journal Pieces, and Science Journal).

Since the time is limited, I like to concentrate on student progress, strengths, and concerns or needs and hear feedback on these topics.  I like to give parents a good idea regarding present performance and behavior, and the student's current trajectory.  We will have time devoted to questions you may have. If there are any concerns, we can have a brief initial talk about goals, expectations, and ways to support your child in school. Matters of concern normally will need follow up communication as the conference schedule doesn't support dealing with such issues thoroughly.

Kind regards,

Bradley Hagstrom

Computer Lab for Wednesday, December 6

1.  Complete your Reading Response (No. 14) on right.
2.  View Christopher Columbus and Columbian Exchange Videos in Brainpop.
3.  Brainpop - open choice

Academic Calendar and Connections Week of December 5

Monday 12/5

Math:  Review work on:

Multiplication using the area model and comparing this to traditional algorithm, using arrows to show partial quotients in both methods.

Division using place value disks,
Division by multiples of 10 using a place value chart
Rewriting division problems by decomposing and simplifying the divisor:
Ex.  45,000 /  900 =
       45,000 / 100 / 9 =
        / 100      / 100
     450  / 9  =  50   and we solve this using math facts and see that 45 / 9 = 5, so 450 / 9 = 50.
Word Application problems

We did our work today in pairs, as well as individually, with optional advanced questions offered.

As a result of the review period, no new HW assignment was given today. 

English:

Plot and Theme using "7th Grade" by Gary Soto as the example text.
Students then discussed plot and theme of  their personal fictional material with a partner and wrote a plot/ theme update.

HW: Reading fictional material.  Bringing this to class for our reader's workshop. Fictional material may include books for the cultural reading challenge. 

Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow event in Federal Way

• 3 Dec 2016 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way

This is the competition.  Our class is sending Addison, Julia , & Jason.  Wish them the best of luck!

Academic Calendar & Connections for Week of November 28

Monday -

Mathematics - Students assembled their math trimester sample work packets, and completed a form of math scores and information for conferences.

We practiced long division with 2 digit divisors and 3 digit dividends using a 3-step process of estimation, calculation, and work check.  (Lesson 22)  Homework: Lesson 22.

Science / Non-fiction Reading:  Completed the last 3 Science / Animal Power-point presentations: Lucas, Saskia & Lauren, and Ben A.

Writing session on science report.

Reading:  Read-Aloud: Wonder; Library

Tuesday - 

Mathematics - Unit 22,  Division of multi-digit problems.   Group A - Reteach for sub group.  Zearn for Group B.  Perennial Math group met with Mr. Morris, parent volunteer for advanced team problem solving.   No Math Homework.

Science/ Writing - Finished Science Reports.

Reading - Non-fiction reading comprehension article & discussion and review of quiz.

Computers - Reader's Response, Zearn Math, Brainpop

Wednesday - Mr. Hagstrom at Boeing Engineering in the Schools Training with 5th Grade Team

Some "Wonders" Not to Be Missed

November 26

Happiness is a perfumeyou cannot pouronto others without gettinga few drops on yourself.       -Unknown

November 27

Good deeds can lead to more good deeds

which can lead to more good deeds

that will eventually lead back to you!   -Nicolas

November 28

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.   -Beverly Sills

Report On the Brassica Plant Instructions

Write a Report On the Wisconsin Fast Plant (Brassica) Experiment

Suggested format. Note: Numbers I-IV are required.  V. was done in Journal.  V-VI-VII are optional.

Questions to guide your writing:

I.  What did the experiment allow us to test? How could this information help us? What were all the variables and the control? What was your variable? What did you hypothesize might happen?

II.  Using your observations, data, and graph information, describe the growth of your plant over the month (35 days).  

III. What were the final results of the experiment? Compare the growth of your plant, and or a typical plant in the fertilizer group to the expected growth of the control group.  Why did you plant do better or worse?  Include your thoughts if this was a fair experiment here, or write about that in a separate paragraph (See V below). 

IV.  What can you conclude or interpret from our/your experiment? If you could do another experiment on the Brassica plant growth, what would you test next?

V.* Talk about a fair experiment.  Was this experiment fair?  What would you do next time to make it better?  What kind of observations would you be more careful about making? 

VI.* What did you learn about the anatomy of plants and how they are pollinated?

VII.* What did you learn about the anatomy, life, and functions of bees and how they are interdependent with flowers.

Required: (Completed in Journals)

VIII.  Write a conclusion about how this experiment helped you learned the scientific method.  How did you enjoy the process of observing, drawing, measuring, and recording the plant growth?  What did you learn about yourself as a beginning scientist? How strongly would you like to do another science experiment in the next few months? What were the most elpful or important things you learned about in the experiment and research? 

Computer Lab Steps for Nov. 22

1.  Complete the Reader's Response.
2.  Watch the video on the scientific method: here
3.  Work on Zearn in Mathematics  (With permission, alternatively, Brainpop)

Dancing Classroom Presentation Announcement

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This is a reminder that our ballroom dancing program ends on Wednesday, November 23---we will perform for you in the gym from 9:00-10:00.

Our kids are nervous and excited!  They have come an impressive distance!

It is usually a very crowded event, so please arrive a little early if you can.  We encourage (but do not require) students to dress "elegantly."  That could mean a skirt or dress for the ladies and a nice button-down shirt for the gentlemen.  Please don't make a special shopping trip for this event, though.

We sure hope you can come!

Mr. Hagstrom

Academic Calendar and Connections for Week 12 Beginning November 14

Monday, November 14

Math: Mid-Unit Assessment, 
Homework: Lesson 16, 2nd Page Only

Science: Lesson 1 on Review Experiment to begin organizing Data from the Experiment, and decide as a team the best way to communicate findings.
Rubric for Analyzing Plant Growth
Drawing and Observation Session

Specials:  Library/ Book Fair (Runs through Friday)

Dancing Classrooms:  Demonstration teams for Meringue and Tango Announced; Family Presentation Format Practiced

Tuesday, November 15

Math
Review of Mid-Unit Assessment
Lessons 16, done in class; no homework

Science: 

Today's observation:  Other Experimental Group’s “Representative /Average Plant," 

Next discussion:  How do the Representative / Average plants from 1 other Experimental Group and the Control Group Compare with Your Own Experiment? (Divide into Crowding and Light Groups)

Integrated Learning:  Reading:  Pollination and Interdependence, p. 65

The Reading Response for the Period ending Sunday, November 13 is open and I'd like students to respond to the from their homes this week on Tuesday or Wednesday, please. 

Sharing of Student Writing: 

Student Sharing of Promoted Personal Narrative Writing:  Cyrus, Isaiah, and Lauren (In addition to Maysa done previously and Reidar to follow when he returns). 

Wednesday, November 16

Art with Art Docents: 11:45 - 12:40

3 Math Homework Pages Sent Home with Students today.  Due Thursday.

Reminder:  Tonight is the book fair's after hours open house.  The Library will be open from 6-8. 

The Reading Response for the Period ending Sunday, November 13 is open and I'd like students to respond to the from their homes this week on Tuesday or Wednesday, please. 

Thursday, November 17

Math Homework: Lesson 17
The reading response homework is still due.  

Padlet for Class Photos (Password Protected)

Camp Orkila Info.

Hi Parents,

Camp Orkila pre-registration and fundraising forms came home last Friday! If you have not seen it, they are available online at ivepta.org and in the IVE lobby. Please make sure to have your child send in the form and $25 check (unless you submit it online) before Wednesday, November 23rd. There are Camp Orkila boxes in each classroom and we will collect them weekly. 

Thank you to those who have supported our two fundraisers, Bake Sale and Chipotle. It was a huge success and we raised over $1,500.00 for our campscholarship fund. We also have the Brown Bear Car Wash fundraiser and the 5th grade class that sells the most brown bear tickets will win a pizza party! Discounted tickets are $7.00/each or 5 for $30.00 (normally $8.50 car washes). Contest ends on Wednesday, November 23rd but we will still be selling them after the contest ends!

Please send us an email if you have any questions to camporkila@ivepta.org. 

Thank you!

Amy Cancelosi, Lizz Eng, and Laura Schmidt

IVE Camp Orkila Co-Chairs 2016-17

Academic Calendar and Connections Week 11 Beginning November 7

Monday, November 7

Math Homework:  Due Tuesday:  Find and Draw, Label and show quantity of 10 items in the kitchen, Please focus on liquid measurement. The purpose is to strengthen your understanding of concrete examples of different liquid (and if you wish solid) quantities.  We want to become familiar with Measurements in the American/ Standard System (gills, ounces, cups, pints, quarts, gallons)

Colors of the Rainbow Announcement:  Congratulations to Isaiah M., Addison G., and Julia L. who were selected by Ms. Chantell to Represent our class in the Colors of the Rainbow Competition. 

Today is the Chipotle Fund Raiser for the 5th Grade Field Trip.  The time to buy a meal there and have some  funds go to IVE is between 3-7 PM. 

Birthdays This Month:

Isaiah Nov. 15
RemYYY Nov. 29  (Got that Mr. H?) 
Madelyn Nov. 30

Tuesday, November 8

Voting Day:  No Homework

Special:  Science on the Go with Ms. Kate

Computer Lab Sequence For Tuesday

1.  Complete the Reader's Response for Week  10 ending Sunday the 6th of November.

2.  Watch the Video: Honey Bees National Geographic

3.  Math on Zearn or Explore Brainpop.

Wednesday, November 9

Veteran's Day Assembly, 9:45

Haiku Writing Art Connection with Mrs. St. Andre.

Academic Calendar and Connections for Week 10 Beginning October 31

Monday

Science Projects:  Observation, Measurement, Note-taking,  Comparing Growth Data

Writing and Reading:  3 Student Personal Narratives for Reading Discussion and Writer's Models, & writing for productivity.  Writing using Turning points

Math:  Lesson 9, homework due Wednesday.

Specials:  Library and Ballroom Dancing

Tuesday

Science - Relating steps in the scientific method to our plant experiment.  Short Instructional Videos, discussion, note-taking.  Focus on Steps of Scientific Method and key vocabulary such as the Hypothesis, Independent Variable, &  Experimental Control,

Writing and Reading: Continue Personal Narratives, New Mentor text & New Writer's tool kit strategies:  dialogue and strong verbs

Math: Lesson 10

Wednesday

Writing and Reading: Continue Personal Narratives, Wonder as a Mentor text & New Writer's tool kit strategies:  writing about feelings & relationships with family and friends.

Math Lesson 11

Thursday

Don't forget that today  is  Dancing Classrooms.

Writing and Reading: Continue Personal Narratives using Knucklehead another mentor text & New Writer's tool kit strategies:  character development and using mentor texts for connection,

Math Lesson 12

Powerpoint Presentation:  Adison G., Isaiah M., and Annalyse P.

Friday

Math Lesson 13, in class, not for homework.

Parents Share Camp Presentation tomorrow, 12:10 -12:30

Academic Calendar & Connections Week of October 24

Monday, October 24

Mr. Hagstrom attends District Literacy Training and Class has a substitute teacher.

Tuesday, October 25

Science Focus Block (2 periods and replaces mathematics today):

Students read the life cycle of Brassica plant and  draw its life cycle and relate the drawing to our science readings on cotyledons, photosynthesis, producers and consumers, and the food chain.

Students take detailed notes of experiment plan.

Students & Teacher discuss Brassica plant thinning options for plant growth experiment, the requirement of meeting Control conditions for the experiment, observing, recording data accurately, drawing, measuring and labeling plants, and writing supportive observations.

Students compare our plant growth to typical growth under control conditions.

Students are encouraged to decide if they will snip or pull out excess plants, draw and measure cuttings & extracted plants, keep samples in their journal, and speculate on the causes of any stunted, slow, injured, or non-growth of plants and seeds.

Language Arts

Students and Teacher reread "Oranges," and discuss the tension point of barter with shopkeeper, and the symbolism or representation of the orange as fire in the main characters hands.

Student written poem responses are shared and evaluated for positive and unique contributions to the class understanding of the poem and/or poetry.

Students and teacher discuss the power of poetry as a concentrated and potent form of expression and how it can share qualities of personal narrative, and be a genre for capturing and sharing memories and emotions.

Teacher Introduces and Reads aloud, "Something to Remember Me By."  Discussion is centered around the 4 memory related texts we've read this year: Jorge Manuel Guillermo Jose, The Lotus Seed, and "Oranges."

Wonder Read Aloud

Computer

Students complete their Reading Response for the week ending October 23.

Students watch and complete Brainpop Computer activities on photosynthesis

Integrated Science/Literacy

Adison and Madison present their PowerPoint Presentation on Rats.

Homework:  

No math assigned; students may elect to work ahead on math problems in packet

Book Report Final Check No. 3 on Wednesday; the report is due Friday, but students are encouraged to turn-in a completed report on Thursday. 

Friday, October 28

Book Report Due

Fall Festival!

YaY!  Class Party for the last 1:15 hours of the day. 

Students may dress into their costumes during the 1:40 recess prior to the party.  Costume rules include: No gore, no masks, no sharps or weapons, and no head coverings that obscure the visibility of the face (No hoodies with heads deeply recessed).  Essentially we all need to be safely recognizable. 

The party will have healthy snacks, some games like bingo with small prizes, and a treat decoration station.

Students will have packed up prior to the party and students will be able to leave at their regular scheduled times. Volunteer parents and the students they care for generally stay on a bit for final tidying up. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Academic Plan for Monday, October 24 with Guest Teacher

Schedule for 5th Grade w/Mr. Hagstrom on Monday, October 23  

8:30 Greeting, Announcements, Attendance & Lunch, Outline for the Day

Have Saskia, Cyrus, and Maysa Read Oct 22, 23, & 24's "Wonders" to the class.

  All student handouts today are labeled and placed on the deep counter with wide drawers near sink (regular place for student handouts). 

  Remind students if they finish an activity early, they may read silently. 

8:40    Math

Today: 90 Minutes (30 minutes before library and 60 minutes after).

     Start off with the Math Sprint 2.  Students turn this in.  

     Next begin Unit 2 Lesson 5.  There are several teacher led activities including a "Pattern Sheet" to prepare students to do the Problem Set problems in their Workbooks.  If helpful for the guest teacher, please invite Isaiah M., Greyson P., Colin P., Cyrus, C., Isabelle G., Nidhi V. and/or Saskia V. to solve any example or problem set for the whole class using the projection system.

       Homework is in Week’s Homework Packet (Deep Counter) Unit 2, 

Lesson 5, P. 25 & 80. 

9:12    Library to 9:42

9:42    Math
10:42 Silent Reading or Reading from Wonder.

11:00  Recess

11:25  Lunch

11:45 Reading Instruction

I.                    T.E.  Making Meaning Vol. 1, Pages 5-11. Sections 3 – 6.  Read Aloud, The Lotus Seed. Students sitting on carpet in front of room.  Discussion and Reflection.

II.                 Daybook of Critical Reading and Writing. Poem: “Oranges” by Gary Soto.  Language and Craft focus (also in the handout instructions): Annotations. Students read the text twice, on the second reading, they should mark up the text pointing out striking parts for them and write “? Marks” for parts they are not sure about. There is a discussion question for writing at the end.  After students write their answer, have a class discussion.

12:55 - 1:40 “Community Time, Special projects, and Extension”: Dancing Classrooms 

1:40   Recess

2:00   Science

Today we will do science reading, note taking, and have a concluding discussion.

We will observe our plant experiment next on Tuesday.

Science:  Chapter 3.  “How does energy move in an ecosystem?”  National Geographic Life Science Book.  P. 102-109. Students read in pairs. Each student individually takes notes on sheets of notebook paper on these terms:

Chlorophyll

Photosynthesis

Food chain

Food web

and answer p. 109 #2:  Why are producers important to consumers? 

Complete these notes by 2:30. If students finish early they should read quietly their personal books. 

2:30  Teacher Debrief (Questions & Answers; Students check/revise notes). 

2:45   Clean up, 2:48 Safety Patrol & Kinder Walkers Squads Leave
Julia to pick up line today.

2:55 Dismissal

Non-Fiction Science Reading PowerPoint

This is a required assignment due Thursday, 10/18 at 8:30 AM please*

*(Unless special arrangements have been made.)

We have had two and one-half hours of computer time to assist students complete the project in school, but ask and encourage students to deepen the work at home. We will have a final period on Wednesday in class. 

I.  Objective 1:  to share information about an animal you read about in class, including any of the following: (In general, this is factual information and things that can surprise us.  Guideline: Create about 10 slides for this objective, covering a breadth of the areas below (5 or more). At the very least a student is expected to create 5+  content slides - not counting images & the title slide.  For a higher mark, it is expected that the students enter into depth in 1-3 areas.  Teams should create a presentation with more slides than individual presentations, and go into depth in more areas as well.  

A.  Physical Features of the Animal  

B.  Special physical adaptations  

C.  Descriptions of how the animal feeds or hunts and what it eats.  

D.  Explanation of the geographical locations of the animal.  

E.  Description of the habit the animal thrives in  

F.   Discuss how human development affects the animal.   

G.  Discuss how pollution or global warming affects the animal.  

H.  Discuss actions people have taken to help the animal population be healthy. 

I.   Description of Predators

J.  Life cycle

K. Human uses of the animal. 

II.  Objective II: to include slides showing that you have used these non-fiction reading skills to read and think about your animal including:

1.  Questions about your animal - or a F.A.Q.  

2.  One deep question - something that leads people to think deeply about the animal or its condition. 

3.  One or more speculations you have about your animal or its future. 

4.  Connections about the situation or condition of this animal and other animals, or a personal one. 

5.  New Vocabulary - (2) or more words. 

Academic Calendar & Connections Week 8 Beginning October 17

Monday, October 17

For Science we began our plant experiment as a basis for learning the Scientific Method.  Students planted seeds in soil and added differing amounts of fertilizer pellets and/or additional substances to see how these could influence the growth of Wisconsin Fast Plants - scientific name: Brassicas. This is a month long project.

For Math, we reviewed the key skills in Unit 2, lessons 1-2 and did additional practice problems. We are learning efficient methods of rounding factors for larger multiplication problems and estimating products.  

For Reading Students have been asked to bring in a flash memory drive on Tuesday and for use this week for their PowerPoint projects they will be working on this week.  I have bought flash drives enough  for half of the class - or one for each project team for those who don't have their own. 

Regarding Homework: Students were not given HW packets on Monday and there is no specific HW beyond reading, however students may wisely work toward their book report completion due October 28. We reviewed the expectation of the report today.   The 5th grade team is regrouping around the Unit Math Test, the wrapping up of the Non-fiction Science Reading this week, and the Start of the new Science Unit today. HW packets may vary this week between classes for this reason.  Once again, a copy of the Book Report Information Sheet for the book report on a fictional novel may be found at Mr. Arthur's connect site: here.  

Tuesday, October 18

Reading and Writing: 

     Students will have computer time to work on their Powerpoint Non-Fiction Science Reading Projects.

     Students have worked intensively on their Non-Fiction Science Reading Powerpoint and in many cases have checked out classroom USB Flash Memory Disks with their in-progress report.  I am confirming that, excepting special requests, that the students turn in their completed work on Thursday.  

     We reviewed a book report example today.  Students will bring in their rough draft, completed work, or - at a minimum - an outline of their book report that is due October 28.  

     There is no math homework on Tuesday night. 

Wednesday, October 19

Reading; Book Report progress check in.  

Reading & Writing: non-fiction science book PowerPoint Progress Check-off Sheet completed to help guide students to project completion. 

Math Unit 2, Lesson 3.  There are two pages of homework, pp. 53-54 

Thursday, October 20

Animal Powerpoints due first thing on a usb flash memory stick or disc.  Students may download these on a class desktop so they can take keep their flash drives for personal use.  These will be shared on-line and evaluated by the students.  I have not decided the web sharing format yet. TBA  

Mathematics:  We are working on Eureka Math Unit 2 Lesson 4 and students were assigned pages 66 & 68 for Friday.   Students had short one-on-one conferences with the teacher on their tests; about half the students know their scores. Students will bring their tests home on Friday. 

Language Arts:  Book Report Check in Number 2 is tomorrow.  Students may bring in annotation notes, a rough draft, outline for paper, or final copy.  The report is due in one week - October 28, though I would prefer it Thursday, October 27.    Today we closely at the Book Report Scoring Rubric, which, can be found under Literacy in Helpful Links at the top of the blog. 

Animal Power points due first thing on a USB flash memory stick or disc.  Students may download these on a class desktop so they can take keep their flash drives for personal use.  These will be shared on-line and evaluated by the students.  I have not decided the web sharing format yet. TBA 

Science:  Our WI Fast Plants are growing and students began observations, drawing, notes, and thinking about our Experiment and it's relation to the Scientific Method. 

Friday, October 21

5th Grade Fundraising Goal Reward Pizza Party at 2:00.  Sorry, this is not Gluten-Free.

Book Report Check-in #2.  Students bring in notes, rough draft, outline, or draft in progress.

Mathematics: Students will return home with their Math Unit 1 Tests tomorrow.  

Thank you!

Mr. Hagstrom

Academic Calendar & Connections for Week 7, Starting October 11

Tuesday, October 11

Mathematics:  

As with last Friday, we reviewed for tomorrow's Unit 1 Math Test. 

     There is one double-sided math homework sheet (3 problems in total) in this week's homework     packet for tonight's homework. 

Non-Fiction Science Reading:

     Students selected independent or partner projects for creating presentations to summarize their learning about one animal from our science readings. Students will be creating a PowerPoint with a few required elements, but the majority of the information will arise from student interest and choice. More to follow on the timeline. 

Computer Lab:

      Students completed their Reader's Response for reading through the last weekend.  Students then either worked on elective material in Zearn or finished their Foreshadowing Art Work. 

ART: 

      Students finished their Foreshortening art works last Friday and today.  In a few cases, students took their art work home to finish tonight.  Mrs. Hackney will be hanging these in the 5th grade hallway tomorrow. 

Wednesday, October 12

 Music

      Please remember that there are try outs for the Musical after school

Thursday, October 13

Reading, Writing and Science: A PowerPoint or other Presentation/Project

    Students continued to take notes from their non-fiction science books, choosing information for a presentation (normally a PowerPoint slideshow) from some designated categories as well as student elective material.  Students are pulling a mixture of factual, unique, and surprising information about their animals, what they eat, how they survive, etc.  Where possible and useful, I have asked students to focus part of their reading on interactions with humans, development, and climate change, as well as thoughts about the place of their organism in the food chain.  

    At this point, on average, (and with wide variability) student groups have pulled together information for about 10+ slides. Students will have one opportunity to pull in graphic imagery for their project in class, and another opportunity to create slides, but will need to invest additional time at home.  The PowerPoint presentation was chosen by students as an alternative to a traditional report or essay, however, both of the later can be chosen to fulfill the assignment's expectations.  Additionally, some students petitioned and were permitted to use alternative ways to show their learning, such as creating a mini-documentary, or writing realistic fiction to cover the same information.  
    
     For the next step, on Friday,  students will be asked to incorporate additional elements from their reading instruction into their slides or study:  questions, new vocabulary, connections,  speculations and deep questions.

      The anticipated project completion date is Next Thursday, October 20th. 

Mathematics:  

     Students finished the Unit 1 Test of Eureka math yesterday or this morning.  

We began Unit 2 of Eureka Math today, and some of the problems of Lesson 1 were assigned as Homework.

Science & Art Integration: 

     Students watched a video on how to draw wildflowers and practiced these sketches in preparation for the plant life & growth hands-on science activity they begin on Monday. 

Kona Ice at 2:00

Academic Calendar Notes

October 3 - 7

Monday, October 3:  Students were reminded that we have book report no. 1 due Friday, October 28.

Literary Words of the week are: amiable and woe

Tuesday, October 4:

For writing class, second drafts of our expository writing papers are due.

Students had a shortened math session due to a District Opinion Writing Assessment. 

Math class focused on decimal division using place value charts and discs, and compared this to division using the standard algorithm and results with remainders and decimals. There was no new math homework today. 

In computer class, students were introduced to ZEARN.  See the post below for more information on this digital mathematics learning platform.

For Friday students should bring their completed math packets and complete week 5 Reader's response on Thursday night.  

Internet Based Math Learning with Zearn

Students were given a login and password to Zearn - an online math support program connected with Eureka and national math standards.  This program may be used at home as a math extension, tool for understanding, and enrichment.  I can track the students' progress for the work they do at home as well. 

www.zearn.org

HIVE5 Connection - Week of September 26

   Autumn is upon us, our weather is beautiful and the leaves turning...

Our group has maintained its lead in the Orange Ruler Fundraiser standings, so I simply commend and thank our students and families for this successful effort. As of Friday, September 30, the second place team is just $67 dollars behind, so we may want to set in for one final effort should that lead be important.  In any case, there is much to be proud of here!  

We had our first art class, with a focus on foreshadowing, led by Mrs. Liz St. Andre (and five other moms -joined our class).  Jamba juice was provided as a reward to the students for their Orange Ruler efforts.  Mrs. St. Andre gave a wonderful introduction to this zany art approach that the kids thoroughly enjoyed. Drawings are in progress and the plan is to provide brief respite in art over the next two weeks so the artworks can be completed and provide some mental rest at times when the studies may wear on.

Curriculum to Calendar:

HW Packet & Literacy Sheet links for the week: Homework Packets

I. Writing:  

Homework was bent around the Expository or How To writing assignment's First Draft, which was due today, Thursday, for sharing in small groups in class.  Tomorrow, Friday, the groups reconvene to focus on the constructive feedback process.  We have emphasized that writing is a process and that we are more concerned about editing and revising than final copy.  Nevertheless, students will have a chance to choose a piece of their own from the four assignments thus far for further editing. 

II.  Mathematics:

To confirm what you may have read in your child's planner this week, no math homework was given on Tuesday to provide additional student time for their writing. The weekly homework packets were collected, selected math problems checked in teams, and assignments checked off for completion.  A double-sided sheet for lesson 13 was the only sheet sent for homework on Thursday, due Friday. 

Students who had completed all of their work this week were provided extra math enrichment sheets, which may be turned in by Monday. 

Math scores from last Wednesday's District test were entered into into the Gradecam system

Also, On Wednesday students took a multi-lesson quiz and practiced reporting corrected problems as objective-based scores, and tabulated these into Standards' based forms.

III. Reading.  

We continue on our Journey with Wonder.  It's a great glue for the classroom community.

In our non-fiction science reading, students practiced and discussed cause and effect, and the connections between questions and speculations.  

All students also took their District reading pretest, and students with higher reading needs were given the more heavily diagnostic Fountas and Pinnell reading comprehension assessment on Wednesday and Thursday. Both tests have been uploaded into digital tracking systems. 

There is a lot of extra interest and love for threatened animals being generated by some really healthy group discussions on the topics.  Saskia and Lauren spontaneously created  a sign up sheet, which already has approximately 25 signatures from students in class (plus their teacher's), with the goal of expressing interest and support for threatened species.  On Thursday I gave the girl's space in our community time to begin discussion on the theme and encouraged them to carry this farther.  They also elected this subject of study in the elective part of their computer lab time this week. Let's see where this leads us...

Just 1/3 of students completed last week's Reader's Response homework, and for a number of reasons, I'm going to revise this procedure to widen the response time window and it have it more usefully connected to learning by providing opportunities for sharing, and making the writing about the books we read connected to our classroom culture.  Therefore, there is no reading response homework Thursday.  Current plans are to reintroduce the activity when we have whole class computer access next Tuesday. 

IV.  Connections

Here's some helpful topics for conversation with your fifth grader this week:

A. Connecting with our U.S. Geography focus this week, talk about the physical features of our area and country in geographical terms like tributary, bay, estuary, and gulf.  

B.  Does reading Wonder have an impact on how we are relating to our classmates this year? 

C.  What animals and animal habitats have you been reading this week? 

D.  For math, create opportunities to try questions like:  About how many offices do you think are in this building anyway? How did you calculate that?  From the garden boxes with yellow roses, how many small bouquets of flowers do you think you could make?

E.  How does the Bohemian folk dance or electric slide go?

F.  What are you reading personally this week?  

F.   What home studies is your child pursing of their own interest? Can these be shared at school? We discussed Ben A's interest and knowledge of wildlife this week and he brought in a blue-jay's feather.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Bradley Hagstrom 

Class Highlights for Week ending 9/23

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Monday

A. Our class had the Orange Ruler for the day as they raced into first place and won a piggy entry for the pig derby, which is all swell, really!  Proud of their efforts.  

We read our 6th Dimitri Martin story: "F.A.Q. Genie."  It serves as the fourth model for our upcoming fiction writing activity. 

Tuesday

As of Tuesday, our class kept their amazing lead in the Orange Ruler Fundraiser Games. Looks like there's a yummy purple beverage we can stick 27 straws in soon...................kidding. Tuesday update:  they've won individual Jamba Juices  for their high rate of invitations. 

Wednesday:  

Students took their District Math Pre-Assessment to gauge their Math preparedness.  Students had up to 90 minutes to complete the assessment, which will be used to guide instructional decisions. 

Thursday:  

Students shared their fiction writing in small groups. A subset of student selected stories were shared with the class.  We had some good first drafts, and Isaiah did an excellent job on his multiple perspectives story and had the whole class in knots for his engaging reading presentation! 

Dancing Classrooms: Students began learning their third dance -La Rumba de Cuba

Friday: 

Lucas's family brought in birthday snacks in the afternoon community time for Lucas's birthday. Happy Birthday tomorrow Lucas!

Students followed an imaginary trip based on coordinate points through three continents and had to find places based upon geographical clues.  Then they invented a travel itinerary as a group, identified coordinates, and charted travel plans. 

Students won a snow cone treat in the Orange Ruler Competition for their high participation and they remained school fundraising leaders all week.  Additionally they won a pizza party with the principal for a date TBA.   We look forward to these days, but especially an entry into the pig races!  Thank you to all the students and families who contributed to our school. 

Fiction Writing Assignment Based Upon Demitri Martin Story Models

Mr. Arthur, my fifth grade colleague, introduced me to writer Demitri Martin who wrote This is a Book. We have done several read aloud sessions as examples of fictional humor and for story writing examples.  

Our current fiction writing assignment, draft 1 due Thursday (some students completed in class), asks students to make up stories following one of  four story models as presented in four of Martin's stories. 

The four choices, based on stories the teacher is modeling in class, include the following:

1.  Tell a simple story from 5 points of view, as in “The Bee Sting”;

2.  Tell a series of small stories that all end with the same sentence, as in “Freak Accidents With Acapella Groups”;

3.  Tell a series of small stories that involve the same three very different characters, as is “Optimist, Pessimist, Contortionist”;4. Create a “F.A.Q.” guide about some topic, as in “Genie.”

This writing will be further developed in a workshop format, so we all need our stories to take advantage sharing, editing, and improvement steps. They need their short story (it could be a light page or two) by Thursday. Thank you