Academic Calendar and Connections

Monday April 18

Art Glazing of Monsters with Mrs. St. Andre
Math Homework: Lesson 30
Writing: Feature Article - final class time for feature article writing

Tuesday, April 19

Advanced Math with Mr. Morris
Computer Lab - students began typing Feature Articles into Word
Math Homework: Lesson 31 All
Mystery Book Groups:  Students self-selected their upcoming book discussion topic

Wednesday: April 20

Math

The Unit Math Test is Thursday.  Students took their Unit Problem Set Books home to review for study tonight.  They have been given an opportunity to create a one-page (one-sided) study sheet to recap essential and difficult problems.  Naturally, this is mostly to encourage them to review.  Additionally, students who make up a review sheet will be given a ticket and may review their study sheet at a reference table in class for 2 minutes one time during the test. This is a difficult test covering a lot of material and I've decided that a short reference opportunity to regain bearings would be a positive support for students on this exam.

Writing:

Students expected to type their Feature Article reports into Word at home and turn in, typed and printed by Monday, April 24.

Students will turn in the typed report with their hand-written draft and their research note sheets.

 Each paragraph should have at least one source / attribution,  Two attribution (source crediting) methods will be explained in writing class this week. Students are already constructing their feature articles from their source notes.  Most students are working from 6-8 pages of source notes.  Please check with your child to learn how many pages of notes and sources they gathered over the 5+ hours of in class research times and three homework assignment dates.  At this point student will have invested 8+ hours of research and note taking for their project.  Thanks!

PS  We won't be working in publisher or adding images, etc. until the main article is edited.  Please see the Feature Article Progress and Steps Help Sheet in the HW Helper Folder to see next and past steps.

Boeing Engineering Design Unit: "Bolt Catcher"

The Bolt Catcher Design Unit has come to a conclusion. Students presented to visiting 4th and 5th grade teachers from around the Issaquah Valley School District as well as Michelle Pichard, our Assistant Principal. The students did a wonderful job presenting their design project and scientific thinking behind the Design problem and solutions.

I have posted a first example of the presentation by Lucas, Adison, and Cyrus and filmed by 4th team member, Annalyse.   They scripted and filmed their own presentation in  one period after being given a set of content guidelines.  The projects will be uploaded into the Boeing Science Presentations Folder in my Google Drive, but for privacy, you gain access to the Drive through the Class Padlet.  When in the Padlet, select the link/post; "Boeing Science Presentations."  If you wish, the link in Padlet could be shared with family members.

 The Flaming Marshmallow's Bolt Catcher Design

Academic Calendar and Connections for the week of April 3

Monday

Math

Today's Math Homework Sheet is online here in the Math Unit 4 folder.  Look for  the Lesson 26 HW Worksheets, page 1-2.  You can also find them through the Homework Helper on the right. If you don't have the ability to print out the worksheets, the student may solve the questions on regular notebook paper.

Art

Our art docent moms, led my Mrs. St. Andre, instructed the kids on one-point perspective drawings today.

Tuesday

Student Science Presentations with Visiting Teachers
Homework, Lesson 29

Wednesday

Math Quiz Day, No Homework

Language Arts:  Feature Article Research to Write Main Article Due Tomorrow
Students should have at least 7 research note sheets (14 half pages from sources) till now, but many students will need 10+ full pages of research notes to write their essay.  We will be writing our main essays rough drafts this week.

Thursday

Mathematics:

Advanced Math groups with Mr. Morris
Regular Math covered finding the Volume of Rectangular Prisms and writing in the correct units/form


Language Arts:

Students wrote their feature article essays for one hour.  Students should have all their research in class tomorrow as well.

Homework:
Zearn 25 mins
Research, Mystery Novel, or Personal reading: 25+ minutes.

Friday

Math:  Zearn Fractions Unit

Note; There is no math homework assigned for the break, but I encourage students to spend some time on Zearn to keep fresh with the material.  In class we are in lesson 30 and will be taking the Unit 4 Assessment Midweek the week we return from Spring Break.

Language Arts:  Year book memory page filled out.  (If your student was absent Friday, follow the link to complete the form and return it via email to Mrs. Pike or myself over the break if you have a chance.)

Literature Circles:  Discussion and Writing of Selected Questions about their mystery novels.
The class assignment sheet, "Literacy Group Discussion Questions for April 7"  is in the HW Helper Folder.

Character Traits Packets Were Collected

Note: Students don't have assigned language arts homework, but students that have fallen behind on their mystery novels (with respect to their group members) have been asked to catch up.

Writing:  Students wrote 1-2 pages of their Feature Article Main Essay on Thursday.  They will finish writing the essay the week they return.  A handful of students didn't complete their preparation research for the essay for the writing day, and they should, of course, be ready to go when we return to classes after break.

Science

Students completed their Table of Contents for their finished Engineering Design Project and the journals were collected

Have a wonderful week everybody!

Academic Calendar and Connections for the Week of March 27

Monday

Math Homework Lesson 20

Language Arts:  Evaluation / Grading Rubric for Feature Articles covered in detail with students. We will finish the Essay portion of the Feature Article Next Week.

Tuesday

Math Homework Lesson 21
Advanced Math with Mr. Morris - Introduction to Project Goals

Wednesday

Math Homework Lessons 22: 1-6, Lesson 23: 1-2

Read Aloud: Weedflower

Thursday

Math Zearn - approx 25 minutes;  Research for Feature Article - approx. 25 minutes.

Science: Today we prepared for our science presentations on the Boeing Bolt Catcher Unit

Reading/Writing:  Students were given and began a Character Analysis Packet to complete alongside their Mystery Unit reading.

Read Aloud:  Milkweed

Friday, March 31

Dress as Twins

Advanced Math for Trimester III

Advanced Math-

16 students qualified for Advanced Math grouping (based principally on last year's SBA tests and this year's math academic achievement).  In turn these students were divided into 4 groups of 4, with the division based primarily how well and focused the students have shown they work with one another throughout the year.

 A condition of working in the advanced math groups is keeping on task in independent and team work times.  Students who distract others from working by talking or otherwise playing/distracting others will receive warnings, and if improvement is not shown, will be withdrawn from the advance math grouping.  Since there is significant time for students to work independently, they need to be responsible and respectful for themselves and the group's functioning.

Advanced Math focus:

     Advanced math students will have 3 main roles:

1.  They will have a compacted and differentiated curriculum, meaning, that they will be excluded from some current math unit work (that they show competency in) to work ahead, independently and/or in teams,  into Unit 6 - Zearn Mission 6.  These students were given a second Zearn login and placed in Mission 6 on March 22.

2.  These students will be given Independent Team Project creation time.  During this time they will create a demonstration and activity project (currently) from Unit 6 material to teach and share with the whole class.  Mr. Morris, (Isaiah's dad) our Advanced Math parent volunteer, will help oversee these projects, working in rotation with two advanced math groupings at a time (4+4 =8 students each rotation) and thus seeing all 4 teams (or 16 advanced math students) once weekly, so the projects can be helpful and robust learning experiences both for the creators and the whole class when presented.

3.  Advanced math student groupings also will sometimes interface with Exit tickets (questions that check the student learning in each lesson) differently.  They may take the Exit tickets at different times, correct their tickets in their advanced teams, review exit tickets from the whole class, and be occasional  partners for students who need review.

2 Important Footnotes:

4.  Advanced Math students have agreed  (anticipate and / or to be willing if asked) to dedicate an additional two hours of homework each week to work ahead in Mission 6,  to help advance their projects, and/ or to keep current in assignments from the main class curriculum, etc.

5.  If a student is not in advanced math, they may still have an additional Zearn login and may work ahead in Mission 6 on their own as well.

March 31 Spirit Day - Dress as a Twin with a friend or group of companions:  Students can dress alike, wear matching shoes or have matching hairstyles.  We welcome all – twins, triplets, quadruplets, even septuplets!

Math Help

Our current Math Unit challenges students with difficult multi-step multiplication of fraction questions.  I'd like to point out a support that you could use at home:

Please remember that while some problems do lend themselves to being solved intuitively, and some students do have the habit of solving parts of a problem mentally, we encourage that each step be written out so other students and evaluators can follow a student's work and logic.

 We use a method of Read-Draw-Write as a math solution strategy and this is consistent and helpful with Models in Eureka Math and the Zearn practice program on the Internet. 

Have a look at this video showing one of the problems for Lesson 16 in the current fractions unit. 

(Note: To find this I did a Google video search with these terms:

"Zearn 5th grade math multiplying fractions​" 

I chose this result:  Grade 5 Module 4 Lesson 16"  

(and there were other helpful choices in the results as well). 

Best Regards,

Mr. Hagstrom

Academic Calendar and Connections for the Week Beginning March 20

Monday:

Language Arts:

Reading: Mystery Unit/ Character Traits with Evidence

Writing;  1st layout of feature article research - ordering of topics.

Grammar: Appositives,

Math:  Lesson 16; homework sheet sent home

Tuesday:

Music Schedule Change:  Hagstrom 10:16-10:46 

Math

SBA Workings - Computer Practice:  Math 3/21 9:30 – 10:10  - parent information letter sent home.

Math Lesson 17 - multiplying decimals and fractions together; homework no.s 1-3. 

Writing:  

Research Report/ Feature Article Story-board sketch/plan based on completed research note sheets.  With 3+ hours devoted to in class research, students should have 3 - 6 pages of web / book research notes.  I have requested that students who have less than 3 complete sheets to do additional research at home.  Next check in will be Friday. 

Wednesday:

Advanced Math: Special projects
Math Homework:  Zearn: approx. 25 mins.

Feature Article Research:  approx. 25 mins.  A research note page was sent home with each student.

Thursday:

Reading: 

We continue to read our mystery novels and work on recording and defining evolving character traits of the main characters in our novels. 

Math -

HW-Lesson 18

Students assigned to one of four (un-ranked, heterogeneous) teams with each team having 4 Advanced level math students.  Today's independent lesson practice was completed in the team's with team members helping each other with questions and pacing. These teams will continue for the remainder of the year.

Advanced Math-

16 students qualified for Advanced Math grouping (based principally on last year's SBA tests and this year's math academic achievement).  In turn these students were divided into 4 groups of 4, with the division based primarily how well and focused the students have shown they work with one another throughout the year.

 A condition of working in the advanced math groups is keeping on task in independent and team work times.  Students who distract others from working by talking or otherwise playing/distracting others will receive warnings, and if improvement is not shown, will be withdrawn from the advance math grouping.

Advanced Math focus:

     Advanced math students will have 3 main roles:

1.  They will have a compacted and differentiated curriculum, meaning, that they will be excluded from some current math unit work (that they show competency in) to work ahead, independently and/or in teams,  into Unit 6 - Zearn Mission 6.  These students were given a second Zearn login and placed in Mission 6 for this purpose today - and they began working on Mission 6 during a differentiation period in math class today.

2.  These students will be given Independent Team Project creation time.  During this time they will create a demonstration and activity project (currently) from Unit 6 material to teach and share with the whole class.  Mr. Morris, (Isaiah's dad) our Advanced Math parent volunteer, will help oversee these projects, working in rotation with two advanced math groupings at a time (4+4 =8 students each rotation) and thus seeing all 4 teams (or 16 advanced math students) once weekly, so the projects can be helpful and robust learning experiences both for the creators and the whole class when presented.

3.  Advanced math student groupings also interface with Exit tickets (questions that check the student learning in each lesson) differently.  They may take the Exit tickets at different times, correct their tickets in their advanced teams, review exit tickets from the whole class, and be occasional  partners for students who need review.

2 Important Footnotes:

4.  Advanced Math students have agreed  (anticipate and / or to be willing if asked) to dedicate an additional two hours of homework each week to work ahead in Mission 6,  to help advance their projects, and/ or to keep current in assignments from the main class curriculum, etc.

5.  If a student is not in advanced math, they may still have an additional Zearn login and may work ahead in Mission 6 on their own as well.

Friday:

SBA Workings - Computer Practice II:   ELA  3/24  1:00-1:40

ISD Cultural Competence and Inclusion Event: Stronger Together Flyer

Stronger Together Flyer

Academic Calendar and Connections Week of March 13

Monday, March 13

This week students can order class photos and yearbooks. 

Fabulous Art Class - making clay monsters and such, guided by Mrs. St. Andre and supported by Mrs. Geraci, Mrs.Gustas, and Mrs. Hackney.  Wonderful day.  Great clay techniques, fine monsters.

Math:  Lesson 11 homework.

Literature:

Writing: District Writing Post Assessment was evaluated and entered into our electronic grade book system. 

Reading:  Students were assigned a mystery novel to read.  They have been placed in Literacy Groups specifically for this this District Unit:  Mystery.

Tuesday, March 14

Math Homework Lesson 12:  2,4, and choose 5 or 6. 

Science-to-Go with Ms. Poaster:  Energy

Literacy:  Students had their first mystery novel discussion in their new literacy groups.

Students reviewed their opinion essays and Writing Assessment Grading Rubrics with their scores from their District  writing assessment two weeks ago.  Copies of their essays and rubrics will be sent home Friday.



Wednesday, March 15

Science Trials:  Bolt Catcher Live trials


Thursday, March 16

Community Tree Project with Mrs. Geraci and Mrs. Hackney.

Science:  Fair Test

Social Studies:  Three branches of government, the President's Immigration Order and the Judicial Stay;  How literature and stories help us learn cultural competence, build empathy, and promote inclusion.

Math:  Student learning projects/groups for discovery and team learning/ Lessons 13 and 14.  Selected problems were given as homework for both lesson.





Friday, March 17

What is Engineering? Links for Computer Class Tuesday

Understanding the Field of Engineering

NASA for Kids: Intro to Engineering [Web Link]

Celebrating Engineering at Boeing [Web Link]

Engineering Girl [Web Link]

Engineering Go For It [Web Link]

Turtlediary  [Web_Link]

Our Experiment

The Experiment in Action [Web_Link]

Academic Calendar and Connections for the week of March 6

Monday

Field Trip Visit to Issaquah Middle School.  Students were treated to choir, orchestra, and band performances and learned about the layout of the school, electives, clubs, and when to do a physical if they will be doing a sport in the fall (after June 15).

Remember that the Middle School Course Choice Packets are due to me by this Friday, March 10.

Math Homework: No new lesson; students should work on Zearn for approximately 25 minutes.

Science:  Textbook reading and questions on applying Newton's Laws to cases of objects in motion. 

Tuesday

Math Homework 8
Computer Lab:  What does an Engineer do?
Perennial Math with Mr. Morris. Final day.

Wednesday

Science -
Design of Shock Absorption chamber  and Drawing a model of Expected Impact in a Time Sequence
Math Homework 9
Begin Grading District Writing Assessments

Thursday

Language Arts:
Began Mystery Literature Unit
Feature Article Research in class

Math Homework 10 
Please check that your child is bringing their planner to class. Remember that the Middle School Course Choice Packets are due to me by this Friday, March 10.

Math tutoring for select students with  Mr. Morris

Friday

Remember that the Middle School Course Choice Packets are due to me by this Friday, March 10.

Current Events Concerning the Transition Issaquah Middle School

Please note that on Friday, Students will bring home Early Course Registration Packets 

Wednesday, March 1

Today We Are Learning:

Date:  Wednesday, March 1

Subjects	Learning Targets	Notes:
Math	Drawing and interpreting fractional models for word problems.	HW Lesson 6 - p.100 only
Writing	Reflection on Weedflower and/or Milkweed.	This may partially satisfy the writing homework listed on the week 24 literacy homework sheet.
Word Work	Sentence writing with predicate adjectives and our weekly vocabulary.
Reading	Confirming one another's thinking on read aloud texts. **District Reading Assessment -Post test
Science/ Social Studies	S.S. - Topics in diversity and inclusion in America and Europe during WWII.	Integrated into our literacy study.
Community /	Discussion of Milkweed and Weedflower: issues of prejudice, poor treatment of others	Part of our study of cultural inclusion through comparative literature.

Tuesday, February 28

Monday, February 27

Today We Are Learning:

Date: Feb. 27

Subjects	Learning Targets	Notes: Success Criteria/ Big Picture/ Unit of Study/ Purpose / Homework
Math	I can use tape diagrams to model fractions as division.	Math Lesson 4 HW through problem 3.
Writing	I can write sentences with our new vocabulary and grammar focus.
Word Work	I can understand and use knave and extrovert. I can understand plural possessive apostrophes.
Reading	I can use “stop and ask questions” to think about a story. **Become aware of my inference making.** ***Confirm another’s thinking	We are using the speech frame: I heard you say, __________. Did I get that right? We are reading Van Gogh's Cafe for illustration of the inference and confirmation topics.
Science/ Social Studies	I can collaborate with my team members, record details of an experiment, and report results. **  I can relate my marble drop experiment to Newton’s Laws of motion.	We are preparing to design bolt catchers by considering Newton’s laws, forces, mass, and motion.
Community / Special	Reading Weedflower.  Understanding history; building community; family and friendly affection	Successfully talking about connections and sharing.

Academic Calendar and Connections for the week beginning Feb. 27

Monday

Read Aloud: Weedflower:  Family relocated to AZ desert emcampment; Sumiko prefers to eat snake to cow toungue and Bull builds Tak Tak a cricket cage.

Math Lesson 4 HW

Science:  Continuation of Boeing Science Unit; record - keeping, data analysis, team conversation & collaboration; review of Newton's laws of motion.


Tuesday:

Permission slip forms were sent home on Tuesday for the visit to Middle School on this coming Monday. For reference, prior to the break,a yellow informational handout about the field trip was sent home with your student.  We would like these returned as soon as possible..

Thank you,

Mr. Hagstrom

Math HW Lesson 5, problems 2-3
Science to Go: 12:40 - 1:30    Moved to Thursday.
Issaquah Middle School Music Program Introduction in Multipurpose room: (Band, Choir, and Orchestra's perform and middle school students and teacher share program information with 5th grade students.

Wednesday:

District Reading Assessment
Math HW Lesson 6, p. 100
Collecting Field Trip Permission Slips for next Monday's visit to Issaquah Middle School

Thursday: 
Collecting Field Trip Permission Slips for next Monday's visit to Issaquah Middle School.  25 of 28 students have turned these in as of this morning.

Math: Lesson 7:  See HW help for a few completed problems for the Lesson 7 HW
Math differentiation groups: Zearn Computer; restudy group worked on presenting fractions as tape diagrams. Advanced group worked on Perennial math.

Writing: Researching for our Feature Article Reports.  Research note pages provided and explained.

Science to Go: 12:40 - 1:30:  Fossils

Boeing Project:  Mini-session.  Reflecting, writing, and drawing on design for bolt catchers

Special Things, including snack policy

Tonight is Multi-cultural night; hope to see you there.  

Here is the link to the PTA News.

Valentine's Day Snacks: 

It was brought to my attention that we (the school, classroom, and families)  need to be careful to closely follow the District Policies around Snacks in the classroom.  We are encouraging that all shared foods are healthy ones.  For our classroom party on Tuesday, grain-based snack foods should be whole grain rich.   Here's the link to Principal Walsh's message.

Birthday Snacks

Also, the school has a policy that birthday celebrations cannot be accompanied by treats from the family.  Your generosity and kindness in wanting to share small treats throughout the the year is much appreciated, but is restricted as written in the school handbook.  Thank you for your understanding!

Food Drive

Food Drive February 13-17

Two outstanding fifth grade students approached Mrs. Walsh about doing a service project.  The school decided on a food drive and PTA was quick to jump in and offer support.  IVE students will collect food during the week of February 13-17.  This Food Drive is to help support the food over break program.  Each grade level will focus on different items. 

Kid mail will go home on Monday, February 6 and boxes with tally sheets will be delivered on Friday, February 10.

• Kindergarten = Oatmeal, Progresso canned soup or Chunky soup
• First Grade = Granola bars, canned beans or boxed crackers
• Second Grade = boxed cereal, fruit or applesauce cups or jelly
• Third Grade = Peanut butter, macaroni and cheese or cup of noodles
• Fourth Grade = Juice boxes and corn or flour tortillas
• Fifth Grade = Canned chicken or tuna and canned pasta

Academic Calendar & Connections week of February 6

Below find selected studies and activities taking place in your child's classroom that may help students with their organization and planning, and for families to communicate about some important and special things happening in the classroom. 

Monday, February 6  Snow Day!

 Hope you're all finding time for snow fun!  We have.

**
Some of you are thinking ahead to our Math Test no. 3 this week and enjoying extra time on Zearn.  Smart!

***
Others are thinking about getting ahead on your book report, right?  That link on the right to Mr. Arthur's site only shows an example paper and doesn't have the list of questions I handed out in class. I have now posted these under the new link, "Homework Help."

As an alternative to the paper based on 8 questions, here is another acceptable format to help you organize your paper:

Book Report 2 alternative frame for organizing the report:

1.  In an opening paragraph briefly summarize the topic/period/event covered.

2.  Optionally continue a summary of significant events/persons in a second or even third paragraph.

3.  What is the event that was most striking to you in the story?  Be descriptive, elaborate, and explain to the reader why it fascinated you.

4.  Do the same as in no. 3, but focus on a person.  

5.  Close on a paragraph discussing a key learning or two that you took away from reading the book.  Make a comment on how you enjoyed the genre of (nonfiction history or historical fiction).  Recommend the book (or not) with a reason or two why.  Comment on whether the experience was meaningful or satisfying for you and tell me if it has sparked your curiosity to read further on a related topic. 

Enjoy this exercise!

Mr. Hagstrom

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Math: Please see the examples of unit test 3 questions for the Unit 3 test dated February 6.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Language Arts:  Began Feature Article Unit in Writing.  

Math Homework geared especially to prepare for the Unit test.  

Exit Tickets 6, 11, and Homework 13

Homework 13 do: 1.a b,  2 ab and 3a &b. 

 Selected answers are provided in "Homework Help" today. 

Thursday Feb. 9

Math Unit 3 Test

Friday,  Feb. 10

Community: A group of students at recess learned a style of Friendship bracelet making from Maysa.  Mrs. St. Andre provided the thread.  These students will, in turn, teach other students how to make the bracelets.  Students are excited about the prospect of making friendship bracelets, particularly to refugees from countries with armed conflict.   

All students are welcome to participate in the making of friendship bracelets, an act intended to support on-going and current humanitarian issues, irrespective of political or religious beliefs. 

Science:  Newtons Laws of Motions - Preparation reading and notes

We began our New Science journal

Introduction to our Engineering Unit "Bolt Catchers" on Force, Mass, and Motion 

Language Arts:  

Journal reflection writing on Weedflower and Milkweed.

Time for Consideration of Feature Writing / Research Reports

Math: 

Pretest for Unit 4

Optionally: Zearn Individualized Computer Learning

Perennial Math Group with Mr. Morris