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Week of 10/27

10/25/2014

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Dear families,

October is flying by fast! A HUGE thanks to everyone who donated to our One & Done fundraiser - CAA raised over $19,000! And our homeroom raised almost $800 - hooray! We did not qualify in the Top 6 classrooms to win a party sponsored by PTA, but we came in 7th place, so rest assured... a celebration is soon approaching :)

Speaking of celebrating, we'll be having a fall-filled day on Friday, the 31st, while we read books about pumpkins and do some pumpkin math too! We'll be carving our pumpkins that afternoon and roasting the seeds. I would like to have a couple of parents come in around 12:15 to help us get our pumpkins primed for gutting and stay to help us roast the seeds. If you are able to help with that, please let me know.

Let's take a look at our week:
This Week
  • Mon, 10/27: Red Ribbon Week Messy Hair/Hat Day - "Don't let drugs mess you up!"
  • Tues, 10/28: Picture Day; Gently used coats due for service project; Red Ribbon Week Dress for Success Day - "Dress for Success... no time for drugs!"
  • Wed, 10/29: GHS Spirit Wear Day - "Stomp out drugs!"
  • Thurs, 10/30: Reading Test; Spooky stories due; Red Ribbon Week Sporty Clothes Day - "I've got better things to do than drugs!"; PTA performances at 6 pm
  • Fri, 10/31: Science test; math homework due; Pumpkin Day! (no costumes!)

Reading/ELA
Standards
  • RL.5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
  • RI.5.3. Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
Activities
  • Becoming Good Neighbors Read this story. Choose 3 highlighters, then reread through the entire story again. Choose PINK to highlight how Billy and Roger are the same. Choose YELLOW to show how Billy is different, and choose BLUE to show how Roger is different. Be sure you make a key at the bottom.
  • Write About It After you’ve highlighted evidence in “Becoming Good Neighbors,” write 2 paragraphs – write one paragraph about how the boys are similar. Write another paragraph about how the boys are different. Use examples from the text. Write things like: {sentence stems provided}
  • Following Boo Complete the activity page on the story, “Following Boo.”
  • Compare & Contrast Choose one of the following to compare and contrast in a Venn diagram: Nate and his sister; how Nate acted BEFORE he found boo, and how Nate acted AFTER he found Boo; the setting at the campground and the setting where Boo walks into the water
What We're Reading
  • "Following Boo"
  • "Becoming Good Neighbors"
  • "One Minute until Midnight"
  • One for the Murphy's
What We're Writing
  • Compare and contrast paragraphs
English
  • Writing spooky stories!
  • Final drafts due on Thursday

Mathematics
Standards
NBT.7 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.  
We are starting a new unit this week (it will last for three weeks). Students are still working on multiplication and division strategies they learned in the last few weeks, but we are adding a decimal place to our work. In small group, we'll be working with multiplying decimals on hundreds grids, working with the standard algorithm, and with the lattice method. 
Activities
  • Stained Glass Window (multiplying decimals)
  • Halloween Match (cut out the cards; match the problems with the answers. Once you’ve matched them, glue them on black construction paper. You may use a white crayon to decorate the paper. Color in the answers with an orange crayon – lightly!
  • Village Bakery Prices
  • IXL – Multiplying decimals: G.3, G.4, G.8, G.9, G.5, G.6, G.7

Homework
The math homework is a little different this week. All of the fifth grade teachers decided to change it up a little. We like having the students work on mathematics they should have mastered in fourth grade because it keeps those skills sharp. But we also value the opinions of our parents, so on the back of the review page, you'll find between 10-15 problems on the CURRENT standard we are practicing. We hope you like the change!

Science
My homeroom students are finishing their current unit of study with Mrs. Hawkins. They will have a science test on Friday. 
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Week of 10/20

10/19/2014

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Dear families,

Thanks for sending in such beautiful family treees! We enjoyed sharing and listening on Friday. It was a great way to end a short week. Now we're back to a full five-day week, and we've got lots of stuff going on.

This Week
  • Tues, 10/21: Report Cards come home
  • Wed, 10/22: One & Done money comes in this week (through Friday)
  • Thurs, 10/23: Shurley English Chapter 3 Test
  • Fri, 10/24: Math Test (multiplication and division of whole numbers)
Upcoming Events:
  • Tues, 10/28: Fall school pictures
  • Thurs, 10/30: Step & Musical performances @ 8:25 and 9:20
  • Fri, 10/31: Halloween (we will not have a party, but we can eat treats while we work)

October Service Project
Our class is partnering with Mrs. Weiser's class to do a coat drive for homeless and needy adults in Gainesville. There are often many coat drives for children, but we are serving those adults who are in need since the cold season is coming upon us. Please go through your closets and send in any coats and blankets that you are no longer using but are still in good condition. *We need large boxes to collect our coats in. If you have access to any, please let me know! Thanks!

Reading/ELA
Standards
  • RL.5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
  • RI.5.3. Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
Activities
  • Buddy Work: Read "A Fierce Dog Debate" and discuss how certain ideas from the article relate to one another
  • Exercise Your Brain: Read an article about Minecraft and Legos. How are they alike? How are they different?
  • All By Myself: Continue reading choice boards (RI.2 to review main idea)
  • Reading Online: Webquests on animal tails
What We're Reading
  • "Are These Chips Too Delicious?"
  • "Minecraft Mania"
  • "Wouldn't It Be Great to Have a Tail?"
  • "A Fierce Dog Debate
  • books on snakes
  • One for the Murphy's
What We're Writing
  • Compare and contrast paragraphs
Shurley English
  • Chapter 3 (Lessons 4-5 this week, plus a review on Wednesday)
  • Prepositional phrases; single and plural nouns
  • Test on Thursday

Mathematics
Standards
  • NBT.6 Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividencs and two-digit divisors using strategies based on place value, properties of equations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models. 
We are still working on multiplying whole-digit numbers and learning division (long division, that is) of multi-digit whole numbers. The test is THIS FRIDAY. We are multiplying large numbers (403 x 267) and dividing large numbers (6,792 ÷ 53). 
Activities
  • Buddy Work: Division Crossword puzzles
  • Exercise Your Brain (Mrs. Thompson): Multiplication and division tasks
  • All By Myself: Long division practice
  • Math Online: IXL H.13

Science
My homeroom students will be with Mrs. Hawkins for the next two weeks for science. They'll be studying microscopes, measurement in science (mL), sum of parts, and states of matter (solid, liquid, gas). 


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Week of 10/14

10/11/2014

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(I finally made time to take some pictures of the kids working!)

Dear Families,
I hope the three-day weekend finds you all well! We have a short week, but lots of learning is packed into it! Let's dive right in.

This Week
  • Mon, 10/13: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
  • Tues, 10/14: Class Dojo reward day; One & Done letter goes home
  • Thurs, 10/16: Social Studies test; One & Done fundraiser pep rally; PTA @ 6pm
  • Fri, 10/17: Family Tree Projects due! Chick-Fil-A breakfast, $2.50
Upcoming Events:
  • Tues, 10/21: Report Cards come home
  • Wed, 10/22: One & Done money comes in this week (through Friday)
  • Tues, 10/28: Fall school pictures
  • Thurs, 10/30: Step & Musical performances @ 8:25 and 9:20
  • Fri, 10/31: Halloween (we will not have a party, but we can eat treats while we work)

October Service Project
Our class is partnering with Mrs. Weiser's class to do a coat drive for homeless and needy adults in Gainesville. There are often many coat drives for children, but we are serving those adults who are in need since the cold season is coming upon us. Please go through your closets and send in any coats and blankets that you are no longer using but are still in good condition. *We need large boxes to collect our coats in. If you have access to any, please let me know! Thanks!

Reading/ELA
Standards
  • RL.5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
  • RI.5.3. Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
We are back to rotations this week! Kids love doing rotations in class. 
Activities
  • Buddy Work: Compare & Contrast task cards
  • Exercise Your Brain: Read an article about the tsunami in Japan; discuss: how does the science behind ocean currents relate to the location of the lost articles from Japan?
  • All By Myself: Reading choice boards (RI.2 to review main idea)
  • Reading Online: Study Island practice
What We're Reading
  • "Bienvenido a Nueva York"
  • "Lost and Found"
  • One for the Murphy's
What We're Writing
  • Compare and contrast paragraphs and essays
Shurley English
  • Chapter 3 (Lessons 1-3 this week)
  • Prepositional phrases; single and plural nouns
  • Test next week

Mathematics
Standards
  • NBT.6 Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividencs and two-digit divisors using strategies based on place value, properties of equations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models. 
We are still working on multiplying whole-digit numbers and learning division (long division, that is) of multi-digit whole numbers. The test will be in 2 weeks. We are multiplying large numbers (403 x 267) and dividing large numbers (6,792 ÷ 53). 
Videos to Watch
I HIGHLY recommend that you watch the following videos from LearnZillion.com to help you become familiar with the methods we'll be using in class. One of the biggest concerns parents have expressed to me is that they don't know the methods we use in class. These videos will show you exactly how we're working the math in class. As usual, feel free to email me if you have questions or want to come in to meet about the math. 
Visit www.learnzillion.com and enter in the following quick codes:
  • Division - Estimate with Equations: LZ551
  • Division - Area Model Strategy: LZ552
  • Division - Rectangular Array: LZ553
  • Division - Expanded Notation: LZ554
Activities
  • Buddy Work: QR codes with task cards
  • Exercise Your Brain (Mrs. Thompson): Division tasks
  • All By Myself: Division practice (color-by-answer, "Queen's Crown") and Division Crossword Puzzles
  • Math Online: IXL H.3, H.4, H.5, H.10, and H.11

Social Studies
This is the last week of our "Changing Nation" unit. Feel free to visit our social studies website, www.5socialstudies.weebly.com, and click the "Changing Nation" tab at the top. You will find the PowerPoint we'll be using in class as well as other interesting tidbits for this unit.
Standards
  • SS5H3 The student will describe how life changed in America at the turn of the century. 
    1. Describe the role of the cattle trails in the late 19th century; include the Black Cowboys of Texas, the Great Western Cattle Trail, and the Chisholm Trail. 
    2. Describe the impact on American life of the Wright brothers (flight), George Washington Carver (science), Alexander Graham Bell (communication), and Thomas Edison (electricity). 
    3. Explain  how  William  McKinley  and  Theodore  Roosevelt  expanded  America’s role in the world; include the Spanish-American War and the building of the Panama Canal. 
    4. Describe the reasons people emigrated to the United States, from where they emigrated, and where they settled. 
    5. Describe the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans; include the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the relocation of Native Americans to reservations. 
Topics
  • Tuesday: Review/Study for test
  • Wednesday: Watch History Channel: Story of Us
  • Thursday: Test (Essay and multiple choice on Socrative)
  • Friday: Family Tree presentations
Family Tree Project
Students' family tree projects are due on Friday, 10/17. Students should conduct some informal research to find out family information to present to the class. Students should make a poster, PowerPoint, shoebox diorama, or other presentation to show the class on Friday. We are sensitive to the fact that some kids don't know a lot about their families; we just want to encourage students to learn more about themselves and the people who have shaped their lives. If you have any questions about this project, please email me. 
Assessment: Thursday, 10/16
Socrative (multiple choice) and essay questions 
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Multiplication Quiz

10/8/2014

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    Mrs. Dallas Thompson

    5th grade teacher. Wife. Mother. Book lover. Pinterest addict. Twitter enthusiast.


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    SCHEDULE

    7:25 Morning Work
    7:30 FOCUS
    8:25 Activity
    9:20 Science/Social Studies
    10:10 Math
    11:20 Reading Warmup
    11:30 Recess
    11:50 Independent Reading
    12:13 Lunch
    12:45 Reading/ELA
    2:05 Read Aloud
    2:25 Dismissal

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    Reading Bowl 2014-2015

    The Boy on the Wooden Box
    The Cheshire Cheese Cat
    Chomp*
    Eight Keys*
    Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's 
       Library
    The False Prince*
    The Lions of Little Rock*
    Mountain Dog*
    Michael Vey*
    Navigating Early
    One for the Murphys*
    Rump*
    Serafina's Promise*
    Three Times Lucky*
    The True Blue Scouts of 
       Sugar Man Swamp
    Ungifted*
    *Indicates titles that Mrs. Thompson has read.

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