Dear families,
I hope everyone had a great weekend with this chilly weather! It finally felt like autumn to me!
PLEASE READ TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST. I have included a survey that will help me improve my website for parents!
I want to share about the fun research project we did in reading this week. All students in 5th grade learned about the origins and meanings of their names. We will begin discussing word origins soon (and how that helps us spell them and understand their meanings), so the 5th grade reading teachers wanted the children to understand that all words, including our names, come from somewhere! The kids were given a website, www.behindthename.com, to find information on their names. I was so surprised at how this "little" project turned into a huge research opportunity! Students were coming up to me suggesting new websites they'd found which gave them even more information about their names. I'm so proud of how much they learned and the creative thinking skills they developed. As a fun treat, they got to wear nametags with their name meanings on them. if you haven't had the opportunity yet, ask your child about it! Also, many of the children want to know the stories behind their names - why their parents picked their particular names for them. I told the students my story behind my name (Mom named me after a Sophia Loren character in a John Wayne movie). If you've never told your child the story, this might be a great time to share!
FIELD TRIP: MY HOMEROOM ONLY
My class has been invited to walk to the Guest House next Thursday on Halloween. Our class is working on writing spooky stories to read to the elderly guests who stay there during the day. They have prepared some special treats for us as well as an art project. We will leave around noon and plan to return by 2:15. Please look for a permission slip to come home this week in Tuesday folders.
School Events
Tues, 10/22 My homeroom library visit; REPORT CARDS COME HOME
Wed, 10/23 Italian Ice $2 due; School Governance Council meeting at 2:30
Fri, 10/25 POW due (all language arts classes); Editing quiz (my LA class only); Figurative Language assessment in reading
SOCIAL STUDIES
(Mrs. May's homeroom)
Check out the social studies website to view resources and download notes! www.5socialstudies.weebly.com
Mrs. May's class is beginning their learning journey for WWI! For more information, click the "Social Studies" tab at the top and look at SS5H.4.a.
Monday: SS5H4 - describe US involvement in WWI. What caused the war to begin? How did alliances factor into the problem? If Archduke Franz Ferdinand hadn't been assassinated, would WWI have started? Why or why not?
Tuesday: SS5H4.a Explain how the sinking of the Lusitania led the US to join WWI. Was the sinking of the Lusitania fair? Why or why not?
Wednesday: SS4H4.a - Explain US contributions to the war. Discuss victory gardens, wartime economy, and wartime control of railroads and other industries. Also learn about scientific firsts of WWI.
Thursday: SS5H4.a - Explain the impact of the Treaty of Versailles. Also learn about the League of Nations.
Friday: SS5H4 - learn about doughboys and read quotes from soldiers, families, and nurses during WWI.
Test: NEXT Friday, November 1.
LANGUAGE ARTS
POW Topic: What if all the streets were rivers?
Monday: Brainstorm.
Tuesday: Detail sentences.
Wednesday: Topic and concluding sentences.
Thursday: Final Copy.
Friday: MY HOMEROOM: Spooky Story final copy; all other homerooms, Proofread
Shurley English: None this week
We'll be working on editing this week. I expect to see fewer grammar and punctuation mistakes in the POWs starting this week.
We will also be working on making our POWs sound more like middle school writing. We will be focusing on adding rich details and a variety of sentence types.
Monday: Editing - Commas
Tuesday: Editing - Even more commas
Wednesday: Editing - Homophones (commonly misused in my class: their, there, they're)
Thursday: Editing - Pronouns (objective, subjective, plural, possessive, etc.)
Friday: Editing Quiz
READING
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes every day.
Essential Questions
How can we recognize figurative language in a text?
Why is it important to compare texts on a similar topic?
Common Core ELA Standards for Reading 1 and Reading 2
*Standards in bold are the main focus for the week. All other standards are being reviewed, but not necessarily assessed.
Literary (Fiction)
RL.5.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
Informational (Nonfiction)
RI.5.1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
RI.5.2. Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.
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.
RI.5.4. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
RI.5.5. Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.
RI.5.8. Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
RI.5.9. Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Gifted Standards for Reading 1
ARS1. The student investigates topics of interest and selects appropriate research tools and methods.
ARS3. The student develops and uses systematic procedures for recording and organizing information.
ARS4. The student documents and cites references and resources.
ACS2. The student produces written and/or oral work, including products and presentations, that is complex, purposeful, organized, and that synthesizes information appropriately.
ACS3. The student participates in small group discussions and supports and defends his/her own opinions while respecting the opinion of others.
HOCTS2. The student responds to questions with supporting information that reflects in-depth knowledge of a topic.
HOCTS4. The student examines an issue from more than one point of view.
HOCTS5. The student draws conclusions based upon relevant information while discarding irrelevant information.
CPS2. The student uses brainstorming and other idea-generating techniques to solve problems or create new products.
CPS3. The student develops original ideas, presentations, or products.
CPS4. The student independently or through collaboration with classmates clarifies, illustrates, or elaborates on an idea.
Monday: Whole Group
#1: Learn about types of figurative language (including but not limited to simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration). Read short stories to pick out examples of figurative language and discuss their meanings.
Standards: RL.4
#2: Read "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Stop and discuss each section of the text.
Standards: RI.1, R1.4, RI.5, RI.8, RI.9, HOCTS2
Instructional Conversation, or IC
#1: Figurative Language Match cards - match type, definition, and example. Read "The King's Feast" and text-map examples of figurative language.
Standards: RL.4, HOCTS2
#2: Reread "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Answer close reading questions and critical thinking questions.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.9 HOCTS 2, 4, 5
Literature Circles
We are continuing to work on literature circles. Students will create a final project for the book this week. They have 3 projects to choose from. Each group must work together to produce 1 project.
Reading 1 texts: Queen Anne's Revenge, For a Good Cause, and Eye on the Universe
Reading 2 texts: Big Digs, the Body in Motion, and Fossil Tales
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.3, ACS2-3, CPS2, CPS4
Computer
#1: Edmodo Quiz on "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History"
#2: Research! Visit www.choosemyplate.gov and choose a food you find irresistible! Answer three research questions about that food. Blog about your findings.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.8, RI.9, W.2, ARS1, ARS3-4
Independent Work
Reread "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Complete the "Connecting Texts" and "Summarizing" activities.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.9, HOCTS2
Figurative Language Assessment
THIS Friday, October 25
I hope everyone had a great weekend with this chilly weather! It finally felt like autumn to me!
PLEASE READ TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST. I have included a survey that will help me improve my website for parents!
I want to share about the fun research project we did in reading this week. All students in 5th grade learned about the origins and meanings of their names. We will begin discussing word origins soon (and how that helps us spell them and understand their meanings), so the 5th grade reading teachers wanted the children to understand that all words, including our names, come from somewhere! The kids were given a website, www.behindthename.com, to find information on their names. I was so surprised at how this "little" project turned into a huge research opportunity! Students were coming up to me suggesting new websites they'd found which gave them even more information about their names. I'm so proud of how much they learned and the creative thinking skills they developed. As a fun treat, they got to wear nametags with their name meanings on them. if you haven't had the opportunity yet, ask your child about it! Also, many of the children want to know the stories behind their names - why their parents picked their particular names for them. I told the students my story behind my name (Mom named me after a Sophia Loren character in a John Wayne movie). If you've never told your child the story, this might be a great time to share!
FIELD TRIP: MY HOMEROOM ONLY
My class has been invited to walk to the Guest House next Thursday on Halloween. Our class is working on writing spooky stories to read to the elderly guests who stay there during the day. They have prepared some special treats for us as well as an art project. We will leave around noon and plan to return by 2:15. Please look for a permission slip to come home this week in Tuesday folders.
School Events
Tues, 10/22 My homeroom library visit; REPORT CARDS COME HOME
Wed, 10/23 Italian Ice $2 due; School Governance Council meeting at 2:30
Fri, 10/25 POW due (all language arts classes); Editing quiz (my LA class only); Figurative Language assessment in reading
SOCIAL STUDIES
(Mrs. May's homeroom)
Check out the social studies website to view resources and download notes! www.5socialstudies.weebly.com
Mrs. May's class is beginning their learning journey for WWI! For more information, click the "Social Studies" tab at the top and look at SS5H.4.a.
Monday: SS5H4 - describe US involvement in WWI. What caused the war to begin? How did alliances factor into the problem? If Archduke Franz Ferdinand hadn't been assassinated, would WWI have started? Why or why not?
Tuesday: SS5H4.a Explain how the sinking of the Lusitania led the US to join WWI. Was the sinking of the Lusitania fair? Why or why not?
Wednesday: SS4H4.a - Explain US contributions to the war. Discuss victory gardens, wartime economy, and wartime control of railroads and other industries. Also learn about scientific firsts of WWI.
Thursday: SS5H4.a - Explain the impact of the Treaty of Versailles. Also learn about the League of Nations.
Friday: SS5H4 - learn about doughboys and read quotes from soldiers, families, and nurses during WWI.
Test: NEXT Friday, November 1.
LANGUAGE ARTS
POW Topic: What if all the streets were rivers?
Monday: Brainstorm.
Tuesday: Detail sentences.
Wednesday: Topic and concluding sentences.
Thursday: Final Copy.
Friday: MY HOMEROOM: Spooky Story final copy; all other homerooms, Proofread
Shurley English: None this week
We'll be working on editing this week. I expect to see fewer grammar and punctuation mistakes in the POWs starting this week.
We will also be working on making our POWs sound more like middle school writing. We will be focusing on adding rich details and a variety of sentence types.
Monday: Editing - Commas
Tuesday: Editing - Even more commas
Wednesday: Editing - Homophones (commonly misused in my class: their, there, they're)
Thursday: Editing - Pronouns (objective, subjective, plural, possessive, etc.)
Friday: Editing Quiz
READING
HOMEWORK: Read 30 minutes every day.
Essential Questions
How can we recognize figurative language in a text?
Why is it important to compare texts on a similar topic?
Common Core ELA Standards for Reading 1 and Reading 2
*Standards in bold are the main focus for the week. All other standards are being reviewed, but not necessarily assessed.
Literary (Fiction)
RL.5.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
Informational (Nonfiction)
RI.5.1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
RI.5.2. Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.
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.
RI.5.4. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
RI.5.5. Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.
RI.5.8. Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
RI.5.9. Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Gifted Standards for Reading 1
ARS1. The student investigates topics of interest and selects appropriate research tools and methods.
ARS3. The student develops and uses systematic procedures for recording and organizing information.
ARS4. The student documents and cites references and resources.
ACS2. The student produces written and/or oral work, including products and presentations, that is complex, purposeful, organized, and that synthesizes information appropriately.
ACS3. The student participates in small group discussions and supports and defends his/her own opinions while respecting the opinion of others.
HOCTS2. The student responds to questions with supporting information that reflects in-depth knowledge of a topic.
HOCTS4. The student examines an issue from more than one point of view.
HOCTS5. The student draws conclusions based upon relevant information while discarding irrelevant information.
CPS2. The student uses brainstorming and other idea-generating techniques to solve problems or create new products.
CPS3. The student develops original ideas, presentations, or products.
CPS4. The student independently or through collaboration with classmates clarifies, illustrates, or elaborates on an idea.
Monday: Whole Group
#1: Learn about types of figurative language (including but not limited to simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration). Read short stories to pick out examples of figurative language and discuss their meanings.
Standards: RL.4
#2: Read "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Stop and discuss each section of the text.
Standards: RI.1, R1.4, RI.5, RI.8, RI.9, HOCTS2
Instructional Conversation, or IC
#1: Figurative Language Match cards - match type, definition, and example. Read "The King's Feast" and text-map examples of figurative language.
Standards: RL.4, HOCTS2
#2: Reread "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Answer close reading questions and critical thinking questions.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.9 HOCTS 2, 4, 5
Literature Circles
We are continuing to work on literature circles. Students will create a final project for the book this week. They have 3 projects to choose from. Each group must work together to produce 1 project.
Reading 1 texts: Queen Anne's Revenge, For a Good Cause, and Eye on the Universe
Reading 2 texts: Big Digs, the Body in Motion, and Fossil Tales
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.3, ACS2-3, CPS2, CPS4
Computer
#1: Edmodo Quiz on "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History"
#2: Research! Visit www.choosemyplate.gov and choose a food you find irresistible! Answer three research questions about that food. Blog about your findings.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.8, RI.9, W.2, ARS1, ARS3-4
Independent Work
Reread "Are These Chips Too Tasty?" and "A Bloody History." Complete the "Connecting Texts" and "Summarizing" activities.
Standards: RI.1, RI.2, RI.9, HOCTS2
Figurative Language Assessment
THIS Friday, October 25