Wednesday, November 30th

Reading - We reviewed this week's vocabulary and students worked on their term 3 projects.

   

Social Studies - Students took notes and discussed economic, cultural, and political events that took place at the turn of the last century.  


Math - Mr. Wither's taught a lesson on equivalent fractions.

Recess Photos

  

Expressions on the Ave - December 15th

The 5th grade performance of Expressions on the Ave is on Thursday, December 15th and each class will dress according to a certain genre.  And our genre is......  POP!


Being born in 1970-something my idea of pop-inspired clothing is 80s inspired Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Flashdance type clothing.  However, parents and students might have a different idea of what "Pop" clothing might look like.  


At any rate, we have a week to prepare so hopefully we'll look great!

Tuesday, November 29th

Writing - Students received their graded work and they started doing their research for their term 3 projects on the iPads.  


MAP - Students took the Math portion of the MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) test today.


Math - We reviewed how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.


Music - Students spent an extra 20 minutes with Ms. Massaquoi today in preparation for the upcoming performance "Expressions on the Ave!"


Announcement:  We need more facial tissues and band-aids, please.

It's cold outside...

...so please dress your child accordingly : )

Monday, November 28th

Reading -- We watched a poetry BrainPop video and took the quiz.  We discussed literary elements and students practiced creating their own puns, idioms, metaphors, etc...


Writing/Social Studies -- We went over this week's vocabulary and discussed this term's projects.  Project details went home today so parents can be informed about the guidelines and deadlines.


Math -- We discussed adding and subtracting fractions and students worked on creating equivalent fractions.


Science -- We watched an electricity BrainPop video to review and students completed a worksheet that went over the concepts that will be on Friday's Electricity assessment.


Homework is due on Thursday; however, the reading about Theodore Roosevelt and the Spanish-American war needs to be done by WEDNESDAY.

Math-A-Thon!

Math-a-Thon! Calling All Fifth Graders!!!  Friday, Dec.  2, join your classmates for the annual FAVE Math-a-thon!   Why??  to have fun and raise money for the 5th grade Tybee Trip this spring!  Help us meet our fundraising goal of $5000!! What:  5th grade Math-a-Thon Where:  FAVE When:  6:30-8:30 pm Why:  To raise money and have a blast! Dinner, snacks, raffle prizes, and top fundraiser prizes provided!! Mandatory Parent Meeting to be held at 7pm.  Questions? Contact E. Hanna at elizabeth.hanna@comcast.net

Friday, November 18th

Math - Students took a summative assessment on equivalent fractions, odd/even numbers, prime/composite numbers, factors, multiples, and prime factors.


Reading/Writing - Students took a vocabulary quiz and we started discussing the writing process.  


Social Studies - Students finished taking notes on immigration at the turn of the last century and we watched two BrainPop videos about American Indians and Westward Expansion.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Book Request

If you have any children's/young adult books you would like to get rid of please consider donating them to our classroom library.  I've had specific requests for Hardy Boys and Warriors books.  Thanks!

Homework Reminder

Homework packets are distributed Monday and they are ALWAYS due on Thursday unless I specify otherwise (and I have only done that once this year).  I like to go over homework on Thursdays so I can make any clarifications or, if necessary, reteach concepts before Friday quizzes. 


Lastly, I advise that students work on it a little bit each night because the packet can seem overwhelming if left to Wednesday nights.  Thank you.

Update

We've had another busy week with the Thanksgiving luncheon and Literary Cafe; it was GREAT seeing such supportive families.  Here is what we've covered so far this week:


Language Arts (Reading/Writing) - We are working through understanding how to use persuasive arguments in everyday life.  After the break we are going to read a short play, finish learning about poetry elements and start our term 3 persuasive writing paper.


Science - Students completed and checked their Electricity vocabulary review sheet.  After the break students will build another circuit and be assessed on their knowledge of electricity.


Math - Students learned about equivalent fractions, divisibility rules (2-10), Prime/Composite numbers, and how to find the Greatest Common Factor of two numbers. After the break students will learn how to model multiplication and division of fractions and how to add and subtract fractions with dissimilar denominators.


Social Studies - Students completed two group activities where they found information about immigrants and industry at the turn of the century.  Some students had a few issues with working in groups; however, this presented an opportunity to reinforce our classroom rules and remember that we are a community of learners.

Co-ed football - Equality in Action

Literary Cafe

Thanksgiving Luncheon

Thanksgiving Lunch

Our Thanksgiving Lunch time is on Thursday in the Art & Science classrooms at 11:00am.  

Monday, November 14th

Reading - Mrs. Bowden taught a lesson about similes and metaphors.  The lesson was as informative as a dictionary.


Science - We discussed our science vocabulary and everyone completed their worksheets.


Social Studies - Students worked in groups to find information about the Great Western Cattle Trail, the Black Cowboys of Texas, and the Chisolm Trail.


Math - We discussed equivalent fractions (this was a review for many students) and students completed a review worksheet.


Book Fair - Students got to preview the Book Fair.  


Literary Cafe - TOMORROW at 6:30pm!  

Friday, November 11th

Happy Veteran's Day!

Please take the time to thank a Veteran you know.

Math - We discussed divisibility rules and students took a math quiz that covered characteristics of whole numbers, factors, and mathematical communication


Language Arts - Students took a pretest on literary elements and figurative language.  


Social Studies - Students watched a BrainPop video and took notes on George Washington Carver.


Homework reminder -- Homework packets are always due on a Thursday unless I specify otherwise (and that has only happened once this year).  Homework typically covers all subjects and we go over it on Fridays to make sure 


Explorations - Students started their new explorations today.  I will be teaching Yoga again.  If you have a spare yoga mat you no longer use I would love to take it off your hands.  Thank you.

Thursday, November 10th

(I'm still a tad bit behind in the daily blog... thanks for your understanding!)


Math -- We went over Prime Factorization and during Math Mania students took a division speed test and worked on their division skills.  We also watched a BrainPop video on how and why to make a budget.  Nobody ever taught me in school about budgets and I think it is an essential life skill.


Reading - Students read silently and we went over the vocabulary.

Wednesday, November 9th

Reading - Students finished writing down their Persuasive Writing notes.  We also discussed times and places they have encountered persuasive arguments.


Science - Mrs. Bates, an educator who works for Georgia Power, visited the class today and lead several activities.  She talked about energy, conservation, and gave students the materials to identify insulators and conductors.  She concluded her visit by letting the students build their own closed circuits.

 

Literary Cafe - Our coach came for the second session to critique each students' performance.  


Math - Mr. Wither's taught a lesson on the Sieve of Eratosthenes.  Mathematicians use the Sieve of Eratosthenes to identify prime numbers when placed on a 10x10 grid.

Homework is due TOMORROW (Thursday).

Tuesday, November 8th

Writing - I gave a long introductory lesson on Persuasive Writing.  Students took notes and discussed examples of times when they have encountered persuasive arguments.


Science - Students worked on an electricity vocabulary worksheet.


Reading - Students read silently, worked on their weekly reading question and started their persuasive writing activity packet.

Last week

Grades were due last week and it was a stressfully hectic time period.  That being said, I don't have blog entries for last Wednesday-Friday.  I did take some pictures and they are posted below.

 A student brought in a vocabulary word from last week.  

Monday, November 7th

Language Arts - Mrs. Bowden taught a lesson on suffixes and during Writing we went over this week's vocabulary words.  


Math - I taught a lesson on Prime & Composite numbers.  Students took notes and practiced "rainbow" factoring.  We concluded math by working on some factoring problems in the textbook.


Science - Students did an activity where they tested different materials to see if they would move due to static electricity.  


Homework is due on Thursday and the Vocabulary test is on Friday.


This Week's Words:  (Root Word --> Spec= see/look)

Gallery Walk Announcement - Parking

If you drive to school for the gallery walk DO NOT park across the street in front of any of the houses.  There is ample parking a block away at the church down 5th avenue if parking isn't available in front of the school.  

Thank you.