Thursday, November 19th

During ELA we have been working on analyzing the literary structure of setting.  Students compared and contrasted the settings of The Giver and Gathering Blue using text evidence.  

Today students began working on their opinion writing formative.  First they looked at three different opinion pieces and graded them with either a 2, 3, or a 4.  Then students had to identify why each piece earned the grade it did.  They selected their topics from one of their pre-writing documents and began writing their paragraphs.  Those who didn't finish today will have the opportunity to submit their writing tomorrow. 

In social studies, we discussed some basic economic terms and possible supply/demand relationships.  Students then used that information to reflect on cattle trail economics. Tomorrow, students are going to complete an independent inquiry to close out our migration inquiry.  After the Thanksgiving break we are going to inquire into American imperialism and innovations.  The migration assessment will be on Thursday, December 3rd.

Monday, November 16th

As a reminder, the Thanksgiving luncheon is this week on Thursday.  Ms. McFaddin's homeroom is scheduled for 12:35pm and my homeroom is scheduled for 12:40pm.  If you arrive earlier, you will be directed to wait in room 135 until the lunch room is ready. 

Report cards come home today and I do not need them back signed.  If you have any questions, please refer to my blog posting on that topic first.  

During ELA we continued reading Gathering Blue.  Students set up T-charts to compare/contrast the setting differences between The Giver and what we have read so far in Gathering Blue.  I've attached the notes from both classes.

 During social studies students began reading two documents; one was about the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the other was about the Wounded Knee Massacre.  Students first identified text features in both documents and then they used the IB concept lens of causation to determine the causes and effects of both events.  Tomorrow we will complete the activity and then move on to learning about the economic aspects of the cattle trails.

Midweek Update

Today we had our visit with Georgia Power and it was a blast!  During ELA we continued reading Gathering Blue and students worked on fluency and identifying nouns within the text.  During social studies, students continued inquiring into the causes and effects of the Trail of Tears.

Lastly, students completed their surveys today.  Some parents have yet to complete their survey and the deadline is coming up.  Students, within BOTH homerooms, who get their parents to complete the survey AND get a parent note and signature in their agendas confirming the survey completion, will get a treat.  Students who have parents who have already taken the survey are also eligible to bring in a signed parent confirmation.  This must be completed by Friday morning.

A note about report cards

Report cards will be coming home on Monday, November 16th and some students have earned 1s and 2s.  Many students are working towards meeting the standards; however, some students are not yet showing their best effort to complete the grade level work.

That being said, for most students the 1s and 2s simply show that they haven't quite mastered the 5th grade skills.  All they need is some additional time, instruction, and initiative to get there.  Below are some suggestions for students and parents:

How students can improve their performance:

don't rush through the work

use study guides to prepare for assessments 

(studying should take place each night, not just on the day before the test)

come to class prepared to learn

be responsible for your personal materials

stay focused during class

follow directions

check the blogs to make sure you didn't miss anything in class

How parents can help their child:

check the blogs to stay updated about upcoming assignments and tests

hold students accountable for their own work

limit video games and tv until after homework and reading is done

The bottom line is that it is up to each student to invest what's necessary in his or her own academic performance... they are the ones who are trying to complete fifth grade!  

Lastly, if you have tried the suggestions above, and your child is still struggling after a few weeks, please contact Ms. McFaddin or me to schedule a conference.

Thursday, November 5th

If you have not reviewed your child's writing and signed the reflection form, 

please do so tonight.

This term we are focusing on opinion writing and students reviewed its essential components.  Moving forward, students will practice writing evidence-based arguments.

Yesterday, we continued reading Gathering Blue and students discussed similarities and differences between the main characters, Jonas and Kira.

During social studies we continued learning about Reconstruction and the reintroduction of discriminatory laws in the South after the Civil War.  We read a passage about Jim Crow and began taking Cornell notes.  Some students will be bringing the organizer home so they can finish their notes and organizer.  The text is attached on Edmodo and students should have their login information.

Reconstruction Notes

(the texts we used to take these notes are attached in Edmodo)

African Americans and Education after the Civil War

 Jim Crow

Parent Survey!

Please participate in F.AVE's survey by using the following link:

  http://apps.gadoe.org/schoolclimate/parents.nsf/Survey.xsp 

The Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 is an anonymous, statewide survey instrument developed by many divisions within the GaDOE including the Assessment and Accountability Division and in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Georgia State University.  GSHS 2.0 data results are used to develop a School Climate Star Rating which is used as a diagnostic tool within the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) to determine if a school is on the right path to school improvement.  

Based upon student, parent and staff responses, along with other data,  we will be assigned a star rating from 1-5.  The School Climate Star Rating is calculated using data from the Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0, Georgia School Personnel Survey, Georgia Parent Survey, student discipline data and attendance records for students, teachers, staff and administrators.  The School Climate Star Rating provides school-level data on the following components: 

1) School Climate – a measure of student, teacher, and parent perceptions of a school’s climate and the congruency between the three; 

2) Student Discipline – a look into disciplinary practices and utilization of the research-based practices promoting positive interventions; 

3) Safe and Substance-Free Learning Environment – student responses on use of illegal substances and the prevalence of violence, bullying, and unsafe incidents within a school; and 

4) Attendance – the average daily attendance of students, teachers, administrators, and staff members.  

Each of the components will be given equal value.

Your students will participate in a similar survey at school. The GSHS 2.0 for elementary students includes school safety and school climate questions only. Please notify your homeroom teacher if you do not want your child to participate in the survey. 

Monday, November 2nd

Today students completed a writing reflection.  They looked at several exit tickets and their Sojourner Truth short response.  They will be bringing their reflections home for you to review and sign.  They are due on Thursday.

During social studies students completed a sharecropping simulation.  After the activity, we discussed  the sharecropping cycle of poverty and students began working on answering the question, "What are the similarities and differences between slavery and sharecropping."

Homework/Papers to Sign - all due on Thursday
1.  Math
2.  Reconstruction Review
3.  Signed Writing Reflection
4.  Signed Conference Form (select students only)
5.  Read for 20-30 minutes daily
6.  Study for the Reconstruction Test