Monday, April 15th

ELA - This week we will be reviewing for the CRCT.  Some of the questions on the test are related to concepts I taught several terms ago so I want to make sure students refresh their memories.  Today we covered topics, main ideas and supporting details.  The questions we didn't finish in class are homework.

Math - We are also reviewing math for the CRCT and today we discussed fractions, decimals, and percents.  Students have a packet of work that we will be working on all week and we practiced decimal/fraction/percent conversion.

Social Studies - We watched a short video on Lyndon B. Johnson and discussed his role in the Civil Rights Movement.  

We can often see the Fibonacci Sequence expressed in nature.  If you want to know more about it, watch the Fibonacci Sequence BrainPop video.

Secret Question:  What Fibonacci Sequence number is expressed in the flower below?

Happy Spring Break!

I hope everyone is having a restful spring break!

Ms. Newton came to talk about the Exhibition projects.  Students brainstormed topics under specific parameters, I narrowed down the topics, and students will have one more vote before the final Exhibition projects are determined.  Please let me know if you are able to spend some time with our class during the research/work phases of Exhibition.

Students worked really hard on Thursday and Friday to finish their projects and narratives.  Next term students will review their grades over the entire year and design their own projects to improve any grade that was a 1 or 2.  A small group of students who earned 3s and 4s in every standard will either get to choose a 5th grade or 6th grade standard to explore in-depth for a self-designed project.

Wednesday, April 3rd

ELA - We finished and discussed Messenger.  We spent some time discussing the theme of fear and the role it played in all three books.  Next term students are going to complete a project that ties together their understanding of all three books and I'm going to read the 4th book, Son, aloud at the end of each day.  Following our discussion students began writing their Memoirs.  Many completed their rough drafts in class and they were advised to work on them at home. The final drafts are due on Friday.

Math - Students from yesterday's extension group worked on compass and students who needed extra help with this term's content worked in a small group with me.  The math assessment is tomorrow.

MAP testing is complete and the score reports will go home with the report cards next term.  Overall, most students did well.  

Supply Announcement

I had a plentiful paper supply and we recently discovered that we no longer had any more lined paper. Either we somehow used all of the paper or someone took the packs of paper from the two different storage locations in class.  

Regardless of how or why the paper disappeared, we need more paper.  If parents could send in a few packs (college rule or wide rule is fine), we would be greatly appreciative.

Thank You.

Secret/Reward Question:  How many boxes with a volume of 6 cubic feet will fit in a room that is 10 feet long, 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide?

Tuesday, April 2nd

ELA - We read/discussed the Messenger and we will finish the book tomorrow.

Math - Students who scored 240 or higher on the Math MAP and who have a firm grasp on this term's content were given an extension activity.  Mrs. Washington and I split the remainder of the class into two groups and conducted reviews of the content.  The math assessment is on Thursday.  Students (except for the extension group) have a review packet to complete as homework and we'll go over it tomorrow.

Social Studies - Students watched and took notes on a video of McCarthyism.  Then they worked on their Cold War study guides.  The Cold War assessment is on Thursday.

Term 5 Assessment Schedule

Cold War Assessment - Thursday, April 4th (in class)

Math Assessment - Thursday, April 4th (in class)

UOI Social Studies Narrative - Friday, April 5th (in class)

Memoir- Due Friday, April 5th

    _____     _____     ______

I have observed that several of students are "dating" other 5th grade students and others have been distracted because they are too busy gossiping, flirting and being absorbed with social entanglements.  

While I understand that this is a part of growing up, I personally feel that they are all too young for this - especially when it occurs during my instruction time.  Since they are not my personal offspring I can't do anything besides lovingly discourage what I see as age-inappropriate behavior.  However, I can provide some information to parents if they need some evidence that "dating" at this age should not be allowed.  

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teen-doctor/201303/middle-school-dating-is-bad

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/children-middle-school-daters-more-likely-to-dropout-use-drugs-031913

 _____     _____     ______

Secret Question:  Ms. Black says she has 5 boxes that each have a volume of 80 cubic meters.  Is she lying?  Justify your answer.

Exhibition Mentor Opportunity

Volunteer to Be a Mentor For Fifth Graders

In the final year of the IB Primary Years Programme, students participate in a culminating project known as the Exhibition. Students are required to engage in a collaborative, inquiry process that involves them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues. Through this inquiry, they will also manage their time, research, proactively work with mentors, take appropriate actions, communicate their findings, assess their tasks and CELEBRATE their learning.  Students share their learning during the day as a part of the fifth grade moving on celebration that we call the F.AVE Finale.

We need you to help us accomplish this by volunteering in a fifth grade class for a minimum of one day a week for 45 mins. or an hour over the next 5 weeks.

The mentor should:  

• Meet regularly with the appointed group of students.
• Offer advice on locating resources and using them efficiently.
• Ask questions.
• Help interpret sophisticated/difficult information.
• Facilitate interviews, telephone calls, any electronic communication.
• Provide goal setting and time management advice.
• Be supportive and encouraging.
• Celebrate achievements and successes with the students.
• Attend mentor training Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 5:30-6:15 pm or Wednesday, April 17th from 5:30-6:15 pm

The mentor should not:

• Do the work for students.
• Tell the students the direction to take, but instead ask probing questions to help facilitate their inquiry.

If you are a fifth grade parent and are interested in being a mentor, please RSVP for mentor training by emailing Karen Newton, IB Coordinator at knewton@csdecatur.net.

iPad Information

Permission Forms

The permission forms are due by Friday, April 5th. Students who do not submit a form will not be allowed to use the iPads. If you lose a form you can print another one at the F.AVE iPad website.

Headphones

We are asking families to provide a set of headphones or earbuds for their student's use. Inexpensive headphones/earbuds may be purchased online or at the Dollar Store. They will remain at school, and will serve as a hygenic way for students to hear sound on the devices.

Monday, April 1st

ELA - We continued to read Messenger and discuss the literary elements.  We concluded ELA by discussing setting and starting our Memoir drafts.

Math - During math Mrs. Washington and I team-taught a lesson.  We reviewed the homework, discussed how to calculate volume, and started our review for the assessment on Thursday.

Social Studies - Students analyzed direct quotes from Karl Marx and Frederick Engels' Communist Manifesto and matched each quotes up with their "everyday language" interpretations.  I was very pleased that half of the class was able to complete this task with minimal assistance since this was advanced level work.  Students then took those interpretations and their notes about the Cold War to create word maps and write down the positives and negatives about communist and capitalist societies.  The last part of the activity, which we will finish tomorrow, will include a discussion about the reality of what has happened in communist countries.