T4W4

Unit of Inquiry -- How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea -- Creativity leads to the discovery and expression of new ideas.

ELA - Students will begin working on their summative narratives this week.  In Reading, we are continuing our literary study of Messenger and working on analyzing informational texts.  Additionally, students are studying poetry, figurative language, and tone/mood.

We are working in our reading groups to analyze literature.

Students inquired into the symbolism of fish within Messenger, Gathering Blue, and The Giver.

Last week students read We Real Cool, by Gwendolyn Brooks to understand multimedia representations of the poem.  We concluded by listening to the poets own inspiration and reading of her prose.

Math - This week students will be working on identifying equivalent decimals and fractions.  They will use these equivalencies to solve multiplication and word problems.

T4W4 Homework
Video Help:  Lesson 17, Lesson 18, Lesson 19, Rewrite a fraction as a decimal, decimal multiplication, Rewrite decimals as fractions

Science - We will continue our inquiries into physical and chemical changes.

Social Studies - We will be inquiring into the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance, and the 1929 Stock Market Crash.  The next social studies assessment will be on Friday, February 10th and students can begin studying with the quizlet.

Upcoming Events/Announcements 
5th Grade Night of Expressions -- Thursday, February 9th, 7:00-7:30pm 

Please send in your Tybee forms if you have not done so already.  Go to the F.AVE Tybee Page to reprint forms.  

T4W3

I hope everyone had a reflective Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  

ELA -- We are continuing our novel study of Messenger and reading texts connecting to women's suffrage this week. 


Math -- Math Homework We had our mid-module assessment last week and this week we are focusing on multiplying fractions this week.

Thank you to the parents who brought food and attended our learning celebration!  We had a great time!

T4W2

I hope everyone stayed warm over the weekend.  We have another busy academic week and we are looking forward to our rescheduled Learning Celebration on Friday at 2:00pm.  When you arrive at the school, check in at the front desk and come to the Falcon's Nest.  Parents who are bringing food can come a few minutes early to set up.  

This week in Reading we are focusing on analyzing informational texts and we began the next book in our series, Messenger.  We started reading it on Friday and I was impressed with the students' analysis of the symbolism of cooking in the opening scene.

Our writing style this term is narrative.  I'm going to focus on teaching the kids new organizational strategies to help them generate ideas, avoid rambling, write vividly.  Today they practiced writing story starters using a step-by-step process.  

This term in social studies we are focusing on WWI, 1920s culture, and the Great Depression.  In science students are inquiring into how an object is the sum of its parts.  Additionally, we will be studying the similarities and differences between physical and chemical changes.

In math we are currently focusing on multiplying fractions, writing expressions, and solving word problems.  Students will be completing lessons 10-12 this Monday-Wednesday.  We will review on Thursday, and I'm giving the mid-module assessment on Friday.  
T4W2 Homework
Help Videos:  Lesson 10, Lesson 11, Lesson 12, Fraction Word Problems

Lastly, we are beginning our Kindness in the Classroom activities again.  Today we talked about emotions, empathy, and self-care.  We had some great discussions to start off the day.

T4W1

Unit of Inquiry:  How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea:  Creativity Leads to the Discovery and Expression of New Ideas.

I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday break.  This Friday is our Learning Celebration and I know the children will be excited to share what they have been working on.  The Learning Celebration will be in our classroom at 2:00 - 2:30pm.  

Homework:  T4W1 Homework

Homework Help Videos: Lesson 7, Lesson 8, Lesson 9 

Happy Holidays!

We have had a productive week and I know everyone is ready for a break.  There's no homework over the break except for optional extension projects any student wishes to complete.  The project details are on classroom; please contact me via email if your child needs his or her password.

Some students are learning African Dance and Drumming during Genius Hour.  We will continue through January and perform in February!

 

We are still working on fractions!

 

Students worked really hard on their Electoral College Opinion papers.  I'm looking forward to reading them all.  (Yes... I REALLY am!)

Have a restful break and I'll see you in 2017!

Classroom Needs

Headphones - Some students still don't have headphones.  They need them for various assignments and those who don't have them have been reminded multiple times.  Students who didn't have them for today's task were informed that moving forward, students who aren't prepared will get a warning.

Pencil top erasers - We are out of erasers and could use another box.

Football and/or recess balls - At the beginning of the year we had a generous donation of recess equipment.  We still have some items; however, some of them were deflated, kicked over the roof, or lost.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

T3W5

ELA - Students are finishing up their opinion summative essays and we are continuing our novel study with Gathering Blue. We are also reading various non-fiction articles so we can work on summarizing and understanding text.

Math - Students took the end of module assessment on adding and subtracting fractions. This week we are moving forward with multiplying and dividing fractions.
Science - Students will continue inquiring into magnetism, electricity, and electromagnetism.
Social Studies - Students will begin working on their geography projects. They will continue inquiring into imperialism, innovations, and immigration.

Homework: T3W5 homework, Lesson 2, Lesson 3, Lesson 4, Lesson 5, Irregular Verbs Game

Upcoming Assessments
Opinion Summative Essay - Wednesday, December 7th
Science - Thursday, December 15th
Social Studies - Friday, December 16th


Tybee Field Trip
-If you misplaced your Tybee forms, you can print another copy. Tybee Forms
-If you want to put your hat in the running to help chaperone, the forms are due on Friday, December 9th.

F.AVE Book Out at Little Shop of Stories
Support the F.AVE media center and a beloved local business at the same time! Do your holiday book shopping at Little Shop of Stories from 10 AM - 8 PM on Tuesday, December 13th, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the F.AVE Media Center!

Need ideas for great books to buy your child this holiday season? Go to the F.AVE Media Center Book Recommendations website or visit the F.AVE Book Club website to see lists of recent award winners and possible future winners as well!


Spanish Announcement
Queridas familias de F.AVE, We are rapidly approaching the end of our third term! During the week of December 12 - 16, students will be assessed in Spanish over Writing and Listening.

Please be on the lookout for our mid-term vocabulary quiz in the red communication folder. It is very good indicator of your child’s progress this term and which areas he or she may need to work on before the end of term assessments.

And as always, for extra, at-home review, please visit our Quizlet page and practice Term Three activities:  https://quizlet.com/subject/fourfiveacademy/

¡Gracias!
Maestra Wagner
hwagner@csdecatur.net
http://favespanish.weebly.com/