Thursday, February 22nd

Announcements and Reminders

• Friday, February 23  Thursday Folders will be sent home.  (Sorry!)
• Friday, March 2        Classroom Visit from a National Geographic Explorer!
• Friday, March 2        2 Hour Early Dismissal/ Quarter 3 Mid Term
• Week of March 5      State Science Testing (MISA) in the morning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

 Math

Focus Standards:

• 5.NF.B.4a - Interpret the product (a/b) x q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the result of a sequence of operations a x q / b. (In general, (a/b) x (c/d) = ac/bd)
• 5.NF.B.4b - Find the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths by tiling it with unit squares of the appropriate unit fraction side lengths, and show that the area is the same as would be multiplying the side lengths. Multiply fractional side lengths to find areas of rectangles, and represent fraction products as rectangular areas.

Multiplying Fractions by Fractions

Area of a Rectangle with Fractional Sides

 Writing

Focus Standards:

• Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details
• Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).

We have written our introductions to share our opinions about whether the United States should continue to celebrate Columbus Day.  We will move forward with our writing as we work on our reasoning to support our opinions.

 

Reading

Focus Standards in Informational Reading:

• RI1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• RI2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.
• RI4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
• RI8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
• RI9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
• RI2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

Small Group directed Instruction will focus on short informational text. We are also starting a new round of book clubs featuring the following books:

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Eliljah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Brethed

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

Becoming Naomi Le'on by Pam Munoz Ryan

A Strong Right Arm by Michelle Y. Green

Ask your child which book they selected!  Talk to them about it.  

 

Science/Social Studies

We are busy with our new Chemistry unit in Science.  Our end objective is to create a strong, pliable play-dough that conducts electricity.  Today we generated questions that we will need to answer in order to complete the end task.  We will begin instruction by learning about matter and the properties of matter.  Look for some fun Tweets from our class in the next week!

Friday, February 16th

Announcements and Reminders 

• 2/19  School Closed for President's Day
• 2/20  Registration Cards Due for TJMS
• 3/2    Classroom Visit from a National Geographic Explorer!
• 3/2    2 Hour Early Dismissal

Thank you for the wonderful donations for our Valentine's Day Party!  I really appreciate the parents who came in to help things run smoothly.   The kids had an enjoyable afternoon snacking, exchanging cards, and chatting.

Grading Change:  In an effort to increase responsibility and prepare for middle school, Math homework will be collected on Friday and will be worth 10 points.  Late work will go down 2 points per day.  The lowest score for worked turned in will be 5 points.

Reason to celebrate:  Both our Quarter 2 Math Assessment and our Unit 6 Math Assessment averages were above the district average!!!

Math 

Focus Standards:

• 5.NF.B.3- Interpret a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator (a/b = a ÷ b). Solve word problems involving division of whole numbers leading to answer in the form of fractions or mixed numbers, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem. For example, interpret 3/4 as the result of dividing 3 by 4, noting that 3/4 multiplied by 4 equals 4, and that when 3 wholes are shared equally among 4 people each person has a share of size 3/4. If 9 people want to share a 50-pound sack of rice equally by weight, how many pounds of rice should each person get? Between what two whole numbers does your answer lie?
• 5.NF.B.4a - Interpret the product (a/b) x q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the result of a sequence of operations a x q / b. (In general, (a/b) x (c/d) = ac/bd)

Explanation of 5.NF.B.3 and Sample Problems

Multiplying a Fraction by a Fraction

Writing 

We are writing opinion pieces about celebrating Columbus Day.  So far we have researched to understand both sides of this debate.  We will be evaluating our research this week and determining our own opinion.  We will learn how to introduce that opinion and lay out our argument for our feelings to explain how we came to our conclusion about the issue.

Reading 

We will continue to focus on comparing texts to discuss similar themes, messages, and/or author techniques.  We will also work on expressing our opinion about these similarities and differences in short responses.

Social Studies/Science

All hail science!!  This week we will begin our Chemistry Unit.  As part of the unit students will be learning the difference between physical and chemical changes and how mass is affected when substances interact.

Thursday, February 1st

Reminders and Announcements

• Friday, February 2nd - Outdoor School (Dress warmly! Bring/buy a bag lunch.)

• Thursday, February 8th - Family Life Lessons

• Friday, February 9th - Report Cards Issued

• Friday, February 16th - 2 hour early dismissal

• Monday, February 19th - School Closed for Presidents' Day

Today Mrs. Barnes, Mrs, Hart, and Mr. Brown (a school therapist) came to speak with the class about the loss of Mrs. Johnson's son, Tyler.  A note is coming home in the Thursday Folder with details.  Please talk with your child to make sure they are dealing with the issue in a healthy way.  If you have concerns, you may contact the school.  Mrs. Hart and our other counselors are available to talk with the students as needed.

Students still need empty egg cartons to house their rock and mineral collections.  Send those in ASAP.  Thanks!

Math

Focus Standards:

• Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

• Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole, including cases of unlike denominators, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem. Use benchmark fractions and number sense of fractions to estimate mentally and assess the reasonableness of answers. For example, recognize an incorrect result 2/5 + 1/2 = 3/7, by observing that 3/7 < 1/2.

In the week coming up we will be solving problems that involve adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  The video below will show you how we will first find a common denominator and then perform the operation.

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Writing 

Unit Focus Standards:

• Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

• Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose.

• Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.

• Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).

• Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

We will be practicing writing to argue an opinion this week using current debates from Scholastic Magazine.  The focus will be on organization and support of an opinion.

Reading 

Focus Standards:

• RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

• RL9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

In the week to come we will be continuing with our book clubs focused on narrative text.  We will also begin to look at poetry in whole group and compare/contrast themes and author choices.

Science and Social Studies

Focus Standards:

• Explain the results of the interactions between European explorers and North American natives.

• Analyze how native societies were influenced by the diverse cultures of the explorers and settlers.

We will be researching and taking notes about the different explorers who came to the Americas and their interactions with the native peoples.