Monday, May 14th

Announcements

•  First, a big THANK YOU to all the moms and dads who went to D.C. with us last week.  You were amazing chaperones and I appreciate you giving your time to help with the trip.  
• Wednesday, May 16th - Parent Volunteer Tea at SRES
• Wednesday, May 16th- 7-8 PM  Author Jewell Parker Rhodes will be at C Burr Artz library for a book talk and signing
• Thursday, May 17th - Mid Term Reports in Thursday Folder
• Monday, May 28th - Memorial Day:  School Closed

Math 

Focus Standard:
5.MD.1 - Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step real world problems.

This week we will be revisiting converting between different units of measurement in both the metric and customary systems.

Writing 

Focus Standards:

• W.5.2.c - Text Types and Purposes: Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially).
• W.5.10 - Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

This week we are, as Lucy Calkins says. "going deep" with our writing as we begin the revising process for our memoirs.  Students are looking for thoughtful messages in their experiences so that they can elaborate on important parts of their narrative to bring their message out in their writing.

Reading 

Focus Standard:
RL.5.2 - Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

We are about half way through our novel study of Blood on the River.  The main character Samuel goes through quite a change as he makes the move to the new world.  Ask your student to tell you about some of the difficulties that Samuel has had to overcome.  As we read, we are looking for commonalities between Samuel and other character we have read about and between him and ourselves as well.

Social Studies

Focus Standard:

Describe/explain how early colonists lived and worked.  Understand how the Native Americans were affected by the settlers.

We will be wrapping up our simulation this week.  There have been more interactions with colonists and the natives and increased hostilities between rival colonies as well.  Making a life in the Americas was no easy task.