5th Graders soar into the 2nd marking period!
Parent/Teacher Conferences:
November 11-12 are the scheduled days for parent-teacher conferences. If you
were unable to sign-up for a conference, please contact your child’s homeroom
teacher to schedule one. As November is here, we will contact you with a
reminder of the scheduled time for your conference.
Math
Students have been working with decimals in a variety of ways:
*Using place value (word form, standard form, expanded form)
*Adding & subtracting decimals
*Comparing decimals
*Ordering decimals (from least to greatest AND greatest to least)
*Modeling a mathematical statement (using models or drawings)
*Multiplying decimals by multiples of ten
*Dividing decimals by multiples of ten
Next, we will begin dividing whole numbers, modeling division problems with arrays and
learning how to divide large values using Area Division Drawings. As we continue to develop
and master these math skills, it is imperative that students continue to not only practice their
multiplication skills but learn all their multiplication tables so that they are more able to see the
patterns more clearly as we work with division and multiplication.
Thank you for supporting your 5th grader in working through their weekly homework packet.
Through their homework practice, the self-checking routine and prompt returning of
assignments, we are better able to tackle any math issues that may arise. Please remember that
any questions they have about their homework can be handled and solved the next day in class,
do not spend too much time on math homework. (No more than 1/2 hour per night)
Reading
During the second quarter we will focus on reading traditional stories, including myths.
Students will also read a traditional literature story from Junior Great Books. They will describe
how a speaker’s point of view influences how events are described. They will use evidence
from the story to monitor and evaluate their own thinking about events in the text. We will
explore idioms and examine how characters react to challenges in order to determine a theme.
Finally, students will read a Native American, Chinese, and Greek myth to explore the
characteristics of this genre.
As always, keep reading each evening! This background knowledge is vital to active and
interesting class discussions.
Writing
Because students will be learning the characteristics of traditional literature, they will write an
original folktale or myth embedding some of these qualities. Each student will have a graphic
organizer to plan the story sequence and use correlative conjunctions when comparing
settings, characters, and events. Lastly, students will focus on word choice and incorporate
concrete words and phrases to convey experiences and events precisely.
Science
Students have completed their roller coaster projects, working with energy and the types of
motion and how they all relate to one another. As we move into the second marking period, the
students will be moving into looking at electricity. They will learn about static electricity,
circuits, the characteristics and scopes of technology, conduction of electricity, magnetism and
forces, electromagnets and the engineering design process. Students will have a chance to build
their own electric circuit as well as designing and building their own electromagnet. Students
will relate electromagnets to real world usage.
Social Studies
We will be working with primary sources throughout the quarter. Students will examine key
documents in history as the British colonies transform into the United States of America. These
documents include: Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of
Confederation, and the U. S. Constitution.
Upcoming Events:
Nov 2- No school
Nov 11- Early release for conferences
Nov 12- Early release for conferences
Nov 18- McDonald’s Spirit Night
Nov 25- Early Release
Nov 26- Thanksgiving, No school
Nov 27- No school
Home/School Communication:
*Google Classroom- Assignments & Announcements for students
*ClassDojo- Classroom/cafeteria/recess behavior, daily homework assignments, any additional things
that happened during the course of the day.
*Prodigy- (Math ONLY) Math Game site where students play a “game” by having wizard challenges.
Each challenge presents a new math problem to solve. Math skills are chosen by the computer and
constantly challenging each student at his/her own level.
Please ask any of us if you do not know how to access any of these additional tools of communication as
we will be using them all quite often.
Teacher’s Emails:
Mrs. Cumberland
[email protected]
Mrs. Hoffman
[email protected]
Ms. Kessler
[email protected]
(There are underscores between each part of the name.)