Sunday Update December 18th

Hello Families,

Here are some things we have be working on lately, and some things upcoming...Remember winter break starts on Friday with no school that day.

Math: We will finishing our Division unit before the winter break. So please help your student prepare and study for their test which will likely be on Wednesday. They will have a unit vocabulary sheet to study from and a review practice test, that presents problems very similarly to the test.

Science: We are diving back into science this week. Students will test variables with "lifeboats" to see which have an influence on how many "passengers" their boats can carry. Please ask your students to explain their experiments to you.

Writing: Students did a great job with the writing process last week, practicing how to make revisions and edits, using multiple drafts to produce a quality final copy.

As always, let me know if you have questions or concerns. I hope you all have a nice upcoming winter break.

Thanks,
Mr. Norman

Sunday Update 12/11

Hello Families,

Here are some updates on what your students have been up to lately....

Report Cards: Report cards went home Friday with your student.  Please sign the envelope and send it back on Monday.  We use the envelope for the final report card of the year and its return let's me know that you have seen the report card.  Inside the envelope you will find a copy of the 5th grade performance indicators as well as the report card.  As mentioned at our Parent Information Night, our goal is for all students to work toward being proficient in all areas. This is reflected on the report card as a score of a 3.  Grades of a "4" are not common for the first report card, but can be achieved.

Math:  We are underway with our unit on Division. We have started with the "Partial-Quotients" Division technique. Have your student explain how to do "Partial-Quotients" for you, by giving them any 3-digit number and dividing it by a 1 or 2-digit number.  As in, 958 divided by 9.  

In math, we are also continually checking our basic facts knowledge. Each week, your student picks one group of facts to test themselves on. They should be able to tell you which facts they have mastered, and which ones they need to practice.

Writing: We have been working on Descriptive Writing, and practicing the Writing Process. In their descriptive paragraphs, they chose one person to describe in detail and we have been practicing how to make revisions and edits to maximize the depth of our writing. Ask your student who they decided to write about...

 

Next week is the 5th grade concert!  There will be two performances during the day on Thursday, December 15 with the evening performance at 6:30. See your child next week to find out when they should arrive that evening.


Thanks,
Mr. Norman

Update 12/4

Hello Everybody!

A couple of updates...

Math:  We took our Unit 3 (Geometry) Test last week, and so your students will be bringing home their test with their "Profile of Progress" stapled to the front. Remember these scores are based on our 4,3,2,1 scale. Your students should be able to explain this to you, but if you have questions, let me know. Your students will be showing your their test, making corrections as needed and having you sign the front page to be returned to me by Wednesday. We will be starting Unit 4 on Monday, which centers around Division.

Literacy: We have been working on asking questions about our reading to help us understand and interpret meaning. Ask your students to tell you about a character named "Iqbal" (pronounced Ick-ball) that we read last week.

Writing: Last week, we studied the six traits of writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Fluency and Conventions.  I look forward to continued improvement in your students' writing as we start to focus on descriptive writing assignments.


Health: We are finishing up our Brainstorms Unit on the Brain and Central Nervous System. Your students should be studying their flashcards for the Quiz on Monday.

***It's December and snow is on the ground!*** Remember that your students need proper winter attire to have fun at recess time.

Mr. Norman