Week of February 19-23

This week was another successful week in Room 5! The kids sounded like they had fun 4 day events from the long weekend and were ready to share Tuesday.  :) We celebrated a few birthdays this week also!  Taylynn, George Washington and our aide, Mrs. Tognazinni!

In writing, we finished our energy conservation Informational writing essays and started an assessment where they pull information about George Washington and write an essay.  These will be finished on Monday.  Students energy papers are up in the hall at school if you are around- stop by and read some of them!  The kids worked hard and it shows!

Students have been reading up a storm with their Book Club books and for our 40 book challenge!  I am so impressed with many students.  They are asking me almost daily what book they could read for poetry or autobiographies, the list goes on.  I love it!  Keep them reading!  Please remind your child of the importance of being prepared for their meetings and giving insightful comments to deepen their understanding of their novel as well as strategies we are working on.

We have been gaining knowledge in projects about space, most specifically stars.  We have watched some videos, done some research, made fairy glow jars (Thanks you so much to Mrs. Hernandez for the jars) to represent stars in the sky and used flashlights to determine why some stars appear brighter than others.   We will continue next week with some knowledge assimilation as well as a few activities, then go to the planetarium on Friday.  Thank you to those of you who sent in flashlights!  The kids loved using them.  If possible, we will be using them again on either Wednesday or Thursday so if you would like, please send them in again.  I am also grateful for the shoe boxes!  We just need 1-2 more if someone has any laying around, we would appreciate one!

Important Reminders: 

• Your child brought home two papers this past week, please make sure if you did not already return them to send them on Monday.  One was permission for the Human Growth and Development class and the other was for Fleischmann Planetarium.  We will meet at the school at 8:15 am Friday morning and return at approximately 1:30 pm.  Please remember to bring a sack lunch and $5.00 for the entry fee. 
• We will be doing some more assessments these next couple of weeks so, if possible, make sure your kids are well rested and healthy!  
• In a few weeks, we will be starting the science unit on matter, where students will decide which type of experiment they will do.  I am wondering if anyone has a battery type model/kit they would be willing to let us use for this?  Last year, one of the students had one so I thought I would put it out there and check!  Or anything else to help students...  (We do have some products at school) 

Week of Feb. 12-15

We had an exciting week last week!  We started the week with Mr. Gould coming in and doing a presentation to further enhance our understanding of renewable and non-renewable energy sources to help students wrap up their informational essays. We incorporated a science standard in with our writing.  Students writing pieces are looking good and will be finished on Tuesday.  On Wednesday will begin a quick informational writing piece on George Washington to assess students informational writing skills.

• Reading has kept students on their toes.  Most groups finished Meeting #2 last week.  I want to let you parents know that students can bring their books home and work on their reading or assignments due for their meeting date.  Students choose their meeting date and need to have a summary with red level question, reading response, their job, and their word detective finished before their meeting day.  Last week a few students were not ready to go, so I reminded them that it is their responsibility to have everything finished and ready to go for their meeting.  They are encouraged to take it home if they are not able to get it done in class and can use that for their 20 minutes of reading.  The summary is very quick.  Students should have plenty of time to get it done in class. 
• We wrapped up our social studies unit/project on the 13 colonies.  Students presented a variety of projects about their specific colony, including skits, display boards and news discussions.  They presented to each other and the other 5th grade class Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday a few groups presented to Mrs. Weed's 8th grade class.  My students love to show their skills off! Following the presentations to the 8th grade, they took a quiz which will come home next week. 
• We will begin our science unit on space and stars Tuesday.  IF anyone has glass jars, shoe boxes or flashlights they are willing to donate (flashlights will be returned, please put your name on it)  I would appreciate it greatly! We need them for a couple of hands on projects we will be doing this week. 

Valentines Day was a fun time had by all.  Students earned time to play games so they passed out valentines, ate some delicious snacks thanks to many of you and enjoyed game time.  I was able to finally introduce  my granddaughter to my students and she loved dancing and visiting with the kids. 

Important Information

• Field trip to Fleischmann Planetarium will be on Friday, March 2nd.  We have plenty of drivers if something comes up.  We will be viewing the program "From Earth to the Universe" in the planetarium and touring the exhibit hall, followed by a sack lunch on the grounds. We will be leaving the school at 8:30 am and returning at approximately 1:30 pm. Permission slips will be coming home this week.  Please return by Monday, February 26th.
• As our 2nd trimester ends on March 8th, students will be participating in several language arts and reading assessments to help gauge growth of learning. Please remind your child to do their best and get lots of rest! 

Week of February 5-8

Highlights of the Week in Room 5:

• Our Informational Essays are coming along and we hope to wrap them up by the end of next week. Students are learning not only about the process of writing informational essays, but important information about various forms of energy conservation, such as hydro power, wind turbines, and solar energy.  They have also gained a greater knowledge of what renewable and non-renewable energy is. 
• Book Clubs continue to be running smooth.  I am impressed with them rising to the occasion and having insightful discussions.  Students are learning how to talk about their book, take on responsibility, ask deeper level questions and practice attentive listening to each other. 
• Colony project are well underway!  Presentations will be Monday and Tuesday of next week with the other 5th grade class.  Students have researched, collaborated and are now using their creativity to present their information.  It will be fun to see which group is the most successful at convincing others to move to their colony based on the original 13 colonies. 

Upcoming Events/ Information: 

• Valentineś Party will be on Wednesday afternoon.  If students are sharing valentines, please make sure everyone is included.  I sent a class list home with students on Monday in their Monday folders or with their work.  Students earned game time from Class Dojo points so we will be combining the two.  We will exchange valentineś, have some snacks and play board games!  Students can bring in their favorite board game if they wish.  We have a lot in class that they can play also. 
• After finishing up Colony presentations we will begin a new science unit on Earthś Place in the Universe.  We will need some supplies to help them support the argument that the apparent brightness of the sun and stars is due to their relative distance from Earth. If you have any of this around home or do not mind sending in, we will all be very appreciative! Please bring them in by next Thursday 2/15 if possible.  Thanks for your help! 
• Wide mouth glass jars with lids. 
• Shoe boxes
• Flashlights (which will be returned) * please label with name
• We have booked the field trip to the Fleischmann Planetarium for Friday, March 2nd.  We will be viewing the program ¨From Earth to the Universe¨ in the planetarium and touring the exhibit hall starting at 10:00am.  Following the exhibit hall we will have a sack lunch (bring one!) on the grounds.  We will meet in the school parking lot and leave at 8:30 am.  We do have some room for siblings.  More info to come on sibling age and specifics regarding transportation.  If you have not responded regarding your childś attendance, please let me know ASAP! Thank you!  
• We have had conversations about being attentive listeners, tracking the speaker and being respectful to our classmates and others (especially all adults).  Please support me in this endeavor to continue reinforcing happy, kind, respectful students!! 
• Please contact me if you ever have any questions and thank you for your wonderful children! 

Week of January 29- February 1st.

Students have been working hard this week!  Highlight of the week include:

Writing: Our Informational Reports on Energy Conservation are coming along.  We have been doing a few different things to help build background knowledge.  This week we watched a "virtual field trip" to the Mojave Desert and to Palmyra Atoll Islands to learn more about how we get energy, without harming nature.  We learned how they are using wind and sunlight as renewable resources.  Students should have completed their introductory paragraph and will continue working on their body paragraphs this week as they wrap up their research.

Reading: Most students had their first Book Club meeting this week and they did awesome!  I was impressed with students who had the job of Discussion Director and kept their group on task.  We discussed what we need to work on and found that the deeper level thinking question was more difficult then they realized.  This week we will focus on a few mini lessons to help them with digging deeper and being attentive listeners.

Projects: Each tribe has been researching details about their designated Colony and have started plans for their project to convince others to move to their Colony.  I am excited for their creativity to shine through commercials, skits, and display boards for their presentations.  Students will present to our class and the other 5th grade class this Thursday and Monday 2/12.

• Specials changed this week and they are now in Lego Robotics.  Mrs. Keitz has a wonderful time with the students and they have been excited for Tuesday and Thursday. Monday and Wednesdays are still P.E. 
• This week we are going to begin some weekly lessons focusing on Growth Mindset and discussions about how we treat others.  We will also continue to work in small groups to determine the meaning of a work by how it is used within the context of a text. 

Important Information: 

• Students have earned a "game party" for everyone achieving at least 75 Class DoJo points per students so far in the year.  I am planning to have the party in conjunction with Valentines Day. 
• Valentines Day is coming up on 2/14 and students will be able to bring Valentines if they wish.  If they bring them, please include everyone in the class. 
•  If you need a class list, let me know and I'll get you one. 
• IF you would like to donate food for the celebration (cookies, fruit, drinks, etc.)  please let me know so I can plan accordingly. 
• The second trimester end on March 8th.  We will be assessing students in a variety of areas of the next few weeks in preparation for report cards.  Parent-Teacher Conferences will be in April. 
• Sex Education for 5th grade will be held on Thursdays in March during their "specials" time. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Your children are all amazing individuals.