A Look Into Our Classroom
Each week, I will post a couple photos of our students learning and leading! Last week, one of our Green Team leaders gave a presentation about pollution and humans’ impact on the Earth. Our fifth graders math posters about multi-step fraction word problems and presented them to the class. Also students began giving Book Shout-Outs during our reading time.
Class Service Project and Supplies
Thank you thank you thank you to the families that brought in tissues. If any more families can contribute boxes of tissues, that would be much appreciated!
As a reminder, our classroom is collecting Slim Jims for Lindbergh’s donation to a local homeless shelter. Please bring in any original flavor beef jerky that you are able to contribute. Our goal is to have enough to fill 30 “kits” of basic goods like clothing and food.
Homework
Homework for the week can be found at this link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yR_GuZ_epevjYIT2nWt4mDfh2K-qE-zk8qBIM4DnrR4/edit?usp=sharing
Please make sure you talk with your student about their homework every night and sign their planner.
NWEA Scores and Goal-Setting
NWEA score reports will be sent home to you early this week, and students will begin goal-setting on them this Wednesday.
ELA
Students will complete a practice version of the M-STEP writing test this week. Ask your students what “RACER” stands for to help them remember each of the steps they should take in writing their response.
Students will begin new reading groups this week based on their level and their NWEA results.
Math
5th Grade
Fifth graders will continue their work on multiplying fractions. Our goal is to complete lessons 15 through 19 of module 4 this week.
4th Grade
We are going to continue our work on long division by dividing numbers in the tens and thousands. We will also begin on multiplying two-digit by two-digit numbers.
PLEASE NOTE: I have scheduled 4th graders to make their end-of-module test on Friday, Feb, 14th with a review on Thurs. the 13th. These are the last two days before mid-winter break. If for travel reasons you plan for your student to be absent on Feb. 14th, have your student plan to take their math test on Feb. 13th immediately after the math review. This is so your student has the opportunity to take the test while the information is fresh in their mind, rather than waiting until after break.
Science
Students will finish up their investigation of how much salt and fresh water there is in the world. We will use what we learn to update our hypotheses of what causes droughts and dust storms.
Update on science grading: There will be a low-stakes assessment with a few questions after the investigation finishes. I am moving away from giving lengthy quizzes at the end of every mystery, as these stress students unnecessarily and did not effectively measure student learning. Students will now receive a “check plus, check, or check minus” for their end-of-lesson assessment responses, which correspond to a 1, 2 or 3 respectively. Let me know if you have questions.
Social Studies
5th Grade
Fifth graders will learn about the development of the southern colonies, and then move on to learning about the northern colonies and their desire for religious freedom.
4th Grade
TEST RESCHEDULED: Since I have a district meeting to attend Tuesday afternoon, I have moved the 4th graders’ test to Wednesday morning. The review guide will be due Monday still, but students will have another day to study the correct answers!
Fourth graders have begun to move on to their unit on government in the meantime.
Spelling
Spelling words will be up on Spelling City by Monday at 5 pm.