Dear Parents:  River Oaks is currently registering students for the 2020-2021 school year for pre-school, kindergarten and young 5’s.  We need your help and getting this information out to all parents.  Please let me know the names of anyone that will be starting school this year at River Oaks.  

Google classroom is the platform we are primarily using for our school work during this time of distance learning. Unfortunately, some students either are not turning work in or are turning in a blank google doc so that it shows that something is turned in but in fact there is nothing there. I have attached the following video to hopefully clear up any confusion and avoid blank documents in the future.

While grading last weeks math work I noticed several students struggling to find the volume because of some misconceptions about what is height and what is width. The following Khan video explains this very well.

Take a look..

• We are suggesting students have a schedule for the following learning tasks. Students should begin their day with a healthy breakfast and begin on their learning. 
• Students should be taking lots of breaks. Students should be getting daily activity. Play board games, Go Noodle etc. 
• As a part of the Student Continuity of Learning Plan that has been provided by the district; we have guidelines that ensure the continuity of learning is provided for all students. 

Language Arts/Reading: 

• All students will be expected to read each day and write a summary of what they read for the week.  Students can read a book from their home library, read a story on raz kids or readworks. The summary should be 3-5 sentences long. This should be turned in on google classroom. 
• ReadWorks: All students should be signed up and working on assignments that are assigned on Readworks. There will be three  assignments on Readworks this week. These will be due Monday May 11th 2020

Our essential learning is Cause and Effect within and between texts: 

The readworks article assigned for the week will focus on this skill. 

• Spelling Words: Greek root ‘ambi’ and ‘aero’
• Explanation:  Prefix – ‘aero’ – of the air  &  ‘ambi’  – both, around

ambiguous, aerobics aerodynamic,  ambition ambidextrous,aerosol, ambient, aerospace

ambiance, ambivalent, aeronautics, aerobatics

Spelling activities of your choice: paragraph using all the words, write the words three times each, color words, spelling sentences etc. 

Writing: 

Informational Writing: Cross Curricular Connection:  Most have finished their informational writing on an animal: This week we will be making an entertaining google slide presenting your animal. It must be at least 7 slides long. We will be attaching a rubric on google classroom to support you as you create your slideshow. 

Directions from last week: 

Research Project on an animal. This writing project will be our focus for the next two weeks. You will choose an animal to research. Your writing must be informational and entertaining. The writing must be 3-5 paragraphs long. 

Choose an animal from the following list: Blue whale, bobcat, dolphin, brown bear, elephant, tiger, lion, zebra, frog, toad, sea turtle, armadillo, ostrich, panda, owls, robin. 

Below are some questions to help guide you in your writing and websites to find the information. Look to Google Classroom for a graphic organizer to use to help you organize your writing

What is my animal’s scientific name? What family does it belong to?What does my animal look like? What is my animal’s height/length, weight, wingspan (only if bird)? What does my animal eat? Is my animal a predator? If so, what does it hunt? How does my animal move? (swim, run, fly, hop, etc) How fast can my animal move?How does my animal care for its young? Is my animal extinct or endangered? How can my animal be saved?

•  Ranger Rick: 
• Animal Planet Animal A to Z
• https://pbskids.org/wildkratts/
• https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
• National Geographic Animals
• Electronic Zoo
• National Geographic Creature Feature
• Blue Planet Biomes Animals
• San Diego Zoo

Math:

We are in Module 5 lessons: 

This week we will be working lessons: 6, 7, 10 and 11. 

We know this is an increase in lessons.. We want to assess Module 5 concepts and move on to Module 6. All students will be getting their math materials next week which will help support this increase. 

Please use ZEARN as a resource and Embarc 

Please look for the Math Lessons on Google Classroom. 

Social Studies: 

Below is the resource we will be using this week for Social Studies: 

• textbooks.wmisd.org/Downloads/5th/5thGradeFull.pdf

Read pages p. 124-131

Answer in a Google Document the questions below: 

What does the word “intolerable” mean? Talk about that word with someone else in your class, or a family member. Have you ever experienced something “intolerable” at home or at school? How did you react? Watch the two short Liberty Kids , review the Intolerable Acts and read on to find out how the colonists reacted to these “punishments” from Parliament.

Science: 

Mystery Science Mini-lessons: 

https://mysteryscience.com/mini-lessons/dangerous-sun?code=8fa8e54059be13832772155c17117e7f

https://mysteryscience.com/mini-lessons/old-earth?code=306e2395615eeb92650d46e12dd9b6d7

Write a three-five sentence summary of the mystery science mini-lesson above. 

This week we will be passing out learning materials for all students to pick them up to help with the remainder of online learning.

Students will receive their math workbooks for the remainder of the school year and the common core book for ELA, and maybe some school supplies.

Learning material pick up will be a drive up service.

Please stay in your car and someone will come out to bring all of your child’s materials. Pop the trunk open and we will place the materials.

Learning Materials pick up next Tuesday, May 5th from 12:00 pm-3:00pm and Wednesday, May 6th 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

I will explain more later on how to use the materials at home for learning.

Please make sure to pick them up! If you have any questions, please let me know.

I just wanted to touch base with all parents regarding the grading for work on google classroom. If an assignment isn’t turned in then no credit is given. I have been very generous with giving credit since I know that I cannot provide the help that is normally given. However, many students are just clicking ‘turn in’ and there is no actual work on the document. That will not be counted for work done because no work is being done. Secondly, if there is an instance where copying an assignment is suspected I will first contact the students. They can either do their own work or take zero credit. If I do not hear back from the student within 24 hours then I will be contacting parents. Copying is against the student code of conduct no matter the circumstances. If you have any questions please feel free to email or message me privately.

April 27th-May 1st  2020: Student Continuity of Learning Plan:

• We are suggesting students have a schedule for the following learning tasks. Students should begin their day with a healthy breakfast and begin on their learning. 
• Students should be taking lots of breaks. Students should be getting daily activity. Play board games, Go Noodle etc. 
• As a part of the Student Continuity of Learning Plan that has been provided by the district; we have guidelines that ensure the continuity of learning is provided for all students. 

Language Arts/Reading: 

• All students will be expected to read each day and write a summary of what they read for the week.  Students can read a book from their home library, read a story on raz kids or readworks. The summary should be 3-5 sentences long. This should be turned in on google classroom. 
• ReadWorks: All students should be signed up and working on assignments that are assigned on Readworks. There will be two assignments on Readworks this week. These will be due Monday May 4th 2020

Our essential learning is Cause and Effect within and between texts: 

The readworks article assigned for the week will focus on this skill. 

• Spelling : Abbreviations Explanation:  A shortened form of a word or phrase that takes the place of the full word or phrase

Dr.  doctor, Jr.  Junior, Dept.  department, Hwy.  highway, Mr.  Mister, Appt.  appointment, Pkwy . parkway, Sr. Senior, Ex. Example, Ave. Avenue, Rep. Representative, lbs. Pounds, oz. ounces, govt. Government, Dbn. Dearborn, Kdg. Kindergarten, Gen. General , Capt. Captain, est. established

Spelling activities of your choice: paragraph using all the words, write the words three times each, color words, spelling sentences etc. 

Writing: 

Informational Writing: Cross Curricular Connection: 

Research Project on an animal. This writing project will be our focus for the next two weeks. You will choose an animal to research. Your writing must be informational and entertaining. The writing must be 3-5 paragraphs long. 

Choose an animal from the following list: Blue whale, bobcat, dolphin, brown bear, elephant, tiger, lion, zebra, frog, toad, sea turtle, armadillo, ostrich, panda, owls, robin. 

Below are some questions to help guide you in your writing and websites to find the information. Look to Google Classroom for a graphic organizer to use to help you organize your writing

What is my animal’s scientific name? What family does it belong to?What does my animal look like? What is my animal’s height/length, weight, wingspan (only if bird)? What does my animal eat? Is my animal a predator? If so, what does it hunt? How does my animal move? (swim, run, fly, hop, etc) How fast can my animal move?How does my animal care for its young? Is my animal extinct or endangered? How can my animal be saved?

•  Ranger Rick: 
• Animal Planet Animal A to Z
• https://pbskids.org/wildkratts/
• https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
• National Geographic Animals
• Electronic Zoo
• National Geographic Creature Feature
• Blue Planet Biomes Animals
• San Diego Zoo

Math:

We are in Module 5 in Math. 

This week we will be working on Lesson 4 and 5.

 In addition we will be assigning optional ixl problems. 

Please use ZEARN as a resource and Embarc 

Please look for the Math Lessons on Google Classroom. 

Social Studies: 

Below is the resource we will be using this week for Social Studies: 

• textbooks.wmisd.org/Downloads/5th/5thGradeFull.pdf

Read pages p.116-123

Answer in a Google Document the questions below: 

Explain the Committees of Correspondence. 

Explain the Boston Massacre. 

Who was Samuel Adams?

Science: 

Mystery 6: Why did dinosaurs go extinct? https://mysteryscience.com/ecosystems/mystery-6/food-webs-flow-of-energy/212?code=OTA3MTEzNw&t=student

Watch the video, do the activity IF you can, and then answer the following questions.

1. How could scientists figure out what dinosaurs ate by studying fossils?

2. What animals do you think T. rex would eat? Why do you think that?

3. How do you think a single asteroid hitting the Earth could cause all the dinosaurs to go extinct?

4. Where do the living green plants get their energy?

5. What new ideas do you have about why the dinosaurs went extinct? 

Read the Newsela article – “Theory that mammals became daytime dwellers after dinosaurs left” Answer the questions and then complete the writing prompt

Investigate: What does this article make you wonder about? Ask a question that would encourage future investigation of this topic or process. Explain why this question is interesting or important.

Watch the mini mystery “ Why are butterflies so colorful?” https://mysteryscience.com/mini-lessons/butterflies?code=30a00bf15787c557c956d28357319649

 What are some ways that butterflies’ patterns and colors help them survive?

Write a three-five sentence summary of the mystery science mini-lesson above. 

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/zechar/ -Mrs. Zechar: Art

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/webbl/ – Ms. Webb: Gym

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/kizyb/ – Mrs. Kizy: Technology

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/keyofg/ – Ms. Green: Music

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/fifthgradeinstrumental/ – Ms. McKinstry: instrumental

Students will receive report card marks for these special areas in addition to their main courses so it is important to check in with these teachers and their blogs.

My google meet for office hours has been cancelled. Currently the district is suspending all google meets. If you have a question for me or need any help please reach out to me and I will help you the best I can.

It was awesome to see everyone and I hope I was able to answer your questions. We addressed some important things during this meet and I would like to summarize with you what we discussed.

My available times are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am -4:30 pm. What this means is that if you contact me during these times you can expect me to get back to you within the hour. However, if you do contact me at a different time I do have 24 hours to respond to you. The same for students; if I email you then you are expected to get back to me within 24 hours.

Our google meet ups will be Wednesdays at 1:00. I am keep attendance of who comes to these as part of your participation in our class.

I will hold “office hours” on google meet on Fridays at 3:00 for students that need any assistance.

Assignments are going to be due the Monday after they were given out. I am keeping track of who turns work in and will be giving a “grade”. M – for meeting, P – progressing, LP – limited participation.

Hope to see you next week at the meet up!