December 1st, 2017
Good Evening parents/guardians!
It is hard to believe it is December and we are almost halfway through the 2nd quarter! This upcoming week, progress reports will come home with your scholars. The progress reports list all assignments for every subject along with the grade your scholar earned. It also identifies any missing assignments. Please encourage your scholars to complete and turn in all work on time, as any missing assignments count against their final grade.
Please remember that you can always check your scholar’s grades, progress, and any missing assignments through PowerSchool. You can use your scholar’s login information or get a parent login from the school office.
Also, please keep our Reedy Creek Cares Initiative in mind. Fifth grade is collecting nonperishable goods for the Hurricane Victim Support Drive for Puerto Rico. We will be collecting items until next Friday, December 15.
Important Dates:
December 6th: Early Release Day (12:00pm)
December 7th: Progress Reports Sent Home
December 7th: Wax Museum (5:30pm-6:00pm) & Evening of the Arts (6:00pm-7:00pm)
December 15th: Last Day to send items for Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims
December 20th: Winter Break Starts
Here is a recap of what we engaged in this past week of school, as well as what we will be starting to learn next week!
Math:
This week we have worked hard on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. We have practiced finding the Least Common Denominator (LCD), converting fractions into equivalent fractions, and then adding or subtracting. We’ve focused on both skills individually and used them to evaluate and solve EOG-like word problems. Today we took a quiz on comparing, ordering, adding, and subtracting fractions.
Next week we will focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators. We will begin by using estimates and models to solve for the solutions. This skill is very similar to the same skills used when adding fractions with unlike denominators, but having a whole number in front of the fractions alters the steps slightly. Scholars will learn how to borrow while subtracting mixed numbers by converting the whole number into a fraction. We will have a cumulative assessment on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers on Monday, December 11th.
**Homework: In order to encourage scholars to complete homework, a few weeks ago I informed scholars that I would begin to record a grade for homework. I told them that I was not grading their homework for correctness, but for completeness. If their homework was turned in on time, complete, and work shown, they would earn 10 out of 10 points. If it was incomplete or a day late, they would earn 5 out of 10 points. If it was not turned in the next day they would earn 0 out of 10 points. For every ten homework’s that are completed, I will add the points together and give the students a grade out of 100. This week you will see your scholar’s first homework grade added to PowerSchool. Homework is also sent home in Friday Folders, with the points earned at the top, or a check if it was completed and turned in on time. Homework is not meant to be busy work, but is a way for scholar’s to practice the skill they were taught that day. Please feel free to reach out to me if there are any questions regarding this system.
Science:
The day before Thanksgiving break, we worked on building roller coasters using foam pipes, tape, and a marble to test it out! The students were all engaged and it was great to see them working together and collaborating to make their ideas come to life. I also had a very proud teacher moment hearing all of the terms and concepts they were using related to our Forces and Motion unit! I will have pictures and videos from the activity on my class website by the end of next week! http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/reedycreekES/Pages/FacultyAndStaff.aspx
This week we started our Weather unit. We worked on recording definitions in our science notebooks. Our guided notes focused on Meteorology and how meteorologist predict weather.
Next week we will continue our study of Weather by looking at tools that are used to measure the different elements of weather. The thermometer is the most well-known tool, but there are many other important tools such as the barometer and wind vane. We will have a quiz on the Weather material that has been covered so far on Friday, December 8th. Your scholar’s were also given their rubric for their Weather vocabulary book. I have told them that they may keep it at school to work on for now seeing as it is not due until January 12th. This book contains 20 words and they should more than ample time during school to complete a word every day or two.
Reading:
This past week, we worked with RL 5.2, identifying theme. We practiced identifying theme using multiple short stories and a poem. We defined theme as: the lesson or message the author is trying to teach, a sentence not just one word, and applicable to the real world, not just specific to the story. Scholars then took an assessment on theme.
We took a short break from our book studies to work on our Historical Figures Wax Museum project from Mr. Felker. Scholars have been working hard to write reports, create posters, and get their short speech ready for the Wax Museum on December 7.
Next week, we will continue to research and work on our Wax Museum projects. Please help your child create a costume and props so they may “become the person”. Mr. Felker and I are happy to help out and try to locate anything you are not able to find lying around your house.
We will also be continuing to work to make inferences and draw conclusions as we read. As we read, we will deepen our thinking but continue to use the text as we do so. This will be done using texts we have read together, short stories, and books scholars are reading on their own.
Reading homework: Please have your child read 30 minutes (or more) each night and log the title of the book read and number of pages read into his/her agenda daily. This provides us with a record of your scholar’s reading so we can ensure he/she is reading “just right” books at an appropriate speed. Looking for ways to help your child with his/her reading homework? Please click here to view questions you can be asking your child about his/her book to check for understanding.
Social Studies:
This week scholars began learning about European Explorers who sailed to America. Scholars worked in groups to learn the reasons explorers came to America and the effects they had on the Native Americans.
Scholars will be learning about eight different European Explorers, the different routes each explorer took, and the lands discovered. We will also discuss the impact the explorers had on the Native Americans. Students will work in groups to become “experts” on one of the explorers and teach the rest of the class the most important information about each explorer.
Writing:
This past week, scholars continued to work on writing their nonfiction research books using the rubric. They worked to add the sections, complete with headings, as well as adding other nonfiction text features appropriate for their chosen topic.
Scholars have also continued to work on the Wax Museum report. I am proud of the hard work scholars are putting into their writing projects.
Next week scholars will continue to work on writing their nonfiction research books using the rubric. They will be working to add the sections, complete with headings, as well as adding other nonfiction text features appropriate for their chosen topic. They may then create an interesting cover for their books. The books are due by Friday, December 15.
Scholars will also be working on the Historical Figure Wax Museum report. They will be researching their historical figure and answering the nine questions provided by Mr. Felker. This information will then be condensed into a short speech to be used at the Wax Museum. The speeches and posters are due by Thursday, December 7. The reports should be completed by Friday, December 8.
Thank you for your continued support! Have a great weekend!