December 8th, 2017
Good Evening parents/guardians!
We have had a great and busy week here at “The Creek”! We have done everything from new learning material, to an early release day, progress reports, and the Wax Museum, adn now snow! I hope you all received your scholar’s progress report for the second quarter. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. McBride or myself with any questions or concerns!
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 11th-15th: Winter Spirit Week
December 15th: Last Day to send items for Puerto Rico Food Drive
December 17th: Charlotte Checkers Chorus Night
December 18th: Pajama Day & Class Winter Wonderland Celebration
December 20th – January 2nd: Winter Break
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 focused on adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators. We began by using estimates and models to solve for the solutions. We then looked a couple of different methods that can be used when adding and subtracting mixed numbers. 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 learned how to borrow while subtracting mixed numbers by converting the whole number into a fraction.
Next week we will start with a cumulative assessment on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers on Monday, December 11th. The scholars have a study guide that we worked on in class and are expected to complete the back as homework over the weekend. We will then move into multiplying fractions using multiple methods before going on Winter Break.
Science:
This week we continued our study of Weather by looking at tools that are used to measure the different elements of weather, types of clouds, warm and cold fronts, and high and low pressure systems. The scholars have worked hard on taking notes for this unit and working on memorizing the vocabulary. They also seem to be enjoying this unit! It’s always exciting to learn about something that you see and talk about every day! Today, we took a quiz on the Weather material that has been covered so far. The score slips are stapled in your scholar’s agenda.
Next week we will begin to look at global weather patterns and how we are effected by them. We will focus on the types of wind, the Jet and Gulf Stream, and El Nino and La Nina. Your scholar’s are also working on 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.
*I have been having some technical difficulties getting the pictures from our Roller Coaster activity uploaded to my class website. I have attached a link to the folder in Google Drive so that you can check them out! (Fingers crossed it works!)https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SjjDXKZD6nmdMwTDpv1jhTWktmI4okr3?usp=sharing
Reading:
This week, scholars finalized their Wax Museum projects. They worked hard on creating informative posters, writing a speech, and gathering materials for their costumes.
We read several short stories and made inferences, drew conclusions, and identified words in the text which proved an inference. We also discussed the difference between theme (applies to the real world, applies to many stories/situations) and main idea (specific to the story).
Next week, scholars will be looking at a topic from differing points of view. Standard RI 5.6 requires scholars to analyze one topic using multiple accounts. They will look at the similarities and differences of those accounts. We will discuss point of view and perspective as well as using the information to form our own opinions.
Now that we have completed our work with the Wax Museum, we will continue our book discussions. Please remind your scholar to make sure they have read the assigned chapters and are ready for the discussion for The Giver or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
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 we 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.
Next week, 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 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. Many scholars have published their books, others will need to publish this coming week. The research books are expected to be completed before leaving for Winter Break. Scholars have also continued to work on the Wax Museum report, keeping in mind the nine guiding research questions. I am proud of the hard work scholars are putting into their writing projects.
Next week, scholars will be given the opportunity to shift away from nonfiction writing and work to create a narrative piece of writing. Scholars will be asked to use their imagination and creativity to write an imaginary story. I am looking forward to seeing what their amazing minds will be able to create.
I hope you all have a great weekend and stay safe!
We have had a great and busy week here at “The Creek”! We have done everything from new learning material, to an early release day, progress reports, and the Wax Museum, adn now snow! I hope you all received your scholar’s progress report for the second quarter. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. McBride or myself with any questions or concerns!
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 11th-15th: Winter Spirit Week
December 15th: Last Day to send items for Puerto Rico Food Drive
December 17th: Charlotte Checkers Chorus Night
December 18th: Pajama Day & Class Winter Wonderland Celebration
December 20th – January 2nd: Winter Break
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 focused on adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators. We began by using estimates and models to solve for the solutions. We then looked a couple of different methods that can be used when adding and subtracting mixed numbers. 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 learned how to borrow while subtracting mixed numbers by converting the whole number into a fraction.
Next week we will start with a cumulative assessment on adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers on Monday, December 11th. The scholars have a study guide that we worked on in class and are expected to complete the back as homework over the weekend. We will then move into multiplying fractions using multiple methods before going on Winter Break.
Science:
This week we continued our study of Weather by looking at tools that are used to measure the different elements of weather, types of clouds, warm and cold fronts, and high and low pressure systems. The scholars have worked hard on taking notes for this unit and working on memorizing the vocabulary. They also seem to be enjoying this unit! It’s always exciting to learn about something that you see and talk about every day! Today, we took a quiz on the Weather material that has been covered so far. The score slips are stapled in your scholar’s agenda.
Next week we will begin to look at global weather patterns and how we are effected by them. We will focus on the types of wind, the Jet and Gulf Stream, and El Nino and La Nina. Your scholar’s are also working on 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.
*I have been having some technical difficulties getting the pictures from our Roller Coaster activity uploaded to my class website. I have attached a link to the folder in Google Drive so that you can check them out! (Fingers crossed it works!)https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SjjDXKZD6nmdMwTDpv1jhTWktmI4okr3?usp=sharing
Reading:
This week, scholars finalized their Wax Museum projects. They worked hard on creating informative posters, writing a speech, and gathering materials for their costumes.
We read several short stories and made inferences, drew conclusions, and identified words in the text which proved an inference. We also discussed the difference between theme (applies to the real world, applies to many stories/situations) and main idea (specific to the story).
Next week, scholars will be looking at a topic from differing points of view. Standard RI 5.6 requires scholars to analyze one topic using multiple accounts. They will look at the similarities and differences of those accounts. We will discuss point of view and perspective as well as using the information to form our own opinions.
Now that we have completed our work with the Wax Museum, we will continue our book discussions. Please remind your scholar to make sure they have read the assigned chapters and are ready for the discussion for The Giver or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
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 we 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.
Next week, 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 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. Many scholars have published their books, others will need to publish this coming week. The research books are expected to be completed before leaving for Winter Break. Scholars have also continued to work on the Wax Museum report, keeping in mind the nine guiding research questions. I am proud of the hard work scholars are putting into their writing projects.
Next week, scholars will be given the opportunity to shift away from nonfiction writing and work to create a narrative piece of writing. Scholars will be asked to use their imagination and creativity to write an imaginary story. I am looking forward to seeing what their amazing minds will be able to create.
I hope you all have a great weekend and stay safe!