What a fun week we had last week.  The students, fourth and fifth graders have been working on their "Tic Tac Toe" menus.  A "Tic Tac Toe" menu is a selection of differentiated activities that the children can choose from.  The objectives are only generally described and the task of defining the activity lies with the students.  For instance one activity may be to "Identify parallels of explorers and display them in a chart."  The student has to decide which explorer, what parallels and what kind of chart. Very fun.  Many students have been opting to do an activity that is technology based, including using my nano for making a video of a talk show or news broadcast.  I am saving them all, and creating digital portfolios.

This week the "menu" work will continue.  The fifth graders are finishing up their "Explorer" menu, and the fourths are finishing up their "California Native American" menus.  New Tic Tac Toe menus will be introduced, based on the Reading Series.

Both grade levels start new math chapters this week.  The fourth graders are beginning chapter 6 (Multiplication and Division Expressions) and the fifth graders are beginning chapter 5, (rounding, adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators). 

While the fifth grade has their rehearsals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the fourth graders will complete a Summary practice, and then begin instruction on Response to Literature.

The new words are up on SpellingCity for fourth graders, based on the story Tanya's Reunion.  The fifth graders are finishing Lesson 6 of their Wordly Wise and will have a test on Friday. 

The fifth graders and I jumped ahead in Social Studies and are working on Unit 7, American Government.  We have discussed the making of the Constitution and the different beliefs systems of the Federalists and Anitfederalists.   They should be pretty familiar with the three compromises: the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths compromise, and the Bill of Rights.  This week the fifth graders will work in groups and create posters that describe or summarize the lessons, and have a small test, on Friday. 

Many fifth graders are finding that memorizing the states and capitals is not their favorite activity.  Some test scores are suffering because of it.  I am assigning 10 minutes a night of computer games to the fifth graders to help them with their states.  There are several good states and capitals games on the web site, in the US History link.  If your child is not satisfied with his or her grade, this assignment will give them 10 percentage points.  If they do 20 minutes a night they can earn 20 percentage points, and so on.  Parents, sign their planner each night and write how many minutes.  I will trust you.  If the internet is not working for you, I will give the students an assignment to complete.

Fifth Grade Parents - The last math chapter, 4, was very difficult.  Many new skills were taught at a rapid pace.  While the students seem to be learning all the skills (75% to 85% accuracy)  for most, it is not yet automatic.  For mastery of future math concepts, these skills (converting fractions, reducing fractions, finding equivalent fractions, finding the least common multiple and the least common denominator) need to be automatic.  For this reason I have assembled a packet of practice worksheets.  They review the same skill over and over again.  A bit tedious, but necessary.  It is not due for four weeks (December 3), but will be graded for the second report card.  I recommend that your child do a little bit every night.  Possibly, not even finishing a page each night.  The goal is to keep it positive.  If your child struggles with this stuff, then do just a few problems a night and give lots of positive reinforcement.  If they want to go faster, let them.  Also in the packet, are some challenging problem solving activities that involve logical thinking.  Feel free to help them with those, you may need to.  Parental help on those is applauded and encouraged. Once they are all turned in I will offer a reward. I don't know what yet, I'll ask them what they want. Good luck to you all.

I'll throw in updates as necessary.  Remember, the homework is up, but is always subject to change.  I hope you have been enjoying Washington's Rules of Etiquette.

Mrs. McElroy

The fifth grade math test will be on Thursday, not Wednesday.  Today's fifth grade math homework will be to complete the worksheets started in class.  They are practice with long division (double digit divisor) and converting fractions to decimals.  This is work from and related to Chapter 4 Lesson 9.  They need long division review.

There is not reading journal due for fouth or fifth graders.  Those who are behind, may use the time to

We had a great day on Friday!  Mrs. Oliphant along with Mrs. Tempesta and Mrs. Pfeiffer, taught a great science lesson.  Students were then treated to a lesson on slide shows for their blogs.  The fourth graders worked very hard producing their narrative writing and evaluating writing samples.  The fifths continued working on their musical production and have been working on independent projects about explorers using a "Tic-Tac-Toe" menu.  Great fun. 

This week, the fourth graders will continue to concentrate on writing while the fifths rehearse.  We will focus on summaries this week.  Also, the fourth graders have been working quickly through chapter 5 of the math book and will take a test on Thursday of this week.

The fifths are currently finishing Chapter 4 of the math book and will test on Wednesday.  This was a tough chapter, and vitally important for mastery of upcoming chapters.  If necessary, we will spend time reviewing the concepts and retake the test.

The spelling list is up on SpellingCity for the fourth graders.  Only ten words, but tricky.

This week the fourth graders will have some worksheets from the reading series, sent home as homework. On the homework site it will be listed as "Reading Packet".  Please, just do the pages I assign, I do not assign all the pages of a packet.  Mostly, grammar work will be sent home.

The fifth grade will jump ahead in Social Studies and study American Government.  We will begin this week with the creation of the constitution.  Also, their next states test, the Northern Central United States is on Friday.

Parents,

Everything continues to go well for Room 24.  Last week the fifth graders began their play.  We went to the library for the first time and had P.E.  On Friday we shared our eulogies for our dear departed verbs. A sad day for all.  Both grade levels wrote an informational essay, without these verbs.  They found it difficult and complained quite a bit, making me feel that the writing was very valuable last week.  Removing "dead" verbs forces the students to use better vocabulary and more sophisticated sentence structure.  Awesome.

This week, the fifth graders will begin rehearsals in the MPR.  They will be there from 9:30 - 10:30 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  During that time the fourth graders and I will work intently on writing.  We will work on Responses to Literature this week.

The fourth grade spelling words are posted on SpellingCity, from the story "Tomas and the Library Lady".  Their spelling test will be on Friday as usual.The fifth graders have finished their Wordly Wise Exercises for lesson 5, A,B, C, and D, and will complete 5E this week.  Their Wordly Wise test will also be on Friday.

The fifth graders will be finishing chapter 5 in science this week.  Their test will be on Thursday.  I will give them a study guide for the test on Monday.  If they choose to use it, it will certainly prepare them for the test.  Remember, I'll give them the study guide on Monday, but won't actually finish teaching the chapter until Tuesday.

We will continue with our reading of novels this week.  They were postponed that week, due to the changes in schedule.  The fifth graders are reading Johnny Tremain, and the fourth graders are either reading Boston Jane, or Bridge to Teribithia.

The fifth grade mathematics is moving faster than ever.  We will begin this week with finding Lowest Common Multiples (LCM).  We will also be converting decimals and fractions this week. The concepts move very quickly, a new one every day.  There may be extra homework, if I feel the students have not mastered the material.  They need to be able to do this stuff in their sleep.  The test for Chapter 4 is currently scheduled for next Wednesday, October 27th.

The fourth graders begin Chapter 5 this week.  This is a review of basic multiplication and division with some algebra concepts thrown in. 

Have a great week everyone!

Mrs. McElroy

Families,

I hope all had a lovely fall break.  I had a wonderful time.   I was able to complete a lot of chores that needed to be done (not fun, but it felt good to complete something).  I spent Thursday at Disneyland, and saw Kassie there!  I was surprised I didn't see more of you.  Great day, kids loved it. 

I have also spent some time planning for the next few weeks of school.  Curriculum is going to start moving very quickly.  We are all going to need to be focused and ready to work.  On this weeks blog, I will give you all details of the week to come as well as alert you to big things coming up for both grade levels.

Fifth Grade
Fifth graders will begin rehearsal for their play this week.  Each day, from 9:40 - 10:10 they will practice music with the other fifth grade classes.  This will shorten their reading time a bit this week.  Next week they will begin rehearsals, three days a week, in the MPR.  The performance will be on Friday, November 19th, most likely at 8:30 in the morning.  I'll let you know if that time changes.

Science is about to get tough for fifth graders.  We will begin the unit on "Earth Weather", Chapter 5, on Monday.  They will take the test, the next week, October 21st.  There will be science homework just about every night.  For this reason, fifth graders do not need to do a reading journal this week.  These next two weeks will be a great time to explore the Science website.  There will be a vocabulary test on Thursday, this week on: atmosphere, troposphere, air pressure, altitude, humidity, barometer, convection, global wind, climate and current.

Fifth graders will begin Chapter 4 of their math book on Monday.  The time has come for Fractions and Decimals.  If you know that your child needs some improvement in their division facts, now is the time to begin some extra work.    This week we will work with; greatest common factors, simplifying fractions, mixed numbers and improper fractions, and least common multiple.  This is a long and detailed chapter, I plan to have mid chapter quizzes and extra review before the test, which is currently scheduled for Wednesday, October 27th.

Fourth Grade
While the fifth graders are rehearsing theses next few weeks, the fourth graders and I will work intensely on writing.  We will practice scoring rubrics and discuss the qualities of good writing and practice the three required genres: narrative, summary, and response to literature. 

The new spelling list is up for fourth grade.  There are 26 words, but not too difficult. 

For math the fourth graders will continue with Chapter 4, Graphs.  They will complete lessons 4.6 through lesson 4.8, this week and take a quiz on those lessons on Friday.  There will be no big test for this chapter, due to the break.  Chapter 5 begins next week:  Multiplication and Division Facts.  It's a review chapter, but absolutely necessary to prepare for long division.

Both
Parents and students, as the curriculum demands increase, I will work to keep the homework site updated.  I will put up the homework for the entire week.  If you decide to do an assignment early, that is fine.  I know that sports and activities can take up a lot of time.  However, these homework activities will be listed for you each Sunday, but are only 92 percent certain.  Once in a while, an assignment must be changed depending upon how I feel a concept has been mastered during the day. If there are daily changes, I will make them that day.

P.E. and Library will begin this week for both groups.  Yea.  Library will be each Monday, at 1:15 to 1:45.  For P.E., the students will join classes of their grade level.  Fifth graders will go on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:10 to 1:40, and fourth graders will go on Tuesday and Thursdays from 12:40 to 1:10. 

I must compliment all the parents for keeping your kids in athletic shoes.  I (along with Mr. Bague and Mrs. Vannix) ran a spontaneous P.E. class the other day and all the students were dressed appropriately.  It was great fun too.  We (North Park School) are receiving special monies for Physical Education and I have been great materials to work with.  I plan to work in more P.E. in the coming weeks.

Finally - Differentiation.

The class is working on differentiating the work in a number of ways.  The classroom theme of "Change" has been explored. Students are working on writing their own objectives, to individualize their learning.  We have begun "Pathways" as a whole group.  "Pathways" are a method used to organized assignments, big or small.
This week, students will work on "Pathways" as individuals.  They will each complete their own, as a tool for completing their work.  Next week we will begin working on Differentiated Menus: again, a method for individualizing, and extending the curriculum.

Take care everyone.  I look forward to seeing the students on Monday.

Sincerely,

Everyone have a wonderful week.  Kids, blog about your vacation, I will enjoy reading about them. I look forward to seeing you on the 11th.

Mrs. McElroy