Reading Update & Reading Week Schedule

O'NEILL & ROST  We've begun our unit on reading nonfiction/ informational text.  Fifth graders are learning that readers of nonfiction read differently than readers of fiction.  Because nonfiction can be complex and very factual, we're learning that we read with a pen, annotating to help us process information and explore main ideas within texts. 

Target Learning Goals:  Readers of informational text/ nonfiction read differently by...

• ... previewing texts using H.I.V.E..
• we consider: Headings, Interest, Visuals & Vocabulary, and Engagement
• ... gathering our schema (background knowledge) to ready/ warm up our minds.
• ... using text features and context clues to determine meanings of topic-specific words.
• ... monitoring our comprehension and synthesizing by paraphrasing and sketching.
• ... reading with a pen, using boxes and bullets to jot down facts and main ideas.

TLGs in Action:  

MEZAN  The past few weeks we have been learning strategies that help us think and grow ideas about themes, life lessons, etc..  When you child is reading at home, encourage them to think about theme.  Ask them: What did the character learn? What did you (the reader) learn?  What mistake did the character make?

Target Learning Goals (TLG):  To develop ideas about themes, readers can...

• ... consider characters' mistakes.
• ... think about what the character learned.
• ... pay attention to what characters teach each other.
• ... pay attention to the problems in the story (we use the theme process chart to help us do this, see below).

TLGs in Action: 

To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday, all classes are decorating their doors.  Here are some snapshots from Mrs. O'Neill's homeroom:

Homework: 

• Enjoy your weekend! :)

Reminders:

• 
  

Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, February 28:  Dress like a professional (Riverside students filled the tube again and voted for this reward)
• Next week is Reading Week! See the schedule below.

Reading Week Schedule: February 27 - March 3

• Mellow Monday: Wear your pajamas and get cozy while reading your book (Slippers are NOT allowed).
• Twilight Tuesday: Bring in a flashlight to read with during Reader's Workshop.
• Wear Your Words Wednesday:  Wear your favorite t-shirt with appropriate words for everyone to read!
• Dr. Seuss's Birthday Celebration: Wear RED and WHITE, or a Dr. Seuss shirt.
• Book Character Day: Dress up as your favorite book character.

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Science / Social Studies Update

We are working to wrap up our Native American reports in social studies. We are currently working on final drafts and typing up our final versions of the reports for submission. These have been a long term collaborative activity with Ms. Kavanaugh in the media center. There will be development of a PowerPoint presentation following the completion of the report for sharing research with the class. Once we have completed these reports, we will be moving into settlements and colonialism.

In science, we are in full swing with our plant growth exploration and comparison. We're investigating different mediums, different plants, and different lighting conditions to see how these factors impact plant growth and development. Student will have an option to bring their lettuce plant home at the end of our observations.

Valentine's Day

Students are allowed to bring in valentines for their homeroom only.  Please make sure that if your child chooses to bring in valentines that they have enough for everyone in the class.  Class lists went home with homerooms today.  Thank you and happy early Valentine's Day!

5th Grade Math Update: Fractions

Fractions are here!
In Topic 7 we will be learning how to estimate, add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. We will be replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions with like denominators in order to complete this task.
For example: To add 1/2 and 1/3, we will first rename 1/2 as 3/6 and 1/3 as 2/6. Then we will add the numerators (3 and 2). The sum will be 5/6.
Students will be encouraged to reason abstractly and quantitatively in this unit as they strive to estimate sums and differences, and to make sense of fractions and their meaning.

Ways you can help your student:

• Name a fraction and have your child state whether it is closest to 0, 1/2 or 1. We are doing this in class as well. 
• Monitor their homework answers very carefully
• Send your child to class each day with questions on problems that confused them. 
• Play games to practice fraction skills.  Gameboards will soon be ready for students to take home. These games can be kept for a few days and played as often as you like. When they are returned with a parent note stating that the game was played, students can earn extra points toward their math grade. 
• Use the envisionMath website! You can reach it by visiting www.hcps.org. There is a black rectangle in the upper right hand corner to click on. Your student should be able to take it from there. 
• Our Math textbook is also your friend! Use this valuable resource to review the lessons we have completed in class with your child. Please feel free to do any practice problems that we have not completed in class with your child to further review and solidify learning.  
• Continue to monitor your child's grades via Edline. Math grades are plentiful! Each week there is a homework grade, a Friday quiz grade, and often a classwork grade. 

As always, please contact me with any questions. 

Mrs. Mezan

shelley.mezan@hcps.org

More Trailers!

The Chocolate Touch (Mezan)
Mockingbird (Rost)

More Trailers!

Below are links to student-created book trailers that have been completed.  Enjoy!

• Because of Mr. Terupt (O'Neill) NEW!
• No Talking (Rost) NEW!
• Masterminds (O'Neill)
• Shipwreck (Mezan)
• Shipwreck (Rost)

Homework: 

• 30 minutes reading
• Math homework

Reminders:

• No spelling 
• Get Caught Reading:  Remember to email in pictures when you "catch" your child reading!  Hadley.ONeill@hcps.org  

Upcoming Dates:

• Early Dismissal:  Friday, February 3
• Report cards distributed this Friday
• Clip Hall of Fame Assembly will be held on Wednesday 2/15/17 at 9:30. Invitations will be sent home in report cards.
• Honor Roll Breakfast will be held on Friday 2/10/17 from 7:45 – 8:30. Invitations will be sent home in report cards.

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill