CATS Update
January
1/14
Language Arts:
Reading:
*City of Ember: Our class novel explores a futuristic, dystopian society that survived an apocalypse and now relies on dwindling supplies, including electricity, to survive.
*The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963: Our class read aloud explores the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.
Writing:
*Narrative Writing & Poetry: The students completed 2 very descriptive essays and began a poetry unit about what they know best: Themselves.
*Galleon! Students have been creating log entries for their Galleon (S.S.) simulation. The latest log entry is a remarkable contrast to the first log entry. Emotions, humor and rich language pepper these imaginative narratives and I’m so delighted with the progress!
Speaking/S.S.
*Explorer Reports: Learning groups are researching an explorer, ruler, or significant person of the Exploration Era.
Math:
*Multiplication of Fractions and whole numbers: Students continued to learn about multiplying with fractions.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math 2-3 time/weekly to gain/maintain math facts recall.
Science: The Web of Life: Students continued to learn about consumers, producers, and particularly decomposers this week. We’ve begun a long-term science experiment with our learning groups involving food, a “terrarium”, and a variety of conditions. Ask your child about the contents of his/her terrarium and the variables used for observation.
Miscellaneous:
Jan 17: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Jan. 26: Virtual art “field trip”
Feb 21-25, 2022: No School - Mid Winter Break
March 4: End of trimester 2
1/7
Happy New Year! I hope 2022 brings wonderful things for everyone!🎉
Language Arts:
Writing: Students created, drafted and polished a descriptive/persuasive piece on their dream (gingerbread) homes this week. The details of the rooms and décor are deliciously descriptive! Ask your child about the how s/he laid out the floorplan of the luxurious palace.
During our Galleon! time, students have been writing log entries about the perils of the trans-Atlantic passage abord a galleon with a very unique crew of classmates. I am so impressed with the quality AND quantity of the weekly log entries! Stay tuned for a mini-portfolio coming home in their folder.
Reading/Social Studies: We’ve begun lessons to help us recognize the ‘Author’s Purpose” in books, articles, etc. Ask your child to give an example of the 3 primary writing purposes: Persuade, Inform, Entertain. (P.I.E.)
We’ve begun a new read aloud, The Watson’s Go to Birmingham, 1963. The storyline, about life in the segregated South, has sparked deep and meaningful conversations regarding the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s and gives a foundation to the teachings of MLK Jr. We will be starting a new class novel called City of Ember, which is a historical fiction about children surviving in a dystopian society.
Math: This week students began lessons in their math workbook volume #2 ! It begins with Module 4, which delves into division and multiplication of fractions and whole numbers. Students can find the second volume of the online workbook HERE. This is helpful in the event your child leaves his/her workbook at school. The module 4 videos are helpful as well.
Science: We continued our science unit on The Web of Life, where students explore how organisms depend on one another and form an interconnected ecosystem. Students have been playing the “Eat or be Eaten” card game with table mates and exploring the functional concepts of consumers, producers and decomposers.
Miscellaneous:
*There will be no school on Monday, 1/17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
December 10-17
Language Arts:
Writing: This week students wrapped up their National Park research project and presented them to the class. Ask your child about the positive feedback and compliments s/he received after presenting the National Park slideshow!
Reading/Social Studies: We continue to read the adventures of ‘Charlotte Doyle’ upon the doomed Seahawk with a dicey crew and maniacal captain. Ask your child how Charlotte’s character has changed throughout the novel.
Students continued their voyage upon the Galleon ships. So far, all crews seem to be running a smooth vessel and have experienced pleasant weather for their maiden voyage. Have your child tell you about the crew in which s/he’s signed on!
Math: This week students completed Module 3 (Fractions) and the first volume of our 5th grade math notebook! Yay! Our class enjoyed a review game of ‘Stinky Feet’ and will finish out the year with Math Mystery challenges and other fun math projects to wrap up this year’s new math skills.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: We are on our third unit of science called The Web of Life. In this unit, students explore how organisms depend on one another and form an interconnected ecosystem. Students investigate food chains, food webs, and the importance of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Miscellaneous:
*We will have a ‘Winter Fair’ on Friday, December 17th, sponsored by the Bel Aire Student Council and you! Please contribute store bought ‘goodies’ to sell during the winter festival. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
*Thank you to all the families who contributed to our Adopt-a-Family! What a successful turn out of thoughtful gifts we received.
*We will be wrapping up our Secret Snowman activity during next Friday’s classroom winter party celebration. A HUGEThank you to Anne Ciranni for supplying crafts for the students to enjoy during next Friday’s party!
Writing: This week students wrapped up their National Park research project and presented them to the class. Ask your child about the positive feedback and compliments s/he received after presenting the National Park slideshow!
Reading/Social Studies: We continue to read the adventures of ‘Charlotte Doyle’ upon the doomed Seahawk with a dicey crew and maniacal captain. Ask your child how Charlotte’s character has changed throughout the novel.
Students continued their voyage upon the Galleon ships. So far, all crews seem to be running a smooth vessel and have experienced pleasant weather for their maiden voyage. Have your child tell you about the crew in which s/he’s signed on!
Math: This week students completed Module 3 (Fractions) and the first volume of our 5th grade math notebook! Yay! Our class enjoyed a review game of ‘Stinky Feet’ and will finish out the year with Math Mystery challenges and other fun math projects to wrap up this year’s new math skills.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: We are on our third unit of science called The Web of Life. In this unit, students explore how organisms depend on one another and form an interconnected ecosystem. Students investigate food chains, food webs, and the importance of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Miscellaneous:
*We will have a ‘Winter Fair’ on Friday, December 17th, sponsored by the Bel Aire Student Council and you! Please contribute store bought ‘goodies’ to sell during the winter festival. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
*Thank you to all the families who contributed to our Adopt-a-Family! What a successful turn out of thoughtful gifts we received.
*We will be wrapping up our Secret Snowman activity during next Friday’s classroom winter party celebration. A HUGEThank you to Anne Ciranni for supplying crafts for the students to enjoy during next Friday’s party!
December 3
Language Arts:
Writing:
Students have begun Trimester 2 with learning the expository writing process. Students have researched several aspects of a specific National Park, and will continue to elaborate these points with details and descriptive writing.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continue to learn about the essential need for water and the stages of the water cycle. Student created a unique ‘experiment’ that actually ‘made rain’ inside our own classroom! In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Students have also begun to write ‘Log Entries’ based upon their adventures in the Galleon simulation. These log entries will require students to use their narrative skills to convince the reader that s/he is a committed sailor on a mission for their sovereignty. Have your child tell you about the crew in which s/he’s signed on!
Math: This week students hit the middle of Module 3 (Fractions) and took a mid-mod ‘check-in’ . (See Friday Folders).
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype. Students continue to learn about the essential need for water and the stages of the water cycle. Ask your child if s/he ‘made it rain’ inside our own classroom!
Miscellaneous:
*Adopt-a-Family opportunities end next Friday on December 10th.
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*We will have a ‘Winter Fair’ on Friday, December 17th, sponsored by the Bel Aire Student Council and you! Please contribute store bought ‘goodies’ to sell during the winter festival. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
Writing:
Students have begun Trimester 2 with learning the expository writing process. Students have researched several aspects of a specific National Park, and will continue to elaborate these points with details and descriptive writing.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continue to learn about the essential need for water and the stages of the water cycle. Student created a unique ‘experiment’ that actually ‘made rain’ inside our own classroom! In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Students have also begun to write ‘Log Entries’ based upon their adventures in the Galleon simulation. These log entries will require students to use their narrative skills to convince the reader that s/he is a committed sailor on a mission for their sovereignty. Have your child tell you about the crew in which s/he’s signed on!
Math: This week students hit the middle of Module 3 (Fractions) and took a mid-mod ‘check-in’ . (See Friday Folders).
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype. Students continue to learn about the essential need for water and the stages of the water cycle. Ask your child if s/he ‘made it rain’ inside our own classroom!
Miscellaneous:
*Adopt-a-Family opportunities end next Friday on December 10th.
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*We will have a ‘Winter Fair’ on Friday, December 17th, sponsored by the Bel Aire Student Council and you! Please contribute store bought ‘goodies’ to sell during the winter festival. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
November 12
Language Arts:
Writing:
Students have begun a writing journey through cities and National Parks this week. Have your child tell you about what s/he chose and the information learned through research.
*Your child should have shared a writing folder of their trimester 1 writing with you. Please sign the acknowledgement form and return to Ms. McKay.
Reading: Students began reading pieces of text from the Benchmark unit “Water: Fact and Fiction”. This unit asks the essential question, “What does water mean to people and the societies they live in?” In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Math: This week students began Module 3: Fractions! Students learned how to add, subtract, and create equivalent fractions with unlike denominators.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype.
Social Studies: This week we’ve been introduced to several English and French explorers. Students also learned about the meaning of legends, and how the East Coast Penobscot tribe used them to pass on ideas of how rivers were formed.
*******Ask your child about how WATER was a common link in all subjects this week!******
Miscellaneous:
Conference Week 11/15-11/19: Dismissal at 12:10pm. Students will be released before lunch. *Choice Lunch is still available for pick-up prior to dismissal. Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:10 each day next week.
*Conferences Reminder: In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time)
*Student report cards will be sent home today. (Friday)
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/22-11/26. No School. (Enjoy!)
Writing:
Students have begun a writing journey through cities and National Parks this week. Have your child tell you about what s/he chose and the information learned through research.
*Your child should have shared a writing folder of their trimester 1 writing with you. Please sign the acknowledgement form and return to Ms. McKay.
Reading: Students began reading pieces of text from the Benchmark unit “Water: Fact and Fiction”. This unit asks the essential question, “What does water mean to people and the societies they live in?” In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Math: This week students began Module 3: Fractions! Students learned how to add, subtract, and create equivalent fractions with unlike denominators.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype.
Social Studies: This week we’ve been introduced to several English and French explorers. Students also learned about the meaning of legends, and how the East Coast Penobscot tribe used them to pass on ideas of how rivers were formed.
*******Ask your child about how WATER was a common link in all subjects this week!******
Miscellaneous:
Conference Week 11/15-11/19: Dismissal at 12:10pm. Students will be released before lunch. *Choice Lunch is still available for pick-up prior to dismissal. Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:10 each day next week.
*Conferences Reminder: In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time)
*Student report cards will be sent home today. (Friday)
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/22-11/26. No School. (Enjoy!)
November 12
Language Arts:
Writing:
Students have begun a writing journey through cities and National Parks this week. Have your child tell you about what s/he chose and the information learned through research.
*Your child should have shared a writing folder of their trimester 1 writing with you. Please sign the acknowledgement form and return to Ms. McKay.
Reading: Students began reading pieces of text from the Benchmark unit “Water: Fact and Fiction”. This unit asks the essential question, “What does water mean to people and the societies they live in?” In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Math: This week students began Module 3: Fractions! Students learned how to add, subtract, and create equivalent fractions with unlike denominators.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype.
Social Studies: This week we’ve been introduced to several English and French explorers. Students also learned about the meaning of legends, and how the East Coast Penobscot tribe used them to pass on ideas of how rivers were formed.
*******Ask your child about how WATER was a common link in all subjects this week!******
Miscellaneous:
Conference Week 11/15-11/19: Dismissal at 12:10pm. Students will be released before lunch. *Choice Lunch is still available for pick-up prior to dismissal. Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:10 each day next week.
*Conferences Reminder: In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time)
*Student report cards will be sent home today. (Friday)
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/22-11/26. No School. (Enjoy!)
Writing:
Students have begun a writing journey through cities and National Parks this week. Have your child tell you about what s/he chose and the information learned through research.
*Your child should have shared a writing folder of their trimester 1 writing with you. Please sign the acknowledgement form and return to Ms. McKay.
Reading: Students began reading pieces of text from the Benchmark unit “Water: Fact and Fiction”. This unit asks the essential question, “What does water mean to people and the societies they live in?” In this unit, students will read and compare selections about water to understand the importance of water to society.
Math: This week students began Module 3: Fractions! Students learned how to add, subtract, and create equivalent fractions with unlike denominators.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: In this week’s science lab activity, students ‘Make it Rain!” with a water cycle prototype.
Social Studies: This week we’ve been introduced to several English and French explorers. Students also learned about the meaning of legends, and how the East Coast Penobscot tribe used them to pass on ideas of how rivers were formed.
*******Ask your child about how WATER was a common link in all subjects this week!******
Miscellaneous:
Conference Week 11/15-11/19: Dismissal at 12:10pm. Students will be released before lunch. *Choice Lunch is still available for pick-up prior to dismissal. Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:10 each day next week.
*Conferences Reminder: In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time)
*Student report cards will be sent home today. (Friday)
*Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
*Thanksgiving Holiday: 11/22-11/26. No School. (Enjoy!)
November 4
Language Arts:
Writing:
We are in the “publishing/celebrating” stage of writing. This week students will read their personal narrative to others in the classroom by using loud, clear voices. We will also be celebrating other writer’s work by listening and giving feedback. In addition to completing our stories, students will complete a post-test narrative that they will present during next week's conferences.
Reading: We finally finished our class novel, Blood on the River! Everyone was very engaged in the plot and character shifts, and the cultural conflicts between European settlers and the Native Americans that defined the history of the Colonial Era.
Math: This week students completed Module 2 and finial assessment. Next week we will begin Module 3: Fractions!
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts*** REFLEXLink from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: This week students continued to learn about the water cycle and how our fresh water cycles through multiple stages.
Miscellaneous:
Conferences Reminder: In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time)
Student report cards will be sent home electronically on Friday, November 12th. Conferences will be the following week, & we will be reviewing the report card, answering questions, & going over your child’s progress & goals. Please make sure your child knows where to go at 12:10pm daily the week of Nov 15-19.
Over the next few weeks Dr. Gold will be presenting the Touch Program to all 5th grade classes. Feel free to read over the information and discuss with your child.
October 29
Language Arts:
Writing: Students continue to edit and revise their personal narratives. They are reviewing the rubric and grading example essays in order to learn more about how to become a peer editor and begin editing their peers' essays for a final revision. We are excited to have our final drafts completed and showcased very soon!
Reading: This week’s focus in our class novel, Blood on the River, is character shifting. We are learning when to acknowledge changes in behavior (from hate to love, scared to emboldened) in each of the characters. The subtle context clues in the text are getting easier to spot, but the impact of how these shifts will help the survival of the colony is significant.
Social Studies: Students are completing presentations of group research projects and moving onto settlements in North America ‘colonized’ by European countries with hopes of the 3 G’s: Gold, God, Glory
Math: This week students practiced multiplication and long division of 3 and 4 digit numbers/dividends using the standard algorithm. See mid-mod 2 assessment in your child’s newsletter folder. Please sign and return on Monday.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts***
REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: This week students will learn more about the earth’s hydrosphere, and where fresh water comes from. In collaborative groups, students created an aquifer model to illustrate how groundwater is a reliable source of water. Students will also be creating a model of the ocean and sky to recreate how these two interact during the water cycle process.
Miscellaneous:
Conferences:
There has been a **CHANGE ** in this year’s conferences. In-Person is now available as an option! (Same day/time) ZOOM conferences are also still available. I will send out a reminder next week where you will have an option to edit your preferences.
A HUGE THANK YOU to our Halloween party coordinator Anne Ciranni, Claire’s mom, for putting together the snacks and crafts to make our first and fabulous Halloween party on Friday! *See Photo Gallery
5th Grade Parent Zoom with Dr. Gold:
Interested in learning more about the upcoming developmental changes in your child? Please join Dr. Gold on Wed, Oct 27th from 8:30 - 10:00 at this link. If you’re unable to attend, we can send a recording of the session afterward.
October 15
Language Arts:
Writing: Students are approaching the “editing and revising” stage of writing for their personal narratives. They will review the rubric teachers use when grading their work so they are aware of requirements and “grade” example essays so they learn more about how to become a peer editor.
Reading: While reading our class novel, Blood on the River, we’ve been focusing on how to summarize chapter events in similar fashion as their narrative writing process. We determine the BIG things that happened, and then create a sentence or two that envelops these events.
Social Studies: wStudents began presenting group research projects this week.. We learned the criteria stated in the ‘Oral Presentation’ rubric, and adjusted the presentations (content, enthusiasm level and eye contact) to improve the overall delivery.
Math: This week students continued to practice multiplication of 3 and 4 digit numbers and decimals using the standard algorithm. Next week will mark the middle of Module 2. We will be reviewing the previous lessons Monday and Tuesday, and take the Mid-Module 2 assessment check-in on Wednesday.
****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts***REFLEX Link from home Password: SanchezE4
Science: This week our class previewed the unit of the water cycle and earth’s systems. This unit encourages students to consider the profound importance of water as a natural resource. Students will investigate the distribution of water, how it cycles through Earth’s systems, and explore how it affects human societies.
Mr. David Nettell: We had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Nettell in our classroom on Thursday. This was such a treat for all of us! For those of you new to his program, he is an enthusiastic educator who promotes positive decision making and social critical thinking in our children through classroom based challenges. (See photo gallery)
Miscellaneous:
October 27: Picture Day retakes
October 29: Halloween Parade
October 8
Language Arts:
Writing: Students will begin revising their writing, meeting with their peers and teacher, sharing their personal narrative drafts and giving and receiving feedback on their stories. Students will be looking at ways to “paint a picture” and hook their reader right from the beginning, as well as conclude their story so that the reader clearly understands the relevance and importance of the event.
Reading: We are still reading Blood on the River. Students are captivated by Samuel’s journey to the New World. Students focus on character development as well as the story plot. We have great discussions about what is happening in the book and what we predict will happen next. Students take chapter notes and complete thought provoking questions while citing text evidence from the book.
We are halfway through Trimester 1, and students should be ½ way to making their AR goals. Please take a moment to look over your child’s Mid-trimester AR progress sheet, (ATTACHED) and a list of quizzes taken so far. Sign and return with newsletter on Tuesday.
Math: This week students will continue to work in Module 2 on multiplying 3 and 4 digit numbers as well as multiplying with decimals. We are focusing on the standard algorithm and students are expected to show all of their work. Students also revisited the area model/window method/partial product method of multiplication learned in 4th grade to compare products.
*Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts.*
REFLEX Link from home. Password: SanxchezE4
Science: We wrapped up our Chemical Chaos this week and completed the final assessment. Next, students will be learning about the Earth’s m most important resource: Water.
Save the Date
A beloved Bel Aire event is BACK! Fall Festival Family Night returns on Thursday, October 14th from 5:00-6:30pm. Join the Bel Aire community in celebrating the arrival of fall with traditional festival games, a fun photo booth to create memories, arts and crafts, spirit wear for sale and many other fun things to do!
Miscellaneous:
*CONGRATULATIONS to our new Student Council Class Representatives: Lily and Claire!
October 111: No School-Professional Development for Staff
October 12-15: Book Fair in the MPR
October 14: 5pm Fall Family Festival 5pm
October 27: Picture Day retakes
October 1st
Language Arts:
Writing: Students are in the “nurturing” stage of writing. Students have begun crafting their stories in chronological order and will begin drafting their personal true stories (narratives). They are really focusing on getting to the heart of the story by slowing down and elaborating on the important moment bit by bit so readers feel like they are right there with them.
Reading/Social Studies: In our class novel, students continued to read about the voyage of the ‘Susan Constant’ through the eyes of Samuel, a 12-year-old boy. He and Captain John Smith are on a mission to colonize the ‘New World’ with other gentlemen, Captains and commoners while experiencing terrifying encounters with the Natives of the Dominican and Caribbean Islands.. We’ve also continued our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, now reaching our 5th story in which students compare and recognize the author’s purpose in his plot journey with an inevitable twist.
Students continued to research 4 regions of the country and prepare cre a presentation illustrating a particular Native American culture in collaborative groups.
Math: This week students completed Module 1 and finished with the final assessment on Wednesday. We are starting Module 2, Multi-Digit Whole Number and Decimal Fraction Operations. This unit builds on Module 1 where we learned about place value, exponents, and multiplying and dividing decimals.
HERE is a link to the resource page with resources, videos, and at-home help understanding each lesson in the 5th grade curriculum.
*Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts.*
Science: This week we learned how chemical reactions create new materials that have useful and interesting properties. Your child conducted an investigation to determine if the mixing of various substances resulted in a new substance. In this case, your child discovered how to make a type of “goo” similar to other goos, like Silly Putty and Play-doh. (See video in the photo gallery on our new class “CATS” website.
Miscellaneous:
October 6: Walk and Roll to School Day
October 8: Student council reps give speeches to their class
October 8: Pajama Day and MOSAIC Assembly (bring a blanket to sit on outside)
October 111: No School-Professional Development for Staff
October 12-15: Book Fair in the MPR
October 12: Student Council elections for President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer
October 15: 5pm Fall Family Festival 5pm
Writing: Students are in the “nurturing” stage of writing. Students have begun crafting their stories in chronological order and will begin drafting their personal true stories (narratives). They are really focusing on getting to the heart of the story by slowing down and elaborating on the important moment bit by bit so readers feel like they are right there with them.
Reading/Social Studies: In our class novel, students continued to read about the voyage of the ‘Susan Constant’ through the eyes of Samuel, a 12-year-old boy. He and Captain John Smith are on a mission to colonize the ‘New World’ with other gentlemen, Captains and commoners while experiencing terrifying encounters with the Natives of the Dominican and Caribbean Islands.. We’ve also continued our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, now reaching our 5th story in which students compare and recognize the author’s purpose in his plot journey with an inevitable twist.
Students continued to research 4 regions of the country and prepare cre a presentation illustrating a particular Native American culture in collaborative groups.
Math: This week students completed Module 1 and finished with the final assessment on Wednesday. We are starting Module 2, Multi-Digit Whole Number and Decimal Fraction Operations. This unit builds on Module 1 where we learned about place value, exponents, and multiplying and dividing decimals.
HERE is a link to the resource page with resources, videos, and at-home help understanding each lesson in the 5th grade curriculum.
*Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts.*
Science: This week we learned how chemical reactions create new materials that have useful and interesting properties. Your child conducted an investigation to determine if the mixing of various substances resulted in a new substance. In this case, your child discovered how to make a type of “goo” similar to other goos, like Silly Putty and Play-doh. (See video in the photo gallery on our new class “CATS” website.
Miscellaneous:
October 6: Walk and Roll to School Day
October 8: Student council reps give speeches to their class
October 8: Pajama Day and MOSAIC Assembly (bring a blanket to sit on outside)
October 111: No School-Professional Development for Staff
October 12-15: Book Fair in the MPR
October 12: Student Council elections for President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer
October 15: 5pm Fall Family Festival 5pm
August/September News
9/24
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have been “collecting seeds” to write about in our narrative writing unit. This week they will do several more Quick Writes and narrow down the “Seed” in which they’ll write their personal narrative. (“Seed” stories are small moments in time rather than lengthy “watermelon” stories.) Our 5th grade narratives need to be a focused moment of time, have a “Big Thing that Happened”, and have an emotional or meaningful relevance to the writer.
Reading/Social Studies: We continued to read about the journey of Samuel and Captain John Smith on their voyage to settle in the ‘New World’. This week students are using text evidence to better understand characters and are also using their inference skills when the author omits certain details from the story.
We’ve continued our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, identifying his signature plot twists, style of writing and moral lessons. Ask your child about our Friday’s ‘strips of fun’ exercise!
In our Social Studies lessons, students are creating a presentation illustrating a particular Native American group. Each student group will be collaborating on a specific aspect of how the natives survived in their environment based on geography, resources, technology (YES, technology!), and cultural influences.
Math: This week students will wrap up Module 1 by rounding/estimating, multiplying and dividing decimal fractions and whole numbers. We will complete the module review next week and take the End of Module 1 Assessment on Wednesday. HERE is a link to the resource page with resources, videos, and at-home help understanding each lesson in the 5th grade curriculum.
*Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts.*
Science: This week we continued to investigate the properties of matter by dissolving everyday chemicals to make solutions and by exploring simple yet surprising chemical reactions. Ask your child about what/how acids react to various ingredients, and how s/her modified the ‘explosive’ experiments to achieve his/her group’s desired reaction! (See video in the photo gallery on our new class “CATS” website.
9/17
Technology Help:
Many of the apps we use for learning are housed in ClassLink. This makes a more streamlined approach for students to login to one app and then have access to all the subscriptions the district provides for us. Our amazing tech department is offering a webinar on Tuesday to educate families on how to do this from home. If you want to try it on your own this is the link students need to use.
https://launchpad.classlink.com/login
Then your child enters their reed schools email address and new password. Once they enter Classlink all the school apps should appear and be accessible.
Communication Tools for Parents and
Students at RUSD - Parent Webinar
Tuesday, September 21, at 6pm we will be offering a webinar for parents.
Please attend this webinar to learn about some of the following communication tools offered at RUSD:
When: Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Communication Tools for Parents and
Students at RUSD - Parent Webinar
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://reedschools-org.zoom.us/j/82090314040
Design Lab/Library:
Library: This week students had the first of many lessons in digital citizenship. The first lesson focused on proper 'netiquite' and the appropriate ways to navigate the school issued iPad.
Bel Aire Design Lab: Ms. Commesso, or D-Lab Instructor, went over the various stages of Design process and thinking - “Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, & Test”. Students were then challenged to design a prototype of a vehicle of their choice, then to use the same materials to create a piece of furniture.
Reading: Reviewing Blood on the River, students discussed the challenges aboard a galleon ship as Samuel and the crew prepare to travel towards the New World. Characters are developing, and we are taking a close look at the various social standings of these characters and how it impacts group dynamics and personalities.
Math: This week students will wrap up Module 1. We will review all of module 1 near the end of the week and prepare for our end of Module 1 test which will take place September 28. HERE is a link to the RUSD math page that has the math workbook (should your child leave it at school) as well as homework helper videos. HERE is the link to the Duane site on youtube for homework help.
Is your child interested in a weekly math challenge? All students are welcome to join Dr. Gold’s Math Club on Tuesday mornings at 7:30AM in Room C-3! Please email Dr. Gold at agold@reedschools.org if your child is interested.
Science:
This week we continued our very odorous dive into “Chemical Magic.” We discovered how to remove copper layers off pennies, turn steel ‘swords’ into ‘gold’, and then turn our pennies green by rapid oxidation. (See photo gallery)
Social Studies: We continue to learn about adventures in discovering the ‘New World’. Students are trying to solve the mystery of the ‘Lost Colony’ of Roanoke Island, and have completed their very own ‘globe’.
Writing
This week students will be in the “gathering” stage of writing, where they’ll be focusing on an emotion and the memory attached to it. You will likely see your child beginning to work on generating ideas for these stories, where they’ll pull from their own lives and write about a very specific memory that is short in time but significant to their life.
9/10
Language Arts:
Writing: Students continue to build writing skills with their daily lessons from Ms. McKay. This week the writing focus is on the structure of narrative stories, starting with the BTH (Big Thing that Happened). Additionally, students exercised their figurative language skills in the form of acrostic and Haiku poetry.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued read our class novel, Blood on the River . This week we’ve begun our weekly reading response activities, where students reflect on the book their reading (independently) and answer deep questions relating to character relationships, connections to real life, making predictions, etc. while supporting the paragraph with evidence from the text. This week we used our class novel as a springboard in order for the students to understand the expectations of this weekly assignment. We continued to dive deep into our author study of Chris Van Allsburg. Ask your child about the 3 books we’ve read that have the effective formula of moral, life lessons, and especially his signature ‘twist’ at the end of each story.
Math: Students continued to reinforce their whole number/decimal fractions place value skills with this week’s lessons involving rounding, comparing and converting to the metric system. We finished the week with a Mid-Mod check-in.
Your child now has an activated account in Reflex Math, now called Explore Learning. Discovery. The link can be found in your child’s Classlink account, which can be accessed via home and/or school.
Science: We began our journey in our Chemistry unit this week. Ask your child about oxidation, chemical and physical reactions!
Design Lab: Students had fun during their first D.L. lesson! Building and creating a prototype of a helpful vehicle was this week’s focus. (Photo’s Attached.)
Miscellaneous:
*Some of you are having trouble getting into our GC website. I’m working with IT to solve the issues. I’m sorry for the inconvenience! Hopefully the matter will be solved soon.
*Students began Typing Club this week. Feel free to have your child practice this at home to strengthen his/her speed.
9/3
🐾
Language Arts:
Writing:
Students continue to express their creative selves in the form of poetry this week. Ask your child about the Haiku s/he created with Ms. McKay.
Reading:
Students should have come home with several books from their first visit to the Bel Aire library! Next week we will launch the class novel, Blood on the River, which illustrates the cultural conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.
Read Aloud:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This historical story documents a young girl on a passage from Europe to The New World, and illustrates nautical life on a voyage with exciting adventures, new relationships and even mutiny!
Social Studies:
We’ve begun a geography/art project, where each student is creating his/her very own GLOBE. Ask your child about the 7 continents and the “new ocean”!
Ask your child what s/he predicts will happen during this fateful voyage during the 19th century.
Author Study:
We’ve added another Chris Van Allsburg story, Probuditi, to our study. We made note of the structure of these books which include a moral, a lesson, and of course….a twist!
Math: This week students reviewed number sense and began Mod 1 in Eureka Math. We’ve learned how to multiply whole numbers and decimals by powers of 10, as well as how ‘expand’ large numbers and decimals.
Miscellaneous:
*We will be having our first class ‘auction’ next week. Students will be able to spend their hard earned cash on items such as games, stuffies, gadgets, etc. We will also be changing up our seating arrangements and jobs.
*Please let me know if you are having problems joining our Google Classroom or signing into the Actionaly site.
50 Best Books (from readbrightly)
90 Most Popular Books for Tweens
*Ms. Alicia Bell’s 2020 Summer Reading List attached
Fondly,
Stacia Sanchez
BTSN S. Sanchez Keynote z21-22_.pdf
Bel Aire Books 2021 (2).docx
1st day letter to parents.docx.pdf
E-4 Schedule 2021-22.docx
8/27
Welcome to the new school year! This newsletter (sent home each Friday) will cover the week’s lessons and summarize class and school activities. Please sign and return the top section and keep the bottom section for your reference. This newsletter will also be on-line under the tab “C.A.T.S. News” on our Google Classroom.
Language Arts:
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, and journaling. Students created a newspaper ‘article’ about themselves and wrote a friendly, informative letter to me. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ and Kahoot activities!
Reading/Social Studies: We’ve begun a new class novel called The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This historical story documents a young girl on a passage from Europe to the USA, and illustrates nautical life on a voyage with exciting adventures, new relationships and even mutiny! Ask your child what s/he predicts will happen during this 19th century voyage.
We’ve author study on Chris Van Allsburg. Students are learning how to identify his signature plot twists, style of writing and moral lessons with each weekly activity. Ask your child about our Friday ‘strips of fun’ exercise!
Math: This week we’ve been learning about how we can be persistent and persevere in challenges and using the 100’s chart to help us solve problems. We’ve been building a strong foundation of learning through ‘Growth Mindset’. This is the understanding that the brain can get stronger and smarter with new learning. Ask your child to explain the difference between ‘fixed’ and ‘growth’ mindset. Students have also been reviewing basic 4th grade operational skills (division, subtraction, multiplication) and place value.
Science: Students enjoyed the Marshmallow Challenge activity. Ask your child about the simple yet tricky criteria and how collaboration is so important for success!
Miscellaneous:
*Back to School Night is next Thursday, September 2nd at 6:00pm
*SMILE! Friday September 3rd is Picture Day.
*There will be no school on Monday, September 6th. (Labor Day)
*THANK YOU to the Aytay family for our class set of cool and comfortable masks!
Welcome back to a new school year! This is the first of my weekly e-mails informing you of your child’s classroom experiences in 🐾 CATS Country🐾.
I hope you have found the time to read my introduction letter I sent home in your child’s Friday folder. If not, I’ve attached it, along with our daily schedule, for your reference.
Here’s a list of reminders, dates and highlights for the upcoming weeks:
🐾 Sign and return the Bel AIre Handbook Agreement and Tech Agreement forms (included in your child’s Friday folder)
🐾 Expect to receive and sign a weekly CATS Newsletter sent home each Friday and returned Monday.
🐾 Add Ms. Karyn McKay, your child’s writing teacher, to your teacher contacts: kmckay@reedschools.org
🐾 Join our class’ Google Classroom page to be informed of daily HW and long term assignments. (Invites will be sent this week)
Mark your calendars!
-Bel Aire Back to School Night is September 2nd, 6:00 pm
*Class photo day: Friday, September 3rd
*Labor Day: Monday, September 8th. No School.
Please let me know if there is a family member you would like to add (or delete) to my weekly email list.
Finally, I am so thrilled about our CATS class this year! What a wonderful group of learners. I truly hope that your child anticipates an eventful and enlightening year….because I certainly do!
Thank you for being an integral part of our CATS family. I’m looking forward to a memorable and successful year together!
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have been “collecting seeds” to write about in our narrative writing unit. This week they will do several more Quick Writes and narrow down the “Seed” in which they’ll write their personal narrative. (“Seed” stories are small moments in time rather than lengthy “watermelon” stories.) Our 5th grade narratives need to be a focused moment of time, have a “Big Thing that Happened”, and have an emotional or meaningful relevance to the writer.
Reading/Social Studies: We continued to read about the journey of Samuel and Captain John Smith on their voyage to settle in the ‘New World’. This week students are using text evidence to better understand characters and are also using their inference skills when the author omits certain details from the story.
We’ve continued our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, identifying his signature plot twists, style of writing and moral lessons. Ask your child about our Friday’s ‘strips of fun’ exercise!
In our Social Studies lessons, students are creating a presentation illustrating a particular Native American group. Each student group will be collaborating on a specific aspect of how the natives survived in their environment based on geography, resources, technology (YES, technology!), and cultural influences.
Math: This week students will wrap up Module 1 by rounding/estimating, multiplying and dividing decimal fractions and whole numbers. We will complete the module review next week and take the End of Module 1 Assessment on Wednesday. HERE is a link to the resource page with resources, videos, and at-home help understanding each lesson in the 5th grade curriculum.
*Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts.*
Science: This week we continued to investigate the properties of matter by dissolving everyday chemicals to make solutions and by exploring simple yet surprising chemical reactions. Ask your child about what/how acids react to various ingredients, and how s/her modified the ‘explosive’ experiments to achieve his/her group’s desired reaction! (See video in the photo gallery on our new class “CATS” website.
9/17
Technology Help:
Many of the apps we use for learning are housed in ClassLink. This makes a more streamlined approach for students to login to one app and then have access to all the subscriptions the district provides for us. Our amazing tech department is offering a webinar on Tuesday to educate families on how to do this from home. If you want to try it on your own this is the link students need to use.
https://launchpad.classlink.com/login
Then your child enters their reed schools email address and new password. Once they enter Classlink all the school apps should appear and be accessible.
Communication Tools for Parents and
Students at RUSD - Parent Webinar
Tuesday, September 21, at 6pm we will be offering a webinar for parents.
Please attend this webinar to learn about some of the following communication tools offered at RUSD:
- Features in ClassLink for parents and students
- ALMA and Actionaly - how and why we use them
- Google Classroom and other student services
- New Help Desk - how to report tech issues
- Parent controls for students who bring home their iPads
When: Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Communication Tools for Parents and
Students at RUSD - Parent Webinar
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://reedschools-org.zoom.us/j/82090314040
Design Lab/Library:
Library: This week students had the first of many lessons in digital citizenship. The first lesson focused on proper 'netiquite' and the appropriate ways to navigate the school issued iPad.
Bel Aire Design Lab: Ms. Commesso, or D-Lab Instructor, went over the various stages of Design process and thinking - “Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, & Test”. Students were then challenged to design a prototype of a vehicle of their choice, then to use the same materials to create a piece of furniture.
Reading: Reviewing Blood on the River, students discussed the challenges aboard a galleon ship as Samuel and the crew prepare to travel towards the New World. Characters are developing, and we are taking a close look at the various social standings of these characters and how it impacts group dynamics and personalities.
Math: This week students will wrap up Module 1. We will review all of module 1 near the end of the week and prepare for our end of Module 1 test which will take place September 28. HERE is a link to the RUSD math page that has the math workbook (should your child leave it at school) as well as homework helper videos. HERE is the link to the Duane site on youtube for homework help.
Is your child interested in a weekly math challenge? All students are welcome to join Dr. Gold’s Math Club on Tuesday mornings at 7:30AM in Room C-3! Please email Dr. Gold at agold@reedschools.org if your child is interested.
Science:
This week we continued our very odorous dive into “Chemical Magic.” We discovered how to remove copper layers off pennies, turn steel ‘swords’ into ‘gold’, and then turn our pennies green by rapid oxidation. (See photo gallery)
Social Studies: We continue to learn about adventures in discovering the ‘New World’. Students are trying to solve the mystery of the ‘Lost Colony’ of Roanoke Island, and have completed their very own ‘globe’.
Writing
This week students will be in the “gathering” stage of writing, where they’ll be focusing on an emotion and the memory attached to it. You will likely see your child beginning to work on generating ideas for these stories, where they’ll pull from their own lives and write about a very specific memory that is short in time but significant to their life.
9/10
Language Arts:
Writing: Students continue to build writing skills with their daily lessons from Ms. McKay. This week the writing focus is on the structure of narrative stories, starting with the BTH (Big Thing that Happened). Additionally, students exercised their figurative language skills in the form of acrostic and Haiku poetry.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued read our class novel, Blood on the River . This week we’ve begun our weekly reading response activities, where students reflect on the book their reading (independently) and answer deep questions relating to character relationships, connections to real life, making predictions, etc. while supporting the paragraph with evidence from the text. This week we used our class novel as a springboard in order for the students to understand the expectations of this weekly assignment. We continued to dive deep into our author study of Chris Van Allsburg. Ask your child about the 3 books we’ve read that have the effective formula of moral, life lessons, and especially his signature ‘twist’ at the end of each story.
Math: Students continued to reinforce their whole number/decimal fractions place value skills with this week’s lessons involving rounding, comparing and converting to the metric system. We finished the week with a Mid-Mod check-in.
Your child now has an activated account in Reflex Math, now called Explore Learning. Discovery. The link can be found in your child’s Classlink account, which can be accessed via home and/or school.
Science: We began our journey in our Chemistry unit this week. Ask your child about oxidation, chemical and physical reactions!
Design Lab: Students had fun during their first D.L. lesson! Building and creating a prototype of a helpful vehicle was this week’s focus. (Photo’s Attached.)
Miscellaneous:
*Some of you are having trouble getting into our GC website. I’m working with IT to solve the issues. I’m sorry for the inconvenience! Hopefully the matter will be solved soon.
*Students began Typing Club this week. Feel free to have your child practice this at home to strengthen his/her speed.
9/3
🐾
Language Arts:
Writing:
Students continue to express their creative selves in the form of poetry this week. Ask your child about the Haiku s/he created with Ms. McKay.
Reading:
Students should have come home with several books from their first visit to the Bel Aire library! Next week we will launch the class novel, Blood on the River, which illustrates the cultural conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.
Read Aloud:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This historical story documents a young girl on a passage from Europe to The New World, and illustrates nautical life on a voyage with exciting adventures, new relationships and even mutiny!
Social Studies:
We’ve begun a geography/art project, where each student is creating his/her very own GLOBE. Ask your child about the 7 continents and the “new ocean”!
Ask your child what s/he predicts will happen during this fateful voyage during the 19th century.
Author Study:
We’ve added another Chris Van Allsburg story, Probuditi, to our study. We made note of the structure of these books which include a moral, a lesson, and of course….a twist!
Math: This week students reviewed number sense and began Mod 1 in Eureka Math. We’ve learned how to multiply whole numbers and decimals by powers of 10, as well as how ‘expand’ large numbers and decimals.
Miscellaneous:
*We will be having our first class ‘auction’ next week. Students will be able to spend their hard earned cash on items such as games, stuffies, gadgets, etc. We will also be changing up our seating arrangements and jobs.
*Please let me know if you are having problems joining our Google Classroom or signing into the Actionaly site.
50 Best Books (from readbrightly)
90 Most Popular Books for Tweens
*Ms. Alicia Bell’s 2020 Summer Reading List attached
Fondly,
Stacia Sanchez
BTSN S. Sanchez Keynote z21-22_.pdf
Bel Aire Books 2021 (2).docx
1st day letter to parents.docx.pdf
E-4 Schedule 2021-22.docx
8/27
Welcome to the new school year! This newsletter (sent home each Friday) will cover the week’s lessons and summarize class and school activities. Please sign and return the top section and keep the bottom section for your reference. This newsletter will also be on-line under the tab “C.A.T.S. News” on our Google Classroom.
Language Arts:
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, and journaling. Students created a newspaper ‘article’ about themselves and wrote a friendly, informative letter to me. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ and Kahoot activities!
Reading/Social Studies: We’ve begun a new class novel called The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This historical story documents a young girl on a passage from Europe to the USA, and illustrates nautical life on a voyage with exciting adventures, new relationships and even mutiny! Ask your child what s/he predicts will happen during this 19th century voyage.
We’ve author study on Chris Van Allsburg. Students are learning how to identify his signature plot twists, style of writing and moral lessons with each weekly activity. Ask your child about our Friday ‘strips of fun’ exercise!
Math: This week we’ve been learning about how we can be persistent and persevere in challenges and using the 100’s chart to help us solve problems. We’ve been building a strong foundation of learning through ‘Growth Mindset’. This is the understanding that the brain can get stronger and smarter with new learning. Ask your child to explain the difference between ‘fixed’ and ‘growth’ mindset. Students have also been reviewing basic 4th grade operational skills (division, subtraction, multiplication) and place value.
Science: Students enjoyed the Marshmallow Challenge activity. Ask your child about the simple yet tricky criteria and how collaboration is so important for success!
Miscellaneous:
*Back to School Night is next Thursday, September 2nd at 6:00pm
*SMILE! Friday September 3rd is Picture Day.
*There will be no school on Monday, September 6th. (Labor Day)
*THANK YOU to the Aytay family for our class set of cool and comfortable masks!
Welcome back to a new school year! This is the first of my weekly e-mails informing you of your child’s classroom experiences in 🐾 CATS Country🐾.
I hope you have found the time to read my introduction letter I sent home in your child’s Friday folder. If not, I’ve attached it, along with our daily schedule, for your reference.
Here’s a list of reminders, dates and highlights for the upcoming weeks:
🐾 Sign and return the Bel AIre Handbook Agreement and Tech Agreement forms (included in your child’s Friday folder)
🐾 Expect to receive and sign a weekly CATS Newsletter sent home each Friday and returned Monday.
🐾 Add Ms. Karyn McKay, your child’s writing teacher, to your teacher contacts: kmckay@reedschools.org
🐾 Join our class’ Google Classroom page to be informed of daily HW and long term assignments. (Invites will be sent this week)
Mark your calendars!
-Bel Aire Back to School Night is September 2nd, 6:00 pm
*Class photo day: Friday, September 3rd
*Labor Day: Monday, September 8th. No School.
Please let me know if there is a family member you would like to add (or delete) to my weekly email list.
Finally, I am so thrilled about our CATS class this year! What a wonderful group of learners. I truly hope that your child anticipates an eventful and enlightening year….because I certainly do!
Thank you for being an integral part of our CATS family. I’m looking forward to a memorable and successful year together!
