CATS Weekly Update
November News:
November 4-8: Parent, teacher, student conference week. Early dismissal daily at 12:10pm
Wednesday, November 6: Pajama/Onesie Day!
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day, No School
November 25-29: No School, Thanksgiving Break
Parent- Student- Teacher Conferences:
Parent-Teacher-Student conferences begin next week. Conferences are student led in 5th grade, and last 20 minutes each. We are looking forward to discussing each child’s progress & goals for the year.
Reminder: school dismissal is 12:10 during the week of conferences.
Writing
We are completing our informational writing essay on a city of choice.
This month students will be focusing on the second type of writing -- opinion writing.
Write an On-Demand pre-test essay to see what they know about opinion writing.
Review the organization of an essay.
Use a graphic organizer to know how to stake a claim/form an opinion and back-up research with facts.
Conduct research.
Write a final product of a 5 paragraph opinion essay.
Reading:
We have finished our novel Sign of the Beaver and will be starting The Witch of Blackbird Pond next week.
Math:
We are halfway through Module 2. The first half of this module students learned to multiply with multi-digit numbers. They will use their Mid Mod results to self assess where they are in their learning and what they need to improve for the End of Mod test. In the second half of this unit students will learn to divide three and four digit dividends by two-digit divisors resulting in two and three digit quotients with remainders and decimals. Students will solve measurement word problems as well. More information HERE.
Science:
Students are focusing on a new Driving Question this month: How do humans work to protect the hydrosphere? This week we build a watershed model and simulated pollution from the biosphere. We then mimicked the water cycle and learned how pollutants are getting into our fresh water systems. Ask your child about what s/he learned about our local watershed.
Walker Creek:
Fifth graders are in need of your help for our upcoming Walker Creek Outdoor Education field trip. We currently have 5 parents cleared to go on this amazing learning adventure. The 5th grade team must have 15 more parents (7 female & 8 males) as volunteers to be cabin leaders. If we don’t get enough parents as cabin leaders by February 1st, unfortunately, we will not be able go to the camp. Click Here to learn more about what it means to be a cabin leader.
Camp Dates: Tuesday, March 17th - Friday, March, 20th
Wednesday, November 6: Pajama/Onesie Day!
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day, No School
November 25-29: No School, Thanksgiving Break
Parent- Student- Teacher Conferences:
Parent-Teacher-Student conferences begin next week. Conferences are student led in 5th grade, and last 20 minutes each. We are looking forward to discussing each child’s progress & goals for the year.
Reminder: school dismissal is 12:10 during the week of conferences.
Writing
We are completing our informational writing essay on a city of choice.
This month students will be focusing on the second type of writing -- opinion writing.
Write an On-Demand pre-test essay to see what they know about opinion writing.
Review the organization of an essay.
Use a graphic organizer to know how to stake a claim/form an opinion and back-up research with facts.
Conduct research.
Write a final product of a 5 paragraph opinion essay.
Reading:
We have finished our novel Sign of the Beaver and will be starting The Witch of Blackbird Pond next week.
Math:
We are halfway through Module 2. The first half of this module students learned to multiply with multi-digit numbers. They will use their Mid Mod results to self assess where they are in their learning and what they need to improve for the End of Mod test. In the second half of this unit students will learn to divide three and four digit dividends by two-digit divisors resulting in two and three digit quotients with remainders and decimals. Students will solve measurement word problems as well. More information HERE.
Science:
Students are focusing on a new Driving Question this month: How do humans work to protect the hydrosphere? This week we build a watershed model and simulated pollution from the biosphere. We then mimicked the water cycle and learned how pollutants are getting into our fresh water systems. Ask your child about what s/he learned about our local watershed.
Walker Creek:
Fifth graders are in need of your help for our upcoming Walker Creek Outdoor Education field trip. We currently have 5 parents cleared to go on this amazing learning adventure. The 5th grade team must have 15 more parents (7 female & 8 males) as volunteers to be cabin leaders. If we don’t get enough parents as cabin leaders by February 1st, unfortunately, we will not be able go to the camp. Click Here to learn more about what it means to be a cabin leader.
Camp Dates: Tuesday, March 17th - Friday, March, 20th
- Please click for Live Scan Paperwork
- Please click for Locations
- Cost: $70
- Could take as long as 2 months to process!
October News:
Language Arts:
Writing:
*Students have begun the final draft stages of their city essay.
*Poetry/Fall Art: Students created a sensory poetry about autumn, which will be illustrated with pastel oiled artwork.
Reading:
*We finished our first class novel, Sign of the Beaver!
Reading Groups: Thank you to Karen Ripenburg, Christina Davis, Alex Gove, Liat Weingarten, and Alix Fagersten for overseeing our final Sign of the Beaverliterature circles! Next week we will embark on our new novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Sign up for our Thursday literature groups and be a part of our weekly routine!
Math: We are finishing up multiplication and division of whole numbers and fraction decimals. Students will be taking a Mid-Mod 2 unit assessment next Wednesday. THANK YOU to Jeff Schottenstein for helping out with Math Centers on Thursday!
Science: Students are focusing on a new Driving Question this month: How do humans work to protect the hydrosphere? This week we build a watershed model and simulated pollution from the biosphere. We then mimicked the water cycle and learned how pollutants are getting into our fresh water systems. Ask your child about what s/he learned about our local watershed.
Social Studies: Students are working in their Galleon Groups to chart a course that will successfully get them to the ‘New World’. Ask your child about his/her crew position.
Miscellaneous:
*Student/Teacher/Parent conferences begin the week of November 4th-8th. (Minimum Days: Dismissal is 12:10)
Language Arts:
Writing: This week your child continued building a structured 5-paragraph essay using the t-chart method. Using a rubric with success criteria, students have been challenged to self-assess their writing and improve upon their drafts. Next week, students will begin their next project; an informational research writing essay on a city of choice.
Reading:
*Benchmark: Students are continuing to explore Benchmark’s Unit 1: The U.S. Constitution: Then and Now. Throughout the upcoming pieces of text they will:
Math: This month our class will finish up Eureka Module 1: Place Value and Decimals. We have been focusing on the following: place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals. We will be moving into Module 2.The first half of this module students are learning to multiply with multi-digit numbers. In the second half of this unit students will learn to divide three and four digit dividends by two-digit divisors resulting in two and three digit quotients with remainders. Students will also learn to divide with decimals and solve measurement word problems.
Science: Students continued to explore the concept of fresh water and sustainability. Through active reading, class discussions and visual modeling, students have discovered how much fresh water is available to the humans and plants that require it in order to survive. Students are challenged to make small but meaningful change in their daily routine of water usage to help in the global effort of water conservation.
Social Studies: Students have completed a project that presents the key elements of a Native American group. Ask your child about his/her presentation!
Miscellaneous:
Writing: This week your child continued building a structured 5-paragraph essay using the t-chart method. Using a rubric with success criteria, students have been challenged to self-assess their writing and improve upon their drafts. Next week, students will begin their next project; an informational research writing essay on a city of choice.
Reading:
*Benchmark: Students are continuing to explore Benchmark’s Unit 1: The U.S. Constitution: Then and Now. Throughout the upcoming pieces of text they will:
- Identify key details and summarize
- Analyze informational and narrative texts
- Evaluate an author’s use of language
- Compare and contrast texts
- Use text evidence to draw inferences
Math: This month our class will finish up Eureka Module 1: Place Value and Decimals. We have been focusing on the following: place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals. We will be moving into Module 2.The first half of this module students are learning to multiply with multi-digit numbers. In the second half of this unit students will learn to divide three and four digit dividends by two-digit divisors resulting in two and three digit quotients with remainders. Students will also learn to divide with decimals and solve measurement word problems.
Science: Students continued to explore the concept of fresh water and sustainability. Through active reading, class discussions and visual modeling, students have discovered how much fresh water is available to the humans and plants that require it in order to survive. Students are challenged to make small but meaningful change in their daily routine of water usage to help in the global effort of water conservation.
Social Studies: Students have completed a project that presents the key elements of a Native American group. Ask your child about his/her presentation!
Miscellaneous:
- October 10: 5th grade field trip to Larkspur Theatre
- October 15-17: Bel Aire Book Fair
- October 14: Staff Development Day: No school for students
- October 16: Book Fair Family Night 4-7pm
- October 23: Picture Make-up Day
- October 24: Bel Aire Fall Festival
9.27.19
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have been practicing the color-coding/T-chart writing format to help in creating 3 paragraph essays. This week student wrote an essay on a subject of choice and studied the success criteria for a solid, proficient essay. Next week your child will be ready to dive into our city of choice essay.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued to read TheSign of the Beaver in Reading Groups on Thursday. THANK YOU to Christina Davis, Alix Fagersten, and Karen Ripenburg for coming in and leading book discussions. We continued to read True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and students are writing an S.O.S. (Summary, Opinion, Sketch) to help in understanding the fast-moving plot of this adventure story.
Math:Students continued to learn how to multiply and divide decimal fractions using a variety of techniques. Next week we will finish Module 1 and take the unit assessment on Thursday. Reminder: Dreambox and Reflex are also accessible from home. Links can be found on the class website.
Science: We continued our unit on the Earth’s water supply. Ask your child what the Earth’s hydrosphere is, and how much of the planet’s water supply is fresh and accessible to the 8 billion people in need of it. THANK YOU to Charlotte Doyle who helped out with our water modeling lesson!
Miscellaneous:
*We celebrated Character Day on Friday. Ask your child about his/her character ‘strengths’ and consider implementing a ‘Tech Shabbat’ into your family’s weekly routine.
*We continued ‘Buddies’ time with Ms. Chitsaz’s 3rd grade class. Ask your child about our Friday activity adventures!
*Staff Development Day: October 14th. No School for Students.
Writing: Students have been practicing the color-coding/T-chart writing format to help in creating 3 paragraph essays. This week student wrote an essay on a subject of choice and studied the success criteria for a solid, proficient essay. Next week your child will be ready to dive into our city of choice essay.
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued to read TheSign of the Beaver in Reading Groups on Thursday. THANK YOU to Christina Davis, Alix Fagersten, and Karen Ripenburg for coming in and leading book discussions. We continued to read True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and students are writing an S.O.S. (Summary, Opinion, Sketch) to help in understanding the fast-moving plot of this adventure story.
Math:Students continued to learn how to multiply and divide decimal fractions using a variety of techniques. Next week we will finish Module 1 and take the unit assessment on Thursday. Reminder: Dreambox and Reflex are also accessible from home. Links can be found on the class website.
Science: We continued our unit on the Earth’s water supply. Ask your child what the Earth’s hydrosphere is, and how much of the planet’s water supply is fresh and accessible to the 8 billion people in need of it. THANK YOU to Charlotte Doyle who helped out with our water modeling lesson!
Miscellaneous:
*We celebrated Character Day on Friday. Ask your child about his/her character ‘strengths’ and consider implementing a ‘Tech Shabbat’ into your family’s weekly routine.
*We continued ‘Buddies’ time with Ms. Chitsaz’s 3rd grade class. Ask your child about our Friday activity adventures!
*Staff Development Day: October 14th. No School for Students.
9.13.19
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have continued to build their paragraph writing skills using the color-coding method (aka the accordion) with the help of a T-Chart. This is a visual organizer of the topic, main sentences and supporting sentences of an essay. Ask your child to show you an example of how to create a T-chart!
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued to read Sign of the Beaver in Reading Groups on Thursday. THANK YOU to Charlotte Doyle, Christina Davis, Alix Fagersten, and Karen Ripenburg for coming in and leading book discussions.
Math:Students continued to reinforce their whole number and decimal fractions place value skills with this week’s lessons. Your child now has an account with 2 different math programs that will be used both at school and at home in order to build and strengthen skills. Dreambox and Reflex are also accessible from home. Links can be found on the class website.
Science: We continued our unit on the Earth’s water supply. Ask your child about the importance of hydrologists, and the ecosystems fragile dependence on fresh water.
Miscellaneous:
*We’ve begun Bully Prevention and Cyber Citizenship lesson in class. Please use this week’s lessons as conversation starters during dinner, car rides, etc.
*We began our Buddies time with Ms. Chitsaz’s 3rd grade class. Ask your child what games s/her learned with his/her buddy!
*Students began Typing Club this week. Feel free to have your child practice this at home to strengthen his/her speed.
*Character Day: September 27th.
*Staff Development Day: October 14th. No School for Students.
Writing: Students have continued to build their paragraph writing skills using the color-coding method (aka the accordion) with the help of a T-Chart. This is a visual organizer of the topic, main sentences and supporting sentences of an essay. Ask your child to show you an example of how to create a T-chart!
Reading/Social Studies: Students continued to read Sign of the Beaver in Reading Groups on Thursday. THANK YOU to Charlotte Doyle, Christina Davis, Alix Fagersten, and Karen Ripenburg for coming in and leading book discussions.
Math:Students continued to reinforce their whole number and decimal fractions place value skills with this week’s lessons. Your child now has an account with 2 different math programs that will be used both at school and at home in order to build and strengthen skills. Dreambox and Reflex are also accessible from home. Links can be found on the class website.
Science: We continued our unit on the Earth’s water supply. Ask your child about the importance of hydrologists, and the ecosystems fragile dependence on fresh water.
Miscellaneous:
*We’ve begun Bully Prevention and Cyber Citizenship lesson in class. Please use this week’s lessons as conversation starters during dinner, car rides, etc.
*We began our Buddies time with Ms. Chitsaz’s 3rd grade class. Ask your child what games s/her learned with his/her buddy!
*Students began Typing Club this week. Feel free to have your child practice this at home to strengthen his/her speed.
*Character Day: September 27th.
*Staff Development Day: October 14th. No School for Students.
9.9.19
Language Arts:
Writing: Students continue to write daily in their journals. This is a great way for students to get in the habit of just WRITING creatively. I can already see a difference in quantity since their first writing assignment: The Wiggly Line. We’ve also begun practicing how to set up a proper, well-structured 5th grade paragraph and essay. It’s called the ‘Accordion’ method. Students learned about topic sentences, main ideas, supporting details, and concluding sentences using the Step Up To Writing program and Writer’s Workshop.
Accelerated Reader Program: Students have begun AR this week! (Please see attached AR Goals/Level form.) REMINDER: Your child is expected to read at least 30 minutes. Independently. Daily.
Reading:
This week we dove into our 1st class novel called The Sign of the Beaver using our new ‘active listening’ skills. This classic novel illustrates a young boy and his mission to assimilate into the wild Maine territory during the late 1800’s. Ask your child what hardships the main character, Matt, has experienced so far. THANK YOU to Virginia Tusher for helping us launch our Thursday reading groups!
We also continued an author study on Chris Van Allsburg. (Ask your child about all 3 books we’ve dissected during our weekly ‘Drama’ activities!)
Math: This week we began Module 1 in our Eureka Math. Students are learning about place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals.
Don’t forget to use the class website as a source for references regarding the daily homework, the PDF of the student workbook, and videos of how to help execute the homework. (ssanchez.reedschools.org) password: catscountry
Science: This month students will explore the concept of fresh water and sustainability. Through investigating the issue of water scarcity, students become hydrologists and examine water pollution and the possibility of desalination. Students will be challenged to create a solution to protect the earth’s fresh water. (Ask your child about the class ‘globe toss’ activity and discuss how accurate our Earth’s water predictions were!)
Walker Creek / Outdoor Ed.
A Walker Creek / Outdoor Ed. parent informational meeting is scheduled for This Thursday, September 12th from 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m in the Bel Aire Board Room.
Miscellaneous/Dates:
*SMILE! September 12th is Picture Day
* September 12th: Walker Creek Outdoor Ed Info Meeting: 7:30am Bel Aire Board Room. (See back)
*Sept. 26th: Math Centers
*September 27th : *Character Day
Writing: Students continue to write daily in their journals. This is a great way for students to get in the habit of just WRITING creatively. I can already see a difference in quantity since their first writing assignment: The Wiggly Line. We’ve also begun practicing how to set up a proper, well-structured 5th grade paragraph and essay. It’s called the ‘Accordion’ method. Students learned about topic sentences, main ideas, supporting details, and concluding sentences using the Step Up To Writing program and Writer’s Workshop.
Accelerated Reader Program: Students have begun AR this week! (Please see attached AR Goals/Level form.) REMINDER: Your child is expected to read at least 30 minutes. Independently. Daily.
Reading:
This week we dove into our 1st class novel called The Sign of the Beaver using our new ‘active listening’ skills. This classic novel illustrates a young boy and his mission to assimilate into the wild Maine territory during the late 1800’s. Ask your child what hardships the main character, Matt, has experienced so far. THANK YOU to Virginia Tusher for helping us launch our Thursday reading groups!
We also continued an author study on Chris Van Allsburg. (Ask your child about all 3 books we’ve dissected during our weekly ‘Drama’ activities!)
Math: This week we began Module 1 in our Eureka Math. Students are learning about place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals.
Don’t forget to use the class website as a source for references regarding the daily homework, the PDF of the student workbook, and videos of how to help execute the homework. (ssanchez.reedschools.org) password: catscountry
Science: This month students will explore the concept of fresh water and sustainability. Through investigating the issue of water scarcity, students become hydrologists and examine water pollution and the possibility of desalination. Students will be challenged to create a solution to protect the earth’s fresh water. (Ask your child about the class ‘globe toss’ activity and discuss how accurate our Earth’s water predictions were!)
Walker Creek / Outdoor Ed.
A Walker Creek / Outdoor Ed. parent informational meeting is scheduled for This Thursday, September 12th from 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m in the Bel Aire Board Room.
Miscellaneous/Dates:
*SMILE! September 12th is Picture Day
* September 12th: Walker Creek Outdoor Ed Info Meeting: 7:30am Bel Aire Board Room. (See back)
*Sept. 26th: Math Centers
*September 27th : *Character Day
8.30.19
Language Arts:
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, journaling and friendly letter writing. As many of you saw at BTSN, students created a newspaper ‘article’ about themselves. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ activity!
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 19thcentury voyage.
We also began an 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!
We began an 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 8 Mathematical Practices 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.
Science: Students enjoyed the Marshmallow Challenge activity. Ask your child about the criteria and how the importance of collaboration is paramount! Our class also began the first course on ‘Digital Citizenship.’ Ask your child about the 3 clues to identify on-line ‘click-bait.’
Miscellaneous:
*There will be no school on Monday, September 2nd. (Labor Day)
*SMILE! September 12this Picture Day
*Walker Creek Outdoor Ed Info Meeting: September 12th7:30am Bel Aire Board Room
*Character Day: September 27th
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, journaling and friendly letter writing. As many of you saw at BTSN, students created a newspaper ‘article’ about themselves. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ activity!
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 19thcentury voyage.
We also began an 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!
We began an 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 8 Mathematical Practices 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.
Science: Students enjoyed the Marshmallow Challenge activity. Ask your child about the criteria and how the importance of collaboration is paramount! Our class also began the first course on ‘Digital Citizenship.’ Ask your child about the 3 clues to identify on-line ‘click-bait.’
Miscellaneous:
*There will be no school on Monday, September 2nd. (Labor Day)
*SMILE! September 12this Picture Day
*Walker Creek Outdoor Ed Info Meeting: September 12th7:30am Bel Aire Board Room
*Character Day: September 27th