News/Updates
May🌹
✨✨✨✨✨✨Ohhhh My Stars…✨✨✨✨✨✨
I can’t believe this is my LAST CATS Newsletter! What a GREAT year it’s been….with such a wonderful class! I will miss seeing each one of my special C.A.T.S. each day.
Thank you for ALL you have done to make this year so memorable and successful.
Here’s a list of next week’s activities planned for our special 5th graders. Please keep the BOTTOM portion of this newsletter and sign and return the TOP portion only.
THANK YOU Parents, Volunteers and PTA!
Tuesday:
5th Grade Field Day! 12:30-1:30
Wednesday:
BMX Bike & Draw-Along Assemblies 9-11:30
CATS Class Party: 12:45-1:30
Thursday:
5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 11:00-12:00 Parents welcome!
we will host a Promotion Assembly in the MPR @ Bel Aire. Families are welcome to come to celebrate their students' time at Bel Aire and there will be time to take photos directly following the event. Students will then head to lunch (provided by generous 5th grade families) with their friends to sign yearbooks. Please send your student with a picnic blanket/beach towel and water bottle for lunch on the grass.
Friday:
Last Day of School Dismissal at 12:10 (no Lunch)
5th Grade Promotion Parade @8:30
A day of FUN is planned for these kids before they head to 6th grade! *Students will receive their 5th grade promotion t-shirt when they get to school. We plan to parade our graduating 5th graders through the Bel Aire neighborhood for families and friends to cheer on their accomplishments. We encourage families to congregate at the bottom of the hill at 8:45am. Feel free to make posters, bring pom-poms - or anything else that may drum up some excitement for this class who started their Bel Aire time on Zoom and is now on their way to Middle School.
*The parade will finish by 9:15 am and the students will gather for a class picture at the bottom of the hill. Exact route to be sent soon.
*The rest of Friday is packed with fun for students - a dance party, inflatable obstacle courses and community service projects.
*A HUGE thank you to Sarah Abbott, Casilda Diaz Pizzarro, Amanda Hyslop, Denise Kuvelis, Christine Patel, Tracey Paull, Pam Rishwain, and Caryn Wu for pulling off all of these events and making our upcoming week happy and FUN for the 5th graders!
Thank you for a fantastic year!
-Stacia Sanchez
ARTIST PRESENTATION LOCATIONS
Here is a list of classrooms and locations for tomorrow's celebration.
Down to the Wire Week!
*Happy Memorial Day*
Outdoor Ed was a big success! Thank you to all our parent chaperones, luggage helpers, and volunteers that helped us out for our Nature Bridge experience! Here are some pictures of our days of Outdoor Ed on the class website. Keep checking back as more will continue to be added.
Important: You should have received an email with information about our field trip on Tuesday morning to Del Mar. Please be sure to sign this form (electronically) so that your child can join us on Tuesday.
Upcoming Events:
May 30th-May 31st: Artist Project Due! Here is website with artist information.
May 30th: 5th Grade students to visit Del Mar
May 31st: CSAT Science Test
June 1st: Spring Sing Concert in MPR from 8:30-9:30
June 1st: Art Exhibit - 9:30-10:00 am - an invite was sent home with your child two weeks ago with details on their location during the event. Please let me know if it didn’t make it home and you need that information.
June 6th: Field Day
June 8th: 5th Grade Promotion 11:00 am in the Bel Aire MPR- More info below!
June 7th: Class party @12:50-1:35
June 9th: 5th Celebration (info below) and last day of school!
Important End-of-Year Information!
As your 5th grader counts down their final days at Bel Aire, mark your calendar for the following Promotion events we have planned:
Thursday, June 8th @ 11am - we will host a Promotion Assembly in the MPR @ Bel Aire. Families are welcome to come to celebrate their students' time at Bel Aire and there will be time to take photos directly following the event. Families are then welcome to leave and students will head to lunch (provided by generous 5th grade families) with their friends to sign yearbooks. Please send your student with a picnic blanket/beach towel and water bottle for lunch on the grass.
Friday, June 9th - A day of FUN is planned for these kids before they head to 6th grade!
Students will receive their 5th grade promotion t-shirt when they get to school. We plan to parade our graduating 5th graders through the Bel Aire neighborhood for families and friends to cheer on their accomplishments. We encourage families to congregate at the bottom of the hill at 8:45am. Feel free to make posters, bring pom-poms - or anything else that may drum up some excitement for this class who started their Bel Aire time on Zoom and is now on their way to Middle School. The parade will finish by 9:15 am and the students will gather for a class picture at the bottom of the hill. Exact route to be sent soon. The rest of Friday is packed with fun for students - a dance party, inflatable obstacle courses and community service projects. Dismissal is 12:10pm on Friday - no lunch at school. Cheers to our 5th graders! A HUGE thank you to the committee of parents who have worked so hard to put these amazing events together.
Here is a recap of important information for our Outdoor Ed experience: Nature Bridge address:
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 1033 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965
Covid Tests: All students were given a Covid test to take on Sunday evening or early Monday morning before arriving at school. We want to ensure that all students and adults are healthy and ready for our time together at Nature Bridge Outdoor Ed.
Monday Arrival Day Info:
7:30-8:00 am Students walk luggage up the driveway and deposit it by their teacher’s name on the lower blacktop
8:00 - Students walk to class with their daypack filled with lunch, a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, a sweatshirt or jacket.
8:15 - 8:45 Luggage drivers arrive to Bel Aire to pick up luggage and drive it to NatureBridge
9:00-Students load onto buses and the NatureBridge adventure begins!
Helpful info in case you still need it:
1) HERE (See on-line version for live link) is the NatureBridge packing list. It is our hope that you will borrow clothes and not have to purchase new clothes for the trip.
2) Don’t forget to have your child bring me the secret envelope on MONDAY if you haven’t done so already.
More Upcoming Events: May 22-24th: 5th Grade Outdoor Ed at Nature Bridge
May 25-26th: State Testing Makeups
May 26th: Last day for Trimester 3 AR tests
May 30th: Artist Project Due
May 30th: Del Mar Visit
May 31st: CSAT Science Test
June 1st: Art Exhibit - 9:30-10:00 am – See attached invite
June 6th: Field Day
June 8th/9th: 5th Grade Promotion - More info coming soon!
June 9th: 5th Celebration and Last day of school!
***Important Dates:***
May 16-19th State Testing *See Detailed dates/times below
May 22-24th: 5th Grade Outdoor Ed at Nature Bridge
May 30th: Artist Project Due
May 30th: Del Mar Visit
May 31st: CSAT Science Testing
June 1st: Art Exhibit - 9:30-10: look for the invite sometime this week!
June 6th: Field Day (Volunteer Sign Up)
June 8th/9th: 5th Grade Promotion - More info coming soon!
June 9th: 5th Celebration and Last day of school!
Nature Bridge Information:
1) HERE is the NatureBridge packing list. It is our hope that you will borrow clothes and not have to purchase new clothes for the trip.
2) Please be sure to fill out and return the Wednesday Sign-out form that was sent home last week.
3) Please fill out the trip slip (with medication authorization if necessary) that was sent home and emailed to you.
3) Don’t forget to write a few letters for your child and send them back in the secret envelope by Friday, 5/19.
Luggage Drivers: Thank you!
*Monday 5/22 arriving at Bel Aire at 8:30 am and bringing luggage to NatureBridge
*Wednesday 5/24 arriving at NatureBridge at 11:30 am. And bringing luggage to Bel Aire.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba4ae2fa5f49-belaire#/
Reading/Social Studies: Students are finishing up 2 novels (My Brother Sam is Dead & The FIghting Ground) which help identify the multiple battles and events the lead to the American Revolution. As we complete the stories of these difficult plots, students have made many connections regarding both books, as well as helping understand our Social Studies unit, ‘The Road to the Revolution.’
Friday reading will continue this month at 9:15 in room E4. Come join us!
**Two weeks left to make AR Goal!**
Math: This week students are focusing on math test prep in preparation for next week’s state testing.
Writing: Students are ready to complete their persuasive writing essays and create a related illustration. We are also focusing on our artist research, note-taking, drafting a biography essay and creating a timeline. Be on the lookout for an invitation to our 5th Grade Artist Exhibit soon.
************MORE INFORMATION ON BACK***********
Bel Aire Field Day:
Mr. Sievert is looking for 1-2 parents per station and 1 to stay with each class during rotations. Feel free to sign up if you are available.. Thanks!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba4ae2fa5f49-belaire#/
California State Testing:
Tuesday 5/16 8:30-10:10 am: English Language Arts CAT
Wednesday 5/17 8:30-10:10 am: ELA Performance Task
Thursday 5/18 8:30-10:10 am: Math CAT
Friday 5/19 8:30-10:10 am: Math Performance Task
Wednesday 5/31: Science CSAT
Please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast the day of each test.
THANK YOU to Christine Patel for sending out a ‘brain food’ snack sign-up for our CATS!
Nature Bridge Packing List HERE
Upcoming Events:
May 22-24th: 5th Grade Outdoor Ed at Nature Bridge May 30th: Artist Project Due June 1st: Art Exhibit - 9:30-10: look for the invite sometime this week! June 8th/9th: 5th Grade Promotion - More info coming soon! June 9th: Last day of school
SBAC Testing: May 15-19 & May 30th *See note from Christine Patel about snack sign-up.
Nature Bridge Information: HERE is the NatureBridge packing list. It is our hope that you will borrow clothes and not have to purchase new clothes for the trip.
We are still looking for luggage drivers to bring student luggage to camp: *Monday 5/22 arriving at Bel Aire at 8:30 am and *Wednesday 5/24 arriving at NatureBridge at 11:30 am. If you are interested and available, please let me know.
Reading: We continue to read two novels, My Brother Sam is Dead and The Fighting Ground which help illustrate why the colonies were so driven for independence from Britain. The novels have also spotlighted the difficulties of how family members’ decisions regarding war participation can affect a family, town, colony, and ultimately a nation. Podcasts: Students finished their very own Podcast! You child chose one of his/her favorite books to recommend and highlighted the podcast with music and narration using GarageBand and iMovie. Check out the class’ projects on SeeSaw via your child’s classlink account. Math: This week students are testing on our final unit, Module 6: Graphing on the Coordinate Plane. We have also begun to review all 5th grade standards in Khan Academy and SBAC test prep. Writing: Students are creating their final persuasion/opinion essay in class this week. After completing the full draft and conferencing with a peer buddy, students will publish their persuasive writing essays and create a related illustration. Artist Report: We are now focusing on our artist research, taking detailed notes that will be helpful for the biography essay, the timeline, and the letter to the artist. Students should be well into the research of the artist they have chosen. Please refer to the blue guideline page (sent home with last week’s newsletter) of particular criteria and dates for this project that is due May 30th. Please check in with your child about this and reference Google Classroom for the directions page and examples of past projects.
Social Studies: Students will be learning about the Road to the American Revolution. They are also being challenged to learn (and sing!) the 50 states and capitals of our country.
Science: As we learn about chemistry in the Chemical Magic unit, students will investigate the properties of matter by dissolving everyday chemicals to make solutions and by exploring simple yet surprising chemical reactions. Through these investigations, students begin to build conceptual models for the particulate nature of matter.
Design Lab: Using the 3D AutoDesk app, TinkerCad, students have been designing their own 3D board game piece.
Language Arts:
Opinion/Persuasive Writing: Students have chosen a topic to research and are developing an essay that supports their chosen argument.
5th Grade ARTIST PROJECTS: Students have chosen an artist whom they’d like to study. Next week we will begin focusing on the biography of their chosen artist, and researching the lives, artwork, and impact of his/her life in history. Please refer the CATS website for information and due dates. SEE ATTACHED. This is an additional hard copy to keep at home for reference. Each week there is a new section of the project that is due.
Reading: We continue to learn about the cause and effects of the Revolutionary War. Our two novels, My Brother Sam is Dead and The Fighting Ground have been helping illustrate why the colonies were so driven for independence from Britain. The novels have also spotlighted the difficulties of how family members’ decisions regarding war participation can affect a family, town, colony, and ultimately a nation. Ask your child about the text connections of both stories!
Math:
Coordinate Planes: Students are completing the last Module in our math curriculum Mod 6.
Geo Project: Your child is creating a math/art project using the various shapes of the geometric figures learned in the Mod 5 Geometry unit. (*Please sign and return corrected Mod 5 test.)
Social Studies:
Students have been learning about the Colonial Era and are currently researching a specific colony and job/trade of a colonist. This week, students have created 2 projects that reflect their deep dive into the life of colonists. Ask your child what s/he learned from researching a colonial trade!
Science: Students have begun a new chemistry unit called “Magic Potions”. This week’s anchor lesson involved comparing gargoyles from ancient Greece. We also performed a lab test using acidic vs. salty liquids to begin our quest to become alchemists. Ask your child how to make copper shine!
Design Lab: Using the 3D AutoDesk app, TinkerCad, students have been designing their own 3D board game piece.
Upcoming Events:
May 4th 5:30: Bel Aire Open House
May 22-24th: 5th Grade Outdoor Ed at Nature Bridge
May 30th: Artist Project Due
June 1st: 5th Grade Artist Exhibit -9:15 – 10:05 parents/families welcome
April
Language Arts:
Writing: We’ve begun our last venture of our writing curriculum: Opinion/Persuasive writing. Students will prepare, research and develop an essay that supports their chosen argument.
5th grade ARTIST PROJECTS have begun! Students have chosen an artist whom they’d like to study. Next week we will begin focusing on the biography of their chosen artist, and researching the lives, artwork, and impact of his/her life in history. Please refer the CATS website for information and due dates. Students have a hard copy of these in their newsletter folder.
Reading: We’ve been learning all about the cause and effects of the Revolutionary War. Our two novels, My Brother Sam is Dead and The Fighting Ground have been helping illustrate why the colonies were so driven for independence from Britain. The novels have also spotlighted the difficulties of how family members’ decisions regarding war participation can affect a family, town, colony, and ultimately a nation. Ask your child about the text connections of both stories!
**Please make sure your child is reading independently for at least 20 minutes daily. Although the Accelerated Reading is one of the many ways in which I can monitor your child’s progress in reading comprehension, it is a helpful indicator of the amount of independent reading, specifically books/novels, outside the classroom. It is imperative that your child is reading an appropriate, high-interest book at home to engage him/her in helping to improve reading fluency and comprehension skills.
Social Studies:
Math: We are moving into our final Module, Module 6 which covers graphing on the coordinate plane. At the end of this module, students will begin to review all 5th grade standards in Khan Academy. We will be setting up accounts and kids will be working independently on their iPads. Ask your child how Friday’s ‘Battleship’ games faired!
Social Studies: Students have been learning about the Colonial Era and are currently researching a specific colony and job/trade of a colonist.
Science: Students have shifted the perspective of constellations in their last creation, ‘Universe in a Box’. Ask your child about the spring constellations that can be viewed in the night sky!
Upcoming Events:
April 27th: Poetry in a Pocket Day at Bel Aire
May 4th: Bel Aire Open House
May 22-24th: 5th Grade Outdoor Ed at Nature Bridge
May 30th: Artist Project Due
June 1st: 5th Grade Artist Exhibit -9:15 – 10:05 parents/families welcome
March
Nature Bridge Parent Info HERE
Reading:
Read Aloud: We continued to read My Brother Sam is Dead, and discuss both sides of the Revolutionary War. Students are building their debating strategies to prepare for the classroom showdown: Patriots vs. Loyalists.
Our class is leading the 5th grade class pack of “Most Books Read” with over 22 million words read THIS YEAR!
*Podcast Book Review: Students will be publishing their reading recommendation podcast complete with narration, music, and an image to enjoy while listening.
Writing:
*Research Project: National Parks: Students COMPLETED their National Park presentation and created a poster in an Informational Article format, with subsections, facts and photos to complete this project.
Math: Module 4 is DONE! Students finished the module on multiplication and division of fractions Friday, and will begin Module 5, Geometry, next week.
Reminder, you can find the second volume of the online workbook HERE.
Science: We’ve been continuing our studies about the solar system, planetary characteristics and how the brightness of the sun affects each planet. Students chose to land their ‘planet rover’ on a particular planet based on the amount of sun light they’d receive to charge the solar panels needed for their space mobile. Ask your child what s/he learned!
Social Studies: Students have been assigned one of the 13 colonies to research and present in a brochure format. Additionally, your child has learned several of the states and capitols of the USA through a simple song about ‘Caps on the Map’. Ask your child to sing (or say) the first 10 state capitols!
Puberty Talk - In preparation for our Puberty Talk week, 5th grade teachers will be holding an informational meeting THIS MONDAY, March 27 at 6:30pm on Zoom for any parents wanting more information about the program. A letter came home last week with information about both the program and how to attend this meeting.
Zoom: https://reedschools-org.zoom.us/j/88232894032
HERE is a link to the letter that came home two weeks ago with more information about both the program and how to attend this meeting.
D-Lab: Students learned how to capture the essence of ordinary objects and turning them into extraordinary pieces by using micro-photography.
THEATER SUPERSTARS!!!!!
Congratulations to our incredibly talented group of performers for such amazing shows! I am beyond proud of our CATS: Nikos, Romy, Jake, Sophia, Pippa, Layla, Beatrice, Eli, Flora and Cecilia. Bravo! Brava!
Miscellaneous:
March 27 - Parent Puberty Talk Information Meeting on Zoom 6:30 pm
April 3-7 - Puberty Talk 5 lessons in classroom
April 10-14- Spring Break
Reading:
*New Read Aloud: We’ve begun a new read aloud, My Brother Sam is Dead, a Newbery Metal novel that illustrates the Revolutionary War from the eyes of a young soldier. This story will be a partnered with our new class novel The Fighting Ground by Avi, another Newbery Award Winning novel with a similar plot.
*Reading Groups: Friday reading groups with parent volunteers will start up again next Friday at 9:20.
Writing:
*Research Project: National Parks: Student continue to create a National Park presentation.
* Celebration of Writing: Students prepared and presented a modified version of their international city report for their peers on Thursday. We learned so much about other cities! (See Photo Gallery)
Math: Module 4 on multiplying and dividing with fractions and mixed numbers is wrapping up next week.
Reminder, you can find the second volume of the online workbook HERE. If your child needs a refresher on how to do the lesson we worked on in class please follow Duane Habecker on YouTube. You can scroll down to Eureka Math Grade 5 Tutorials. From there you can choose Module 4 and whatever lesson your child is working on. Duane has great videos that go right along with what we are doing in the classroom.
Science: We’ve been continuing our studies about the difference in the gravity of earth vs. other planets and moons. This week students used their math AND jumping skills to determine the impact of gravity of various gas and solid planets. Ask your child about his/her gravitational experiments!
Social Studies: Students have been assigned one of the 13 colonies to research and present in a brochure format. Additionally, your child has learned several of the states and capitols of the USA through a simple song about ‘Caps on the Map’. Ask your child to sing (or say) the first 10 state capitols!
Puberty Talk - In preparation for our Puberty Talk week, 5th grade teachers will be holding an informational meeting March 27 at 6:30pm on Zoom for any parents wanting more information about the program. A letter came home last week with information about both the program and how to attend this meeting. (See Attached)
Miscellaneous:
Monday, March 20- No school - Staff Professional Day
March 22-26th - Bel Aire School Play
March 27 - Parent Puberty Talk Information Meeting on Zoom 6:30 pm
April 3-7 - Puberty Talk 5 lessons in classroom
Language Arts
Reading:
* For our first mini-unit in Trimester 3, we’ve been reading classical Tall Tales. It’s been an entertaining journey in figurative language while explaining national attractions and phenomenon such as the Grand Canyon and Death Valley. Students have been practicing reading skills learned this year by analyzing and comparing these stories using graphic organizers to identify character development, themes and settings. Ask your child what s/he learned about the legends of famous landforms around the country!
AR Reading Goals: Students have set goals for Trimester 3. Ask your child about the books s/he plans to read to achieve the final AR reading target goal.
Writing:
*Research Project: National Parks: Student have chosen a National Park to research and present.
*City Slide Presentation: Students are preparing a digital presentation of their city research reports. These projects will be presented to the other 5th grade classes on Thursday’s ‘Celebration of Writing’ event.
*Informational Writing: Students have completed their informational/research unit on an international city. Attached is your child’s five-paragraph research essay along with their research notes, writing rubric, and the original ‘seed’ t-chart as a graphic organizer. You will also find his/her pre- and post- writing assessments/essays. Please look over your child’s work, then sign above to show that you have discussed this unit. We are very proud of the hard work the students put into their writing this trimester!
Science: We’ve been continuing our studies about ‘outer space’, specifically how gravity impacts different planets and moons. (See photo gallery for new science lab photos.) Please encourage your child to observe the night sky over the break to view how the moon is waxing and waning.
Design Lab: Students are working on projects that focus on our weight and mass on different planets of our solar system. They have been entering data on a spreadsheet using formulas that pertain to each planet.
Social Studies: We’ve been learning about historical figures, specifically women, and how they’ve influenced change and moved the progress of our country forward.
Your child is excited to show you his/her progression of the narrative Galleon log entries included in their narrative writing folder. Enjoy!
Math: Students continue to work on dividing and multiplying fractions and decimals in Module 4.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math for 20 minutes daily to gain/maintain math facts recall. I would like to see each student become a ***Reflex Warrior***** this year!
💕February 💕 2.15.23
Language Arts
Reading:
* We finally finished our class novel, The City of Ember! THANK YOU to all the volunteers that led reading groups and helped us complete the novel. Students will now be working on a One-pager as the culminating project, synthesizing the key elements we have been focusing on during the reading of this story, such as character development, theme, and summarizing events of the story.
* We also finished our read aloud, The Watson’s go to Birmingham, 1963. This unique story, narrated by a 12 year old boy, was humorous yet somber. The novel’s plot takes a sharp twist, illustrating the impact and struggle of civil rights, as well as one of the darkest moments in American History: The 1963 church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Ask your child how s/he reacted to the sobering event that changed the direction of this award-winning novel.
AR Reading Goals: Students should be monitoring their AR goals, and hopefully feeling confident they will make their Trimester 2 reading goal by the end of the trimester (March 1st). Most importantly, I hope each student has a book they look forward to reading each day!
Writing:
*Informational Writing: Students are in the final phases of writing their city research papers. The final writing piece will be illustrated by a unique art project that highlights one of the main attractions of the city.
Science: This week students learned about the how the sun’s movement determined the unit division of universal clock. Students created their own sun dial/shadow clock, and used a flashlight to mimic the suns light and movements. (See photos in gallery) We also took our creations outside and they worked using the sun’s light! Ask your child how directions are connected to reading his/her shadow clock. We’ve also been learning about constellations and how they change with the seasonal skies. Please encourage your child to observe the night sky over the break to view how the moon is waxing and waning.
Social Studies: Students have completed their Galleon! Simulation and completed the Explorers unit. This week we’ve been learning about the founders and theories of original 13 colonies.
Math:
*This week students completed a mid-module assessment Module 4: division and multiplication of fractions. Topics covered include interpreting a fraction as a division problem, analyzing data from a line plot, measuring lengths in fractional units, and solving and creating word problems using all 4 functions.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math for 20 minutes daily to gain/maintain math facts recall.
Design-Lab: Students have been using coding and Speros to navigate the route through the water cycle.
Last week we invited our new 3rd grade buddies to the D-Lab to teach them all about the water cycle! (See photos in gallery)
This week students learned how variables (such as force, thrust, and drag) effect the flight of a paper plane. Ask your child about how successful s/he was at creating a viable, soaring airplane!
Miscellaneous:
*February 20-24th: Mid-Winter Break
*March 3: End of Trimester 2
💕February 💕 2.3
Language Arts
Reading:
*City of Ember: We are at the peak of this story’s plot! This week students found the answer to all the loose ended questions that have been plaguing us since chapter 1. Ask your child how the inhabitants of Ember plan to escape (or EGRESS) from the harsh environment in which they live!
*Reading Groups: THANK YOU to Alon Dancig-Perlman, Denise Kuvelis and Christine Patel for leading a reading group this week! All parents are welcome to join us. If you are available at 9:20-10:05 on Friday mornings, please let me know if you’d like to lead a reading/book club group of 3-5 students.
Writing:
*Informational Writing: Students are in the final stages of completing a draft of their thorough, well-researched informative essay on an international city. Ask your child about the 4 main topics (paragraphs) of his/her essay!
Science: This week students learned about the how the sun’s movement determined the unit division of universal clock. Students created their own sun dial/shadow clock, and used a flashlight to mimic the suns light and movements. (See photos in gallery) We also took our creations outside and they worked using the sun’s light! Ask your child how directions are connected to reading his/her shadow clock.
Math:
*This week we’ve begun Module 4: division and multiplication of fractions. Students have learned how to interpret a fraction as a division problem, analyze data from a line plot and measure lengths in fractional units.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math for 20 minutes daily to gain/maintain math facts recall.
Design-Lab: Students have been using coding and Speros to navigate the route through the water cycle.
This week we invited our new 3rd grade buddies to the D-Lab to teach them all about the water cycle! (See photos in gallery)
PP
Miscellaneous:
February 8th: CLASS PHOTO DAY! (See attached)
February 14th : Valentine’s Day Celebration! Please encourage your child to create Appreciation Hearts for each classmate. (Directions on Back.)
February 20-24th: Mid-Winter Break
March 3: End of Trimester 2
- January💦
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, February 1st: Global Play Day from 10:30-12:00. Feel free to join us!
February 3, 7:30-8:00 a.m. - Nature Bridge Parent Meeting in Bel Aire Library
February 10th: Appreciation/Valentine's Day cards due
February 14th: Valentine's Day
February 20-24th: Mid-Winter Break
March 3: End of Trimester 2
Reading: Students continue to read the novel City of Ember. We are learning more about this futuristic, dystopian society that survived an apocalypse and now relies on dwindling supplies, including electricity, to survive.
*Reading Groups: THANK YOU to Noy Dancig, Christine Patel, Denise Kuvelis and Karen Ripenberg for leading last week's reading group! All parents are welcome to join us. If you are available at 9:20-10:05 on Friday mornings, please let me know if you’d like to lead a reading/book club group of 3-5 students Writing: *Informational Writing: Students have been gathering information as they research cities around the world. They are taking notes on a graphic organizer to help them sort information by topics/categories. They are collecting facts from online books and websites, and they have created T-charts to organize the information for their 5 paragraph essays. This will include an introduction paragraph, three “star idea” paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
*5th Grade Reporters: 5th Grade Reporter Presentations are held every Wednesday afternoon. Topics remain the same (People/Places) but your child will now be doing the other topic that was not presented during the first round.
Math: We will begin our next Module on multiplying and dividing with fractions and mixed numbers. Students will be getting a new workbook. We will continue to practice adding and subtracting fractions as well.
Science: Students have completed the unit on the Watery Planet and are now entering a new world: Spaceship Earth!
Language Arts
Reading:
*City of Ember: Students continue explores a futuristic, dystopian society that survived an apocalypse and now relies on dwindling supplies, including electricity, to survive. Ask your child about the latest ‘discovery’ found in Lina’s closet that may be the key to unlocking this dystopian society.
*Reading Groups: THANK YOU to Alon Dancig-Perlman and Karen Ripenberg for leading a reading group! All parents are welcome to join us. If you are available at 9:20-10:05 on Friday mornings, please let me know if you’d like to lead a reading/book club group of 3-5 students.
Writing:
*Informational Writing: Students “published” a mini-magazine on a non-fiction subject of their choice. This week’s writing focus has been building an informative essay with topic sentences, main ideas, and supporting evidence. In order to see the formula for this process, students have learned how to ‘color-code’ informational pieces and create a corresponding T-chart as a visual guide.
*Spelling: 🎉 Congratulations to our Bel Aire Spelling Bee class representatives: Layla Patel and Flora Keye. 🎉
Speaking/S.S.
*Explorer Reports: Cooperative learning groups completed the explorer research project and will present their project next week.
*Galleon! The ships are nearing their destinations! Ask your child about the latest drama (potato hoarders!) with the crew members.
*5th Grade Reporters: 5th Grade Reporter Presentations are held every Wednesday afternoon. Topics remain the same (People/Places) but your child will now be doing the other topic that was not presented during the first round.
Math:
*This week we’ve made it to the halfway mark in Module 3: Addition and Subtraction of Fractions, and multi-step word problems using mixed numbers and unequal fractions.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math for 20 minutes daily to gain/maintain math facts recall.
Design-Lab/Science: The Water Cycle Project. This week, students created large posters that illustrate the water cycle. Ultimately, each group will ‘code’ a Sphero device to navigate it’s way through the different processes of the water cycle. (See the photos of this activity in the PHOTO GALLERY on the class website.
Miscellaneous:
February 3, 7:30-8:00 a.m. - Nature Bridge Parent Meeting in Bel Aire Library
February 20-24th: Mid-Winter Break
March 3: End of Trimester 2
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.
*Reading Groups: We are excited to begin weekly reading groups with parent volunteers! If you are available at 9:20-10:05 on Friday mornings, please let me know if you’d like to lead a reading/book club group of 3-5 students.
*AR Mid-Tri Reports: Students should be at/near the 50% mark towards their trimester 2 AR goal.
Writing:
*Informational Writing: This week students have begun diving deep into non-fiction/informational research. Students have been exploring a variety of NF books and observed how the information is presented vs. fictional books (i.e. chapter books & novels). We’ve begun to gather ‘seeds’ on topics that may be worthy of a deep dive into researching for the next writing piece.
Speaking/S.S.
*Explorer Reports: Learning groups are researching an explorer, ruler, or significant person of the Exploration Era.
*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!
*5th Grade Reporters: New year, new round of presentations! 5th Grade Reporter Presentations will begin again next Wednesday. Topics remain the same (People/Places) but your child will now be doing other topic that was not presented during the first round.
Math:
*This week we’ve begun Module 3: Addition and Subtraction of Fractions.
Please remember that your child is encouraged to practice Reflex Math for 20 minutes daily to gain/maintain math facts recall.
Science: The Watery Planet: Where is the Earth’s freshwater located? Students participated in a lab called: Wanted: A Well. Students play a game in which they must obtain and combine information about groundwater in order to select the best site to build a town. They evaluate the features of the landscape, plants in the area, and clues from the soil and then decide where to dig a well.
Miscellaneous:
*Jan 16: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
*Check out the photo gallery on our class website for photos of our last STEAM/Design Lab activity. Ask your child about the purpose of having a strong, solid foundation when building a framework for weight bearing objects.
December
Language Arts:
Writing: We are enjoying our fun descriptive writing lessons this week, which have included writing a story about being trapped in a snow globe, and creating a descriptive gingerbread real estate ad. Ask your child about their journey into the snow globe!
Reading:
We continued to read the novel The Sign of the Beaver. This story illustrates how the European settlers expanded their land territory after the French and Indian War. Ask your child about how the colonists were impacted by this historic battle.
We also finished our class read aloud, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Be sure to ask your child how the main character made dramatic changes over the 2 month voyage!
Social Studies: This week we continued our Galleon expedition across the Sea of Darkness to the New World. This simulation allows students to work cooperatively as a ‘crew’ to navigate their galleon ship across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. Ask your child how his/her contribution (in the form of Log Entries) has helped the ship move across the ocean!
Math: We are finishing the second half of Module 2 this week, focusing on long division with double digit whole numbers and decimals. We will reviewing and taking the End of Module 2 test this week. All Module 2 resources are here. Remember to check out the Duane videos on YouTube for homework help.
Science: We will continue to learn about the water cycle and earth’s systems. Students are getting a clear picture of the profound importance of water as a natural resource. Class experiments have illustrated how little freshwater is available, how much salt is in the ocean, and how to extract and measure the amount of salt in the oceans.
Design Lab/S.T.E.A.M.: Students created shoes made from recycled materials and masking tape. Members of the teams were challenged to run, walk and jump in their final creations to measure their endurance. (See photo gallery)
**Thank You for the ‘Adopt a Family’ donations! We had such a generous heap of needed gifts to give.**
Miscellaneous:
December 14th: Fair Day/Bake Sale/Spirit Day
December 16th: Class Winter Party & Pajama Day
December 19-30: Winter Break January 2, 2023: Staff Development Day. No school for students.
December 12.2
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have been brainstorming their next narrative project involving Reindeer Real Estate. Ask your child how s/he will use persuasive language to sell their luxurious gingerbread house!
Reading: This week, our class began a new historical fictional novel called The Sign of the Beaver. This novel helps illustrate the Colonial Era in our Social Studies curriculum, specifically how the European settlers expanded their land territory after the French and Indian War. Ask your child about how the colonists were impacted by this historic battle.
We continue to read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, while students Summarize, Observe and Sketch (S.O.S.) the chapters and plot. Ask your child about how Charlotte’s story has flipped during this dramatic adventure!
Social Studies: This week we continued our Galleon expedition across the Sea of Darkness to the New World. This simulation allows students to work cooperatively as a ‘crew’ to navigate their galleon ship across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. Ships have left their homeland to seek out the three G’s. ⬅(Ask your child what the 3 G’s represent!) Each group has experienced an unexpected turn of events.
S.T.E.M/Design Lab: Student photo gallery on centripetal force (HERE).
Math: We have started the second half of Module 2, focusing on long division with double digit whole numbers and decimals. All Module 2 resources are here. Remember to check out the Duane videos on youtube for homework help.
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. Ask your child about the activity that illuminated the percentage of freshwater available on Earth.
Miscellaneous:
“The Case of the Gone Gobbler”: Thank you all for joining us! What a fantastic send off to our Thanksgiving break. HERE is the link.
December 19-30: Winter Break
January 2, 2023: Staff Development Day. No school for students.
Writing: Students have been brainstorming their next narrative project involving Reindeer Real Estate. Ask your child how s/he will use persuasive language to sell their luxurious gingerbread house!
Reading: This week, our class began a new historical fictional novel called The Sign of the Beaver. This novel helps illustrate the Colonial Era in our Social Studies curriculum, specifically how the European settlers expanded their land territory after the French and Indian War. Ask your child about how the colonists were impacted by this historic battle.
We continue to read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, while students Summarize, Observe and Sketch (S.O.S.) the chapters and plot. Ask your child about how Charlotte’s story has flipped during this dramatic adventure!
Social Studies: This week we continued our Galleon expedition across the Sea of Darkness to the New World. This simulation allows students to work cooperatively as a ‘crew’ to navigate their galleon ship across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. Ships have left their homeland to seek out the three G’s. ⬅(Ask your child what the 3 G’s represent!) Each group has experienced an unexpected turn of events.
S.T.E.M/Design Lab: Student photo gallery on centripetal force (HERE).
Math: We have started the second half of Module 2, focusing on long division with double digit whole numbers and decimals. All Module 2 resources are here. Remember to check out the Duane videos on youtube for homework help.
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. Ask your child about the activity that illuminated the percentage of freshwater available on Earth.
Miscellaneous:
“The Case of the Gone Gobbler”: Thank you all for joining us! What a fantastic send off to our Thanksgiving break. HERE is the link.
December 19-30: Winter Break
January 2, 2023: Staff Development Day. No school for students.
November
Language Arts:
Writing: We continue working on some fun descriptive writing lessons such as poetry, fictional narrative, and creative writing. Students are completing the hot/cold colored leaf activity to illustrate their “Fall Feels… “ Poetry.
Reading: We continue to read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, while students Summarize, Observe and Sketch (S.O.S.) the chapters and plot. Ask your child about how the plot has turned on this dramatic adventure!
Social Studies: We’ve begun Galleon! This simulation allows students to work cooperatively as a ‘crew’ to navigate their galleon ship across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. Our galleon art project is in full swing as well, and students’ work will be showcased soon!
S.T.E.M/Design Lab: This week’s lesson target focuses on centripetal force, and how to harness that power balance. In cooperative groups, students created a ‘roller coaster’ using the lab resources for a track and marbles to represent people in a car. Check out the PHOTOS on our class website. (HERE)
Math: Students have completed Module 2 and will complete the final assessment on Friday. All Module 2 resources are here.
“The Case of the Gone Gobbler”: We have been having fun rehearsing for our class play on Friday. See “Thanksgiving Play” tab on the class website on Friday to watch our short and silly play!
***Happy Thanksgiving Everyone***
Miscellaneous:
November 21 - November 25: Thanksgiving Holiday/No school
December 19-30: Winter Break
January 2, 2023: Staff Development Day. No school for students.
Greetings Parents,
November is upon us like a whirlwind!
We started the week with a FANTASTIC Halloween party! THANK YOU to all who contributed to the festivities. It was so fun! Check out the photos of the students performing spooky charades on the class GALLERY. (password: catscountry)
****November Events****
11/7-11/10 Mon-Thurs: Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences. Dismissal 12:10
11/10 Thursday, 8:30-9:15: **5th Grade Writing Celebration!** Come to room E4 to see and hear all about your child’s latest narrative writing piece!
11/11 Friday: No School in honor of Veteran’s Day
11/18 Friday 11:30: “The Case of the Gone Gobbler” Class Play.
11/21-11/25 Mon-Fri: Thanksgiving Break
October
10.30
Language Arts:
Writing: We are coming to the end of our Personal Narrative Unit. All students have at least one true-life story to publish. We will have a celebration on Thursday morning, November 9th where students will share their stories with each other in small groups. Parents are welcome to join the celebration!
Reading: We have finished reading Blood on the River. This week we are starting a culminating project.
Social Studies: This week students will learn about the Age of Sail, specifically how the European explorers impacted the lands on which they settled.
Students completed their flip chart on the 4 Native American Regions in North America. See the photo gallery for photos of the finished projects!
Science: Students have completed the unit on the Web of Life and will complete a final assessment next week. Ask your child about the differences between a ‘food chain’ and a ‘food web’. Your child created a helpful Web of Life ‘folder’, with visuals and vocabulary to help illustrate the many chains, webs and energy sources of our ecosystems. Our next unit will be all about our “Watery Planet” and the importance of this natural resource.
Math: This week students are continuing with the beginnings of Module 2, which this week will focus on double digit multiplication All Module 2 resources are here. Look for the End of Module 1 test coming home for your review and signature this week
Miscellaneous:
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences:
This year, conferences are student led and IN-PERSON unless I hear otherwise from you. Conference week begins this week and last through November 10th. Beginning this Friday we will have an early dismissal time at 12:10 on each of those days. If there’s a day and time you would prefer that is not on the schedule, please let me know and I’d be happy to accommodate you. These appointments are scheduled in 25 minute blocks with a short break between each to avoid overlap.
(*As a reminder, Monday, November 7th is unavailable because I will be traveling that day, returning from my niece's wedding in Texas.)
Outdoor Ed: Nature Bridge trip details and payment information was sent home with your child last Friday. If you are interested in learning more about the trip, here are links to a packing list and the website full of information.
1. We are collecting checks for Nature Bridge ($360 - checks payable to Bel Aire PTA subject line Nature Bridge Field trip). You may also split the cost into two payments of $180. You may also contribute more than the cost if you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund.
2. Scholarships are available and no student will be denied the opportunity to participate due to lack of sufficient funds. Please reach out to your teacher or Mr. DiCosmo.
3. Let your teacher know if you are interested in being a cabin leader this year.
Monday, October 31 - Halloween Parade and Class Celebrations
Halloween Parade: Please join us on the upper blacktop for a Halloween Parade on Oct 31st at 1:10PM. Please read the info below that Mr. DiCosmo sent in his weekly update regarding Halloween for parents and students.
Here are some guidelines that help us maintain a safe, fun experience for all.
For students:
· Costumes are optional.
· Costumes may not include weapons, masks, or gore (this includes parents).
· Students must be able to put on their costumes by themselves and wear them comfortably.
For parents:
· Park at the bottom of the hill on Karen Way
· Check in at the tables near the front office. Sign in is alphabetical by parent last name. Look for your table. For example, I would go to the A-E table - DiCosmo.
· Go to the upper blacktop after checking in
· No need to for parents to sign out after the parade, but we ask that all parents depart campus after the parade.
****A HUGE THANK YOU to our Halloween party coordinators Karen Ripenburg, Casilda Diaz Pizarro and Emily Spier for planning our class’ Halloween Party! The school’s Halloween parade is scheduled for 1:15pm on the upper blacktop.
Friday, Nov. 4- Thursday, November 10 - Minimum Days 8:05-12:10
Friday, November 11 - Veterans Day - No school
10.21
Language Arts:
Writing: Students are on their final stages in the narrative writing process. Each student has chosen a ‘seed’ in which to create his/her watermelon of a story. 😸 This week we are in the drafting stage, and soon will begin to edit and revise their personal narratives. Next week we will review the rubric and grading example essays to learn more about becoming a successful 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. Students have compared the setting features of both the Jamestown settlement and the Native American village. Ask your child how both places are similar and different!
Social Studies: Students completed their flip chart on the 4 Native American Regions in North America. See the photo gallery for photos of the finished projects!
Science: Students are finishing up the unit on the Web of Life and will complete a final assessment next week. Ask your child about the differences between a ‘food chain’ and a ‘food web’. We also had a fun ‘bones’ lesson that culminated in a fun art project with Mr. Sanchez’s class.
Math: Students are concluding their work with decimal operations; Module 1 of Eureka. This week we continued with multi-digit multiplication and division with decimals and began reviewing for the final assessment next week. ****Please be sure that your child is practicing his/her Reflex Math at home to help memorize multiplication facts***
Miscellaneous:
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences:
This year, conferences are student led and IN-PERSON unless I hear otherwise from you.
Wednesday, October 26 - Picture Day Makeups
Monday, October 31 - Halloween Parade and Class Celebrations
****A HUGE THANK YOU to our Halloween party coordinators Karen Ripenburg, Casilda Diaz Pizarro and Emily Spier for planning our class’ Halloween Party! The school’s Halloween parade is scheduled for 1:15pm on the upper blacktop
Friday, November 4 - End of Trimester 1 and Parent/Student/Teacher conferences begin
Friday, Nov. 4- Thursday, November 10 - Minimum Days 8:05-12:10
Friday, November 11 - Veterans Day - No school
10.14
Language Arts:
Writing: Students continue to exercise their writing muscle with memory narratives, emphasizing figurative language, "show not tell" substitutes, and dialogue to spice up their pieces. Ask your child what memory s/he tapped into in for his/her 'unexpected encounter' writing piece.
Reading: Our reading of Blood on the River continues, and we are having in depth conversations about the events in the story and summarizing several of the chapters. Students continue to practice providing textual evidence to their arguments regarding character shifts. Ask your child how the main character, Samuel, has drastically changed since chapter 1!
Math: We are concluding our work with Decimal operations, Module 1 of Eureka. This week we will continue with multiplication and division with decimals and then start our review. Our test will be the week of October 24th. 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.
Science: Observation time! Ask your child about how his/her molding plate of food has weathered the specific condition (salt, warmth, saliva, etc.) chosen by his/her group. **Check out the Photo Gallery from the top menu to see the results!
Next week we'll finish up our 'web of life' unit with a final assessment.
Our next unit will be all about our “Watery Planet” and the importance of this natural resource.
Social Studies: We are finishing our unit on the early inhabitants of North America with several projects and will begin learning about the explorers and settlers who came to this continent in the 1600’s in search of a new home.
10.7.22
Language Arts:
Writing: This week, we continued to practice quick writes that focus on EMOTIONS while building our ‘writing muscle’. We’ve also begun tapping into our skills of ‘show not tell’, which changes the entire way a reader can enjoy our writing. Ask your child to give an example of how s/he flavored a very boring statement!
Social Studies: Students continued to learn about various Native American nations and how their lives were greatly affected by the regions in which they lived. Students are finishing a research/flip art project to illustrate the primary elements of the early cultures of North America. View finished projects in the photo gallery! (Link)
Reading: We continued reading our class novel, Blood on the River and things are getting real! 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 are asking and answering thought provoking questions while citing text evidence from the book to support arguments.
We are also diving deeper into the character traits (and similarities) of Sam and Charlotte, the main character in our read-aloud The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. We continue to engage in great discussions about what is happening in the book and what we predict will unfold in the upcoming chapters. Ask your child how the two main characters of our class novels (Charlotte and Samuel) are similar (and developing) in their perilous oceanic journeys.
Mid-trimester AR progress reports (attached) shows progression towards AR goal, as well as a list of quizzes your child has taken so far.
Math: This week in math, students will be reviewing multiplying numbers by powers of 10, place value, and rounding and comparing decimals. The mid module will be on Wednesday. Students are working in different workbooks at school and will be bringing only one of these home for homework each night. HERE is a link to the Eureka Volume 1 workbook and HERE is a link to Unit 6 Open Up student workbook in case you need either one.
*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: Students combined what they have learned about plants, animals, and decomposers to see how they interact in an ecosystem. Students participated in a Pond Ecosystem Game, where they build a pond ecosystem that will support a sunfish. To succeed, they must make sure that carbon dioxide levels are healthy for both plants and animals.
Miscellaneous:
October 18-20 - Book Fair in the MPR
Wednesday, October 26 - Picture Day Makeups
Monday, October 31 – Halloween Party & Parade
Save the Date
A beloved Bel Aire event is BACK! Fall Festival Family Night returns on Thursday, October 20th. 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!
A Note Regarding Outdoor Ed: Nature Bridge trip details and payment information was sent home with your child on Friday.
1. If possible, we would like to collect some checks ASAP to cover the cost of the deposit. You may also split the cost into two payments of $180. You may also contribute more than the cost if you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund.
2. Scholarships are available and no student will be denied the opportunity to participate due to lack of sufficient funds. Please reach out to your teacher or Mr. DiCosmo.
3. Let your teacher know if you are interested in being a cabin leader this year.
10.1.22
Language Arts:
Writing: This week, students continue to focus on ‘BTH’ (The Big Thing that Happened) during narrative writing exercises. We’ve been focusing on EMOTIONS this week, tapping into past experiences with emotional relevance, and describing these events using vivid adjectives and figurative language to entice the reader. We are starting to strengthen our ‘writing muscle’ by creating “quick writes”. Ask your child about the ‘seeds’ in which s/he picked from past events!
Social Studies: Students have been learning about various Native American nations and how their lives were greatly affected by the regions in which they lived. Students are creating a research/ flip art project to illustrate the primary elements of the early cultures of North America. Ask your child about the ‘technology’ Native Americans used to survive with their surroundings and natural resources!
Reading: We continued reading our class novel, Blood on the River. Students are intrigued by Samuel’s journey to the New World while enduring the unfathomable circumstances of traveling by ship across the Atlantic as a servant. Students focus on character development and the similarities of Sam and Charlotte, the main character in our read-aloud The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. We have such great discussions about what is happening in the book and what we predict will unfold in the upcoming chapters. Ask your child how the two main characters of our class novels (Charlotte and Samuel) are similar in their perilous oceanic journeys.
Author Study: We had another ‘Strips of Fun’ activity to unroll the 4th Chris Van Allsburg book in our author study called The Stranger. This fall themed story was a great way to embrace the seasonal weather and discuss the relevance of the autumnal solstice. Ask your child about the trademark ‘twist’ in this story!
Math: This week in math, students will be reviewing multiplying numbers by powers of 10, place value, and rounding and comparing decimals. The mid module will be on Wednesday. Students are working in different workbooks at school and will be bringing only one of these home for homework each night. HERE is a link to the Eureka Volume 1 workbook and HERE is a link to Unit 6 Open Up student workbook in case you need either one.
*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: This week our class learned more about the cycle of life by observing how most organic, living matter eventually ends up as compost material, all thanks to our decomposers. Table groups chose a variable, such as heat/salt/saliva, to test the reaction of decay with ordinary food, and are observing how these choices make an impact in the decomposing process. Ask your child what his/her group’s decision changed the process of food decay!
Miscellaneous:
October 18-20 - Book Fair in the MPR
Wednesday, October 26 - Picture Day Makeups
Monday, October 31 – Halloween Party & Parade
Save the Date
A beloved Bel Aire event is BACK! Fall Festival Family Night returns on Thursday, October 20th. 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!
Writing: This week, students continue to focus on ‘BTH’ (The Big Thing that Happened) during narrative writing exercises. We’ve been focusing on EMOTIONS this week, tapping into past experiences with emotional relevance, and describing these events using vivid adjectives and figurative language to entice the reader. We are starting to strengthen our ‘writing muscle’ by creating “quick writes”. Ask your child about the ‘seeds’ in which s/he picked from past events!
Social Studies: Students have been learning about various Native American nations and how their lives were greatly affected by the regions in which they lived. Students are creating a research/ flip art project to illustrate the primary elements of the early cultures of North America. Ask your child about the ‘technology’ Native Americans used to survive with their surroundings and natural resources!
Reading: We continued reading our class novel, Blood on the River. Students are intrigued by Samuel’s journey to the New World while enduring the unfathomable circumstances of traveling by ship across the Atlantic as a servant. Students focus on character development and the similarities of Sam and Charlotte, the main character in our read-aloud The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. We have such great discussions about what is happening in the book and what we predict will unfold in the upcoming chapters. Ask your child how the two main characters of our class novels (Charlotte and Samuel) are similar in their perilous oceanic journeys.
Author Study: We had another ‘Strips of Fun’ activity to unroll the 4th Chris Van Allsburg book in our author study called The Stranger. This fall themed story was a great way to embrace the seasonal weather and discuss the relevance of the autumnal solstice. Ask your child about the trademark ‘twist’ in this story!
Math: This week in math, students will be reviewing multiplying numbers by powers of 10, place value, and rounding and comparing decimals. The mid module will be on Wednesday. Students are working in different workbooks at school and will be bringing only one of these home for homework each night. HERE is a link to the Eureka Volume 1 workbook and HERE is a link to Unit 6 Open Up student workbook in case you need either one.
*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: This week our class learned more about the cycle of life by observing how most organic, living matter eventually ends up as compost material, all thanks to our decomposers. Table groups chose a variable, such as heat/salt/saliva, to test the reaction of decay with ordinary food, and are observing how these choices make an impact in the decomposing process. Ask your child what his/her group’s decision changed the process of food decay!
Miscellaneous:
October 18-20 - Book Fair in the MPR
Wednesday, October 26 - Picture Day Makeups
Monday, October 31 – Halloween Party & Parade
Save the Date
A beloved Bel Aire event is BACK! Fall Festival Family Night returns on Thursday, October 20th. 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!
September
9.23
Reading: Students continue to read Blood on the River, a novel that illustrates the cultural conflict between Native Americans and European settlers. Students are intrigued by the mysterious disappearance of the “Lost” colony of Roanoke, and anticipate uncovering more clues as the main character, Samuel journeys to the New World. Throughout the reading, students focus on character development as well as the story plot. We have great discussions about plot development and what we predict will happen next. Ask your child about his/her thoughts on Samuel’s perilous journey aboard the the ‘Susan Constant’.
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.
Math: This week in math, the math team has decided to start with Eureka Module 1 (place value and powers of 10) and supplement this with Unit 6 and Unit 5 of Open Up Math. The kids will work in two different workbooks at school and will be bringing only one of these home for homework each night. HERE is a link to the Eureka Volume 1 workbook and HERE is a link to Unit 6 Open Up student workbook in case you need either one.
Science: This week we continued to learn about the Web of Life. Ask your child about the Xylem and Phloem experiment in which celery was used to illustrate the plant's vascular system. On Friday, students gathered everyday food items to observe the mold process and discovered the role fungi play in decomposing dead materials and creating compost.
Social Studies: We are studying the various cultures of Native Americans who lived in the USA before the colonization of our country. Students will be learning about the various homes, tools & technology, food, and customs of Native American nations, recognizing that their lifestyle was influenced by the environment and region where they lived.
5th Grade Reporter Presentations: We had our first 5th grade reporter presentations last week and wow! We are excited for more presentations in the upcoming weeks. :)
We also discussed various ways to give an awesome presentation. Being prepared (practicing), eye contact, simple visuals, and other tips were covered. Here are some links to videos we watched to review effective presentation techniques:
How to Deliver an Effective Presentation
Dos and Don’ts of Presentations
Schooled by Kids
Spanish: Here is the Dualinga link shared at Back To School Night for kids to practice at home: www.duolingo.com/classroom/kqzczm
9.16
Language Arts:
Writing: This week we’ve been narrowing down our writing categories into the 3 domains: Informational, Opinion, and Narrative. Students chose at least one topic that could be spread across each, such as sports, hobbies and interests. Soon we will narrow the focus down to personal narratives based on experiences, and from there, a BTH (Big Thing that Happened) will emerge. These will be called ‘seeds’. Seed stories are small moments in time rather than lengthy “watermelon” stories. Ask your child what topic s/he chose to blanket all 3 writing categories!
Reading: This week, students practiced pulling information and clues from various texts about what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Students worked in groups to formulate their own theory on the fate of this unfortunate settlement. (Ask your child what s/he thinks is to blame for the demise of Roanoke!). This pre-reading research is preparing us for the introduction of our first class novel, Blood on the River, a vivid and historical story of how the first European settlers attempted to colonize land and co-exist with the Native Americans.
Social Studies: Student groups began creating a Google slide on a specific tribe of Native Americans this week. Ultimately, this research will develop into an informative, oral presentation project. 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. These expectations helped students understand how to capture an audience, and reinforced skills that can be used across the curriculum, particularly with the 5th Grade Reporters project.
Math: This week students completed the unit on volume and finished with a final assessment on Friday. Next week, learners will be beginning Unit 2 of Open Up Math, which covers fractions as quotients, fractions as whole numbers and area and fractional side lengths. Students are also working on our first Math Mystery: Case of the Vengeful Vampire. This was assigned to all students and is due by September 23. Here is a link to a family support materials and an overview of Unit Two from Open Up Math.
Science: This week our class discovered the surprising nutrient which accounts for most of a plant's food: Air. Ask your child about the balloon activity that proved this concept, and how the world famous ‘General Sherman’ helped illustrate this.
Additionally, we have set up a ‘weekend’ experiment with celery to show how the roots of plants gather and distribute another nutrient: Water. Ask your child what s/he anticipates to see on Monday!
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:
*THANK YOU to the Kuevelis family for contributing celery for the science experiment AND delicious figs for the class to taste and connect with the infamous Misuser Bibot character from one of our favorite Van Allsburg book, The Sweetest Fig. What a fabulous way to finish a fun week!
*The BTSN Keynote is on the class website under the “Parents” tab.
Writing: This week we’ve been narrowing down our writing categories into the 3 domains: Informational, Opinion, and Narrative. Students chose at least one topic that could be spread across each, such as sports, hobbies and interests. Soon we will narrow the focus down to personal narratives based on experiences, and from there, a BTH (Big Thing that Happened) will emerge. These will be called ‘seeds’. Seed stories are small moments in time rather than lengthy “watermelon” stories. Ask your child what topic s/he chose to blanket all 3 writing categories!
Reading: This week, students practiced pulling information and clues from various texts about what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Students worked in groups to formulate their own theory on the fate of this unfortunate settlement. (Ask your child what s/he thinks is to blame for the demise of Roanoke!). This pre-reading research is preparing us for the introduction of our first class novel, Blood on the River, a vivid and historical story of how the first European settlers attempted to colonize land and co-exist with the Native Americans.
Social Studies: Student groups began creating a Google slide on a specific tribe of Native Americans this week. Ultimately, this research will develop into an informative, oral presentation project. 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. These expectations helped students understand how to capture an audience, and reinforced skills that can be used across the curriculum, particularly with the 5th Grade Reporters project.
Math: This week students completed the unit on volume and finished with a final assessment on Friday. Next week, learners will be beginning Unit 2 of Open Up Math, which covers fractions as quotients, fractions as whole numbers and area and fractional side lengths. Students are also working on our first Math Mystery: Case of the Vengeful Vampire. This was assigned to all students and is due by September 23. Here is a link to a family support materials and an overview of Unit Two from Open Up Math.
Science: This week our class discovered the surprising nutrient which accounts for most of a plant's food: Air. Ask your child about the balloon activity that proved this concept, and how the world famous ‘General Sherman’ helped illustrate this.
Additionally, we have set up a ‘weekend’ experiment with celery to show how the roots of plants gather and distribute another nutrient: Water. Ask your child what s/he anticipates to see on Monday!
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:
*THANK YOU to the Kuevelis family for contributing celery for the science experiment AND delicious figs for the class to taste and connect with the infamous Misuser Bibot character from one of our favorite Van Allsburg book, The Sweetest Fig. What a fabulous way to finish a fun week!
*The BTSN Keynote is on the class website under the “Parents” tab.
9.9
Language Arts:
Writing: Students have been polishing up on their narrative writing skills, creating several on-demand assignments that we will use as a ‘baseline’ to begin the trajectory of improvement.
5th Grade Reporter Presentations:
Each student has been assigned a date for their Reporter Presentations. We went over the handout together and discussed expectations for this at-home assignment and the calendar with the schedule.
Reading: 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 continued our author study on Chris Van Allsburg this week with our 3rd book, The Sweetest Fig. This hilarious story has all the trademark characteristics of his books: The signature plot twists, unusual style of writing and moral lessons on building character. Ask your child about the lessons learned from this week’s book compared to the previously read stories.
We’ve also begun our Accelerated Reader journey this week. Students have set reasonable goals for attaining points by the end of the trimester and are aware of their ZPD (comprehension comfort zone) range of books to read independently. We’ve already begun our mission in hitting our AR target goals with our CVA books as well as several current event sources. Ask your child what s/he learned from reading a non-fiction article!
Social Studies: We are studying the various cultures of Native Americans who lived in the USA before the colonization of our country. Students will be learning about the various homes, tools & technology, food, and customs of Native American nations, recognizing that their lifestyle was influenced by the environment and region where they lived.
Math: This week in math, learners will be completing Unit 1 of Open Up Math, which covers volume, and starting a review before taking the test on Friday, Sept. 16. Students are also working on our first Math Mystery: Case of the Vengeful Vampire. This is assigned to all students and is due by September 23. Here is a link to a family support materials and an overview of Unit one from Open Up Math. (on-line newsletter has active link)
Science/Design Lab: This week in the Bel Aire Design Lab, we were challenged to create a tin foil vessel that had buoyancy and durability in water. Students used a small square of foil to create the boat, and the weight of marbles and pennies to determine the volume of the boats capability, and a cubic water tool to measure water displacement and density.
Miscellaneous:
*THANK YOU to all the families that contributed to Monday’s class auction!
9.2
Language ArtsWriting:
Students continue to express their creative selves with poetry and journal prompts in their writing notebooks. Ask your child about the memories generated in his/her family bio poem.
Reading:
Students should have come home with several books from their first few visits to the Bel Aire library! This week students have been learning to identify literature text that relates to themselves, and their world. As we continue our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, students are connecting the unusual story elements with their own experiences. Next week we will launch the class novel, Blood on the River, which illustrates the cultural conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.
Science:
Students continued to explore how organisms depend on one another and form an interconnected ecosystem. We will be investigating food chains, food webs, and the importance of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Math: This week in math learners continue with Unit 1 of Open Up Math. We are continuing with volume. Here is a link (on the on-line newsletter) to family support materials and an overview of Unit one from Open Up Math.
Miscellaneous:
*Labor Day is Monday, September 5th. No School.
* I look forward to seeing you all at Back to School Night on Thursday starting at 5:30pm on the lower blacktop.
*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. Donations are welcome! We will also be changing up our seating arrangements and jobs.
Language ArtsWriting:
Students continue to express their creative selves with poetry and journal prompts in their writing notebooks. Ask your child about the memories generated in his/her family bio poem.
Reading:
Students should have come home with several books from their first few visits to the Bel Aire library! This week students have been learning to identify literature text that relates to themselves, and their world. As we continue our author study on Chris Van Allsburg, students are connecting the unusual story elements with their own experiences. Next week we will launch the class novel, Blood on the River, which illustrates the cultural conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.
Science:
Students continued to explore how organisms depend on one another and form an interconnected ecosystem. We will be investigating food chains, food webs, and the importance of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Math: This week in math learners continue with Unit 1 of Open Up Math. We are continuing with volume. Here is a link (on the on-line newsletter) to family support materials and an overview of Unit one from Open Up Math.
Miscellaneous:
*Labor Day is Monday, September 5th. No School.
* I look forward to seeing you all at Back to School Night on Thursday starting at 5:30pm on the lower blacktop.
*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. Donations are welcome! We will also be changing up our seating arrangements and jobs.
August
Language Arts:
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, and journaling. Students engaged in several activities to help get to know their classmates, and each child wrote a friendly, informative letter to me. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ and brown bag activities!
Reading/Social Studies: We’ve been using picture books and short stories to make connections to our own lives. We’ve also been reading about a boy who can talk to animals!
Last week 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’ drama exercise!
Math: This week we’ve been learning about how we can be persistent and persevere in challenges and using the visual charts 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/Engineering: Students enjoyed the challenges of the ‘Marshmallow Challenge’ activity. As we struggled to construct the largest free-standing structure, many team building lessons rose to the surface. After we assessed our mistakes and behaviors towards cooperating, we got another chance to apply what we learned. (See photos in the photo gallery!) Ask your child about the simple yet tricky criteria of building a solid foundation (literal and figurative!) and how collaboration is so important for success!
Miscellaneous:
*Back to School Night is next Thursday, September 8th
*SMILE! Friday September 2nd is Picture Day.
*There will be no school on Monday, September 5th. (Labor Day) More Info ↘️
.
Interested in being our Room Parent this year?!
The Room Parent Scheduler is the link between the classroom parents, the teacher, the Foundation and the PTA. The Room Parent Scheduler’s responsibilities include:
o Keep a calendar of volunteer schedules for your class on LotsaHelpingHands (LHH)
o Send a regular email with volunteer openings for the coming week(s) and update parents of upcoming dates and events.
o Assist the teacher with communications with the class as needed.
o Act as parent liaison for the classroom with the PTA and Foundation.
o Recruit additional volunteers as needed over the course of the year.
o Support other parents in key classroom coordinator roles.
Please reach out to Tina Davis at (tina_e_davis@yahoo.com) with any questions or if you’re interested in signing up!
Writing: We’ve been doing all kind of writing this week: Poetry, creative story-telling, and journaling. Students engaged in several activities to help get to know their classmates, and each child wrote a friendly, informative letter to me. Ask your child what s/he learned about his/her classmates during our ‘all-some-one’ and brown bag activities!
Reading/Social Studies: We’ve been using picture books and short stories to make connections to our own lives. We’ve also been reading about a boy who can talk to animals!
Last week 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’ drama exercise!
Math: This week we’ve been learning about how we can be persistent and persevere in challenges and using the visual charts 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/Engineering: Students enjoyed the challenges of the ‘Marshmallow Challenge’ activity. As we struggled to construct the largest free-standing structure, many team building lessons rose to the surface. After we assessed our mistakes and behaviors towards cooperating, we got another chance to apply what we learned. (See photos in the photo gallery!) Ask your child about the simple yet tricky criteria of building a solid foundation (literal and figurative!) and how collaboration is so important for success!
Miscellaneous:
*Back to School Night is next Thursday, September 8th
*SMILE! Friday September 2nd is Picture Day.
*There will be no school on Monday, September 5th. (Labor Day) More Info ↘️
.
Interested in being our Room Parent this year?!
The Room Parent Scheduler is the link between the classroom parents, the teacher, the Foundation and the PTA. The Room Parent Scheduler’s responsibilities include:
o Keep a calendar of volunteer schedules for your class on LotsaHelpingHands (LHH)
o Send a regular email with volunteer openings for the coming week(s) and update parents of upcoming dates and events.
o Assist the teacher with communications with the class as needed.
o Act as parent liaison for the classroom with the PTA and Foundation.
o Recruit additional volunteers as needed over the course of the year.
o Support other parents in key classroom coordinator roles.
Please reach out to Tina Davis at (tina_e_davis@yahoo.com) with any questions or if you’re interested in signing up!