Geography
We just concluded our Geography Unit in which students analyzed the different regions of the United States looking for similarities and differences is key concepts. These included: climate, natural resources, agriculture, products and industry, culture, and major landforms and attractions. They then extended their knowledge of the region by creating a new NFL franchise for the region. This showed that they knew their region well and were able to analyze concepts to develop not only a team, but also location and mascot that would be fitting.
What you can do at home?
Ask them why they chose the city they did and mascot they did. Start having discussions about where products and natural resources come from around the US.
Reading
We have begun our first book club reading for the year. Each student is reading a novel that is fitting of their reading level. We are delving into ideas such as characterization, character motivations, problems and solutions, and deciphering theme. Students are being asked to not only read deeper, but also to increase their reading volume.
What you can do at home?
Encourage more and more reading!! There is a direct correlation to the volume of reading done to all aspects of reading development: fluency, vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension. Also, when students tell you about their book ask more specific questions for follow up: why would that character act in that way? What does the author want you to think about when they wrote that? How would you handle the problems arising in this book?
Writing
We are currently finishing up our Personal Narrative Unit where students wrote about not only an important moment of their lives, but also incorporated story elements such as a story arc and theme. Students are learning that authors not only write often, but write to express an idea or message.
Next we will be moving on to the structures of a well written paragraph and essay. This will be the foundation for most of the other writing we do this year: research based argumentative essays and historical informational essays.
Math
We are beginning Unit 2 of our math series. Here we will focus on volume of rectangular prisms and irregular rectangular prisms. Please view the Family Letter Here
Science
We have taken a brief look at cells, cell organelles, and the differences between plant and animal cells. This is the basis of all life and will help us understand that every living thing must perform all Life Processes. Now that we have that concept understood, we will look at the different organs and organ systems of the human body to see how they are imperative to animals performing those life processes. Our first system will be the digestive system.
What you an do at home?
Talk more about nutrition and how what we eat (or don't eat) affects our organs.
Upcoming
Hey there! So much going on this week! Below you will find a schedule for this week along with important information.
Fall Conferences
The parent-teacher conference schedule has been released. Please sign up here. The password is digger. Gold Rush Conference Nights are Thursday 9/27 and Thursday 10/6. As mentioned earlier, you can sign up for alternative times here. If none of these work, I completely understand and am happy to email you thoughts and information in lieu of a face-to-face.
Picture Retakes
Picture retakes are September 19th. If you need to order pictures, please go to Lifetouch.com - Picture Day Id: CG878219Y1.
Digger Dash - 9/20
The GRE annual Digger Dash will be this Thursday. We will be racing from 10:50-11:35. As always, you are invited to come cheer us on as we race. While our race time is still in the morning, it could be very hot by the time we race (provided the rain doesn't decide to show up on Thursday). We are asking students to bring in their own labeled water bottles; PTO will not be providing water this year in order to save money on cups so it can be spent elsewhere. We will be bringing our water bottles outside with us and Parent Volunteers will be setting up a table to house those water bottles. We will resume our normal school day after Digger Dash is over.
No School this Friday, September 21. Teacher's have an inservice day.
Also, thank you so much for all who have expressed your congratulations on my upcoming wedding. 20 more days!! Some have also been curious about any time off I will be taking. I will have a substitute for only that Friday before Fall Break: October 5th.
I hope you have a great week and, as always, feel free to email me at any time!
Student Blogger - Sara
Math: We have been learning the difference of factors and multiples. Also we have been working on number patterns to figure out which number fits all the rules. That helps us with our math vocabulary.
Reading: In reading we have been learning to jot our thinking on a sticky note, but the sticky note has to be a good detailed sticky note about how you are feeling, questions, metaphors, and responses. We also have been learning about the story plot and the different types of conflict.
Writing: We have been working on an article on 10 questions about ourselves. We make the questions and we answer them and make it an article about someone interviewing you.
Social Studies: We have been learning about the 5 themes about geography.
Assessments: We have been doing a lots of tests these past few weeks. One of them was called iReady we did math and reading in that test. Also we did a multiplication test in five minutes and I think that helped us with our multiplication facts.
A few things...
We've had a great week! I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know these great kiddos. I love that everywhere I go, teachers stop me and tell me what a great class I have this year. Thanks for raising such good kids.
A reminder that Reading Logs are due every Friday and should be signed by both your child and you to help foster not only volume of reading but also to build a love of reading.
Also, thank you for signing the 5 minute Math Drill this week. As I mentioned at Back to School Night, the math in 5th grade gets quite hard, quite fast. Knowing multiples and factors will help students grasp concepts faster by seeing patterns and connections between numbers. We will hit division, fractions, decimals, and algebra this year and knowing these facts will be important to not only their understanding of concepts, but also to their speed of getting through work.
We've done a lot of assessments this week and will continue to do a few more next week. I'm happy to share information with you at conferences if you'd like. These assessments are not only required by the state, but also help me reach your child where they are at and help them grow.
CogAT testing his coming up. Here is more information about what this test is and when we will be taking it.
Finally, Digger Dash packets went home today. We had a fun assembly to promote our biggest fundraiser of the year. This year, we plan on using the money in a few ways, but one of the biggest will be to boost and update reading material for the classrooms. With our new reading program, we feel it is important to have quality books that will truly engage all students. Thanks for your support.
A reminder that Reading Logs are due every Friday and should be signed by both your child and you to help foster not only volume of reading but also to build a love of reading.
Also, thank you for signing the 5 minute Math Drill this week. As I mentioned at Back to School Night, the math in 5th grade gets quite hard, quite fast. Knowing multiples and factors will help students grasp concepts faster by seeing patterns and connections between numbers. We will hit division, fractions, decimals, and algebra this year and knowing these facts will be important to not only their understanding of concepts, but also to their speed of getting through work.
We've done a lot of assessments this week and will continue to do a few more next week. I'm happy to share information with you at conferences if you'd like. These assessments are not only required by the state, but also help me reach your child where they are at and help them grow.
CogAT testing his coming up. Here is more information about what this test is and when we will be taking it.
Finally, Digger Dash packets went home today. We had a fun assembly to promote our biggest fundraiser of the year. This year, we plan on using the money in a few ways, but one of the biggest will be to boost and update reading material for the classrooms. With our new reading program, we feel it is important to have quality books that will truly engage all students. Thanks for your support.
Back to School Night Info
Here's the presentation I showed on Back to School Night for those who weren't able to make it. Presentation
Upcoming
It was so great to see all the smiling faces last week. We had a great start to the school year and I am looking forward to the days to come to continue to get to know you and your kiddos.
A few upcoming events. For those who won't be able to attend Back to School Night, I will upload the presentation to my blog for you to see.
Wednesday, August 15th is Back to School Night
Session 1: 6:05-6:35 PM
Session 2: 6:40-7:10 PM
Also, Jenny Brown, the principal, will share school celebrations and upcoming goals for the year in the gym from 5:45-6:00 PM.
Tuesday, August 28th is our Assessment Day
Students will come to their scheduled time slot to complete reading and math assessments.
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