I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend! It seems hard to believe we are already in the midst of September. I am so excited about the positive energy of our class and the work we have done thus far! Over the past few weeks, we have enjoyed practicing our regular, every day routine and diving deeper into our units in different subject areas.
In writing, we are continuing to work in our "Narrative Craft" unit. In this unit, the students are raising the level of their narrative writing. They are choosing a small moment from their life to write about. We are also working on telling the inside story, what we were thinking and feeling in the story, and also the events that unfolded.
In social studies, we are working in our "Cultures Meet" unit. Currently we are learning about different European explorers who journeyed to the New World. We are analyzing their motivations for exploration, the results of their explorations, and the routes they took.
Thinking analytically in social studies has helped us in our first reading unit, "Interpretation Book Clubs." In this unit, the students are learning how to analyze their reading on a deeper level. We are learning to share our thoughts not only in book clubs but also in our writing. Throughout the week, you may see your child's reading scrapbook come home as we will ask students to write entries about their reading. We have talked about how these entries should include powerful thinking about our reading. We will make a claim, or a thought we had about our reading, support the claim with evidence, and then explain our reasoning. This is a skill we will continue to work on throughout the school year.
In math, all classes have continued work in Unit 2: "Whole Number Multiplication and Division." Tests from our first unit were sent home on Friday. After each test is sent home, please sign the test to indicate you have seen it. Then, students will correct the problems that were marked incorrect. The students will work out the problem again to find the correct answer on the correction sheets we have provided for them. They know they are to not write corrections on the test but only on the corrections sheets. Once corrections have been done, the students will bring the signed test and corrections back to turn in. This past week, the students also received their XtraMath accounts. XtraMath, xtramath.org, is a website students can use to practice their basic facts in all operations. The students are expected to spend about 10 minutes each night on this program. It is similar to the FASTT Math program we had used for many years. We will monitor the students progress through the program and offer any help and assistance that we can. The students received all information necessary to run the program at home on Friday. They have their student pin numbers to access the program, and they brought home a parent letter to help your family access the program at home. Please let me know if there are any questions regarding XtraMath!
In this blog, I have also included links to a few different items. You will find a link below to our Curriculum Night presentation and our Fifth Grade Handbook. Please let me know if there are any questions regarding any of these attachments. Our Fifth Grade Handbook has various curriculum links as well as a reminder of how to access our math curriculum online with the proper username and password. You will find these links throughout the year on our classroom website.
Curriculum Night Resources:
http://www.claytonschools.net/Page/9099
In addition, I have included a link for Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences in this blog as well. Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held starting Monday, October 12, 2015 through Thursday, October 15, 2015. Conferences will be held before school and after school Monday, October 12, 2015 through Wednesday, October 14, 2015. On October 15, 2015, there will be no school for students, and teachers will hold conferences throughout the day. There will be no school on Friday, October 16, 2015 as well, but neither students or teachers will be in attendance this day. Fall conferences are scheduled for a thirty-minute time period. Students will also be asked to attend. For a part of the conference, students will reflect on their growth so far this year. Please use the link I have included to select a time from the times I have offered for your conference. However, please let me know if another time would be best, and I would be happy to set a time that would work better with your schedule. I look forward to meeting with all of you in October!
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences Sign Up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0848a9ab22a6ff2-mscrowleys
Thank you all so much, and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!! This Friday, September 18, students will be released at 1:15 p.m. for our first Early Release Day. Please continue to let me know if I can answer any questions or be of any support!!
