September 30

Fall Fest

Caughlin Ranch's fun-filled Fall Fest will be held on Friday, October 4.  I know the Fall Fest committee is in need of volunteers.  Fliers went home this past Friday with more detailed information.  If you would like to volunteer your time or some baked goods, the office has the information.

Reading

The students' Independent Reading Assignment is due this coming Friday, October 4.  This assignment includes students' AR points, a story map and character analysis on a realistic fiction book (this was a two sided sheet of paper handed out more than 3 weeks ago), and a WOW! Words bookmark. 

Students are expected to read every night at home.  They are also encouraged to read in the classroom after finishing required assignments.

Math

We are finishing up Unit 2 in Everyday Math.  They will be taking a multiplication assessment and the Unit 2 Checking Progress test in the next few days.

Common Core Standards state that 5th grade students need to be fluent in the standard/traditional algorithm for double digit multiplication.  Some students are still struggling with this algorithm.  You may want to check your child's homework to see how they are progressing using the standard algorithm.

The next Everyday Math unit is geometry based.  As we work our way through this unit, we will also begin practicing simple division.

Social Studies

Students will be introduced to a European explorer from the Age of Exploration this week.  They will begin researching their explorer in the library and during computer time.  Research will be presented in the form of an Explorer Trading Card.  Students will be given instructions and an outline for this project during the week.  I will take student in-put as to when this assignment will be due. Because students will need to work on this assignment at home, this assignment will take the place of one  Zaner-Bloser weekly writing assignment.

Science

Mixtures and solutions is being investigated during our labs.  Students earn a lab grade based on their active participation, ability to follow written and verbal instructions, demonstrations of proper lab behaviors and use of equipment, and cooperation with their science team.  In this week's main lab, students will need to write a materials list and procedure for separating a mixture of gravel, salt, and diatomaceous earth powder.  Then follow their procedure for separation.

Writing

This week students final draft of a Batty Opinion will be due Wednesday. Their rough drafts of this essay were due Friday and have been commented upon.  As a class, students will read, analyze, and compare their essays to  examples of well written essays on Monday.  This will help them in the revision process.  A focus point for revision will be smoothing out transitions.

This week's writing assignment will be another opinon essay on whether or not schools should be nut-free zones.  Information for this topic will be supplied by a Time For Kids article.

Septemeber 23

I apologize for not posting more blogs; however, learning to comment and score Zaner-Bloser writing assignments has be quite time consuming. 

Zaner-Blosser Writing

Thank you for your support using the Zaner-Bloser program.  Please encourage your child to use the   e-books and other reference materials the program offers.  I have included page numbers to the Strategies for Writers e-book in the assignment instructions. I, also, encourage you to help your child with the revising and editing of their writing.  When I work with students individually on written assignments, I tell them to read out loud to me every word they have written.  This revising strategy helps them to hear their writing and pick up on extra words or missing words. 

Math

This coming Wednesday, September 25, the Caughlin Ranch Math Committee will be hosting a Math Night at school between 6:30 -7:30.  I highly recommend you and your child attend.

We will be finishing up Unit 2 in Everyday Math by the end of the week. This unit focused on estimation, statistics, addition and subtraction.  I have had question regarding how much time should be spent on IXL assignments. IXL is great program for reinforcing and practicing math skills. I would like every student to work toward achieving 100% on a skill; however, I do not want students spending hours achieving 100%.  20-25  minutes of honest to goodness hard work is enough time.  If a student can reach 100% in 10 minutes, that's great.  If after 20 or 25 minutes they are at 75% that is good enough. They have practiced the skill and will have a better understanding of it. What I will down grade students for is having practiced a skill for 3 minutes with score of say 50%.  That student can put in more effort.

Reading

We have finished our novel unit and have focused on reading information text related to science and social studies. We will begin using the district provided reading anthology, as well, as other teacher provided resources to work on specific reading skills.  You child's Independent Reading assignment which includes her/his personal AR point goal, WOW! words bookmark, story map, and character analysis is due October 4.  This is several days later than the original due date because students requested an extension.

Science

We have begun using the FOSS kit, Mixtures and Solutions.  It was quite challenging managing the chemicals and equipment for 33 students, but we did it.  I'll I can say is it takes extra time setting up and passing equipment out. Our first lab was making and separating mixtures.  I encourage you to talk to your child about this investigation.

Social Studies

We recently studied ancient American cultures which intrigued the students.  This coming week will focus on North American Native Americans.  The following week will be the Age of Exploration, which will then lead to exploration and colonization of the Americas.  Our major focus in 5th grade social studies is the 13 English colonies and the American Revolution, but I believe students needs background information on North American Native Americans and exploration to fully understand colonization.

Fall Fest

Caughlin Ranch's annual Fall Fest will be October 4.  I know PTA needs a lot of help to make this event happen.  A flier about this family fun event went home in Friday Folders.  If you did not receive one, information is available in the office. I will be volunteering at the event and look forward to seeing my students and their families there!

Posting Videos and Photos

I would like to occasionally post videos and photos taken in the classroom.  Before I do so, I will review the information parents submitted about posting photographs.  I realize many parents do not want their child's pictures on-line. 

Please e-mail with questions, comments, or concerns.  Thank you for supporting your child's education.

September 3-9

I hope you all had a wonderful three day holiday!  Below you will find information on upcoming events and assignments for the week ahead.

Jog-athon & Count Day

Friday, Sept. 6, is our annual PTA Jog-athon fund raiser! Please make sure your child wears shoes and clothes he/she can run in on that day.  Friday is also official Count Day for the district.  Students will be asked to sign their names on a roster to indicate they are enrolled and present.  Our school's student population will determine the amount of money allocated to the school.

Math

On Wednesday of this week, students will be taking the Unit 1 Checking Progress test covering concepts in Unit 1 of Everyday Math.  We will review for the test on Tuesday.  We will then be reviewing decimal concepts before heading into Unit 2 which covers estimation and addition/subtraction algorithms and concepts. 

IXL for this week is Q12, writing multiplication expressions using exponents, Q13, evaluating exponent expressions (students may use a calculator), C1, identifying the decimal number illustrated by the model, and C3, working with decimal place value positions.

On Thursday of this week students will be taking the Math MAPs assessment.

Zaner-Bloser

Please make sure your child is logging onto my.zaner-bloser.com website and checking her/his assignments.  This week students will be playing the Sentence: Fragment, Run-on, and Commas Splice game.  Students have been asked to play all three games to improve their knowledge and skill and identifying these grammar errors. Grammar games should be played by Friday.

This week's writing assignment is another opinion piece on open-book tests.  Rough draft of the assignment is due Saturday, Sept. 7 for teacher review and comments.  Final draft is due Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Social Studies

We have completed our review of world and US geography with a test this last Friday.  We will be reading the text book and learning about early American cultures and civilizations.

Science

Atomic theory will be coming to a close with an investigation of static electricity.  Atomic theory test will be sometime the week of September 9.  Look for a study guide coming home.

Reading

We are more than half-way through, There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. Following completion we will analyze the book discussing plot structure including internal vs. external conflict, climax, resolution,  and theme. Students will be asked to apply their knowledge of these concepts to their independently read novels.

Students should be reading toward their personal AR goals nightly.