October, November, December

We have just completed our first quarter of school.  Time flies when you're having fun!  We investigated the realistic fiction genre in reading, as well as, diving into informational texts via Newsela, textbooks, and Time for Kids magazine.  Students wrote three five paragraph essays during the quarter, and also practiced writing  comparing and contrasting paragraphs (we need a little more practice with this skill). Math focused on number theory and our wonderful base ten system.  Students honed their skills in  estimation, addition, subtraction, and multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.  Computation skills were embedded in word problems. Social studies began with a study of United States geography and morphed into the settlement of the Americas by the first peoples.  Science began with a unit on atomic theory which dove tailed with identify physical properties of matter, specifically minerals. 

We are now heading into the second quarter, a very busy time of year.  Below is  an outline of up-coming units of study and activities.

ELA

We will be delving in the mystery genre over the next few weeks, and mystery will be the focus of students next Independent Reading Assignment. Students' Mystery Independent Reading assignment and AR points are due Dec. 1.  As a whole class, students are reading the mystery/fantasy children's novel The Dollhouse Murders. Our next genre study will be historical fiction focusing on colonization of North America.

We continue to do close reading activities, most recently with an excerpt from Roughing It by Mark Twain that described Virginia City during its early days. This reading was to support the Virginia City field trip. Students will be writing an essay comparing Virginia City in Twain's time to Virginia City today.  Through this essay, students will be practicing citing sources of information.

Students continue to have weekly Newsela and fluency reading assignment.

Science

We are finishing  up our studies on minerals and physical properties.  Students are currently involved in labs in which they are finding volume of a mineral by displacement, finding mass using a balance scale, and are using these measurement to find density.  Students will further investigate volume and density by finding the volume of blocks of wood of various sizes and calculating density.

Our next science unit will be the FOSS Kit Mixtures and Solutions.  This is wonderful kit investigating  physical and chemical chemical changes of matter.

Math

Students are strengthening their understanding of measurement concepts: perimeter, area of rectangles, and volume. Geometry concepts  and division are focused skills throughout November and December.

Social Studies

Students have completed a jig-saw activity on North American Native American cultures.  Next up is Age of Exploration which leads directly into colonization. 

UNR Field Trip

I am currently in the planning stages of a field trip to UNR scheduled for December 18.  Students will be visiting the Keck Mineral Museum, the Engineering Department's earthquake shaker tables lab, and the Knowledge Center.  When schedule is firmed up, a permission note will be sent home.

 

August

I have greatly enjoyed getting to know my 2014-2015 school year students during the first two weeks of school!  Students took the reading MAP test on August 20, and will be taking the math MAP on August 28. Students scores will be coming home in the next few weeks.

Below is an outline of our studies and up-coming school events.

Reading

We are currently reading the children's novel There is a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. This novel provides a vehicle for studying realistic fiction, character analysis, plot structure and theme.  Students were given an Independent Reading assignment on Monday, August 25.  As part of their Independent Reading, students were assigned an AR point goal based on their  STAR reading test and reading MAP scores. Students may read any books at their reading level to reach their point goal; however,  at least one book must be in the realistic fiction genre.  For the realistic fiction book students will complete a story map  and analyze the main character.  Students will also complete a WOW! Word bookmark collecting  ten new or interesting words from any of the books they read and writing down the definitions.  This Independent Reading assignment is due     .

We are also engaged in reading informational texts through our studies in science and social studies.

Language Arts

Students are completing their Me Essay. The purpose of this essay was to introduce students to the writing process and  five paragraph format we will be using throughout the year as we practice writing informative, persuasive, narrative, and opinion pieces.  Students will be asked to type these essays to gain fluency using word processing programs. If students do not have access to a computer at home. They may come in before school, during recess, or after school to use a  classroom computer.

Our next essay will be a persuasive piece: Why donate to the Caughlin Ranch Jog-athon?

Math

We are finishing up Unit 1 in Everyday Math: Number Theory.  Following the Unit 1 Checking Progress assessment, students will be taking a closer look at Nevada Academic Standards tied to base 10.  This will be followed by Everyday Math Unit 2: Estimation and Computation.

Science

Students have learning about atoms and their connection to static electricity.  Students will visit the periodic chart of elements and link it a study of minerals and physical properties.  We will then begin using the FOSS Kit, Water Planet.

Social Studies

We are currently learning the "lay of the land" in anticipation of our study of American history.  Over the next few months, students will be encounter the first people in the Americas, European explorers, European colonizers, and the American Revolution.

Caughlin Ranch 5^th Grade Supply List

2014-2015 School Year

 

At least a 1 gigabyte flash drive (also known as a thumb drive or jump drive) for storing & transporting computer work from school to home and vice versa

Durable expandable file folder (letter size), also known as an accordion folder, with at least 10 pockets to be used as a filing system for notes and assignments. Briefcase style—one that can stand alone with a handle, if possible.

$50 made out to Caughlin Ranch School which will cover the cost of the items below and other classroom supplies for science, math, and art throughout the year.

 

 

We are  happily providing these items to take the stress out of “Back to School” shopping!

·       Pencils    ·       3” x  3” Post-It Notes   ·       Highlighters   ·       Rulers   ·       Correcting pens

·       Markers and colored pencils   ·       Sharpie pens   ·       Glue sticks   ·       Scissors   ·       Dry erase markers   ·       Math, Science/Science and ELA notebooks

 

 

 

April

We the People

Students have been working hard preparing for the We the People mock congressional hearing to be held Wednesday, April 23.  Students should be at school about 6:15.  By 6:30 parents, students, teachers, and the judges will gather in the cafeteria for presentation of the flag, introductions and a few welcoming words from our principal, Mrs. Thoroughman.  After this, students, parents, and teachers will go to their classrooms--each 5th grade classroom will be conducting  a mock hearing.  This hearing a a wonderful way to celebrate students' Constitutional knowledge and support writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Math

We have begun investigating the Measurement and Data strand of our Common Core Math Standards.  Before spring break students worked with various graphs to represent data: line plots, stem-and-leaf plots, and histograms. Students are now working  on perimeter, area, and volume concepts.   We will also be preparing for CRTs with Nevada Department of Education practice tests.

Reading

Students' Fantasy Genre assignment and AR points were due Friday, April 18.  Some students have not yet turned this assignment in. Students may still turn this assignment in.  We will know begin looking into the science fiction genre.  Students will be given a Science Fiction independent reading assignment this coming Friday, April 25. Students, also,  continue to have weekly Newsela.com assignments.

Science

We are preparing for science CRTs with a variety of science topics.  We briefly reviewed earth science concepts and are beginning to look at life science concepts.

CRTs

State mandated CRTs (Criterion Referenced Test) will be given the first week in May.  Students in fifth grade take tests in math, reading, and science.  Each test has two parts.  Students will be taking Math part 1 on Monday morning, May 5; Math part 2, Tuesday morning, May 6; Reading part 1 Wednesday morning, May 7, Reading part 2, Thursday morning, May 8; and Science parts 1 & 2 on Friday, May 9.  Please make sure your child is at school on time this week  and he/she is getting a good breakfast and plenty of rest. Thank you!

March 15

We the People

A note went home in Friday, March 14, Friday Folder explaining the We the People program and the culminating mock congressional hearing.  The final date (I promise this won't change) is Wednesday, April 23. 

Newsela.com

I sent a bright pink paper home on Monday, Mach 10, explaining 5th grade's latest reading program, Newsela.com.  Newsela.com is a web-based reading program featuring informational text taken from magazines and newspapers.  Every student was given his/her log-on information.  Each week students will be assigned a Newsela article to read with an accompanying 4 question quiz. This reading assignment will take the place of the weekly fluency assignment.

Fanstasy Genre

We will begin reading Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a class novel.  Students have been given a new Independent Reading Assignment and AR goals due  April 18.  At least one of the books they read between now and April 18 will be in the fantasy genre.  Students need to complete a Fantasy Genre Independent Reading Assignment by April 18.

 

March 2

Class Meeting Notes

On Friday, Feb. 28, students participated in a class meeting. Students discussed lunchroom behaviors, cell phone use at school, playground and line-up behavior, respect issues, and excessive noise in the classroom.  Students will be bringing home a paper with detailed notes of this discussion.  Please review these notes with your child and reinforce the importance of respectful and polite behavior. Please sign it and have your child return it to school.  Thank you.

Social Studies/Language Arts & We the People

Students have transitioned from the American Revolution to the writing of the Constitution.  To engage students in civics education we are using the program We the People.  We the People was created by the Center for Civics Education and is sponsored by Congress.  The culminating activity in  this project based learning design is a mock Congressional hearing at which students will read prepared written statements and answer questions regarding the Constitution before a panel of judges.  The date of the mock Congressional hearing is Wednesday, April 16, 6-8 PM.  This is a change from the original date set at the beginning of the year. Please make every possible effort to have your child attend this powerful learning experience.

Math

We are ending up our fractions unit of study, but will continue to work with fractions as we analyze data, solve problems, and in measurement.  We will examine fraction/decimal relationships and begin a data analysis unit.

Science

We are ending our FOSS Mixtures and Solutions unit by investigating chemical changes.  Students will begin a life science unit examining food webs and food chains. Students will learn of the importance of plants in food chains and plant structures.  A focus on trees  will combine science and art. Students will be designing wood tables for the up-coming Art Auction. 

January 26-February 2

Spell-athon

Students will be taking the Spell-athon spelling test this coming Friday, January 31. Please help your child study these words and gather some sponsors. 

AR Goals

Students will be bringing home their new AR goals (Independent Reading)  this coming week.  Because of the written work required of their Poetry assignment due February 14, students will not have a written component associated with their AR goals.

January 22-27

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a restful and joyful winter break.  The students returned to school ready go! Thank you for making your child's education a priority.  Below is an outline of current and up-coming classroom studies and events:

Language Arts

We have begun a poetry unit of study in language arts.  Through this poetry unit students will engage in several Common Core Literature Standards.  Students will be reading and analyzing poetry in the classroom and writing poems, too.  They have been given an Independent Poetry Reading assignment designed to reinforce literature/poetry concepts taught in the classroom.  This Independent Poetry Reading assignment is due February 14.  To celebrate the end of our poetry unit, we will be having a Poetry Slam in the afternoon of February 14.  Students will be sharing their favorite poems with their classmates.  More details regarding the Poetry Slam will be coming home.

Math

We continue to investigate fractions in math.  Modeling of fractions is an important Common Core concept, and students have made fraction sticks, used number lines, and drawn pictures to visualize and model fractions.  We will begin modeling addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators in the week ahead.

Social Studies

The American Revolution is our social studies focus for the next several weeks.  Cause and effect relationships will be examined during this unit of study.  Students will also be analyzing primary source images and documents related to the American Revolution.

Science

We continue our FOSS unit, Mixtures and Solutions.  The focus of the third investigation in this unit is concentration.

Spell-athon

Our PTA is holding a Spell-athon fund raiser.  Students will be bringing home their spelling lists this week.  Please support your child in this activity.

MAPs Testing

Students are taking reading and math MAPs assessments this week and next. I will be sending home the results of these tests by the end of the month.