Fifth Grade Newsletter: February 2024
5th Grade Families,
Quarter 3 has gotten off to a great start! Instead of 5th graders, the students are starting to be referred to as “soon-to-be 6th graders”! Third quarter also brings a lot of changes of expectations and work load. Continue reading to find out more!
Mrs. Henceroth, Mrs. Jackson, & Ms. Tran
Important Dates & Reminder
- Tuesday, February 6 & Wednesday, February 7-WIDA testing
- Thursday, February 8-Report Cards go home
- Monday, February 19-No School, George Washington’s Birthday
- Reminder: Please do not send soda, candy or gum to school with your child.
- Students should be reading at least 30 minutes each night.
Language Arts What are we learning?
- Reading: Non Fiction
- Readers know that the information in nonfiction books is organized and it’s their job to figure out what the big ideas of the text are.
- Readers understand that authors have different perspectives and use that understanding to create theories.
- Readers connect their theories and opinions to formulate new understandings about the world.
- Readers gain new information and weigh information against their background knowledge.
- Readers use text information and organization to understand the author’s message.
- Readers use evidence to support their theory in order to share effectively.
- Readers use other’s perspectives to gain knowledge and use this information to evaluate their theories.
- Writing: Narrative Nonfiction
- Writers generate nonfiction writing topics in a variety of ways:
- What do you know
- What you care a lot about
- What you want to share with others
- Writers turn their facts into scenes to develop their story.
- Writers decide the focus of their piece and determine which facts to include.
- Writers use descriptive imagery.
- Writers use figurative language.
- Writers share facts through a story or a narrative structure.
- Writers generate nonfiction writing topics in a variety of ways:
Home/School Connection
Continue to read to your child-they love it!
Have your child read to you and other family members! Have your child then write about what they read to practice their writing skills.
Questions to ask your student:
- What is the author’s message in this text?
- What do you think is the author’s perspective on this topic?
- What can you add to your ideas and knowledge after talking with your partner?
- What did you notice about the way the author wrote the information? How did it help you understand the author’s message?
- Why do you think this topic is important? Why do others need to know about it?
Books We’ve Been Reading
- The 6th Grade Nickname Game
- A variety of picture books of different themes
Math What are we learning?
- Solving fraction computation problems with like and unlike denominators
- Solving single-step and multi-step fraction computation problems
- Coming soon: Algebraic Reasoning
- Advanced Math:
- Compare and order positive rational numbers.
- Identify and represent integers.
- Compare and order integers.
- Identify and describe the absolute value of integers.
- Recognize and represent patterns with whole number exponents and perfect squares.
- Add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers.
- Solve practical problems involving operations with integers.
- Coming Soon: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities
Home/School Connection
Have the students help you solve day-to-day math problems
Questions to ask your student:
- How would you double the ingredients in a recipe?
- How would you add a fraction amount of something to something else?
- How much would it cost to buy eight of the same item?
- How would you split a restaurant bill between a number of people?
- What is the order of operations?
- When would you do subtraction before addition?
Science What are we learning?
- Magnetism & Electricity
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- How can a scientist plan and conduct experiments in order to produce valid results?
- What affects the flow of electricity?
- How are electricity and magnetism related?
- In what ways can energy be transferred or transformed?
Social Studies What are we learning?
- Mesoamerica
Home/School Connection
Questions to ask your student:
- What is another name for Mesoamerica?
- How does where a person lives affect how a person's life?
- How might geographical features (rivers, mountains) impact daily life for people?
- In what ways do the contributions and accomplishments of Mesoamerica continue to influence the world today?
Specials
What are we learning? & Home/School Connections:
- Library: We will continue our inquiry research project on countries, using multiple sources to gather information, including databases and websites. We will evaluate websites for currency, reliability, and relevance to their questions. Contact Ms. Wixtrom on Talking Points or email with any questions or anything you’d like me to know! I want to help your child thrive in their reading journey!
- PE: Thank you to all families for being strong co-teachers with us. Regarding pacing, we completed our “Gymnastics Unit” and “Routines Review” with all grade levels. Now, all students will move into their “Basketball Unit.” Learners will better understand the anatomy of a basketball court, and how to dribble with hands, bounce pass, chest pass, and shoot the basketball. Towards the end of the unit, we hope to teach different “playground games” such as “H.O.R.S.E.” and “Knock-Out.” As always, Mr. Bergin ([email protected]) and Ms. Brod ([email protected]) are here for any questions or concerns.
- Music:
- Ms. Shaw’s 5th graders are working on canon work with recorders, learning the song “My Paddle” with a partner.
- In Mr. Sawasky’s music class, All grades are learning a frame drumming composition called, “Jennifer Bobby Bobby.” We are also learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and the song, “Hymn to Freedom” by Oscar Peterson. 5th and 6th will also be adding to their theory knowledge by composing their own melodies.
- Art:
- In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work they value.
- In January, all students will be wrapping up their COLLAGE units and doing planning drawings for the upcoming CLAY units!
- 5th graders are creating collages of landforms in conjunction with their landform study in the classroom and in STEAM. Students are layering their papers using rainbow order (another 5th grade science unit!) The dynamic feel of the layers creates excitement in the organic landform shapes.
- All students’ collages are fantastic! They would look great in a frame, hanging on the wall – or at least on the refrigerator!
- Thank you to all families for returning the Interview Forms for each Art unit! Students in grades 1st - 6th continue to use their Art Planning and Reflection Books, increasing their literacy skill practice during art classes!
- As always, Ms. Barrett ([email protected]) is here for any questions or concerns regarding the art program.
AAP Corner
- Hammurabi’s Code Document Based Question
- Concept based learning-Systems
- Socratic Seminars
- Project/Problem-based learning
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
WIDA assessment information: The state of Virginia administers the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessment from January 16-March 15. This assessment monitors students' progress in learning academic English in the areas of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Families can find translated information about this assessment at this link: https://wida.wisc.edu/resources/what-access-ells
Please encourage your child to do their best! Please also be sure your child is well-rested for test days (and every school day)!
Students in grades 1-6 can continue practice at home for the assessment through this link: https://wbte.drcedirect.com/WIDA/portals/wida/assessment_selection?adminId=596372
