January 25 - 29

Happy Friday everyone!

As I'm sure everyone read in our agendas, we are taking a field trip to Boston for a walking/trolley tour to historic sites. This integrates with our social studies curriculum of Colonial America and the Revolution. Recently, we explored the idea of propaganda and how it influences thinking. Students looked at primary documents of the Boston Massacre and compared how different pictoral accounts of the incident were different based on the person who created the picture. It was interesting!

In mathematics, students are working their way through long division. We are wrapping up long division with one digit divisors and will explore two digit divisors next week. I am so pleased to see the progress in mathematical thinking, cooperative learning, and the high level of interest in our mathematics curriculum.

We have finalized and mailed, YAHOO, our immigration essays. I will post completed copies of our essays for you to see. Now our fingers are crossed to see if a Friends Academy student wins! We put a great deal of thought into our essays and had some interesting conversations about immigration and its contributions to our country. I am pleased to see the level of revision the students are able to engage in with the writing process. They have evolved into thoughtful reflective writers. Their pride is evident as is their feelings of personal success. It's a wonderful process to watch unfold. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with them.

It's quite windy out there today. Please watch the weather for Tuesday's field trip carefully! We need to be appropriately clothed for cold weather. Let's hope no precipitation joins us on Tuesday.

Warmly,

Laura

P.S. I hope to see you all at Game Night. I will be running Othello in my room. Stop by if you're here!

January 18-22

Greetings everyone!

To begin, Tuesday is a Pizza Day - Yum!

In mathematics, students are working with division. We are practicing the long division algorithm coupled with concept development and number sense with division. I am impressed with the students' aptitude in mathematical problem solving. They are enthusiastic about our math packets and apply themselves with vigor and determination. We have moved into a classroom model for math in which understanding is key. I encourage students to ask a neighbor for help when they're stuck. I love to watch them lead one another through their thought processes and teach their friends. My role as teacher is facilitator, observer, provoker of thought, and builder of ideas. The students' role is that of investigator, teacher, learner, and constructor of understanding. It is a wonderful to watch my students sit together and puzzle out problems, to try various approaches to solving something, and to support one another as they build their understanding. And then ... those exquisite AH HA! moments, when things connect and they see the solution. They're exuberance is priceless in those moments and their feelings of success are so rewarding.

A bucket that is half full of water weights 15 pounds.

The bucket weighs 25 pounds when it's full of water.

What is the weight of the bucket when it's empty.

Students have worked all year on using pictoral models to solve problems. This problem stumped a few of us and as soon as we drew three buckets and labeled the information given in the problem, students began to see the logic behind it. The relationship between the numbers was evident and the visual support fueled their understanding. When students work on math packets for homework, using pictures is a great way to support them when they are stuck.

Have a great weekend!

Laura

January 4th-8th

In literature circle, we completed the book, Number the Stars. For many of the students, this was their second time reading it. It was an advantage to us, as we were able to explore the deep layers and nuances of the book. Students discussed and debated the themes of bravery, resistance, and conflict as they applied to Number the Stars. These themes are also being explored in our social studies, and this was a great tie in. Rich, colorful discussion emerged during our book talks as we gave our point of view, clarified questions we had about the book, made connections using prior knowledge and other texts, and connected to concepts we're learning about in history. I was able to gauge students' ability to inference and demonstrate deep level thinking.

We are gearing up to research under-represented voices from the American Revolution time period. Students will read biographies and research an assigned person. From this research, they will write a research paper. Next, they will develop a speech to be delivered during a Wax Museum presentation fifth grade will have in March. We will dress up as our assigned person and pretend to come to life when visitors press a button. We will give information about our character in the first person. Stay tuned for more information to come in February.

Fifth graders are participating in a nation-wide essay contest sponsored by the American Immigration Council. Students will write a persuasive essay on the topic, Why I'm glad America is a nation of immigrants. Immigration links to our social studies curriculum as we study who immigrated to our country as a colonist. We are learning the technique of writing to persuade. We will post our completed essays towards the end of the month.

Sledding is in full action at Friends. Students are enjoying sledding at recess times. Please continue to make sure your child is coming to school with full snow gear: snow boots, hat, gloves/mitten, and snow pants are often helpful. Students are allowed to bring in their own sleds from home. I recommend putting your child's name on their sled.

I am pleased to report that all students have increased levels in the Read Naturally fluency program. Standard homework is to practice Read Naturally text nightly. Students should listen to the recorded voice on their iPods three times, then practice five times on their own. To accomplish this, they need to practice their text twice a night. We have timed hot reads on Friday. This reading is in addition to their independent reading.

I would like to also let you know that the children are in the throws of voracious reading. I can barely keep up with the books they're gobbling up! Please continue to encourage your child to read at home. I've increased their daily reading homework to 25 minutes and am hoping that at the end of the year they'll be reading 30 minutes nightly.

Tuesday is Pizza Day!

Happy New Year! It feels great to be back in the swing of things and the class is doing wonderfully.

Laura