BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

Next week we might even get a full week in!  Our days in school and out in January are about equal and that has made for an ease in back to school in 2017.  The Fine Arts Extravaganza was a great trip and kids were well introduced to the arts opportunities they will have in middle and high school.  I am happy to hear many students made it to an Instrument Night to try out some band and orchestra instruments.  Please let me know if you could not make it and would like more information about the band program.

This week we got back into some familiar routines and wrapped up our Discovery game.  Below is a breakdown of our work in each subject and some pictures from the Fine Arts Extravaganza and a couple book shares.  I'm looking forward to seeing you all at the Hoedown next Friday. Finally, great job to the choir and their performance of Joust!  The performance was wonderful and enjoyed by the whole school community.  Great job, choir!

READING:  In reading students had one more class day to work on Book Shares and students are expected to be at 4.  We also chose new books for this next literacy cycle.  All of our books in this cycle have a setting that is important to the plot.  We will be creating a cool fiction/nonfiction Ecodiorama at the end of this cycle and students can use it as a book share.

WRITING:  In writing, we are continuing to focus on narrative writing traits.  Students have practiced writing quotes, using commas, and writing descriptively.  Next week, we will look at a plot graph and plan a fiction narrative with a colonial/journey theme.

SS:  In social studies, we wrapped up our Discovery unit in a fun way.  We will start to focus on New England colonies leading up the Revolutionary War.

SCIENCE:  In science, we have been watching a variety of curriculum themed video shorts (solar system, ecology, water, etc)  and writing reflections.  Some of these videos and reflections may influence our community project decision which are decided on with Mr. Kuenstings class next week.

MATH:  Our math focus has been on Algebra (variables, patterns, and order of operations).  We have tried some totally new skills for most 5th graders and are learning a lot.  Students will have a quiz on this unit next week.  The quiz will focus on solving equations with variables (2 + t  OR 6n, etc) and also the order of operations which we will hit hard next week.  I think the kids are enjoying something besides division and we are also being challenged with new concepts.