Weekly Update

It was a short week, but we got a lot of work done in just three days!

In math we finished up our unit on whole digit multiplication. On Wednesday the students took the assessment for that unit and I was very pleased with how well the class did. They worked hard during this unit and they really showed me that they understand how to use the strategies to solve multi-digit multiplication. This week we will begin a new unit on whole number division.

A letter was sent home with students last week regarding multiplication ladders. Multiplication ladders are something the students have been doing two days a week during math workshop. Students would study multiplication times tables and when they felt that they were ready students would take a timed test on a times table. If they passed the timed test on that times table, students would move on to a new times table. We will no longer be doing multiplication ladders during math workshop. For those students who have not passed the timed test for all multiplication facts through the 12's table this will be a homework assignment starting this Monday, November 14th.  Students are to study their multiplication facts for 10 minutes each night and record it on the sheet that was attached to the letter sent home last week. Once the student is ready to take a timed test, a parent or other adult at home may test them on their facts. It is important that students in fifth grade know their basic multiplication facts. Knowing the multiplication facts makes the other skills/concepts we learn in math much easier. (For example, long division, adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.) If you have any questions about this new assignment please contact me. (If your child completed all the timed tests through the 12's tables it will say "all completed" on your child's letter. Those students are not responsible for this assignment.)

In reading we compared and contrasted two different texts. We learned that when good readers compare and contrast two different texts, they look for similarities and differences regarding the characters, setting, theme, and author's craft. We compared the picture book, Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting to Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. The books share a similar theme of not giving up hope. The students also compared the characters of the two books and how they characters react to the life situations they both find themselves in. Students noticed that both authors used symbolism in the form of an animal to represent home and hope to both characters. We also compared Home of the Brave to the poem A Song of Greatness: A Chippewa Song. This week we will be finishing up our unit on realistic fiction. Our next unit in reading will be on nonfiction text.

In writing students are publishing the final draft of one of their narrative pieces of writing. Our next unit in writing will be poetry.

On Thursday we had our annual Veteran's Day ceremony at the Sunderland Town Hall. Afterwards, the servicemen and women came back to our school to visit the classrooms and talk to the students about their life in the military. They also join the students out on the playground for recess and join them in the cafeteria for lunch. This is such a great tradition that was started by Mr. Merritt and a great way to say thank you to our local men and women in the armed forces.

Recess Fun!!! :)

Enjoy your Sunday! :)