Plans Week of October 6, 2014

Our class Goals Tree.

Review

• From Owls to surprise standardized tests, we had a jam-packed week!
  
• Highlights:
  
• The Eyes on Owls presentation was fantastic! Students learned about owls' adaptations, habitats, and behaviors.
  
• We had surprise standardized testing on vocabulary and comprehension. Students handled the tests like pros.
  
• Our Morning Meetings have been fun. Students are learning everyone's name and becoming more comfortable around one another. We all even sang a ridiculous song together and everyone was into it.

• We started The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo as a class read aloud. Students seem very empathetic to the plight of our main character.
  
• In Writing, we learned some planning techniques to raise the quality of our personal narratives. One was a timeline to get events in order; the other was a story arc designed to heighten the story structure. Many students found them immensely helpful to the writing process.
  
• In Math, we learned about adding and subtracting decimals, as well as the vital step of lining up the decimals.

What We Didn't Get To

• In Writing: how to be an effective writing partner by asking for specific examples, asking for clarification, giving compliments, and giving constructive feedback.
  
• In Math: how to model addition and subtraction number stories using open number models (includes variables).
  
• In Science: how to identify the parts of a microscope and use one to examine pond water.
  
• In Reading, we didn't read the other two Eve Bunting books. I wasn't thrilled by them, so instead we focused on the short novel, The Tiger Rising, which I will continue to read aloud to the class.

Special
The fifth grade will be taking a field trip to the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick (as an extension of our Pond Life science unit) on Wednesday,  October 8th. We will leave Underwood at 9:00 am and will be returning by 1:00 pm.


Reading
This week in Reading, we start our unit on Point of View. We'll be reading the short book, Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, which is a series of experiences told by people living around a community garden. The stories each present a different point of view.

We will learn how to:

• Identify the cultural perspectives that influence a character's point of view.
  
• Recognize that characters can change their point of view over time.
  
• Use critical reading skills such as inferring to determine a character's point of view.
  
• Compare and contrast two different points of view.
  

This week, we'll study point of view as a whole class. Next week, we will break off into book groups to continue our study with individual group novels.

I will also continue reading aloud The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo. I model reading with expression and critical thinking of the text. Students also practice their own critical thinking skills as I read.


Writing
Here are the writing lessons we will work on this week:

• Elaborate on the important parts of a story.
  
• Be an effective writing partner by asking for specific examples, asking for clarification, giving compliments, and giving constructive feedback.
  
• Add scenes from the past and the future to a story.
  

Math
Here are the math lessons we will work on this week:

• Model addition and subtraction number stories using open number models (includes variables).
  
• Gather data on reaction times using decimals to the hundredths place. Compare and order the data and find statistical landmarks. 
  
• Round decimals to a given place value and make estimates for decimal sums, differences, and products.
  
• Use the partial products method (emphasis on place value) to multiply whole numbers and decimals.
  

Science
Here are the Science activities we will do this week:

• Demonstrate understanding of aspects of a pond ecosystem in an illustrated, factual poster.
  
• Visit a pond to learn about a pond ecosystem hands-on.
  
• Study pond water under a microscope.
  

Thanks for Reading!
So that's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

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