Highlights from Last Week:

New Student Council Members: Congratulations to Kate and Katie for winning our student council elections! They will represent 5K proudly. We praise Ellie, Owen C, and Max for running as well.

Mesmerized: We read a fun informational text called "Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France." It was a great informational text filled with so many great features of the genre. We practiced determining what's important and summarizing the text.

Math Test: Students took an assessment on decimal division and multiplication. The class average was an 84%. We are now ready to move on to fractions.

Language Skills: Instead of diving into our next writing project, we've taken some time to target spelling and vocabulary development. Students went on a word hunt through the dictionary to find words with prefixes. We've been using the words in context and students earn points when they use new words effectively in conversation. They earn a pajama day if they get 100 points.

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What We Didn't Get To:​

• Fractions of Sets in Math. We looked at modeling mixed numbers instead.
• Structures of Informational Texts in Reading. We looked at determining main ideas and summarizing instead.
• Greek and Latin root words in Writing. We focused on prefixes and suffixes instead.

This Week's Plan


Upcoming Special Events: ​​​

• Geo Bee School Finals: Max will represent 5K in the school-wide geography bee.

Special Activities:

• Homework Project Shares: Students who finish their Global Citizenship Part 1 projects will share them in class later this week.
  

Math:
Fraction Basics.

• Fractions of Sets --We'll learn how to find a fraction of a number using models, as well as division and multiplication.
• Equivalent Fractions
• Comparing and Ordering Fractions --We'll explore fraction sizes and learn how to use benchmarks of 0, 1/2, and 1 to compare fractions.
• Adding Fractions --We'll learn the steps to add fractions with like and unlike denominators, then practice simplifying our answers.

Reading:
Book Groups. Begin Informational Text Reading.

• Book Groups --Students continue their book group work on summarizing, questioning, critically thinking, and discussing.
• Structure Informational Text --We'll look at a variety of ways to structure informational texts, such as topic/detail, compare/contrast, cause/effect, and sequence/narrative.
• Explicit and Implicit Meaning  --Students will find evidence and use quotes accurately to support their thinking about what the text says and means.

Writing:
Continue Spelling and Vocabulary.

• Common Spelling Patterns --Students who need support with spelling will work in small groups to practice particular spelling patterns.
• Suffixes --Students will explore suffixes and find new vocabulary words that use them.
• Vocabulary --We'll look at common Greek and Latin root words and explore how many English words draw meaning from their roots.

Social Studies:
We're focusing on Science, but we'll be introducing Colonial America through Informational Reading.

Science:
Weather and Climate. ​

• Climate --Students finish up their research on their three chosen climate destinations and create a poster to share their knowledge.
• Measuring Weather: We'll explore some old-fashioned instruments used to measure weather.

Homework:
Please check the Homework page for more details.

1. Students continue working on their "Global Citizenship Part 1." There is an early due date (Feb 1) and an extended due date (Feb 8).
2. There is a new Reading Response Blog this week for students to practice their summarizing skills.
3. Read 25 minutes at home per day and log the title, author, and time in the planner.
4. There will be a math page for homework each night.

​
Thanks for Reading!
That's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.

Highlights from Last Week:

Book Groups: We launched book groups this past week. Students will be reading chosen novels and meeting in groups to practice literary analysis. Students are already eager to have their next meeting.

Spelling and Vocabulary: Students took a spelling assessment, and I've been meeting with small groups throughout the week to reveal a number of spelling rules and patterns. Students who have already mastered common spelling patterns worked on finding new vocabulary words using prefixes and a dictionary.

Math Wrap-Ups: In math I had to sneak in a mid-term math assessment that I forgot to give students last week. It was to assess their understanding of the some of the concepts we've covered so far. We'll be having our decimal assessment this week.

Inauguration: We watched a History Channel video about the history of inaugurations and then watched the moment the new president got sworn into office. Students discussed their views about President Trump in partnerships very respectfully.

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What We Didn't Get To:​

• Drama. We'll save it for later in the school year.
• Decimal assessment. Had to sneak in a grade-wide assessment.
• Climate. We snuck in some 

This Week's Plan


Upcoming Special Events: ​​​

• Student Council Elections: Elections will be held on Tuesday, January 27th.
  
• Early Release Wednesday.
• "Raising Resilient Children" Speaker Robert Brooks in the Lindquist Commons on Thursday, January 26, at 6:30pm.

Special Activities:

• Student Council Candidate Campaigns: Students can campaign on Monday and Tuesday, January 26th and 27th. 

Math:
Decimal Multiplication & Division Assessment. Begin Fraction Basics.

• Assess and Correct --Students take the decimal multiplication and division assessment, then correct their tests. Here is the Study Guide.
• Fractions as Division --We'll look at how fractions are related to division with a fun exploration involving cakes (not actual ones, though!)
• Fractions of Sets --We'll learn how to find a fraction of a number using models, as well as division and multiplication.

Reading:
Book Groups. Begin Informational Text Reading.

• Book Groups --Students continue their book group work on summarizing, questioning, critically thinking, and discussing.
• What is Informational Text? --We'll identify the features of informational text and compare it to literature.
• Structure Informational Text --We'll look at a variety of ways to structure informational texts, such as topic/detail, compare/contrast, cause/effect, and sequence/narrative.

Writing:
Continue Spelling and Vocabulary.

• Common Spelling Patterns --Students who need support with spelling will work in small groups to practice particular spelling patterns.
• Vocabulary --We'll look at common Greek and Latin root words and explore how many English words draw meaning from their roots.

Social Studies:
We're focusing on Science, but we'll be introducing Colonial America through Informational Reading.

Science:
Weather and Climate. ​

• Climate --Students will begin an exploration of the causes of climate and compare and contrast different climates around the US and the world.

Homework:
Please check the Homework page for more details.

1. There is a new homework project called "Global Citizenship Part 1." There is a normal due date (Feb 1) and an extended due date (Feb 8).
2. There is no new Reading Response Blog this week.
3. Read 25 minutes at home per day and log the title, author, and time in the planner.
4. There will be a math page for homework each night.

​
Thanks for Reading!
That's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.

Highlights from Last Week:

Water Cycle Presentations --Students shared their clever water cycle presentations with the class. They were very entertaining! Students told the story of water as it circulated through the water cycle in all of its forms on earth. Check out some pictures here.

Poetry Wrap Up --Students revised their three favorite poems in an effort to show off their poetry writing skills.

ELA Open Response Practice --Students learned a strategy for writing an essay in response to a prompt about their reading. Restate the prompt, Reason, Evidence, Unpack. This will prove invaluable when they write open responses on MCAS.
​
What We Didn't Get To:​

• We didn't get to wrap up Division with Decimals in math, so we haven't started to review yet.
• We didn't get to Drama in reading. 

This Week's Plan


Upcoming Special Events: ​​​

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School --Monday, January 16.
• Report Cards Issued  --Friday, January 20.
• Pancake Breakfast --Saturday, January 21.

Special Activities:

• Human Rights Project --Sharing with the class.

Math:
Finish Decimal Division and Assess.

• Adding Zeros to the Dividend --Students will learn how to divide out a remainder by tacking on extra place values.
• Review, Assess, and Correct --Students will review decimal multiplication and division, take the assessment, then correct their tests. Here is the Study Guide.

Reading:

• Teacher Read Aloud --We'll finish Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech. It's an amusing and powerful story told through the poetic diary of a boy who learns to like poetry.
• Drama --We'll read a few samples of dramas, paying special attention to stage directions and specific words that indicate tone or implicit meaning.
• Book Groups --I will put students in groups and they will choose a novel to read and discuss together.

Writing:
Spelling and Vocabulary.

• Spelling On-Demand Assessment --I'll assess where students are at with their spelling skills.
• Common Spelling Patterns --Students who need support with spelling will work in small groups to practice particular spelling patterns.
• Vocabulary --We'll look at common Greek and Latin root words and explore how many English words draw meaning from their roots.

Social Studies:
We've switched to Science.

Science:
Weather and Climate. ​

• Extreme Weather --We'll study tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, blizzards, wind storms, monsoons, and more. Students will compare and contrast two informational sources about an extreme weather topic they are interested in.
• Climate --Students will begin an exploration of the causes of climate and compare and contrast different climates around the US and the world.

Homework:
Please check the Homework page for more details.

1. Human Rights Exploration --Students turn in their projects on Tuesday.
2. Students must reply to me on the Reading Response Blog #6.
3. Read 25 minutes at home per day and log the title, author, and time in the planner.
4. There will be a math page for homework each night. Students will also need to study for their math assessment.

​
Thanks for Reading!
That's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.

Highlights from Last Week:

Dividing by numbers less than 1 --Students had their minds blown by witnessing division make a number bigger rather than smaller. We explored decimal division using patterns and models to understand the logic behind this tricky concept.

Poetry --We looked at a wide range of poetry, from small poems by Valerie Worth to epic ballads such as "Casey at the Bat," to learn about poetic structures and techniques. Students dabbled in their own poetry writing, trying to emulated the styles within mentor poems.

New Student --We welcomed Yair to 5K this week. He fit right in and participated in all of our quirky routines. 

Substitute --I was out Thursday and Friday for family matters, and students had a full day substitute for the first time this school year. I usually hate to be absent, but I heard that Ms. Cavanaugh is "incredibly responsible and diligent," from Ms. Darrah, who taught her many years ago. I'll confirm when I get back on Monday. 

​
What We Didn't Get To:​

• Due to my absences, I assigned students some review material and MCAS practice. Therefore, we didn't get to parts of Decimal Division, as well as some Reading and Writing activities.

This Week's Plan


Upcoming Special Events: ​​​

• Early Release --Wednesday, January 12.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School --Monday, January 16. Consider participating in a Day of Service in honor of MLK by volunteering to serve others.
• Report Cards Issued  --Friday, January 20.
• Pancake Breakfast --Saturday, January 21.

Special Activities:

• Global Citizenship --Inspirational quotes activity on Monday.

Math:
Decimal Division.

• Review MCAS Practice Problems --We'll review the work students did with the sub.
• Decimal Division --We'll start with models, then we'll use the partial quotients method.
• Adding Zeros to the Dividend --Students will learn how to divide out a remainder by tacking on extra place values.
• Review for Math Assessment

Reading:
Poetry and Drama.

• Review MCAS Practice Responses --We'll review the work students did with the sub and go over how to support answers with quoted lines from the text.
• Finish Poetry --We'll wrap up our study of poetry with a final focus on figurative language.
  
• Teacher Read Aloud --We're reading Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech. It's an amusing and powerful story told through the poetic diary of a boy who learns to like poetry.
• Drama --We'll read a few samples of dramas, paying special attention to stage directions and specific words that indicate tone or implicit meaning.

Writing:
Finish Poetry.

• Figurative Language --Students will practice using figurative language to create images in the minds of their readers. 
• Poetry Celebration  --Students will choose three of their favorite poems that they have written to revise and share with the class.
  

Social Studies:
We've switched to Science.

Science:
Weather and Climate. 

• The Water Cycle Presentations --Students will share their Water Cycle Presentations with the class. They will assess themselves on their teamwork and contributions.
• Extreme Weather --We'll study tornados, hurricanes, thunderstorms, blizzards, wind storms, monsoons, and more.

Homework:
Please check the Homework page for more details.

1. Human Rights Exploration --Students learn about human rights, social justice, and what it means to be human in this project.
2. There is no new at-home blog this week.
3. Read 25 minutes at home per day and log the title, author, and time in the planner.
4. There will be a math page for homework each night.

​
Thanks for Reading!
That's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. I am so grateful for the cards, gifts, and the generous donation to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Syrian Crisis on behalf of the class. Thank you.

On a personal note, my winter break was filled with heartbreak and sadness. My husband's twin brother suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm while skiing in Colorado on Christmas and will pass away any day now. I may need to take some time off from school to be with the Kimball family in this devastating time. I share this so that everyone is aware that I may not be as responsive to emails or as available for meetings in the next few weeks. Thank you for your empathy and understanding.

Highlights from Last Week:

Geography Bee --Max won our classroom National Geographic Bee, answering some pretty tough questions about the geography of the U.S. and the world. Congrats Max! The next round will take place on February 1st. Ellie and Alex did well in the final round of competition as runners up.

Beatnik Cafe --Students recited poems to the entire 5th grade. Everyone did a great job memorizing!

Poetry Inquiry Homework Projects --I loved reading students' letters to the poets and viewing their doodles along the margins of the poems. Very thoughtful and creative.

Water Cycle Research --Students are working in small groups to become experts on the water cycle. They will collaborate to share their knowledge by creating a presentation in story form about the life of a water droplet.

​
What We Didn't Get To:​

• We didn't get very far in our read aloud of "Love That Dog."

This Week's Plan


Upcoming Special Events: ​​​

• None.

Special Activities:

• New Student --This week we welcome a new student to 5K, Yair.

Math:
Decimal Multiplication and Division.

• Review Multiplication with Decimals Less than 1 --We'll look at problems such as 0.3 x 0.45 and use models to show why there are three decimal places in the product.
• Decimal Division --We'll start with models, then we'll use the partial quotients method.
• Adding Zeros to the Dividend --Students will learn how to divide out a remainder by tacking on extra place values.

Reading:
Poetry.

• Poetry Share --Students will search for and read 3 poems per day. They will share one or more with the class and explain why they liked the poem(s).
• Structure in Poetry --We'll read poems that are structured through stanzas, rhyme patterns, spacing, and line breaks.
• Teacher Read Aloud --We're reading Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech. It's an amusing and powerful story told through the poetic diary of a boy who learns to like poetry.

Writing:
Poetry.

• Small Poems --We'll learn how to come up with topics for poems by focusing on ordinary things and looking at them in a fresh new way.
• Structure --We'll toy with line breaks, stanzas, rhyme patterns, and spacing to add structure to our poems.

Social Studies:
We've switched to Science.

Science:
Weather and Climate. 

• The Water Cycle --Students will research the water cycle and collaborate to create a presentation that explains the how the water cycle works and how it influences the weather in a storytelling way.

Homework:
Please check the Homework page for more details.

1. Human Rights Exploration --Students learn about human rights, social justice, and what it means to be human in this project.
2. There is no new at-home blog this week.
3. Read 25 minutes at home per day and log the title, author, and time in the planner.
4. There will be a math page for homework each night.

​
Thanks for Reading!
That's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.