Week of January 13-18

Hi Families,
   Happy weekend! Please see the linked flyer for the 5th grade yearbook information: Fifth Grade Yearbook

   Here is what we’ve been up to this past week.

Math 
Unit 4: Multiplication and Division of Multi-digit Numbers
    This week we learned how to divide multi-digit numbers using the partial quotients method. Long division (especially with 2-digit divisors) is usually no one’s favorite thing to do in math, but students found this method logical and effective. The key is for students to make a “multiplication menu” before they divide, which provides them options to get close to the dividend. Knowing that 16 x 2 = 32 also means you know that 16 x 20 = 320 and 16 x 200 = 3,200. See my work below.

   Another plea for home practice with basic multiplication facts: your child will be so much more successful with our current and future math content if they are quick and confident with their basic multiplication facts through 12 x 12. Please practice these facts at home if you notice your child is not yet automatic with them. Thank you!

---

​English Language Arts
Unit 3: Adventure and Survival: Narrative and Literary Analysis
    We kicked off unit 3 in our ELA curriculum. We began reading Storm Runners, by Roland Smith, which follows main character Chase Masters as he and his carpenter dad travel to the next impending major storm site, which they do to make a living rebuilding storm-torn towns. Students have learned about story elements in adventure books. We’ve discussed characters, setting, and plot, focusing on how the setting influences the story. We’ve been building background knowledge about the story elements and learning new vocabulary words to enhance our comprehension.
    We’ve also been studying morphology: prefixes, suffixes, and roots. We’re focusing on suffixes and how they can change the meaning of words and their spelling.

• Most students took their graded Ecosystem reports home. I was very impressed with the students' work! I hope you enjoy reading your child’s report as much as I did! You will see a rubric on the back with points for each expectation. Please let me know if you have any questions about your child’s work or my marks.

Science
Unit 3: Water on Earth
     This week we learned about the distribution of water on Earth. We learned that a tiny fraction of Earth’s water is freshwater (2.5%) but that most of that water is either frozen in glaciers or ice caps or is deep underground. Less than 1% of Earth’s water is actually fresh and available for humans to drink. We graphed these percentages.

    We also had a visit from Science From Scientists. Dr. Mary and Dr. Chris reviewed the conservation of matter. Students worked in groups to design and create a closed system to contain a chemical reaction. Students used various tools (balloons, centrifuges, plastic eggs, ziplock bags, and rubber bands) and then mixed baking soda and vinegar. The goal was to create a system that had the same starting mass and ending mass. Most groups ran into challenges, but one group successfully kept the mass of their system the same after the chemical reaction. 

• Ask your student about their group’s design and thought process. 

Community Building
    We had an All School Assembly on Wednesday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students were very respectful role models for the entire assembly!

Homework
   We had math, grammar, and reading homework this past week. Our grammar packet this week was especially challenging. We corrected it as a class on Friday. Also, Barrows is participating in the ReadBowl challenge. We will be logging our reading as usual in our Planners but I will give students time to log it again on their ReadBowl sheets. There will be 4 weeks total of this reading challenge. I am bribing students with extra recess time if we come in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place for total minutes read.
   Please review your child’s work before they return it to school and use this interaction as an opportunity to teach them the importance of work quality, personal responsibility, and independent practice.
   You can stay on top of your child’s homework with my Homework Assignment Log. 

Important Dates 

• Monday, January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day -No School

Pictures
   Below are a few pictures from Science From Scientists in the Art room and All School Assembly.

Have a wonderful long weekend!