Review
Another fun week!  Here are some highlights:

• We took our first math assessment on new content. Overall, students did excellent!

• When we learned about Larry Bell's twelve power verbs, we came up with a fun way to remind ourselves of each word before we engage in a book discussion. Each student jumps up and shouts the word and its meaning with pizzazz. Students called themselves Reading Rangers.

• In Science we used an online took called a dichotomous key to identify tree species outside. Students then created scientific, observational drawings.
  

What We Didn't Get To
We have yet to:

• Keep track of our thinking during reading using sticky notes and using the Reading Journal.
  
• Learn about the parts of a microscope and use one to examine life.
  

Special
Tuesday, September 30 at 10:30-11:15pm
"Eyes on Owls" presented by CASC.

Wednesday, October 1 (our class at 10:30-11:00am)
Picture Day


Reading
Here are the reading lessons we will work on this week:

• Use a writing frame to describe a character's change over time and support the description with evidence.
  
• Use a writing frame to describe a character from a book and support the description with evidence. 
  

We'll be using two more books by Eve Bunting to complete these activities: My Red Balloon and The Wednesday Surprise.
And we'll try one more time to tackle the following lesson this week:

• Keep track of our thinking during reading using sticky notes and using the Reading Journal.
  

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

• Plan your story using a timeline or an outline.
  
• Bring forth the story arc from beginning, to middle, to end.
  
• Be an effective writing partner by asking for specific examples, asking for clarification, giving compliments, and giving constructive feedback.
  
• Use paragraphs to signal change or important parts.
  

Math
We start a new unit in math this week: Estimation and Computation, which focuses on building students' abilities to estimate and then explores algorithms (ways of computing) for addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Here are the math lessons we will work on this week:

• Develop estimation strategies to use when finding an exact answer is impractical.
  
• Review place-value concepts for adding whole numbers and decimals using a variety of algorithms.
  
• Explore algorithms for multidigit subtraction and make reasonable estimates for the difference.
  
• Model the US traditional algorithms for addition and subtraction using base-10 blocks.
  
• Model addition and subtraction number stories using open number models (includes variables).
  

Science
Here is what we'll be working on this week in Science:

• Read and take notes on pond life
  
• Experience the "Eyes on Owls" presentation and identify the habitat of an owl and its role in the food chain.
  
• Learn about the parts of a microscope and use one to examine pond water.
  

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

Review
Last week was our second full week. We had a lot going on, from the School Picnic to Curriculum Night. Students worked hard and had fun while learning.

Highlights:

• We debated and voted to create our very own class rules.
  
• Students learned about some properties of water through hands-on science experiments. For example, students learned about cohesion and surface tensions after trying to float a paper clip on water.

• Using a checklist of 5th grade writing goals, students measured their own writing and began targeting their areas of weakness.
  
• We finished the lessons in Unit 1 of math, focusing on factors, multiples, divisibility, and prime and composite numbers.
  
• Students thoughtfully blogged about their reading on our class reading blog. I am delighted by all of the activity!

What We Didn't Get To

• In Reading, we didn't get to learn about how to keep track of our thinking using sticky notes or our reading journals.
  
• In Writing, we didn't get to read the work of published authors to spark our ideas for our own stories.
  
• In Math, we didn't get to play Factor Bingo.
  
• In Science, we only started discussing the characteristics of a pond.
  

Special
Rosh Hashanah is from sundown on Wednesday to sundown on Friday, so in honor of the Jewish New Year, there is no school on Thursday, September 25.


Reading
Here are the reading lessons we will be working on this week:

• Keep track of our thinking during reading using sticky notes and using the Reading Journal.
• Use higher-order thinking skills embodied in Larry Bell's twelve power verbs within the context of literature. We'll be reading the following books throughout the week by Eve Bunting: "A Day's Work," "The Memory String," "My Red Balloon," and "The Wednesday Surprise." 
• Analyze and describe a character using evidence from the text.
• Analyze a character's change over time using evidence from the text.

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

• Read the words of other authors to spark our own story ideas.
  
• Flash draft (writing fast and furious) to get the words on the page in one sitting.
  
• Determine what our stories are really about and revise to bring out the heart of the story.
  

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

• Review concepts for our first math assessment on Tuesday. Click here for the Study Guide.
  
• Learn how to correct our assessments and set goals for ourselves.
  
• Analyze a complex, multi-step problem, persevere in solving it, and share strategies.
  

Science
Our study of Pond Life this week:

• Scientific observational drawings.
  
• We'll learn about the parts of a microscope and use one to examine life.
  
• We'll read about ponds and the organism that live in them.
  

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

Review: 

Our first full week of school went swimmingly! We had two wonderful surprises at the end of the week. One was that we got a brand new, state of the art "projector" that has the magic pens which allow you to manipulate the computer screen you're hooked up to. Two, we got a new student to welcome into our community. Happy to have you, Yubin!

Other highlights from the week:

• We are just about finished publishing our Hopes and Goals for Fifth Grade. Students voted to display them as leaves on a tree. Not the kind of leaves that fade, fall, and crumble, but the kind that withstand the harsh winds of change and the rains of challenge. (I tried really hard on that metaphor!)
  
• The students are making huge strides on acing their multiplication facts. Alec is the first student to finish the test in under a minute. Instant recall of multiplication facts makes ever other concept in 5th grade easier!
  
• Stamina and independence have been huge themes this week. Students are working toward reading independently for longer periods of time, solving problems with less teacher assistance, and staying engaged without distraction. 
  
• We launched our Science Journals this week, learning how scientists observe and record information. We practiced being scientists by studying a pencil and learning how pencils are made. 
  
• Students wrote an On-Demand Narrative for their portfolios. It was to be the best personal narrative they could write at this point in their schooling. Students will use these to compare their growth in writing throughout the year. After I read them all, I have to say, I was VERY impressed! Students set the bar high!

What We Didn't Get To:
The "Turning and Talking" reading lesson about our favorite books. 
In Science, we didn't get to introduce our Pond Life unit.


Reading:
Here are the lessons in reading that we will tackle this week:

• How to have a respectful and accountable "turn and talk" discussion with a partner. We'll discuss our favorite books.
  
• Using a Reading Journal to keep track of books, respond to reading, and ideas for future reads.
  
• Balancing your reading diet with a variety of genres and types of texts.
  
• Keeping track of your thinking during reading using sticky notes.
  
• Keeping track of your thinking during reading using the Reading Journal.

Writing:
Here are the lessons in writing that we will tackle this week:

• More ideas for coming up with stories: remembering times we had strong feelings.
  
• Re-live a memory as though you are playing a movie in your mind before writing.
  
• Use ideas from published authors to spark ideas for your own stories.
  
• Write from inside your own skin using details that ring true and exact.
  

Math:
Here are the lessons in math that we will tackle this week:

• Learn tricks for determining divisibility and how to test for divisibility.
  
• Identify prime and composite numbers
  
• Model square numbers with arrays & play a game called, "Factor Bingo," to reinforce knowledge of factors and multiples
  
• Assess our current understanding of fractions from 4th grade math with a quick math screening.
  
• Find the Prime Factorization of a number. Play a game called, "Name That Number," to practice number properties, basic facts, and more.
• Review concepts from Unit 1 Number Theory in preparation for our first math test.

Science:
Here is the plan for science this week:

• Learn about the characteristics of a pond ecosystem.
  
• Conduct water experiments to learn about the properties of water and how animals who live in it have adapted to it.
  

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

Review:
What a great first week with the students! I couldn't ask for a better class. Here are some highlights from the week:

• Read aloud: Students were riveted by our sci-fi read aloud, "Pacific Rim" and its mind-bending ending. My hope was to model reading with expression while encouraging questioning and critical thinking with a fun story.
• Multiplication Bingo and 50 Facts Tests: Congrats to Alec and Anthony for getting bingo in our thrilling class game of Multiplication Bingo! To encourage instant recall of facts, we took some timed multiplication tests last week. Hopefully we'll have more time this week for a couple more. Most students made huge improvements from test one to test two.

• Recess games: We played a few class games together at recess, including "Giants, Wizards, and Elves" and "Zombie Tag." I taught students the three most important rules of having a fun recess: Safe tagging, Tagger's choice, and Including everyone.
• Launching workshops: This week we launched the reading and writing workshops. Students learned the structure of the workshops and what I expect from them during the mini lessons, the practice parts, the independent times, and the sharing.

What We Didn't Get To:
Since I am always ambitious in my plans, there are usually items from last week's plans that I was unable to get to. This week we didn't get to decorate our writing journals or begin writing about our Hopes and Goals for the year. We also only started looking at prime and composite numbers in math. All of those activities get moved to this week!


Reading:
Our focus in Reading this week will be to continue to establish routines and expectations for Reading Workshop. We'll work on the following:

• Building stamina for reading independently
• Keeping a weekly reading log and response
• Participating in our online class blog
• Understanding our classroom library organization and how to treat books
• Practicing good listening during book discussions
• Turning and talking to a partner (while sharing our favorite books)

During Independent Reading Time, I will be administering formal reading assessments to a number of students. By the end of the week, I hope to have heard every student read through an informal or formal assessment. Wish me luck!


Writing:
At some point this week we will have a relaxed writing assessment to see what students can do in 45 minutes at the beginning of the year. This is an important marker so that students can compare their progress throughout the year to this first piece of writing. In addition, we will also work on the following:

• Determining and writing about our hopes and goals for fifth grade
• Revising and editing our Hopes and Goals paragraphs for meaning, organization, spelling, and mechanics.
• Choosing "seed stories" to write about: small moments of an experience rather than a retellings of day-long events

Math:
On Wednesday this week, we have guest teacher Mr. Guttell who will be presenting "The Locker Problem" to the class. It is a fun puzzle designed to encourage students to persevere in solving problems and creatively strategizing. We'll also work on the following this week:

• Drawing arrays to represent numbers and multiplication
• Finding factors of numbers
• The Sieve of Eratosthenes, presented to students as an activity to find prime numbers
• Playing the game, "Factor Captor," a fun way to practice finding factors of numbers 

Science:
We launch Science class this week, beginning with an introduction on how to create and use a Science Notebook. We'll also begin our study of Pond Life by discussing characteristics of a pond and learning a little bit about single-celled organisms. 


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

Welcome to the first week of school! I'm very excited to get to know all of the students and give them opportunities to get to know me and each other. 

In the first few weeks of school, our primary focus will be to build a strong, caring classroom community. You can read more about my teaching philosophy in my essay, Foundations of My Teaching.

I normally structure the Teacher Plans page by breaking down my plans into the following five categories:

• Review of last week
  
• Reading
  
• Writing
• Math
  
• Science or Social Studies

If there is anything special going on that week, I will add that in before the Reading section. I usually describe my goals for each subject and the major activities and lessons we'll be doing under each category.

Since this is our first week, things will be a little different. We'll be working on some team building activities and classroom explorations to get acquainted with how the year will run. This first week's plan is longer than normal. The plans will definitely become more succinct as the year progresses!

Special: 
The launch of the school year is filled with many fun activities:

• Getting to Know You --We'll be sharing all about ourselves, from our favorite summer memories to our favorite hobbies to our favorite colors through writing, art, and social activities.
  
• Procedures Overview and Practice --We'll practice walking quietly in the hallways, quieting down quickly, coming to the rug, using classroom materials respectfully, and so on.
  
• Hopes and Goals --Student will write about what they hope for and want to accomplish socially and academically this year.
• Group Skills 101 --Explicit practice in the art of working with other people. We'll focus on listening, compromising, and non-verbal communication. These skills are essential for the partner work and team projects we do throughout the year.
  
• Recess Games --At recess we'll be playing class games such as Zombie tag, Capture the Flag, and Captain's Coming. We'll focus on how to be fair, inclusive, safe, and good sports.

Reading:
Reading is very important in my classroom. I want students to find books at their level that they love.

• Find a "Just Right" Book --We'll learn how to find books that are just right for us. Students will then explore my classroom library and choose a book to read independently.  
  
• Teacher Read Aloud --I usually start the school year with a short science fiction story by Neil Shusterman. It's called, "Pacific Rim," a suspenseful tale of a cruise unlike any other! It gets students all excited.
  
• Informal and formal assessments --While students independently read, I will float around the room and ask individual students to read aloud for me so I can learn more about each of them as readers. I will also formally assess some students.

Writing:
I love to teach writing. I know it can be challenging for many students, but I'll break it down into easy strategies.

• Storytelling to Start --Our first piece of writing is just a sample so that I can see where students are at. We'll practice a strategy called, "Storytelling," where students tell a partner about an experience to help get the order of events straight before writing.
• Generating Ideas --We'll learn some strategies for conquering the blank page. Students will learn how to think of people, places, and turning points and list them in a special place that they can always return to.
• Decorate the Writing Journal --A customized journal is a great inspiration! I'll provide students with materials and ideas for decorating their journals. They may need to finish at home.

Math:
I hope all students will love math just as much as I do.

• Multiplication Review --To make sure students start fifth grade off right, we'll review our basic multiplication facts through 12x12. We'll play Multiplication Bingo and take some timed 50 facts tests.
• Explore Math Resources --Students will explore the Everyday Math Student Reference Book through a scavenger hunt, then I will model how to use some of our math materials such as calculators, dice, and cards. 
• Prime and Composite --We'll explore what it means to be prime or composite and then find all of the prime number up to 100.

Science/Social Studies:
This week we hold off on Science and Social Studies to focus on launching reading, writing, and math. 


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