Math: We have been working on Chapter 5, which focuses on dividing decimals. On Monday, we will be taking the Chapter 5 Test. We will then begin Chapter 6, which focuses on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. We will complete lessons 6.1-6.3 this week. Go Math Animated Math Models are now available for extra help under the "Go Math Resources" tab. There will be one page of homework assigned nightly in addition to any work not completed during class. Some assignments will also be available on the Think Central website. For user name and password questions, contact Mrs. Brannock at [email protected].
Literacy Centers: Students are now working on literacy centers. Students will work in these centers in their reading groups. They cover a variety of language arts skills. This week we will be working on the following: write a story, homophones, poetry, and idioms. Students will be expected to turn in their work for each center and they will be graded.
Reading groups: I have revised reading groups. Each group will be reading a novel and working on various common core reading skills. The novels we will be reading are: My Life as a Fifth-Grade Comedian, Radio Fifth Grade, The Tiger Rising, and Misty of Chincoteague.
Reading homework: There will be one page of reading homework assigned nightly. This week we will be focusing on determining the theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story respond to challenges; summarizing the text.
Reading Skill Practice: We will be working on the skill of making inferences. We will complete one activity each day relating to making inferences.
Spelling and Grammar: We will be working to spell grade-appropriate words correctly. Students will complete a packet practicing the week's spelling and grammar skills in class. They may take it home to study as well. Students will take a test on Friday over the week's spelling words as well as the grammar skill. This week we will be working on words with ar and or and past, present, and future tense verbs. The spelling words are: early, morning, surprise, wonder, guarding, certain, ordinary, large, different, purpose, remember, thirsty.
Social Studies: We have started a unit on the American Revolution. We will be discussing the impact that the revolution had on society, particularly among families. We will be reading the historical fiction novel My Brother Sam is Dead as a read aloud.
Science: We are working on unit on fish. We will be having goldfish and guppies in the classroom. Students will be observing the fish, learning about the anatomy of fish, and completing an inquiry investigation involving fish. This investigation has been done primarily during class time. The project is due on November 22nd. Students must present their investigations to the class. There will be no class time on November 22 to work on the project.
Writing and Grammar: On Tuesday, students will take a quiz on the last section of writing and grammar skills. They will also revise and edit one of their quickwrites to be graded. On Wednesday we will begin the next set of writing warm-ups. We will be focusing on explaining the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections in general and their function in particular sentences. Students will also write a quickwrite each day on a given prompt. Students should be writing at least a paragraph each day.