Math: On Monday we will be taking the test on chapter 3. There will be no math homework on Monday night. On Tuesday we will begin working on Chapter 4, which focuses on Multiplying Decimals. We will complete lessons 4.1-4.3 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].
Reading: We are reading the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. (See home page for a synopsis.) We will be working on determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text; determining the theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story respond to challenges; quoting accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text; and drawing evidence from a literary text to support analysis, reflection, and research. Students will be asked to build a model of Brian's camp as described in the book. This will be done during art class. Due date to follow. Students will be asked to describe Brian's character using evidence from the book to support their ideas. We will also be taking a quiz on Thursday on chapters 17-Epilogue. On Friday, students will begin working on a timeline of Brian's later life. These assignments will be completed primarily during class time.
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, The Hidden Girl, The Midnight Fox, and The Day the Fifth Grade Disappeared.
Reading homework: There will be one page of reading homework assigned nightly. This week we will be focusing on determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including similes and metaphors; quoting accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from 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: We will be working to correctly use frequently confused words. Students will complete a packet practicing the week's skill in class. They may take it home to study as well. A copy of the spelling list is available on the assignments page. Students will take a test on Friday over the week's spelling words as well as the spelling skill itself. This week we will be working on commonly confused words. The spelling words are: it's, to, whole, plane, break, weather, too, peace, two, knew, hear, whether, through, past, here, right, there, write, where, all ready, you're.
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 going to start a new 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. Students must have a signed permission slip in order to handle the classroom fish.
Writing and Grammar: Each day students will be completing a daily writing warm-up which focuses on many writing and language skills. They will also complete a quick write on a given prompt. We will be working on the steps of writer's workshop in which students will have the opportunity to revise and edit their writing. Our current set of writing prompts will focus on writing opinion pieces on topics, supporting a point of view Students should be writing at least a paragraph each day. We will take an open note quiz on Wednesday. Students must also revise and edit a quickwrite o