Math Expressions

This year we have started a new math series, Math Expressions. It has been a challenge for the students are we begin to look at math in a new way -- understanding the "whys" of math. Concepts that we as adults may not have been seen into later in our math careers are being introduced to the students as 5th graders. The exciting part about this math series is that we will continually be revisiting new concepts.

Last night the students were working with comparison chains and algebraic chains. That was a WOW! moment for me. After continuing to practice I saw the students begin to understand what we were doing. We were writing equations with variables that looked very fancy but started to make sense. Please do not hesitate to email me or write a note in the agenda if you are unsure of what they are doing. It is my hope that the students will be able to show you examples along the way. Math books can go home every night so you can see some of the problems we have worked through as a class. I am available right away when they come to the classroom to provide extra help as well as time during our lunch hour.

So exciting to think we will have so many fantastic math thinkers and problem solvers!

Another Great Week!!!

Our first full week at the intermediate school is complete. The students have now had a taste of what a normal schedule is going to look like. Next week your student will have to turn in his/her Reader Response. This is found in a red or pink folder. In the folder there is an example of what is expected as well as a scoring rubric. Reader Responses are due on the same day of the week as the journal. If you look at the calendar on my webpage you will see which weeks journals are due versus Reader Responses.

Also, Reading Logs are due every Monday. They will come home in the Take Home folder on Mondays. The students are required to read 20 minutes each night.

The green Weekly Work Folders came home again today. In the folder you will find work from the week as well as the student's reflection. Please take some time to go through this work with your child. These graded assignments can stay home, but the folder and reflection should be returned.

Next week we will also be doing the computerized Scantron testing. We will be testing math on Wednesday and reading on Thursday. I am looking forward to seeing how they have grown over the summer!

If you have not returned the Parent Visitation Day information, that is due back by Wednesday. We hope to see you!

Have a great weekend!

The Blog as a Resource

The first full week of school is rolling! Last week I had given the students the task of checking out my blog and asked them to make a comment. Many said that they could not get the comment to post. If you were able to read the blog but not post, please jot a note in your child's agenda. My goal is to post information at least once per week about upcoming things to be aware of and make this a useful tool for parents and students. You should be able to select a profile if you have a Google email account or you can create one to comment. Also you can subscribe to my blog so as updates are made you will be made aware. Please let me know if you find this a helpful tool or would prefer a paper newsletter to come home. Thank you for helping me with this experiment!

As a reminder, journals are due this week. Your child has been assigned a day to turn this in. It can be written about anything! Next week I will be collecting Reader Responses, which your child has an example and rubric in his/her folder. Again the students are assigned a day (the same day as journals).

Spelling this week!

Yesterday our class began writing spelling sentences for the very first time. Your child should have completed them last night and I will be checking them today. Next week we will begin the process on Monday. Your child needs to study the entire sentence for the test. They will be scored on both the correctness of the sentence as well as the spelling word and given an individual score for spelling and grammar. Spelling tests will take place on Fridays. Each child will be partnered with another student who will dictate the spelling sentences.

The 1st Week!

What a great first week we have had. This is a fantastic group of students!!! Today was their first experience to go to their Encore classes on their own. They were very excited to give it a try!

There were a couple of continual assignments introduced this week. One thing that the students will be required to do every other week is to complete a 1 1/2 pages in his/her journal. They may write about ANYTHING! I will be collecting the first journal the week of September 13. Each student was assigned a day of the week that it will be due. Opposite journal weeks your student will be writing a reader response which they received a folder to complete that in. A sample letter and a grading rubric are in the folders. The first reader response is due the week of September 20. The calendar on the school website updates which one is due.

Next week the first spelling list will be coming home. I will update my blog with information with how spelling works next week.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions! It has been great getting to know your child!