Beat the Heat! Update: 9/5-9/7

This week we'll study more key terms and topics of Election 2012.

Hello everyone. I want to reiterate my gratefulness to the families or helped provide for our fans this week. In addition, a reminder that curriculum night is coming up on Thursday, September 13th between 7pm and 830pm.More information will be forthcoming. 
I want to provide you with a brief update about what the 5th grade and 5V will be studying next week:

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. 

Reading: As we continue to develop and/or further our love for reading we will study more genres and learn a few reading strategies including reading for purpose, summarizing, and we will study a vocabulary strategy that helps us get closer to knowing the meaning of a word. All of our lessons and application will be done through read aloud texts and independent reading. I will begin having book conversations with your child this week! 

Current Events: Last week we studied some basics about Election 2012 including the RNC briefly, the candidates, and some key election terms. We also talked a lot about Hurricane Isaac. This week we will continue to study key election terms and briefly study the issues the candidates will be discussing. The lessons will be aimed at giving students the background knowledge they need to understand the Election 2012. There will also be an Election 2012 extra credit opportunity given out this Friday, due next Monday 9/10. 

Writing: We open our Writer's Workshop this Wednesday! Kids will be encouraged to select what they want to write and write for authentic purposes. We will study pre-writing this week and have a few writing craft lessons. We'll use our read aloud text Because of Mr. Terrupt to study how authors describe characters and how authors use multiple perspectives to reveal character. We've been writing informal short stories but next week, the kids will begin drafting their very first formal writing piece of the year. 

Technology: We made tables for our reading logs last week. We'll review that this week and practice using control commands to copy and paste. 

Citizenship: We will have our second class meeting this Wednesday and discuss action items, lunch food, and how our class can generate revenue. 

Science: This week the students will use the scientific method to conduct experiments proving or disproving certain characteristics or properties of air. Think: How can one prove that air has weight...or does it? Can one prove that warm air rises...or does it? The children will use the scientific method to conduct experiments. We are also studying the layers of the atmosphere. 

Welcome Back! Update for 8/27-8/31

Hi 5V Families!

We will study 2012 Election this year in class. 

This is Mr. Vaid. How are you? 5V had a great first two days. I am enjoying my students and I hope that they are enjoying the class. We are continuing to set the tone for a great year and are slowly building our classroom community. It won't be built in a day, so please give us some time! Please know that content that students learn will also be studied within the context of real life such as current events taking place in our world, and/or authentic application. 

I want to provide you with a brief update about what the 5th grade and 5V will be studying next week:

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section.

Reading: Next week we will begin reading books. We have one major goal this year in reading and that is to encourage and further the passion for reading in our children. Sure we have some sub-goals, but ultimately we want to give kids the opportunity to love reading. We'll be studying genres, looking at books, and talking about books. I'm going to bring in some of my favorites and talk about them too. I am an avid reader myself and want to give the kids as much of an authentic reading experience as I can. We are also going to begin reading the story Because of Mr. Terrupt by Rob Buyea as our first read aloud book.

Current Events: A few topics for next week's current event coverage will include the Republican National Convention, the 2012 Election, the work of the Mars Rover, and Hurricane Isaac. Of course, being current events, we will add as we go! 

Writing: I enjoy writing and one of my goals this year is to have your student become an author or see him/herself as an author. We are going to open our Writer's Workshop this week and really begin living the lives of the author. We plan to write for authentic purposes and create a lot of student generated writing as opposed to me giving them topics or research to perform. That doesn't mean I won't be their guide regulate the debates we have, or we won't write formal essays. Believe me, we will.

Technology: I am getting the kids acquainted with the blog. At the same time, they are learning quick operating system short cuts and keyboard commands. It's just a little fun :) We have a technology curriculum in which we will blend with our day to day lessons. So if we go to type an essay, you can bet they will learn how to set the margins for the page.

Citizenship: We have our first class meeting on Monday. The kids already set the agenda and some points of discussion include: the new principal, the citizenship program, adding extra baskets to the table, volunteer service,  and helping others in the classroom.

Science: We're going to study weather. That is our first unit. It's quite fun! We are going to study the scientific method, layers of the atmosphere, and concepts in weather such as precipitation, condensation, evaporation, (I guess I could have said water cycle) air pressure, types of clouds, and we're going to also study general meteorology-things kids would see while watching a weather report on the news.

This is your Teacher Speaking!

Hello 5V Students and Families!

Welcome to the 2012-13 School Year. My name is Mr. Vaid. I am pleased to be your child's teacher this year. Who is that man behind the sunglasses? I have taught 5th grade at May Watts for 8 years. This will be my 9th year teaching. I'm sure you'd like to know a little bit more about your teacher than you perhaps already do. After all, we are going to spend about 9 months, 171 days, or 1,118 hours together this year...if not more!

First, come to the May Watts Meet and Greet on Monday, August 20th, 2012 between 1:15pm and 2:00pm. You can drop off your supplies and fill out a brief survey. We'll also be able to begin to get to know one another.

Fifth grade is going to be an excellent year. Please enjoy the rest of your vacation and I can't wait to see you on Monday.

Thanks,

Mr. Vaid

Thanks for a Great Year!

For me the end of a school year is always bittersweet. While the image of summer and a time to relax is exciting and appealing, saying good bye to my students is always a challenge. This year is no different. When I spend 9 months of the year, 5 days a week, and 6 hours a day with the kids, it's very easy to grow attached. I've always felt that my classes have the special family feel or basketball team vibe to them and this class was no different. In fact, the 5V class of 2011-12 exemplifies just that, perhaps more than others.

No doubt we've learned a ton, but the way we did it, and the manner in which we grew together and learned from one another is special. BELOW: KIDS LEAVING SCHOOL FOR THE SUMMER.

I want to thank all the kids and parents from this year's 5V for a wonderful year. Teaching is hard enough, but with your support, enthusiasm, and passion it really helped not only me, but the kids. Thanks again parents!

Perhaps I'll see you around town. The kids said they want to play soccer and kickball with me over the summer We'll see how they feel after one week of SUMMER!

All the best :)


Mr. Vaid

5th Grade Farewell Party: Wednesday 5/23!

Hi 5V Families!

This is a reminder that the 5th Grade Farewell Party will be tomorrow on Wednesday , May 23rd. Please...

1. do not pack a lunch if your child is going to enjoy the lunch/treats already provided.
2. consider applying sun screen lotion prior to school.
3. wearing a hat
4. bringing a water bottle
5. bringing a beach towel
6. consider bringing a healthy snack to eat before 12pm
7. consider wearing bug spray.
8. dress appropriately for the weather and games-shorts, jeans, t-shirt, and gym shoes would be best for the games and running.

Debate/Argument Topic: Recess Before Lunch?

The kids in 5V examined the benefits of having a recess before lunch. They were asked to take a position on the subject and were asked if May Watts should implement a schedule that has lunch recess prior to lunch. Here are the results of the survey and what they said. WHAT DO YOU THINK?!


YES: 87%

NO:  13%

Some thoughts:

• Kids can actually focus on eating instead of planning their recesses at lunch. They'll eat more if they have done the recess first.
• Some kids need to have lunch first so they can have the energy for recess.
• Kids waste food because they see their friends getting ready for recess and instead of taking time to finish, they just throw it away.
• It's too tricky because how would we wash our hands before lunch?
• We'll be more calm coming into our next class if we come from a calm lunch instead of a hectic recess.

Fieldtrip Reminders!

Hi 5V Families!

How are you? Here are two fieldtrip reminders:

1. The previously canceled WVHS Planetarium Fieldtrip has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, May 8th between 11am and 1pm. A new permission slip will come home but you will NOT have to pay because you already have paid. We just need consent to take the bus again.

2. On Wednesday, May 9th, between 930am and 1130pm, the 5th grade will visit Hill Middle School for a preview of the building and its operations. That fieldtrip is free and all of us have that form turned back, so thanks!