Lots of Good Stuff: Update 12/10-12/14

Can you tell what atom this is?

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. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading:

* The kids are going to learn a few new prefixes this week and as a result will be able to learn meanings to new words.

 

* The kids will also learn how to make metaphors using concrete and abstract nouns. We did this last week and the week before but now I will formally introduce them to the terms concrete and abstract nouns.

* In small groups we will study comprehension skills based off the Time for Kids assessments.
* We're reading for purpose and identifying theme and conflict. We're going to ask ourselves where we find similar theme or conflict in history, our lives, current events, and literature through a webbing experience.

 

 Current Events:

* Tick, tick, tick...fiscal cliff...

* Our week will probably begin with some Chicago Bears talk: hopefully a victory.

* Kids are going to begin groundwork on the 5V Magazine; an informative publication that will encompass many of the writing, reading, and research skills we already teach through our curriculum. When I say groundwork, I mean we will just talk about it this week informally and begin work after winter break.

Science:

* Kids will learn the basic parts of an atom! This includes the nucleus, protons, neutrons, electron shells, and electrons.
* The kids will also learn the functions of those atomic parts.
* In addition, the kids will study the periodic table and learn what the atomic #, atomic mass, and classifications of elements means.

Writing: Writing everyday...

* The kids will continue to learn how to elaborate using cues like because, for example,  and  like.

* The kids will also continue to organize their writing through paragraphing. They should be able to explain why they separated paragraphs and why they made the transitions between paragraphs that they did.  

* In grammar we are studying a variety of kinds of nouns including: personal, proper, common, possessive, and more.

* As part of their inquiry learning the kids will ask questions about what they want to find answers to and they will either discuss, infer, experiment, or research to write about what they have learned and then share it. They did such a fine job with this in social studies last week!!

 

Technology: Edline skills this week!

* Because of the increase in flipped instruction, students will practice taking quizzes and watching video lessons online.

* The kids will learn while in the computer lab how to go back and forth between note taking for a subject (like science or writing) and their MS word document. They will learn (and already have learned) how to paraphrase and note take again.

 

 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on:

* Having class meetings to discuss agenda items for the week.

* Learning cool tools of the week.

 

Join the May Watts Service Club!

Hi 5V Families!

See the attached picture for more information about the May Watts Service Club. The next meeting is Monday, December 10th after school.

Math Night 12/3 6:30pm to 8pm

Come to the May Watts Math Night!!
It is still not too late!

When: Monday, December 3rd 6:30-8:00pm (grades 3, 4, and 5)

Where: May Watts

What: Lots of sports and game themed MATH activities. Lots for you to participate in.

Who: May Watts families. Registration as walk-ins at the door is welcome. OR...just bring back the form your child brought home last week.

Why: To experience the fun in math!

Deeper Learning: Update 11/26-11/30

If you read the post you'll get the idea! 

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. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: 

* During reading conferences we will study symbolism. We are striving to learn ideas that have more depth to them. 

* The kids will deepen their comprehension by using metaphors and similes

* As usual, we'll study vocabulary and vocabulary strategies. (Last week were terms like fiscal cliff, and bipartisan). 

* We continue to write along with our reading to reinforce our comprehension. This week we have some arguments rooted in our study of history. Kids will continue to provide textual evidence to support their arguments. 

* As we continue our read aloud we will also continue to discuss ideas and theme and how they relate to history and current event. 

Current Events: 

* If anyone thinks that kids aren't interested in the world around them and national and international news tell them to come to our classroom. 

* We'll continue our study of terms relevant to the news. This content will continue to be deep in meaning and reinforce our global awareness. 

* We'll continue to examine maps and math through our current event studies. How about we add some depth to our content by studying the time zones. Come to our room to see the clocks. 

* Kids are going to begin groundwork on the 5V Magazine; an informative publication that will encompass many of the writing, reading, and research skills we already teach through our curriculum. I think this will be a context for learning that is deep in nature as it is authentic and has some rigor to it. More to come on this one later! This publication will supplement and reinforce all of our learning. 

Writing: Writing everyday...

* This week we wrap up our realistic fiction publication. We try to add depth to our writing as we implement the traits and features of what real authors do: This includes learning how to write dialogue, use foreshadowing, plot twists, perspective writing, atmosphere, and more! 

* The kids will edit and revise their work after computer lab conferences with me. 

* We're beginning the second round of grammar conferences and each child is studying what he or she needs to as it relates to grammar. 

* By the end of the week we will prepare for our next writing/research publication which will be a historical fiction piece in which the student does research on a time period or event as the basis of the story. 

* The 5V magazine framework for our writing/reading/research will be a great supplement to our learning and provide context with depth.  

Technology: Edline skills this week! 

* Because of the increase in flipped instruction, students will practice taking quizzes and watching video lessons online. 

* I'm going to teach the kids to use their file locker on Edline for storage. As a result flash drives will not be as essential. 

* We are going to have a note taking lesson combined with research. 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on: 

* Continuing our bully lessons

* Having class meetings

* Hopefully having our art show to generate classroom revenue and money for the Naperville Humane Society. 

Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: We're studying America as a "playground" and...

* Colonial self-government. 

* The playground of America and how the British occupy one part of it. The kids are beginning to understand this deep concept. 

* The impact on Native Americans

* Ideas of self government

* Soon our own classroom will role play the democratic process in order to make authentic decisions in class. We will have political parties, a congress, a judicial system, and of course I will be President. 

* Early colonial towns of the British on the east coast.  

* All of our studies are aimed at our SS theme question" "How did the U.S become so powerful?" This is a very deep question that frames everything we do...okay almost everything we do in social studies! 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice. 

Diversity Week: Update 11/12-11/16

This week is Diversity Week @ May Watts! 

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. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: This week in reading the students are going to study the following: 

* Character traits through our read aloud. 

* Inferential and critical thinking via our social studies texts.  

* Transferring knowledge and content gained in social studies to writing. 

* Test-taking strategies. 

* The "usual" comprehension strategies. 

Current Events: The election is over but we'll study a mix of government and more...

* Self government (connection to social studies) 

* Branches of government (future connection to social studies) 

* Chicago Bears talk

* The Economy (what in the world is a fiscal cliff?)

* Any other events in the news and/or interesting articles. 

Writing: Writing everyday...

* Persuasive writing skills through our argument writing. 

* Reflection writing 

* Math reflective writing

* Kids will begin a new student-driven story (we'll organize it based on ideas and theme)

* Focus on authentic audience that will drive our student-driven stories

* Poetry through social studies

* Maybe a short answer response

Technology: This week in the lab the students will learn the following skills: 

* More graphic manipulation

* Features and tools of MS Paint

* Internet browsing

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on: 

* DIVERSITY WEEK: Kids and I will have discussions/presentations on holidays/traditions

* Empathy (finishing up lessons from last week)

* Being thoughtful (we're having an art show to raise money for an animal shelter) 

Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: We're studying America as a "playground" and...

* The French exploration of America

* The impact on Native Americans

* Ideas of self government

* Early colonial towns of the British on the east coast.  

* All of our studies are aimed at our SS theme question" "How did the U.S become so powerful?" 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice. 

Happy Halloween: Update 10/29-11/2

Happy Halloween!

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. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: This week in reading the students are going to study the following: 

* General comprehension and vocabulary strategies that we study every week. 

* Two new challenge words. 

* Character traits and qualities. 

* Very high level literary devices that we study each week through conferences. 

Current Events: While we study the 2012 Presidential election, we are going to examine:

* Political parties of our country. 

* Our attitudes about managing a country

* The branches of government

* Commercialism 
Writing: We continue to write each day and this week will include the continuation of: 

* Persuasive writing skills through our argument writing. 

* Narrative story writing through our journal topics. 

* Reflective writing through our reflection journals. 

* Halloween scary stories shared at our Wednesday Marshmallow campfire! 

Technology: This week in the lab the students will learn the following skills: 

* Manipulating graphics

* Capturing screen shots

* Tips and tricks on MS Word
Citizenship: Next week I think a good focus for us will be: 

* Empathy 

* Recognition for students who have made improvements in the way they conduct themselves. 

* We will also discuss our "Art Show" that we're having to generate revenue for our classroom and help the local Naperville Humane Society. 

* Please consider coming to our classroom during Diversity Week to talk about a tradition or holiday that your family celebrates or follows. Diversity week is the Week of November 12th at May Watts. 
Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: We are wrapping up the study of Spanish colonization and will now study: 

* English colonization of the Americas. 

* The Roanoke Colony

* The Jamestown Colony. 

* All of our studies are aimed at our SS theme question" "How did the U.S become so powerful?" 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice. I tricked the kids into wanting to find the mean of a data set. They do it with such ease now. 

Two Month Anniversary Approaching: Update 10/22-10/26

During these busy days don't forget to play.

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. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: The kids last week studied protagonists vs. antagonists in their books after I conferenced with them. lot of our conferences have focused on literary elements such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and atmosphere. We'll continue that but we're also continuing informal conversations about the text, about connections, about our feelings, about our excitement and joy as readers. We're reading some great articles in our TFK this week by the way. Our school's reading night is this Wednesday, October 24th between 6:30pm and 8pm. Come with your child or children and enjoy reading in the LMC and storyteller Sue Black. She reads at 7:15pm.

Current Events: The kids know how our country elects its President. They know about the Electoral College-though they'll call it the Electoral Voting Point Thing...(we'll have to fix that) and they love watching the debates. They are slowly turning an eye and an ear to the issues. We're going to study political parties as part of current events time. Hey, whoever you vote for, whatever your party affiliation, whatever stance you take on the issues, this is an exciting time of year and a great opportunity for kids to learn about politics and government through our several minutes of current events each day. 

Writing: We publish or at least begin publishing our stories this week. We're also going to learn how to properly write dialogue. In addition, we'll continue argumentative/persuasive writing. We're going to finish up our research project which ask the kids and their groups to argue for or against commercialization of schools. Some schools do sell advertising space to corporations for funding. Not us. Not yet...The kids sure have their opinions. They'll debate it this week or next. Also, we're continuing to add more journal writing in class. We have a couple of entries this week that the kids will either find a challenge or fun, or both. 

Technology: We studied CNTRL Z and CNTRL F commands this week. In addition, we ramped up our search cue strategies using Google Safe Search. Ask your children if they remember how to double space and create a title on MS Word. 

Citizenship: Last week we studied how to engage in conflict resolution. We're studying the word pugnacious this week so that will kind of fit the context of conflict. I've told the kids to be assertive when need be,  but being kids, you know, it's easier said than done. 

Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: Is colonization right? About 21%of our class thinks it is. We've studied Spanish influence on the Western World, in particular the Bahamas, Mexico, and South America. The kids wrote argumentative papers taking a position on colonization. We finish up this week with a colony project that puts them in the shoes of an expedition team and we will take another quiz on conditions and life in New Spanish settlements. 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice. I tricked the kids into wanting to find the mean of a data set. They do it with such ease now.