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!

Curriculum Update 4/16-4/20

HEY 5V Families, 


Here is what we have been up to and are up to this week: 

Reading: 

1. The kids have learned their new challenge word: fastidious. Go ahead, ask them what it means! Tell them to give you an example. 
2. We are reading a photo essay called Seeing Earth from Space and we are practicing non fiction reading strategies. As always, I will model these prior to the reading and we have already practiced good pre-reading strategies today. 
3. Toward the end of the week, the kids and I will study a debate topic from our Time for Kids magazines and ask ourselves if K-12 schools should ban vending machines that sell sugary snacks. 
4. With the aforementioned note, we are going to practice research strategies and persuasive writing skills to take a position, write our opinion, support our thoughts, and cite our work. 
5. OMG-We are loving our new read aloud Because of Mr. Terrupt. The kids are studying foreshadowing, symbolism, and character traits each day with the story. 
6. In social studies, we are looking at and creating our own political cartoons to reinforce ideas about symbolism, inferring, and main ideas. This is very meaningful and deep work which will challenge students to think outside the box. You should see some of them already! 

Writing: 

1. We are going to practice good persuasive writing skills with the Time for Kids articles about sugary snacks and vending machines that we're reading. 
2. In social studies, we are writing political cartoons based on current events and issues that we've discussed in and around the world and culture. The writing include some dialogue, maybe a caption, and of course our artist signatures! 
3. With our read aloud Because of Mr. Terrupt, the kids are going to reflect on each character's personality, attitude, and background to create 6 word memoirs that speak to who the character is in a reflection sort of way. Then, the kids themselves are going to write their own 6 word memoirs about their own lives after reflecting on the 10 or 11 years they've been alive. This is also a very deep thinking/reflective project. 
4. We are finishing up our songs. The kids formed bands. We have: The Tigers, The Island Girls, U4, AMA, Black Bulls, and Mascara Maddar. You really ought to have your child sing the melodies they've come up with at home. WOW! Bringing their instruments in, writing poetry, lyrics, and coming up with melodies...It's like music class! 

Science: 

1. We finish up studying the life cycle of a star this week by studying supernovas and black holes this week. We'll also review the birth process with the nebula and the life of a main sequence star. 
2. We will use our sky maps again this week and will study constellations, their cultural relevance, and specific stars within the pattern. 
3. Next Friday we take our field trip to the WVHS Planetarium!!
4. We'll finish off by reviewing the 4 different types of galaxies. 

Social Studies: 

1. The kids will take the Unit 10 Test on the U.S Constitution and Government this Wednesday. 
2. They will write essays summarizing and reflecting upon government and its role in our society. They'll have the opportunity to side with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and clarify their positions. 
3. We'll also put government into the context of our school and study the analogy by asking who the governing body or bodies of our school are. 

Citizenship: 

1. The kids in 5V know not to make things personal and use "you statements". You didn't give me a paper Mr. Vaid...You forgot to turn off the monitor...We do sometimes slip up, so a kind reminder to make I statements is always in store when need be! I think the monitor should be turned off! 

1. Math: Please see the 5V Math Blog! It's link in the Links for Learning Section :) 

Proofs of Residency!

Hello 5V Families!

How are you? Mrs. Keene and the office would like all students to bring in at least 3 proofs of residency if they have not already. You can tell your students to drop this directly off at the office.

Thank you!

Mr. Vaid

Curricular Update (Week of 4/2-4/6 and important reminders

Welcome Back! Here's the update for the first week of post spring break!

Reading:

The children will be interpreting poetry and using a lot of inferential skills. In addition, we're going to study quite a bit of challenging vocabulary words. We are starting a new read aloud called Because of Mr. Terrupt. The kids will also study non-fiction texts and reading strategies as we normally do.

Writing:

Well, we are reading poetry in reading class, so it only makes sense that we write poetry in writing class. Who will be our inspirations? Poe? Dickens? Angelou? Mr. Vaid? Yes, he is a writer himself. At the same time, we'll continue blogging, writing OUR OWN STUDENT CREATED stories and writing pieces. We might continue some research skills and practices as well.

Math:

Please see the 5V Math Blog :)

Social Studies:

We begin our adventures in studying about the U.S's first Government and Constitution. We'll study the Articles of Confederation and its shortcomings as well as potential benefits. The kids did quite well on their Unit 8 and Unit 9 social studies tests! They should be so proud :)

Current Events and Real Life MATH:

Thanks to Jimmy, our stock market game is in full swing with students buying shares in different companies. He's organized it quite well. We're going to study the markets once or twice a week in the morning before we leave for specials. Kids can buy shares in Apple, Google, Ford, Groupon, Target, and even our local "companies" within the classroom. There is a LOT of math with this game and I'm excited for our kids to apply math in this context.

Science:

After we finish social studies, we begin my favorite science unit-astronomy! We'll study the stars, constellations, galaxies, and our universe. More to come on that later!

Citizenship:

We're going to emphasize playground safety and expectations.

Important Reminders:

Monday 4/2: Vaid Helpers in the AM and Bike Show Assembly @ 10:30

Tuesday 4/3: Vaid Helpers in the AM

Wednesday 4/4: Late start Wednesday @ 9:05 am

Thursday 4/5: Vaid Helpers in the PM

Friday 4/6: No School, Good Friday