December 2018

Important Dates

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2018: EDM Unit 3 Part II test

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018: Final draft due for Opinion essay
Friday, Dec. 21, 2018: End of Cycle II for Ch-Changes, Matter

Forget-Me- Not Dates

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2018: Science Days Exploration,

Friday, Dec. 21, 2018: Winter Holiday Party, 2:30- 3:30 PM

Friday, Dec. 21, 2018: Winter break begins

Monday, Dec. 24- 28, 2018: NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Monday, Dec. 31 - Jan. 4, 2018, NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, School Resumes
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019: NWEA Math Test, 9- 10:15 AM
Friday, Jan. 18, 2019: NWEA Reading Test, 9- 10:15 AM

Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday, No School

Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, Winter Survival, Outdoors Field trip, 10-2 PM

Subjects at a Glance

EDM: After an extended period, we have concluded our study of fractions for now. Unit 3 encompassed adding like denominators, mixed numbers and improper fractions, and number stories with fractional answers. In the next unit after unit 4, we will continue our study of fractions; however Unit 4: Decimal Concepts and Coordinate Grids will cover decimal and coordinate grids. In detail,  Unit 4 will cover the information below:

• Read and write decimals in words, numbers and expanded forms.
• Compare decimals.
• Round decimals.
• Plot points on a coordinate grid.
• Use a coordinate grid to answer questions and solve problems.
• Shade grids to add and subtract decimals.
• Use algorithms to add and subtract decimals.

     Language Arts

     Reading: During the month of December, we studied Nonfiction 5 text structures and purposes of graphical features. A majority of the guided reading groups have been reconfigured. Students are reading fiction and some are reading nonfiction. Ask your child which book, he or she is assigned to in a group. 

     Writing: We continued planning and organizing our Opinion writing pieces (essays). All students have self selected a topic. Learned how to turn a strong opinion into a claim. Next, we learned how to support each claim with 3 supporting details: Evidence (data/ numbers), emotions, experience (short story), and explanations. Students used strong opinion words and transition words. Also, students incorporated their knowledge of figurative language by adding 1 hyperbole, 1 personification and 1 simile. Last but not least, students wrote a conclusion paragraph restating the strong opinion and the 3 claims along with 1 thought or action for the reader. It goes without saying each piece must vary sentences length and beginnings and have correct spelling. 

     Poetry: During the month of December, our Figurative Language Fridays and weekly review will       continue with personification and metaphors. Students will begin writing poetry with various figurative language.

     Words Their Way: The only major difference is students now have a pretest on day 4. Day for is different for each group. There is a Dark blue group composed of 2 students who have never missed a word on any assessment test and weekly test. At the end of December and the beginning of January, we will learn Conjunctions, Interjections and Articles.

Social studies: We have been studying cross curricula with nonfiction text structures and features. We reviewed which organizers help readers comprehend each structure with tex about Michigan. Below is an image supporting what we have studied. There will be a brief quiz the Friday prior to break on structures. 

Science: We have continued our study of Matter by investigating what is inside Matter. 

• 5-PS1-1 Develop a model to demonstrate that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
• 5-PS1-2 Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that, regardless of the type of change that occurs, when heating, cooling, or mixing substances, the total weight of matter is conserved.(January 2018)
• 5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
• 5-PS1-4 Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.

Winter Break Ideas

Due to the lack of participation over Thanksgiving break, I thinking I will not have a reading challenge; however, I have posted a Winter Break post about activities to do over break. PTO has graciously paid for online accounts for Thinkstretch activities. If you would like the reading challenge for 8 hours, let me know.