Room 26 Weekly News
October 3, 2016
Announcements
Happy October! It's hard to believe we've already been through a full month of 5th grade!! Your students are already adapted to the classroom routines and are showing themselves to be such wonderful, capable, and responsible young people. I had to have a substitute last week, and was so pleased to return the next day to find a letter waiting for me from the sub. It said, among other things, that the class was extremely well-behaved, hardworking, and respectful, and that "it is a class any teacher would be proud of." I am certainly proud! I am fortunate to get to spend the day with such wonderful students.
Thank you again to our wonderful parent volunteers who have been coming in to help with copying, Art, Music, Dolphin Envelopes, the coffee cart, and taking projects home. A huge thank you, as well, to Diana Lee and Julie Sundem for being such wonderful Room Parents and coordinating communication about upcoming school events.
Academic Updates
Language Arts
Math
Writing
Social Studies
We completed Chapter 8 in our Social Studies textbook (events leading up to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence) last week. Please look for their Chapter 8 tests to come home this week. 5th grade is the first time students are expected to study for tests, without the use of notes/books/etc. during the test. They also receive a "grade" for Social Studies and Science (in earlier grades, they just received an effort grade of E, S, N, or U.) To help them develop study skills they will need in middle school, we have created "study guides" for all the tests they will take this year. The study guides are VERY closely aligned to the tests. If students use the study guides - read them over several times, have a parent or older sibling quiz them on the material - they will do very well on the tests. If they do not study or think they will just "remember" the material, they will usually find out that it is much more difficult than they expected and their test scores will tend to be lower than they'd like. The chapters are long and contain a lot of material. The tests include short answer essay questions that require a pretty deep understanding of the various people, events, and ideas included in the chapter. Please go over your child's test with him/her, as well as his/her graphic organizers (chapter notes that we do together in class) and the study guide so you can get a sense of your student's effort in this area.
This week, we will begin Chapter 9 (the Revolutionary War.) Your students will become very familiar with the events and people involved in the Revolutionary War and see how the fight for independence from Britain eventually led to the Articles of Confederation and, ultimately, to the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
In addition to our classwork, your students should be studying their states and capitals. We take quizzes every other Friday. The fifth grade team has broken up the U.S. into 4 smaller chunks to help with memorization. First, students must study and learn the Southern Border States. Most students have already passed this quiz. If your student has not yet passed this region, please encourage them by quizzing them in the car when you drive places, having them play some of the states and capitals games linked on my classroom website, or making flashcards. Second, students study for the Eastern Border States. These tend to be the trickiest for students because many of the states are so small. Once they pass the Eastern Border, they will work on the Northern Border states. Last, students will memorize the Middle States. Once they have passed the regional quizzes, they will be tested on all 50 states and capitals. All tests show a blank U.S. map with states randomly numbered. Students must write the capital city and state for each numbered state. I am offering my students the option of taking all 50 states and capitals now if they feel they are ready. (I am thrilled to have several students who studied their states and capitals over the summer, and they have already passed the all 50 states and capitals test!) This is a huge achievement, and one that EVERY student in my class is more than capable of reaching, but it does take practice and determination. Please encourage your child to study and practice so they can achieve this goal! Students who pass all 50 states and capitals receive a special certificate and are recognized at 5th grade promotion in June. Students also have an opportunity to spell all 50 states and capitals correctly (100% correct, they get three tries) and will be additionally recognized at 5th grade promotion.
Science
Specials
Art - Monday
P.E. - Tuesday and Thursday
Library - Thursday
Music - Friday