Staying In-the-Know
with Ms. Cloyd & Mrs. Drayton
Academy of Environmental Science at Dutch Fork: Title I
12.5.13
VIP Folder
- 5th Grade Field Trip Info - Please return the intent form by Monday, December 9th.
- The Cub Reporter
- 2nd Nine Weeks Interim - Please sign and return on tomorrow, Friday, December 6th.
- Graded Papers
- DFHS Elementary Night Ticket
Boosterthon Fun Run
Literacy & SS with Mrs. Drayton
Literacy
There's lots of reading going on in Mrs. Drayton's Class! I am so proud and excited about the progress your children are making as readers! They are making better book choices, finishing novels, and learning how to have meaningful conversations about their books! In an effort to encourage your child to be better thinkers while they're reading, I've been modeling how I think as I read. I'm teaching them to pay attention and think as they read, and carry on an "inner conversation" with the text. The "inner conversation" may sound like:
· "Wow! I didn't know that!"
· "Huh, I don't get this part!"
· "OMG! I can't believe that happened!"
So, if you see lots of sticky notes in your child's book, be happy! Read their thoughts and use them to have a conversation with your child about their book! I'm also sending their inner conversation notes home from one of our interactive read alouds. Read through them to see what kind of thinker your child is!
We began exploring memoir writing this week. To become more familiar with the genre, we're spending lots of time reading different memoirs and analyzing the various structures of a memoir. To get your child to begin thinking about the most important ideas and life stories that make up who they are as a person, I asked them to make a ME box to help them get in touch with the things that matter most to them and how these things have helped to shape who they are today. They will share their ME Box items in class tomorrow, and I'm excited to see what's important to them!
***Reminder: Book reports are due tomorrow. Your child should've written his or her draft in class today.
Social Studies
We wrapped up the Industry and Immigration test last week, and we have begun a continuation of that unit. Stated below in bold print is the standard your child will be responsible for understanding.
The Industrial Revolution, urbanization, and access to resources contributed to the United States becoming a world power in the early twentieth century. At the same time, discriminatory practices abounded. To understand the rise of the United States as a world power the student will . . .
5-3.4 Summarize the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of big business, including the development of monopolies; long hours, low wages, and unsafe working conditions on men, women, and children laborers; and resulting reform movements.
We hope to finish this unit before Winter Break, so please make sure your child studies and discusses his or her notes daily. Last week's social studies test scores indicate to me that most students are studying more, and they're also learning how to be better historians and thinkers! Thanks in advance for helping me out with that process!
Math & Science with Ms. Cloyd
Last week the students presented a project on sections of our Mixtures and Solutions Unit. Attached are pictures of the presentations. I was very proud of the final products. We added a “sources used” section this time which is one step closer to our Science Fair Project plans.
We will begin our work on our Science Fair Projects. This will be due after our Winter Break. We have started working on one project in class so that the students will know where all of the “parts” go. They will be bringing home a small version of what a project needs to look like.
There are several sites that are good for mapping this out. The best one I have found is: http://sciencebuddies.org This is produced by Elmer’s Glue Company. It walks you through the entire process. There are several ideas that could be used or modified. Also, www.buzzle.com is another site filled with ideas.
We have been working on the sections needed when we complete a science experiment in class. The following needs to be included: focus question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, data, observation, and conclusion.
We will be reviewing for our end of unit test that will be on Tuesday, December 10th starting today. Your child will have a review sheet and will be able to study using their science journal.
Math:
We are continuing our study of Decimals.
We have worked on adding and subtracting decimals using grids, base ten blocks and fake money. Please encourage your child to practice these types of problems every night.
When problems look like this: 1.2 + 3.46 Encourage your child to line the addends up correctly and annex a zero. Their problem should look like this:
1.20
+ 3.4
We will be having a Ch. 5 test next Thursday 12/12
Mitten Tree
DFES is sponsoring a Mitten Tree this holiday season. We are collecting new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves and socks for needy children in our area. Students may bring items in to decorate the tree in the cafeteria lobby until December 12.