Science with Miss Molly!

Wow!  Science sure has changed since I was in 5th grade.  The kids look forward to Wednesdays, because it means they have an hour with Miss Molly, librarian and ex-6th grade science teacher extraordinaire.  The love learning about science in general, but with Miss Molly, it's truly a treat.

Throughout the year we have been learning about various concepts and subjects, including the Solar System, the weather, the different systems in our body, the vascular system in plants, classifying, and now we are learning about the Periodic Table and formulas.  Yes, you read correctly...the Periodic Table!  

It's a challenging concept for anyone, and for 5th graders it's a giant topic.  They are required to know about how the Periodic Table works, but are not going to need to memorize the table.  Miss Molly has been going through this lesson with them during our Wednesday sessions and the students are doing their best to soak up as much information as possible before testing beings at the end of April.

Yes, TESTING!  It's coming up.  Room 11 will be ready for the challenge!

HOMEWORK for April 7th

HOMEWORK for April 7-14

1) Spelling Words

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. News Article, “Waverly Residents Prepare for Tornaadoes”

5) Daily Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice

8) Geography
a. A Product Map of Nebraska

9) Fractions Beyond Compare

10) Reading Log

RESEARCH:

You are to have at least 12 drawings for your state report. You should have your state drawn already. You should also have your state flag drawn. You should also draw your state flower, state landmarks, and anything that distinguishes your state from the rest. Remember to DO YOUR BEST WORK and to USE COLOR.

Zooming through Harcourt Math!

The kids are jamming through Harcourt math! We have landed on Chapter 24, and they are doing a fabulous job with all the concepts of ordered pairs and graphing. Last week in Chapter 23, we learned about integers, which included adding and subtracting. which can be a very difficult and confusing concept.

For those of you who need a refresher: Positive integers are all the whole numbers greater than zero: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... . Negative integers are all the opposites of these whole numbers: -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, … . We do not consider zero to be a positive or negative number. For each positive integer, there is a negative integer, and these integers are called opposites. For example, -3 is the opposite of 3, -21 is the opposite of 21, and 8 is the opposite of -8. If an integer is greater than zero, we say that its sign is positive. If an integer is less than zero, we say that its sign is negative. Whew!

However, the kids did well, and their Chapter 23 tests reflected their efforts. Good job, students!

Coat of Arms

Having read The Phantom Tollbooth, the kids learned about something called A Coat of Arms, also known as a family crest. Each Coat of Arms is specific to a unique family, and is carried through generations of that family until present day. The students had a chance to make their own Coat of Arms today, and so far they are lovely.

To create a Coat of Arms, you must choose symbols and colors, all of which have specific meanings. The color red, for example, means "warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity."

Each person chose three things to add to their coat, which identified their family and themselves in some way. I believe they truly enjoy the art projects, because they are always so beautifully colored and drawn. I think we have a slew of budding artists in the classroom!

HOMEWORK for April 1st

HOMEWORK for April 1-April 7

1) Spelling Words

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Book Review, “Dinotopia” 1
5) Daily Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice

8) Geography
a. A Cultural Map

9) The Factor Factory

10) Reading Log

RESEARCH:

DRAW YOUR STATE for your research report. Do your BEST WORK.
DRAW YOUR STATE FLAG for your research report.

Research your STATE for your report, which is due on April 21st
Find: Famous people from your state, anything particularly interesting about your state, Continue working on your list of things to find, from A to Z.

Enjoying Your Spring Break?

I hope you're all having a great time on your break! Remember to work on your MATH PACKETS and your STATE REPORT in your spare time!

Chapter 21 Math Test on FRIDAY

A reminder: There is a chapter 21 math test on multiplying fractions on FRIDAY, students! STUDY your math packets!

Hey! Guess what? I just met Willie Wonka!

The Castro Theatre is showing their annual Sketchfest movies and providing some time with special guests. Tonight's guest was none other than the infamous Gene Wilder, of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame.

He spoke fondly of the movie, and even told us that he didn't see the new version, which stars the far less Wonka-ish Johnny Depp. He chose not to see it when he saw a preview in the

movie theater and examined how Mr. Depp chose to play the character of larger-than-life Willie Wonka.

Seeing Mr. Wilder tonight reminded me of a few weeks ago when I had three of my after-school helpers in the classroom. After an hour of cleaning and sorting papers for me, the kids sat for a treat. I showed the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As soon as I popped the VHS (yes, a TAPE) of the movie into the player, the kids sat mesmerized by the technicolor show.

Occasionally, other students would filter through the classroom to pick up forgotten jackets and books and see Willie dancing and singing on the television. They, too, would plop down in a seat, never taking their eyes off the screen.

It just goes to show that cautionary tales by Roald Dahl, that mastermind of children's plight and tales of survival and, ultimately, triumph, survive the test of time. Gene Wilder paired with the mastermind storytelling of Dahl makes for a fabulous children's movie that easily passes the ten-year-old short attention span test.

The movie translates perfectly into this day and age of Internet and the word "Google" listed in the newest version of the dictionary. Netflix or rent it, if you don't already own a copy!

Spring Slump

This is the time of year I like to call The Spring Slump. It's when kids start getting burned out and tired of school, just before Spring Break hits and gives them a week off!

It's typical of every year, and every class I've had has gone through this phase. It lasts for a couple of weeks, and sometimes nearly a month.

The good news is, it goes away! After Spring Break, the kids return, refreshed and renewed!

So this post is for all the students out there experiencing this slump. HANG IN THERE! You will be enjoying Spring Break soon enough.

And come back to school ready to work...because we will be jamming through the rest of our curriculum and you will be off to Middle School before you know it!

HOMEWORK for March 17

Homework for March 17 – March 21

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. Review of words

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. Fantasy: Seashore Mystery

5) Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice

8) Daily Geography
a. Twenty Largest Cities in the United States

9) Fraction Leftovers

10) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas. You MUST READ EVERY DAY. Please read for at least ten minutes a day.

NO INTERNET HUNT THIS WEEK. ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK! SEE YOU IN APRIL!

State Reports are Underway!

The kids have started their state reports as of last week, and it's looking good! Everyone should have their maps and at least two drawings complete by now. The maps I have seen so far look terrific. Good job, students!

Speaking of the United States, the students have been working hard on their states and capitals quizes (one every week or two) and most have passed with flying colors. At least half of the 33 kids in class scored 100% on their last quiz, which included states and matching their capitals, AND spelling.

They are working towards the big geography test in April that will require them to not only name and label every state and capital in the U.S., but also spell them correctly and place the cities in the correct place. I have no doubt they will do a fabulous job! I am VERY impressed with all of the kids in class!

Please use your Spring Break wisely and work on your reports. They are due on April 21st, without fail!

Also, you should be working on your math packets, Chapters 8-21 this vacation, too. If you have not been keeping up with your weekly packets, you may have a lot of work ahead of you. Please complete the packets and turn them in on the Tuesday we are back in session! Trust me, they will help you ACE YOUR MATH TESTS!

P.S. You have a Chapter 21 math test on Friday. Please study and use your math packets! Chapter 21 is on multiplying fractions. If you have problems with the concepts in this chapter, COME SEE ME AT LUNCH and I will help you.

Vascular Plants and Other Goings On...

If you're asking your children the question, "What happened at school today?" they SHOULD be answering, "PLENTY!" But in case they're playing mum's the word, here's a synopsis of the week:

• We learned about vascular plants in Science!
• We learned about multiplying and dividing fractions in Math!
• We danced with Mr. Michael!
• We had our P.E. testing!
• We learned about the Arctic Tundra in Geography!
• We ate home-made apple cake, hot out of Hanna's mother's oven! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNA!)
• And we compared middle school placements!

All in all, a pretty average week chock full o' learning. Kids do a lot that they never quite manage to mention when we get home. So parents, don't forget to ask and be inquisitive! You may be pleasantly surprised!

The Phantom Tollbooth

If you parents haven't heard about this incredibly entertaining book we've been reading, you must pull your kid aside and ask him/her to explain everything about it to you. You will want to read it yourself!

It was my favorite book when I was ten, and I have been re-reading it with the same relish I had in 5th grade. It integrates everything a book should be into its' pages, including math, science, wonder, imagination, and creativity...the author, Norton Juster, manages to sneak a little education into his passages every chapter.

It's been a pleasure reading the kids' written response pages to the chapters. They seem to love the imagery and really appreciate the humor, which translates well from adult to child. Pick up a copy for home, if you don't already have one. It's well worth the $7.00!

And remember...Green Apple on Clement Street has used copies!

HOMEWORK for March 10

Homework for March 10 – March 17

1) Spelling List
a. Do NOT do spelling dictation

2) Daily Language Review

3) Daily Academic Vocabulary
a. address, focus, topic

4) Daily Paragraph Editing
a. The Science Project

5) Handwriting Practice

6) Daily Word Problems

7) Daily Math Practice
a) Do not do Monday, #3
b) Do not do Tuesday, #2
c) Do not do Wednesday, #4
d) Do not do Thursday, #2

8) Daily Geography
a. The Arctic Tundra

9) Add “Sum” Fractions

10) Reading Log
a. Choose a book and read every day. Log your ideas.

INTERNET HUNT: Research your state.

Draw a map of your state. Use the whole page, and use colors. Include the physical details of the land, including mountains (if you have them) and landmarks. Mark the capital clearly. Make sure you do a good job on this assignment, because it will be included in your final report of your state.

A New Opportunity to SHINE!

Wish us luck on the new DeYoung contest, for all genres of art! We are so excited to have an opportunity to turn in some of our work from Room 11. Our photographs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip are especially striking, don't you think?

Cross your fingers and send us good thoughts, please!