Class info Oct 28

Math

continued working on division with decimals

Language Arts

continued with final writing piece

Science

studying vascular and nonvascular plants pages 82 - 87

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Class info Oct 27

Math

More division, focused on remainders.  I assigned quite a bit of division on a worksheet that needs to be finished soon.  Remainders should be rounded to the thousandth.

Language Arts

Wrapping up the big writing assignment.  Work assigned in the practice book were pages 42 and 46, with vocabulary boxes assigned.  The usual test occurs on Friday.


Did you know that there's a performance on Thursday night?

See justthehighnotes.blogspot.com for more deets

Class info Oct 22 and Oct 23

Well it had to happen sometime.  My streak of consecutive Monday through Thursday blog posts came to an end.  The wall-to-wall meetings and rush of non-stop conversations finally got to me.  Time to start again.

Tomorrow is the culmination of Red Ribbon Week, and all students are encouraged to wear red.  I only have a long sleeved red t shirt, so we'll see.

Spelling test and vocabulary test will occur tomorrow as usual.  All major projects should have been turned in by now (ABC book, ten facts about Jon Scieszka, etc) and you should have signed a math test if you're in my math class.

The report cards are changing, and when I have new information I'll post it here.  The categories are different, as are the criteria for the 4,3,2,1.  E scores in behavior have been eliminated as well.  Feel free to email me any time with any questions, or if you'd like to meet.  I try to be a quick responder.  Thanks again for all the support! :)

Class info Oct 21

Math

More work on division division and division.  This time we are concentrating on dividing with the dividend having a decimal point.  Most students understood the dividing part, but had trouble on what to do with the remaining decimal.  Traditionally, teachers have their students round their answers to the hundredth, meaning they had to get an answer in the thousandth (if applicable) and then round.  Make sure your student knows how to do this.  If it's a problem, let me know.  I'm here to help!!

Language Arts

Work is continuing on revising writing drafts.  Most ABC books will be returned by Thursday, which should give you an idea as to how well your student is currently writing.  I gave pointers to students who didn't quite earn a "4".  The ABC books also have a technology component grade, as that is a category on the new and improved report cards you'll be seeing in a couple of weeks.

Red Ribbon Week

We decorated our door, and will have an assembly on Friday.  Students may wear red on Friday.

P.S.

Did you know next Thursday night is a music performance for 5th grade?

Class info Oct 20

didn't do much today, as we are starting Red Ribbon Week and teachers have  1/2 day training on  the iReady program

5th grade committee is tonight.  Please ask your child if you haven't already about our holiday wreaths program.  High quality wreaths for your front door or dining room table (or whatever) for the upcoming holiday season.  Three's only ten more shopping weeks left, so start early and buy a wreath!

Class info Oct 16

Math

practiced division, test is tomorrow

Language Arts

we were interrupted by the Great California Shake Out, however we did have time to start revising our writing and learn grammar (simple predicates)

tomorrow:

1.   Grammar worksheet due (simple predicates)

2.   Vocabulary boxes due

3.   Spelling test

4.   Vocabulary test

5.   ABC book due

6.   Ten facts about Jon Scieszka due

If there's an issue and something needs to be late or you have a last minute question, feel free to email me at mhewitt@gusd.net

Class info Oct 15

Math

review, see yesterday's post for info about Friday's test

Language Arts

writing and grammar covered today

grammar worksheet reviewing subjects and predicates due tomorrow

ABC book and 10 facts about Jon Scieszka due Friday, see old posts or email me if you have any questions

Thanks to the Bodden family for providing me with much needed Kleenex!  Let's try to stay clean and sanitary this flu season :)

Class info Oct 14

Math

reviewed today

There is a test on Friday.  Here's a list of what is on it:  adding and subtracting whole numbers and decimals, word problems, place value, multiplying (2 by 2 numbers and decimals), expanded notation, landmarks (mean, median, mode, range, maximum, minimum)

Free answer for those who read the blog!!

The expanded notation for 465.3 is  400 + 60 + 5 + 0.3

Don't tell your friends.....

Language Arts

Assignment list:

1.   Grammar worksheet (simple subjects)

2.   Vocabulary Boxes (p. 31)

3.   Reading log

4.   At home, google "Jon Scieszka".  Type ten facts about him.  This is a simple assignment, but it's worth two grades.  Make sure you format your work professionally.

This is all due Friday, as well as studying for the usual spelling and vocabulary test

Class info Oct 13

Math

review day

Language Arts

Did the spelling/vocabulary test we couldn't do last Friday.  This week's test will definitely be this Friday.  Spelling words are found on page 35 and the vocabulary words are on page 31 of the practice book.

I've gotten a couple of ABC books early.  Don't forget they are due soon.

Have started common core lessons on main idea / detail in reading

Science

We've started to study plants (vascular/non vascular), seed plants, seedless plants, the root system, the shoot system.  It's all on pages 72 and 73.  If you didn't perform so well on the first official science test, maybe you should study a little bit every single day starting NOW!!

Class info Oct 9

Math

Finished up multiplying decimals, reviewed landmarks (mean, median, mode, maximum, minimum, range, bar graphs).  Make sure you know your landmarks, because that is a separate grade on your report card known as Statistics and Data Analysis.

Language Arts

Grammar : talked about complete subject and complete predicate

There is a slight possibility (10%) that tomorrow's spelling/vocabulary test will be postponed due to ELD testing.  Don't count on it :)


Oh, I need Kleenex for the cold and flu season if anyone would like to donate.

Thanks again!

Class info Oct 8

Math

started  to multiply decimals, took an in-depth look at the process via the common core

Language Arts

Spelling / vocabulary review test Friday

Got my first ABC book in today and it looks awesome.  Special shout out to Noemi for being an incredible student!
If anyone has questions about it, you can always email me - I'm a fairly quick responder.

Science

Just started to take notes on vascular plants

Class info Oct 7

Math

Continued with complicated multi-part problems involving division.  If you're interested, have your child bring their common-core math book home and have them show you what we've been learning.  Most students in my class have long division mastered.  If your student hasn't, Khan Academy and learnzillion are great resources, and you can always hit me up for extra help.

Language Arts

More writing, and don't forget the spelling and vocabulary this week is review.

Students should be working on their ABC books.  See my blog post for October 1 for more info.

Class info Oct 6

Math

Started long division common core style, meaning that we learned WHY the algorithms for long division work and how the partial products method can be employed

Language Arts

Continued with writing

This week's spelling and vocabulary are review words
Pages 27-29, 31 were assigned and we'll be going over them tomorrow

Science

Starting a new unit on plants.  Today was the introduction

Class info Oct 2

Math

reviewed multiplication algorithms and why we use them

Language Arts

all of the assignments noted yesterday are due, including an additional worksheet on the four types of sentences and interjections

Science

Chapter One test tomorrow.  It's been five weeks, I would hope most people would do well.

Class info Oct 1

Math

We worked on multiplying 2 by 2, 2 by 3, and 3 by 3 digit problems

Study Link 2.9 is optional

Language Arts

lots of assignments right now...

1.   Grammar worksheet (interjections)

2.   Practice Book p. 11

3.   Vocabulary Boxes (p.18)

4.   Study spelling p. 21

5.   ABC book

      due Friday Oct 17

      make sure to include "A is for..." and explain the letter in another sentence

      large fonts are OK, as long as they are reasonably professional and can be read easily
      
      each letter should be illustrated

      put more than one letter on each page, so that the assignment isn't 26 pages long

      no rough draft is necessary for this assignment