Reading: This week in reading, we will focus on poetry. The students will read various poems with partners and work on their fluency skills. We will also work on figurative language this week. Students will learn about similes, metaphors, hyperboles, idioms, personification, and onomatopoeias. Similes and metaphors compare two things. The difference is that similes use like or as. Onomatopoeias use words that actually sound like what it means. For example, the words whack, bam, buzz, hiss are all onomatopoeias. Hyperboles are exaggerations used for a dramatic effect. Personification gives something human traits. For example, the tulips bowed as we walked pass them. An idiom is a common expression used to mean something else. For example, it's raining cats and dogs.
Book Report: The book report due on October 14 is an extra credit report. The student have two options to select from. Option #1: Write a letter to the main character in your book. Tell him/her how you feel about him/her, and what he/she did in the book. Would you have done anything differently? Tell the main character your thoughts about the book. Option #2: Make a book jacket for your book. Be sure to include author, title, and illustration on the front cover. On the inside flaps write a summary about the book. Make sure you include the characters, setting, plot, conflict, and solution.
Book Report: The book report due on October 14 is an extra credit report. The student have two options to select from. Option #1: Write a letter to the main character in your book. Tell him/her how you feel about him/her, and what he/she did in the book. Would you have done anything differently? Tell the main character your thoughts about the book. Option #2: Make a book jacket for your book. Be sure to include author, title, and illustration on the front cover. On the inside flaps write a summary about the book. Make sure you include the characters, setting, plot, conflict, and solution.
Math: In math we started unit 3. The first two lessons focus on data collection, organization, and interpreting data. The third lesson will focus on finding the measurements of angles inside a polygon without using a protractor. The students will use a circle to figure out these measurements.
Writing: This week in writing, we will write the rough draft of their memoirs. I will also conference with the students when they are finished writing their rough draft. After they conference with me, they will write their final copy. There will also be mini lessons on fluency, transitions, editing/revising, and using good word choice.
Science: We will go back to science after finishing our social studies chapters for this quarter.
Social Studies: Chapter 4 was our first chapter in social studies, and this chapter focused on the Spanish building an empire in the Western hemisphere. The first lesson focused on Columbus's expeditions. The second lesson focused on longitude and latitude. The next lesson focused on the Spanish meeting the Aztec. This lesson also discussed how the Spanish defeated the Aztec empire. The last lesson for this chapter focused on how the Spanish built their new life in the Western hemisphere. This week we will start chapter 5 which focuses on other European nations starting to colonize in the Western hemisphere. The students will learn about the lost colony of Roanoke and the first permanent colony Jamestown. They will also learn about the Dutch and the French starting colonies. We have not taken a test because both of these chapters focus on the beginning of colonization in this hemisphere.
Spelling Unit 6:
treasure capture feature pleasure measure creature picture adventure
mixture structure pasture culture literature furniture temperature
legislature immature leisure premature signature recruited persistent
league devastation inspiration caricature assure cashier immeasurable
posture overture compromise lethargic beneficial appreciative vegetables
sentences tolerate debtor elevation
HEALTHY SNACK LIST:
Due to life-threatening peanut/nuts/sesame allergies at every grade level and the fact that we change classes for math and flex groups, we are asking that no peanut/nut/sesame products be sent in for a nutritional snack. Also a list was sent home that stated the food items that will be allowed for snacks. The following items can be brought in: fruit, vegetable sticks, pretzels, cheese slices or cubes, raisins, cereal mix (i.e. Chex Mix), rice cakes, and crackers.
FAMILY READING NIGHT FOR GRADES 2-5: All the fifth grade teachers will be there.
Family Reading Night will take place on Tuesday, October 11 from 6:15 - 7:45 with the theme of Reading is for Meaning. The purpose of this evening is to be introduced to the different stages of reading and to understand that reading goes beyond word recognition. The primary focus will be on Newly Fluent and Truly Fluent readers through exploring text complexity in the various genres of literature. Matching readers to text that supports interactive and engaged reading is an important part of building student comprehension. Plan to come and attend 3 different breakout sessions. The registration form is due on Friday, October 7. You must register to attend. If you still want to attend, you can send in the registration note on Tuesday.
NEW READING INCENTIVE PROGRAM:
There is a new reading incentive program that Mrs. May is doing. To earn the prize, the fifth graders will need to read 400 minutes in a month. That is 20 minutes a night. To learn more about the program go to Mrs. May's blog at mwlmc.blogspot.com.
Important Dates:
No School Monday, October 10
Fundraiser due on Tuesday, October 11
Spelling Test Wednesday, October 12
Family Reading Night Tuesday, October 11 from 6:00 - 8:00
Early Dismissal 12:15 on Wednesday, October 12
