Dead Verbs and Strong-Verb Paragraphs

This week, students will lay to rest the "dead verbs" that have dulled their writing. Students discovered how often they rely on these "dead verbs" when they highlighted them in their Fall Writing Samples. We will create epitaphs for the verbs and bury them. We will then create a Strong-Verb Paragraph Rubric as class and begin writing the four types of paragraphs: descriptive, persuasive, expository, and narrative. You can find a list of these dead verbs in the inside cover of your child's writing journal.

Division-Partial Quotients Algorithm

In math, we are reviewing the partial-quotients algorithm to divide both whole numbers and decimals. There is a web link under Helpful Websites on this page to help you better understand

what your child is doing in math. Remember also that the first several pages on the study link packet define important terms and concepts for each unit. For graded math boxes, have your child use the practice math boxes to check for understanding.

Scientific Method, Variables, and Energy

Boy, have we been busy little scientists! Variables aren't just used in math, we have learned. Students have used the science process skills of observing, inferring, and using the scientific method and variables to design their own experiments investigating potential and kinetic energy. They completed variable wheels to identify the variable they would manipulate, the responding variable, and the several controlled variables they would need to ensure valid results. They stated their hypotheses and after writing their own procedures, they performed their experiments, collected data, and concluded whether or not their hypotheses were proven or disproven. Ask your child how their teams experiment turned out. We learned a lot, not only about energy, but about the process of scientific investigations. This week we will practice creating data tables and then graphing the information. Students will learn which graphs---bar or line---are best suited for different types of data. Our next unit will be Mixtures and Solutions.

Reading Goals, Book Talks, and Black Dots

WOW!! The students did an excellent job presenting their Nonfiction Book Talks in September. They were enthusiastic and knowledgeable on their subjects, creating powerpoints, diagrams, posters, and quizzes to help engage and inform the audience. Most students were also able to meet their monthly goal of reading and passing a black dot book quiz at their level. At the beginning of each month, students will check out two books and have them approved for their book talks and black dots. They will need to conference with me if they decide to change either of their goal books, so that I can make sure it is the appropriate genre and level. I will then have students sign up on our wall calendar for a day to present their book talks. They should also enter this date into their planners. They will have until the last day of the month to read and take their quiz on their black dot. Students may take the quiz up to 3 times in order to pass.
Our book talks for October will be a Fiction Book Talk. Your child has already signed up for a day to present their already approved fiction book for October. Most students have also chosen and been approved for their black dots. Remember that most Newbery books have quizzes and that your child can use these books toward a Newbery award medal, as well. Why not kill two birds with one stone, as they say. (Poor birds!)
We are also keeping track of the minutes that your child reads each week for their Lit Logs. For every 300 minutes, your child receives a star on our reading chart. A total of 18-20 stars is needed to meet the yearly goal. Your child can record any reading they do at home, including the Scholastic News. (Remind students to highlight proof in the text for each comprehension question on the back.)

Spelling Routines, "No Excuse" Checks, and Conventions

After many weeks of singing the Grammar Rap, practicing Split Rules, and reviewing the parts of speech, we are ready to begin our weekly spelling activities and tests. As a side note, I actually had a former student stop me in the parking lot today and tell me that she actually used the Grammar Rap to help her on a grammar pre-test she was taking in 6th grade. She said she was amazed as to how much it helped her, so have your child teach it to you...it is a pretty catchy tune. As for our spelling routines, students will be introduced to their new words on Wednesdays of each week. We will sort them and talk about the generalization for that week. They will then receive their purple Word Connections sheet. They will be asked to use the many skills we have learned and reviewed over the past several weeks to complete the sheet. It will be due the following Tuesday, so that they may have a weekend to complete them if needed. Tests will also be on those Tuesdays along with a "No Excuse" Word Check.
A major focus this year for Tarver is conventions in writing ( an area we are not showing as much growth in as we would like). Conventions include grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and "No Excuse" spelling words. For this reason, we will do weekly "No Excuse" Word Checks which will be passages from readings we are doing in class with such words omitted. Students have a list of these words in their Spelling Folders. You may also have noticed a score for conventions on many of your child's assignments and tests. As a school, we would like students to start incorporating good conventions in all of their work...not just on spelling or writing assignments. Knowing we have taught the skills consistently as a staff, our next step is to make sure we are holding the students accountable for demonstrating these skills on all assignments. You could say our philosophy is "Practice makes permanent, not perfect." I also tell my students that the more you practice something incorrectly, the harder it is to break the habit and do it correctly. So if you are working with your child on homework in any subject, please help reinforce these basic writing skills by having your child correct their work.

First Grade Buddies--SHH!! It's a Secret!

Lots of smiles filled the Media Center during our first meeting with our 1st grade buddies from Mrs. Moore's class. We played a "Get to Know You" dice game and the 5th graders interviewed their buddies to find out their favorites. We also taught them some of the praisers we have been using in class. We will meet monthly with our buddies to read, play math games, celebrate holidays and to play at recess. Here is the secret!!! Our class will be using the information gathered during our first visit to write and illustrate an original picture book designed just for them, based on their favorites. We will plan and write our first drafts this week in class and will spend the next two weeks in the computer lab typing them. We will surprise them with the books when we meet with them on Oct. 28th for a Halloween math activity. A Criteria and Checklist for this project will also be posted under the Rubrics heading on the 5th grade homepage.

EDM Unit 3 :Geometry Fun and Tessellation Project

Students are having a blast with geometry. They have been exploring with pattern blocks, identifying and drawing angles with protractors, creating circles with compasses, and will soon be learning about tessellations. On Thursday, our first of several math projects will be assigned--The Tessellation Project. Students will be given a rubric and all materials in class. We will have a workday on Wednesday, Oct. 19th during math time. Students will then need to finish up their projects at home. A copy of the rubrics can be found on the 5th grade homepage at the bottom of the page under Rubrics for Major Assignments and Projects. The due date for these projects will be Friday, Oct.28th.