We ran out of time today! So homework is pretty lite.

Also TOMORROW IS EARLY RELEASE!

We have been talking a lot about characters and other elements of a story.  Today we spent some time talking about comparing and contrasting characters in a story.  It wouldn’t be very interesting if all the characters were the same would it?  Also it is these differences in character that often set up the problems and conflicts and solutions inside the story.

We read a story together called Verdi, and then we compared Verdi, the main character, to the other snakes in the story.  Tonight students should finish this compare and contrast sheet.

Verdi vs. The Greens

 

Next we went out and measured our plants.  Unfortunately, many of our plants seem to have died off 🙁  This is probably a combination of the unfortunate timing of that severe thunderstorm we had, along with the unusually hot weather.  This weekend looks a bit milder, so we are going to replant some of our seeds tomorrow.  This happened last year as well, but we still ended up with a good crop by the end!

 

At the end of the day we introduced math centers.  During math many days students will rotate to different centers that focus on specific mathematical skills that they need to work on.  They will also be doing small groups with myself, and with Mrs. Wooflief, who will be coming in on Thursdays to help us.  We talked about how in centers we are working as small teams, and what a good team does is help each other understand things.

Tonight students should finish the word problem sheet from yesterday (5-10) answering them just as they did last night.

WordProblemsAug12

 

Then before you knew it (and before we could get to some things I really wanted to get to) it was time to go!

 

so, tl;dr

EARLY RELEASE TOMORROW!!

Finish compare and contrast for Verdi:

Verdi vs. The Greens

Finish word problems

WordProblemsAug12

 

and as always, read!

 

Have a good one,

 

-Mr. Potter

 

 

EOGs are done!!!

 

yaaaay!

 

Today we took our Science EOG and then cooled off for the rest of the day.  It has been a rough week, and we needed a bit of a break.

SCHOOL IS NOT OVER!

We have almost two full weeks of school left, and plenty to do.  The only homework for tonight is for students to read, but regular homework will return tomorrow!

 

Important dates:

Monday, June 29th – graduation ceremony for 5th grade students @9:00 in the gym.  Please be seated by 8:45 so we can start promptly at 9:00.

Tuesday, June 30th – last day of school

 

Have a good one!

-Mr. Potter

So much to do, and so little time!

We started our day taking a quick word problem assessment.  We seem to have figured out (mostly) adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.  However figuring out word problems continues to elude many of us.  This is a reading comprehension problem more than anything, but  the majority of assessments (including the eog) are going to be nothing but pages of word problems from here on out.

In order to get ready for the EOG, we have a packet of review problems to start.  Tonight students should do the first four pages:

CC-5th-grade-word-problems

Next we talked more about writing out equations with unknown quantities.  We talked about basic algebra, and how we can group like terms, and unknowns.  We took notes on solving basic equations involving variables using bar models and our knowledge of how equality works.  Tonight students have two problems to solve by writing an equation and solving for an unknown.  Here are the notes and problems:

WordProblemsWithUnknowns

 

In Language Arts we talked more about analyzing poems, and discovering the author’s message.  We are getting very good at identifying similes and metaphors.  Now we just need to work on interpreting what they mean and what the author is trying to tell us.  On Saturday we spent a good amount of time analyzing Katy Perry’s “Firework”.  You’d be surprised at just how many poetic devices are in use in that song.

Tonight students have a poem to read and think about, along with some questions to answer:

AnalyzingPoetryMay18

Students also received a new vocabulary list containing words that use ‘rupt’.  Tonight they should write a STORY using the first five words on the list.  This should not be simply five sentences that use the words.  It should be an actual short story that incorporates the first 5 words:

abrupt

bankrupt

corrupt

corruptible

disrupt

 

At this point, we went into the computer lab and typed up some more of our poetry.  I am REALLY impressed with how well everyone is doing on this.  They are coming up with some fantastic ideas when it comes to typing out their poetry and adding things to it.  I can’t wait until these are done.

 

so, tl;dr

first four pages:

CC-5th-grade-word-problems

These two algebra problems using bar modeling:

WordProblemsWithUnknowns

Write a story using the first 5 ‘rupt’ words on our vocab list

read this poem, answer these questions:

AnalyzingPoetryMay18

 

and as always, read!

(I forgot to hand out new reading logs, doh)

 

Have a good one!

-Mr. Potter

 

 

BIG P.S.:

Today students got a handout giving the run-down on what is happening on Friday.  Please make sure you see this, and if you have any questions, please send me an e-mail or give me a call.

And we’re done!!!

 

No more Case 21, hooray!

 

tomorrow we just have our end of quarter celebration.

 

We are going to eat a ton of junk food, drink a ton of juice, and then go home at 12:30.  It should be a GREAT day!

 

tonight, I would just like students to do their reading logs, and then also a graphing mystery picture hand-out.  Should be very quick and easy.

 

See everyone tomorrow!

 

-Mr. Potter

Hello all,

 

Just a few quick updates:

I’m sorry about not updating yesterday.  My wife had a root canal and I was a tad indisposed for the day.  I heard from the substitute that the students were fantastic, and I knew they would be.

Next week is only three days long.  We have no school on Thursday or Friday.  Please don’t send your children on those days, as I will be eating an entire ham by myself at my house (I’m not the biggest fan of turkey).

 

Today we did a good bit of work on our stories, and I like how these are looking.  We will finish these up next week.

After that, we had a long day of review and quizzes.  We actually ran out of time and didn’t get to take our science quiz, but we watched a short video reviewing the digestive system.  It was TOTALLY weird and disgusting.  Be sure to ask them about it!

 

Please remember that the next installment for the field trip of $16.00 is due next Wednesday.  To those that have already paid or paid in full, thank you very much.

 

Conferences *should* be done.  I believe everyone who indicated that they would like to talk with me had a chance.  If you would like to talk with me again, or didn’t get a chance to, please let me know and we’ll work something out.  Also if there’s ever anything you would like to talk about concerning your child’s academic progress, please just let me know.  If it’s conference season or not, I’m still interested in talking about your student.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

-Mr. Potter

Centers Centers Everywhere!

This morning we rolled out some math centers.

I usually like to split students up into small groups and have them work on what they need to be working on/practicing in centers.  Today we went over the expectations for center times, and students did three rotations.  Overall, the students did very well.  We had small groups helping each other, and working together.  Aside from a few students getting a *tad* excited with the multiplication facts card games, the students also did a great job keeping their voices at a reasonable level.  Many of the groups did not get much done, but that will change as students become more and more comfortable with the switching, and can settle into a routine.

Tonight students should do page 39 in the motivation math book (It’s decimal problems!)

In Language Arts we are really drilling the reasoning and evidence points.  We’re having some issues with our reasoning not actually matching up to the question that was asked.  We may have to move into some strategies for this.  I am still concerned that some students are stuck in a mindset of “I have selected an answer, therefore I am finished”.  We will be focusing on quality and comprehension.

In that vein, students have a short reading passage to go over, and 4 comprehension questions to answer.  The passage and questions are on page 168 of their motivation reading books.  They should have an answer and reasoning to go with each answer.  They will turn this in tomorrow for a Language Arts Quiz grade.

In Science we spent some time talking about our plants.  We determined that they were not getting enough sunlight where they were, and moved them.  We saw some new growth today, which was exciting, but also saw that some of our cucumbers had bit the dust.  Some students also pointed out that our plants seem to have already attracted the attention of some pests, and we’ll have to talk about what we can do to protect them.

 

so, tl;dr

P 39 in motivation math (more decimals, yay!)

p 168 in motivation reading (REASONING FOR EACH ANSWER ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER PLEASE!)

 

Also, some students got a letter today about upcoming things in the AIG program.  If you have any questions about that, please send me an e-mail.

 

Have a good one!

 

-Mr. Potter

The homework is, there is no homework!

Except reading log!

 

We started out our day going over our math quiz….

 

oh wait…Mr. Potter forgot the math quizzes on his desk at home.

As well as all of the other quizzes, homework, and letters.

I am quite disappointed in myself.

 

So we actually went over our multiplication and talked about moving from our area model into the method that uses shortcuts (the standard algorithm).  We will slowly transition into this as the quarter progresses.

 

Next, we got into pairs and handed out tons of money!  We then played the roles of banker and boss, and took turns paying our employees their hard-earned wages.  Students were given a certain amount of money, and asked to split it among a group of people equally.  They utilized the bankers to make exchanges to ensure they could break up larger bills.  We will continue doing this for the week as we practice division, and we work to explain the standard algorithm for this mathematical process as well.

 

In Science we talked some MORE about plants!  We talked about how plants have veins (called xylem and phloem)  similar to how human beings and animals have veins.  We got off on a tangent as we had to learn why our veins look blue/purple when our blood is red, and learned that our skin tends to reflect more red light than blue.  As such, the deeper the vein is in your skin, the less red light is reflected because less red light is actually making it to the vein.  The blue part of the spectrum penetrates deeper, and thus is reflected more easily.  The surrounding skin also reflects more red light, increasing this effect of the veins appearing blue when contrasted with the surrounding skin.  It was a pretty neat thing for us to learn!

 

In Language Arts, we actually talked at great length about the writing process, and the stages that a writer goes through when producing a piece.  We did a little exercise involving play-doh, where we worked through the pre-writing to drafting to final steps in a parallel method with sculpting.

 

So, there is no homework as I felt bad for forgetting all of these things at home, and told the students this would be my “I’m sorry”.  They simply need to read for 35 minutes and get their reading log signed.

 

I will be out of the classroom tomorrow as I have a math training to attend at another school.  We will have a substitute and there WILL BE HOMEWORK!

 

Have a good one!

 

-Mr. Potter

EOGs are done!

tomorrow we have human growth, and we’ll be cleaning up our classroom.  On Thursday we have our celebration.  You should have gotten a letter today in their folder that looked like this:

 

Dear Parents and Families of 5^th grade students,

Congratulations!  The school year is coming to a close, and your student is about to take their next big step into Middle School.  This is a last little reminder about our awards and end of year celebration that will be held this Thursday, June 26^th in the Gymnasium at Lockhart Elementary.  We will have a short ceremony where students are presented with a certificate of completion of 5^th grade, and some academic awards will be handed out as well.  The ceremony begins promptly at 9AM.  We do not want anything to interrupt our ceremony, so the doors will be closed and it will not be possible to enter the Gym after 9AM.  Please make sure that you have arrived and are seated by 8:45.  We expect the ceremony to last approximately 90-120 minutes.  Afterwards, there will be cake and refreshments in the cafeteria for the students and their families to enjoy.  Students will receive their report cards Thursday morning, so families may feel free to take their child home once the ceremony has completed.

Also, to clear up some confusion:  There is an end of year celebration put on by the PTA for the entire school on Thursday night at 6:30PM.  This is a luau themed celebration.  This is for the entire school, and does not have anything to do with the 5^th grade end of year ceremony, which is Thursday morning at 8:45AM.  Please feel free to come and enjoy this luau as well, but note that it is separate from the 5^th grade ceremony.

 

If you didn’t get it, well there it is!

 

It’s been a great year with some wonderful kids.  I am going to miss them!

Hopefully I will see you all Thursday

 

-Mr. Potter

Go ahead and click it, you know you want to!

 

We are in the home stretch!

So tomorrow we have our science EOG test.  We have spent the last few days reviewing, and the students should have a good bit of paper and notes to look at tonight.

There is no more homework for the week, and students don’t need to worry about reading logs.  However that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be reading!!

Reading daily really is the most important habit that you can instill in your child.  Please keep reading.  It increases your vocabulary, exposes you to a myriad of different things, and honestly just makes you more intelligent.  This is a bit old, and more for 1st graders, but just look at the math on this website for an idea of why it’s so important to keep reading:

Why do I have to read each day?

 

So:

Tomorrow(Tuesday): Science EOG

Wednesday: Human Growth and Development lessons and celebration practice

Thursday: 5th grade awards and celebration

Please dress nicely, and parents and families please be in the Gym no later than 8:45 AM.  The doors will be closed for good at 9AM when the ceremony begins as they do not want any interruptions.  Students will be getting another note about this tomorrow when they bring home quite a bit of their stuff that is here at the school.

That’s it for announcements from me.  If you have any questions about anything at all, please shoot me an e-mail or give me a call.

Get a good night’s rest, and eat your breakfast tomorrow!!

 

-Mr. Potter

Science review and State of the Classroom!

Long time no post!

So this week we took our Math and Language Arts EOGs.

Our kids really worked their tails off.  I was so incredibly impressed with how hard they worked on both of those tests.  In both cases, we were the absolute last class testing among all of fifth grade.  Our kids double and triple checked their work, and really thought about what they were doing.  It was fantastic.  Regardless of what scores come back, I am satisfied that everyone did their best on those assessments.

BUT WE AREN’T DONE YET!

 

We have spent the last few days reviewing basically the entire year’s worth of science.  It has been a bit rocky for me as I wasn’t here for the first half, so I wasn’t too sure what the students new about a lot of things.  We have been rotating between using study island on the computers, studying independently, groups, and taking practice assessments.  I am very happy with how hard the students are still working after having such an exhausting Monday and Tuesday.

There IS homework this weekend!

Students at this point should have three review packets – one on weather, one on human body systems, and one on ecosystems.  The first two should already be finished and checked.  Their homework this weekend is to finish the third packet on ecosystems.  They also have a science journal with some notes and a science textbook.  They should be looking through these, at the topics we have covered, and ensuring they understand these concepts.  If they are still stuck on anything or confused, they should come in Monday with questions to be answered!

Just one week remaining.  I know it’s rough, but we’ll get through it!

 

So, tldr;

finish ecosystems packet

study!

Science EOG on Tuesday!

 

Our final year end celebration and awards ceremony is on Thursday. I will post here Monday with all of the details if you don’t have them yet.

 

Have a good weekend,

Study!

 

-Mr. Potter