Week of January 23

Week of January 23

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/      HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                      

Book Report Project: This is due January 31st. Students have several options on how to present their projects which focus on character study.
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MATH:    
 There are math tutorials and practice in the order of lessons in the MATH Tab
 We have been reviewing all concepts for multiplication. The test will be Wednesday.
  
 LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  Students are writing a persuasive speech running for Fruit/Veggie of the Year! Each student chose a fruit or vegetable. They are researching nutritional facts and reasons their fruit/veggie should be voted for. We will also be discussing campaign slogans ans they will be creating slogans and posters. Students will present speeches later and are encouraged to bring in the fruit or vegetable to show the class - students are NOT expected to provide a sample to the class.
 
READING: 
We continue in our genre unit working in groups and as a class reading The Sign of the Beaver. Students are working on comprehension strategies for finding text information, vocabulary, point of view, and how to cite text evidence using a quote. Monday we will take a break from this book to read and then compare and contrast 2 articles about invasive species.

SCIENCE: 
We have been investigating the moon and its phases. We will continue this week and also investigate the solar and lunar eclipses.
    
Studies:- Mrs. Custer

Social Studies - This week we learned about a fictitious slave family in the story Now Let Me Fly.  We compared and contrasted this story with Molly Bannaky, the true story of an indentured servant who marries her own slave and becomes the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker.  We also started partner work reading Enemies of Slavery to learn about some incredible people in American history who fought against slavery.

Word Study 
 Students took the skill part of lesson 15. Next week's skill lesson is making plural words. The lesson 17 word list is on the blog which can be helpful for the proofreading section.

Week of January 16

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/      HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                      
MATH: Homework Lesson 4-11 All
                                                            
Book Report Project: This is due January 31st. Students have several options on how to present their projects which focus on character study.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------  MATH:    
 There are math tutorials and practice in the order of lessons in the MATH Tab
 This week we continued to review previous material. We began multiplying decimals times decimals. The test will likely be Tuesday January 31st. Working on accuracy when multiplying (45.3 x 23 for example) and multiplication patterns with decimals ( .01 x 45 for example) seem to be what students need to focus on the most. We are really working on not just memorizing the algorithm but the reasoning behind it which helps us retain what we learn.  We continue to review fraction operations and other past concepts.
  
  LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  Students are writing a persuasive speech running for Fruit/Veggie of the Year! Each student chose a fruit or vegetable. They are researching nutritional facts and reasons their fruit/veggie should be voted for. We will also be discussing campaign slogans ans they will be creating slogans and posters. Students will present speeches later and are encouraged to bring in the fruit or vegetable to show the class - students are NOT expected to provide a sample to the class.
 
READING: This week we took the SRI and Dibels tests. I'll share results at conferences. We continue in our genre unit working in groups and as a class reading The Sign of the Beaver.

SCIENCE: 
Friday was the test over lessons 1-4. We will begin our study of the moon and its effects on on planet Earth.
    
Studies:- Mrs. Custer

This week we continued reading from chapter 9 in our textbook and discussed more details of the Triangular Trade Route, and the slave trade in particular.  We also read the story of Molly Bannaky, who became the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker.

A reminder of the website we have used for the Triangular Trade Route:  http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g5s_u3/index.html#top

Word Study 
I accidentally jumped ahead to Lesson 16 so we studied blends this week and took that test on Friday. So  next week we will go back to lesson 15 will focus on spelling diagraphs at the beginning and endings of words. (wh, th, sh, ch)

Week of January 9th

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/      HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                      
MATH: Remembering Lesson 4-7
                                                              
Book Report Project: This is due January 31st. Students have several options on how to present their projects which focus on character study.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------  MATH:    
 There are math tutorials and practice in the order of lessons in the MATH Tab
 This week we reviewed multiplying whole numbers by powers of 10
Example: 4 x 10x 10 x 10 = 4,000 = the 4th power of 10 (which is an exponent that I'm unable to type in this document.)  We also reviewed multiplying whole numbers. New this week was multiplying whole numbers times a decimal. We watched a video that was a visual reminder that decimals are LESS than one and what multiplying decimals times whole numbers looks like. We will multiply decimals times decimals next week.
  We continue to review fraction operations and other past concepts.
  
  LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  We are working on writing with an appropriate tone for the situation.  This week's letters will be graded for tone. Students are writing 2 letters - one letter is to Grandma thanking her for the pencils they got for Christmas and the other is to a friend about receiving only pencils so the tone would be different between the 2 letters.
 
READING: This week we began our new genre unit reading Sign of the Beaver. We will be working as a class and also in book clubs that I will sit in on. Monday Mrs. Dobb will be giving a lesson about Martin Luther King.

  SCIENCE   We continue our unit "Objects in the Sky" investigating what causes the seasons: the tilt of Earth on its axis and the amount of direct sunlight an area of Earth has at a particular time. We watched video clips and used models to demonstrate and discuss the reasons.
These video do a good job explaining:
 Bill Nye explains seasons
  Reason for Seasons
 
Studies:- Mrs. Custer

This week we reviewed the test on Africa and then began our study of slavery, including the Triangular Trade Route.  This website is a great way to review much of what we talked about this week: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g5s_u3/index.html#top

Word Study 
 Students will take the Lesson 14 test about the spelling patterns for 'ou' and 'ow'. They have a spelling page to study. They know they will have to sort 15 words into categories just like on that page of work we have worked on.


Next week lesson 15 will focus on spelling diagraphs at the beginning and endings of words. (wh, th, sh, ch)

January 4th -6th

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/    
 
HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                      MATH: There is one math review page due Monday.
Book Report Project: This is due January 31st. Students have several options on how to present their projects which focus on character study.
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  MATH:    We began our unit over multiplying whole numbers and decimals this week. We are also doing regular review of past material as well as short morning work that includes previews to upcoming units. 
  LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  We are working on writing with an appropriate tone for the situation. Students are writing 2 letters about being late for school. One letter is to the principal and one is to a friend so the tone would be different between the 2 letters.
 
READING: This week we discussed empathy. We read an article about this and discussed it. We also focused on what respect looks and sounds like and how this is an important value for kids and adults alike. Students also began work on their slide show for conferences. Your student will present the slideshow to you at conferences and include goals, things they enjoy about school, and things they are proud of.
  SCIENCE   We began our unit "Objects in the Sky". Our first lessons focus on what causes the seasons: the tilt of Earth on its axis and the amount of direct sunlight an area of Earth has at a particular time. We will compare Alaska, Michigan, and Florida by looking at a data chart and graphing this information. 

Studies:- Mrs. Custer

Friday students had a test over the last unit. After finishing our unit on early African Empires this week, we will be learning about the Triangular Trade Route and slavery beginning next week.

Word Study  Another short week, so word study begins Monday again.

Week of December 12-16

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/    
 
ELOQUENCE DAY:  Last week a note about Eloquence Day was sent home and attached to an email. This week 5th graders will be spending some time practicing proper etiquette and manners for eating, speaking, and behaving at a formal dinner. On December 21st we will go to a restaurant and practice what we have learned. This will be our Holiday Party!

HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                     
WRITING:  A few students who are not finished with their first Snowman story know this needs to be completed. 
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  MATH:    The test over Multiplying and Dividing Fractions will be Tuesday. We have been reviewing all concepts in the and especially focusing on word problems, thinking about what would make sense if we put ourselves in the situation, and checking to see if our answers make sense.
 If students receive a 1 or 2 on any standards, we will be reviewing often, and they will have the opportunity to retake those standards. 

LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  Students who want to share their story this week will be able to do so.
  Each student researched charities, chose one they would like to donate to if their name was drawn, and created a slide describing what the charity does to help others.
 
READING: We are reading a variety of nonfiction working on text structure, comprehension strategies, finding and citing text evidence, and vocabulary strategies. Students have received some grades for standards and I have been meeting with students to discuss strategies they need to work on. This coming short week we will be working on grammar concepts and reading picture books to discuss character, theme, and plot.
 
SCIENCE   This past week we investigated magnets and reviewed the concepts of contact and no-contact forces. Students have had the study Stacks to study for over a week and studying these will help with the test on Monday.

Studies:- Mrs. Custer

This week we learned the history of the early Western African empires of Ghana and Mali.  We read a book called Sundiata in order to learn more about the great Lion King of Mali.  The test on Africa will be at the beginning of January.

Word Study  There will be no word test this week as it's a short week.

Week of November 28th

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/     

HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                                     MATH:  Complete Lesson 3-8-We went over how to do this.
                 Math facts should be every day practice! 
READING:  Students should be reading daily. They know this is an ongoing homework assignment.
 
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER PROJECT: 
DUE DECEMBER 8
 Students have chosen books and I checked to be sure these were at an appropriate reading level for them. I have gone over the next assignment and given it to students. They have 4 options to choose from for this report. They have had ample time for this and have choices. They know that work that isn't quality will need to be redone for homework.
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  MATH:    We began dividing fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by fractions. We are really discussing why it important to know math vocabulary and be able to create and look at a visual representation of a math problem to fully understand. Memorizing the steps to solving isn't enough when we need to problem-solve. We will continue to practice and review all concepts learned.

LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  Students are writing a narrative about a snowman. Our focus is on sentence fluency. We practice writing various types of sentences on the iPads- sentences beginning with an -ing or -ed verb, a prepositional phrase, adverb, etc. Students have an organizer with examples and are required to use a certain amount as well as a minimum of 1 simile to challenge themselves in writing.

READING: Students will bring home their Guests unit test on Monday or Tuesday after we review it. We are reading a variety of nonfiction through Christmas. We have been working on text structure, comprehension strategies, finding and citing text evidence, and vocabulary strategies. Building vocabulary and learning to use resources and strategies to understand new vocabulary is very important in terms of reading comprehension.

 SCIENCE   Test will be sent home on Monday. The class did very well again! In 5th grade, science tests are no longer multiple choice, but rather drawing and explaining concepts.
 
Studies:- Mrs. Custer
Students took their test on Friday. Please contact Mrs. Custer if you have questions.
lcuster@hamiltonschools.us

We finished our unit on Native Americans and early European explorers this week.  We move on to an introduction to Africa next and 3 of the early empires of Western Africa, which will lead us to slavery and how that effected the world at this time in history.

Word Study  The skill this week is contractions. it + is = it's. The spelling list is on the blog. I will also add a practice site to the Spelling Tab. The test will be Friday. 

Middle School Website: This is the link for the middle school website.   
http://www.hamiltonschools.us/schools/hamilton-middle/    HOMEWORK:                                                                                                                                      MATH:  Complete Lesson 3-5 
READING:  Complete Ch. 8 Focus Question
 
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER PROJECT: 
DUE DECEMBER 8
 Students have chosen books and I checked to be sure these were at an appropriate reading level for them. I have gone over the next assignment and given it to students. They have 4 options to choose from for this report.
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  MATH:    This week we reviewed multiplying whole numbers times fractions by performing the algorithm, looking at real life scenarios and drawing what it looks like conceptually, remembering that this is the same as repeated addtion.
 We began multiplying a fraction times a fraction this week doing the same as above. We have looked at visual representations of why a fraction times a fraction gives us a smaller fraction.
Next week we will begin multiplying mixed numbers.

LANGUAGE ARTS 
Writing:  We are completing the persuasive pamphlet from a turkey's point of view convincing others not to eat turkey for Thanksgiving.

READING: We completed the novel and will have more discussion and review for the assessment that will be a few days after Thanksgiving. We have another picture book that goes along with this genre unit that we will be reading on Monday.

 SCIENCE   We continued to investigate simple machines and investigated how inclines planes can spread the work over a distance and direction to make it easier to do. We also discussed the Newton as a unit for measuring force and grams as units for measuring mass. We will finish this unit on Monday and review for the test that will be the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.
 
Studies:- Mrs. Custer

Social Studies - Due to a fog delay and the short Thanksgiving week, I did end up pushing back out test until after the holiday.  We will review and plan on not taking the test until after Thanksgiving, when I feel everyone is ready for it.

This week we held an Iroquois League Simulation and did an activity on the Columbian Exchange.

Word Study
  The lesson 10 test will be Monday- they should study the lesson pages to review the purpose of a prefix and that it does not change the spelling of a root word.