You can expect a monthly newsletter from me posted in this very spot. Previous months' newsletter will be archived in case you need to refer back to them for information.
A Special Time
This is a very special time in your child’s life. Fifth grade will be one of the most important and valuable years in his or her development, readying your child for the less structured years ahead. Research in the area of child development points out that most of a child’s intellectual development takes place outside the formal classroom. Therefore, I look forward to working closely with you to help your child become the best person possible – socially, emotionally, and academically.
Writing
Fifth graders begin the year with the following activities:
•Writing poetry about their childhood memories
•Composing letters for Back to School Night
•Building a well-structured paragraph
•Learning about topic sentences, STAR ideas, supporting details, and concluding sentences
Math
This month our class will study Eureka Module 1: Place Value and Decimals. During this unit they will focus on the following:
•Students are learning about: place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals.
•Next, they will learn about Multi-Digit Whole Number and Decimal Fraction Operations
Social Studies
This month in Social Studies we'll be studying The First Americans by answering the following Big Questions:
•How did geography and climate affect how people lived?
•What common ways of life developed among American Indian cultures?
•How did American Indian groups work together?
The unit will be followed-up by the Age of Exploration.
Science
This year we will be rotating through 4 science units with 4 different teachers. The first unit is called Living Systems. Students are learning about the human body, living systems, and organisms. We began learning about cells, body systems, and the functions of the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Homework
Students are required to read for 30 minutes a night in 5th grade. Additional homework may be assigned as needed for skill practice and reinforcement. The total time spent (including reading) is not to exceed 60 minutes a night, and homework will not be assigned on Fridays.
Bel Aire is joining a district-wide Homework Committee this fall that will answer the question: What is the optimal homework policy for Reed and Bel Aire schools given the research, our students, and our commitment to academic and personal growth?
Additionally, on any given night that math homework is not assigned, our grade-level team is working on collecting a variety of resources to provide additional practice. We will keep you posted about that.
Upcoming Dates
Monday September 5 - Labor Day, no school
Wednesday September 7, 6 - 7:30 pm - Back to School Night (adults only)
Thursday September 8 - picture day (specific class times TBA)
Monday September 19 - staff development day, no school
Wednesday September 28, 8:30-10am - 5th grade parent meeting with Dr. Gold
Classroom Rules
Our class came up with the following rules for the upcoming school year:
Every student in E-4 will…
…be a risk taker
…be safe
…try his/her best
…be MOSAIC members of Bel Aire
…be mindful
…treat others with respect
…be balanced
…have FUN!
A Special Time
This is a very special time in your child’s life. Fifth grade will be one of the most important and valuable years in his or her development, readying your child for the less structured years ahead. Research in the area of child development points out that most of a child’s intellectual development takes place outside the formal classroom. Therefore, I look forward to working closely with you to help your child become the best person possible – socially, emotionally, and academically.
Writing
Fifth graders begin the year with the following activities:
•Writing poetry about their childhood memories
•Composing letters for Back to School Night
•Building a well-structured paragraph
•Learning about topic sentences, STAR ideas, supporting details, and concluding sentences
Math
This month our class will study Eureka Module 1: Place Value and Decimals. During this unit they will focus on the following:
•Students are learning about: place value, rounding decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals.
•Next, they will learn about Multi-Digit Whole Number and Decimal Fraction Operations
Social Studies
This month in Social Studies we'll be studying The First Americans by answering the following Big Questions:
•How did geography and climate affect how people lived?
•What common ways of life developed among American Indian cultures?
•How did American Indian groups work together?
The unit will be followed-up by the Age of Exploration.
Science
This year we will be rotating through 4 science units with 4 different teachers. The first unit is called Living Systems. Students are learning about the human body, living systems, and organisms. We began learning about cells, body systems, and the functions of the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Homework
Students are required to read for 30 minutes a night in 5th grade. Additional homework may be assigned as needed for skill practice and reinforcement. The total time spent (including reading) is not to exceed 60 minutes a night, and homework will not be assigned on Fridays.
Bel Aire is joining a district-wide Homework Committee this fall that will answer the question: What is the optimal homework policy for Reed and Bel Aire schools given the research, our students, and our commitment to academic and personal growth?
Additionally, on any given night that math homework is not assigned, our grade-level team is working on collecting a variety of resources to provide additional practice. We will keep you posted about that.
Upcoming Dates
Monday September 5 - Labor Day, no school
Wednesday September 7, 6 - 7:30 pm - Back to School Night (adults only)
Thursday September 8 - picture day (specific class times TBA)
Monday September 19 - staff development day, no school
Wednesday September 28, 8:30-10am - 5th grade parent meeting with Dr. Gold
Classroom Rules
Our class came up with the following rules for the upcoming school year:
Every student in E-4 will…
…be a risk taker
…be safe
…try his/her best
…be MOSAIC members of Bel Aire
…be mindful
…treat others with respect
…be balanced
…have FUN!