Happy Sunday fabulous families!
Wow, I have been catching my breath since the AMAZING week we shared out at Walker Creek! Playing catchup, planning, and progress report writing has gotten in the way of a solid blog update that I owe you all! My apologies, but I know you understand.
Walker Creek was a wonderful week of growth for each student in their own way, and for us as a whole class. I look forward to building on the bond that was formed over the course of the year, and can already feel it's presence. We hiked up mountains together, danced in the barn boogie (my personal favorite event), dined and played gaga ball. It was a fun time full of self exploration and discovery. Hopefully you have gotten a chance to check out the pictures on the 5th grade website!
Trick or Treat for Unicef:
Students have decided to ask for spare change as they trick or treat this year, which we will then send off to Unisef. Fingers crossed that our donation boxes get here in time, if not I will send home an official envelope for them to collect with. Our class goal is $100 total! Here is more information.
Candy Swap
On Thursday the Womack Pack will have a candy swap. Students will learn the art of negotiation, manners in negotiation, and market value. If your child wishes to participate (even on a small scale), please have them bring their candy from trick or treating in on Thursday for the swap, which we will also be graphing!
Math homework
Be on the lookout for upcoming mandatory math homework. This should not be too time intensive, just some extra practice for the students. I am aiming to begin on the week of Nov. 5th.
Audubon Canyon Ranch Field Trip
Thank you parents for stepping up to drive next Friday Nov. 2nd! The field trip is saved!! Please do not forget to pack a lunch if you did not order one from the school.
Curriculum updates:
Math:
We are wrapping up our unit on volume, and moving into a division and multiplication review, then into fractions.
Reading:
Starting tomorrow students will be working in book clubs at their reading level. They will be bringing a book back and forth from school every day and working in class, as well as reading at home out of their assigned book. Please encourage them to make sure they have it with them everyday! The overall theme is empathy, and understanding differences, as well as a deeper study of characters, the types of characters and their role in influencing plot.
How can I help my child with Write about Reading at home?
- Weekly Write about Reading assignments this semester will focus on using something called a 4-C paragraph(and occasional variations) to craft responses. All reading responses are submitted on Google Classroom Friday morning. Feedback will be on each Write about Reading response by Monday afternoon. Encourage your child to read the comments and feedback each week in order to improve upon their responses.
Writing:
This is a class of FABULOUS writers!! We have wrapped up our first informative essay (Growth Mindset biography), and are working on our first personal narrative essay. The focus of our first essay is a "small moments" story, elaborating a small moment into a longer story.
Social Studies:
We are currently studying the five major Native American regions. Through a series of engaging activities and small group work, students will discuss misconceptions, explore migration patterns, and compare and contrast Native American culture, lifestyles, economies, and systems of government in each region.
Science:
We are wrapping up our Life Science unit! There is still more work to be done, so they will get more Life Science in May. We are working on making large scale food webs for each of the major Earth Biomes in small groups, as well as documenting organic and inorganic matter decomposing in jars through a Book Creator project.
ROTATION STARTS NEXT WEEK!
On Nov. 6th my students will begin going to Ms. Frazier for their Physical Science unit! I am excited to see them thrive with another teacher as well.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thank you so much for reading!
Bethany