Ms. Watson’s Weekly Newsletter Last Week’s Happenings October 3, 2017 Last Week’s Happenings Understanding Theme Last week we focused on identifying theme in the texts we have been reading from our William and Mary Perspectives unit. We read multiple stories and identified theme by asking ourselves, “What message did the author want us to get from the story?” This is a good strategy for your child to use at home with their nightly reading! What’s up with WEATHER? Last week, we started our Weather unit. We learned about weather maps and symbols on a weather map, jet streams, air masses and map lines! The kids took cornell notes on the right side of their science notebook, and on the left side created a map key depicting the different weather map symbols. Be sure to check these out! Interactive notebooks are an amazing study tool!

Happening This Week… Spelling Math This week in Math with Ms. Crumpler, students will continue working on their Place Value Pathway. Each day, students will be pulled in small groups/1-1 to focus on what skills they need support/enrichment with. The common core standards that will be covered are NBT 1, NBT 2, NBT 3 and NBT 4. Homework is due Friday! Reading This week in reading, we will be using Pauls Reasoning Web from the William and Mary unit to learn about different elements of reasoning. We will apply this new learning to our texts, and will discuss how the reasoning model can help us to view different perspectives. We will also be learning about the plot diagram, and how to apply it to what we read. Writing This week, we will begin generating ideas from our own life that we may write about. We will think about our earliest memories, a time where we felt happy, sad, afraid or alone, or when we were really really surprised. We will use these ideas to begin drafting. Spelling This week, students received 10 words from Caesar’s English. I have updated the words, definitions and lessons on my class website. Our test will be Friday, and our word work contracts will be due then. Content This week in SS we will be learning about the early explorers, American Indians, and rights to own land. In Science, we will be learning about weather tools, the water cycle, and will be conducting an experiment with the water cycle in a bag. Important Dates -10/4 Cluster Menus will be sent home in your child’s homework folder. Cluster links for sign up will go live Wednesday via email -10/5 MAP Testing (Math) -10/6 Vocab Test -10/6 Word Work contracts due -10/6 Math Stars will be sent home. Have your child turn in on Monday! -10/23 Science Weather Projects do (information including rubric was sent home Tuesday and will be added to my class website tonight) Notes from Ms. Watson  -Don’t forget to check our class website for any questions about schedules, procedures, homework, etc! www.mswatsonsfifthgrade.weebly.com -Please please PLEASE check your child’s homework folder each night. You should be signing their checkbook so that I know you are seeing your child’s behavior each day. -A HUGE thank you to those who sent in items for our class store! We are still in the process of having every shop and spend their hard earned class money! Pictures coming next week!  -We are in need of a co-room parent!!! Please email me asap if you are interested in helping out! -Please have your child complete Math Stars and turn them in every Monday. -Our Math MAP testing will be Thursday from 9:30-12:00. Please make sure your child gets enough rest, and a hearty breakfast, and is at school on time for best results!