Traditional Quilt Blocks

http://www.blockcrazy.com/List%20of%20Quilt%20Block%20Names%20Arranged%20Alphabetically.htm

Room 20 Classroom Notes February 18-21

Hello Everyone! Well, it is Sunday evening and there is no decision made with the bargaining team/district members. Therefore, I will tell you a bit about what we are working on regardless of higher decision-making. We are working primarily with fractions in math- starting to add fractions and find common denominators. This is review from fourth grade. We eventually will be studying traditional quilt designs and use fractions to make our own (and find fractions of quilt colors). We will have science homework this week every day. Last week in science we had a wonderful hands-on experiment with Reed Science (and explosions). Please ask your child about it! In reading, we read a story called, "Exploding Ants," and work in our novel reading groups. We will also work online reading and analyzing information texts via newsela.com. In writing, we continue our persuasive writing pieces. These will be five-paragraph essays. We have a variety of topics. Please ask your child about their topic and what EVIDENCE (so important) they have to support their POSITION (which side do you take?). We are taking a break on Social Studies to finish up two art projects: Our letter projects and onion dome watercolors. These are both officially due by Friday (several students have already finished). Stay strong!

Finished Letters Have Three Sections

Room 20 Classroom Notes February 11-14

Whew! What a week! I hope you had a great time out in our winter wonderland. On Thursday, I received packets for camp in the mail; primarily paperwork. Camp information will be going out soon including final financial amounts. Our parent volunteers have been working on final numbers. This week, we begin fractions. ultimately, students will be adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions of unlike (not the same) denominators. In writing, we continue with our persuasive writing essays. In reading, we continue reading high-interest non-fiction and working in novel groups. For Social Studies, we will be working on Explorers. We also started a wonderful watercolor piece on onion domes. Thanks to everyone coming and working hard during homework club on Wednesdays from 3:00-3:45.

Persuasive Topics

Persuasive Writing Topics:

• cell phone radiation
• performance enhancing drugs
• artificial intelligence
• civil rights
• school uniforms
• year long school
• boarding school
• 4 day school week (4- 10 hour days)

***If you would like to do another topic, please conference with me and we can work it out.

Valentine's Day List

If you choose to bring Valentines, please bring enough for all!

Room 20 Classroom Notes February 3-7

Good Week!

This week, we will be starting a new writing project based on persuasive writing. this gives the students the chance to take on a controversial subject, weigh the pros and cons, and ultimately express their "position" with evidence. It is personally my favorite writing unit! In math, we continue with big multiplication and division using a new school way of doing long division. If you are demonstrating the old school long division at home, it is most welcomed. It is important, however, to express to the students that there are various ways to work division. In Social Studies, we will be continuing our work on Explorers of the Americas, including our google maps geography work detailing and displaying (using the magic of google) routes of our selected Explorer. In reading, we will be working on the reading strategy of making connections and drawing conclusions using a story from our reader and working in our novels. We start tech this week and for the next four weeks. I can't wait for the kids to get started on the excellent projects Mr. Jamesbarry has in store for us! On Friday, Sellwood Middle School will come and present to the fifth grade and answer questions. I also have a new calendar mechanism on my blog to update you on what is new. It is located on the right side of the main page. I also created a page called "Assignments and Homework" that lists the assignments for the day and homework. Please bookmark!