Mrs. Judd's 5th Grade Class: August 2016

Math: We spent a few days practicing math stations. A typical math lesson consists of a 10 minute mini-lesson, and then students try a few problems on their own. I then meet with math groups for a follow up on the lesson. Some students need more reinforcement on the skill, and others are ready for a challenge. Groups change daily based on what the students need. While I am meeting with small groups, the students go to their math stations. We have four stations, and the students go to one station a day. The hands on station is where students play partner games that go along with current math topics or topics previously taught as a review. Students go on ALEKS, a computer based program that aligns with our math book, at the technology station. The problem solving station is where real life math problems are solved with a partner. Here is an example of things included in the problem solving station.

The last station is an independent station where students review math topics that have been previously taught to ensure that they retain what we have learned.

We are starting chapter one in math this week. It covers place value of whole numbers and decimals. Homework will be assigned most nights from the book, and it is typically a small number of problems. The goal of the homework is for you to see what we are working on in math. Please take a few minutes to review your child's math homework nightly.

Writing: Our first unit in writing is personal narrative. Students will be brainstorming special times in their lives. Focusing in on one particular small moment can be difficult for 5th graders, so we will be reading lots of examples to help guide their ideas.

Reading: In reading, we are learning how to slow down and think about what we are reading. I have been conferencing with students, and reading groups will begin soon. Students will meet in a small group with me, and they will also be a member of a book that meets twice a week. Book clubs will start in the next week or two. We went outside last week to read in the sundial garden!

Science: Learning about the science tools has been our focus this week. Students practiced using a spring scale, balance, graduated cylinder, tape measure, and hands lens so far.

It wasn't all work this week, though. We talked about having a growth mindset instead of a fixed one. In our class, it is okay to try new things and it is okay if we make mistakes. Part of our class mission statement says that we will never give up! We had a fun time acting out skits to illustrate growth mindsets.