In today's school mail, you should have received a note and permission slip for our upcoming field trip to the Planetarium located at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville. Please turn in the permission slips as soon as possible. If I have to choose chaperones, it will be done on a first come-first served basis. I am hoping, however, that all parents who want to will be able to attend.
The Planetarium field trip coordinates with topics we have or will discuss in class. For example, one of our vocabulary words this week is constellation. Also, while reading Pedro's Journal, we read about the sailors used the North Star to help navigate. We will continue to discuss and read about stars during the month of November. This should be an exciting trip that helps students to visualize what we are doing in class. I hope you are able to join us! If not, look for the post-trip pictures on the blog.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
All About Math
I'm excited to say that we had an awesome response from parents about coming into learn the lattice method of multiplication and column division. Tomorrow night should be very informative and productive.
I do know, however, that some parents are unable to attend. This is completely understandable. Under the Homework Help websites, I have linked two sites that show how to set-up and do lattice multiplication. I was not able to find a site that showed column division how I generally set it up. However, I will be sending home explanation sheets for both the multiplication and the division with tomorrow's (Tuesday, the 23rd) handouts, so be on the lookout.
If at anytime you or your child have questions about these procedures, please don't hesitate to let me know. I consider this to be one of the most important indicators we learn this year because it becomes a foundation for so many other problems that we learn to do throughout the year, especially when we begin finding the area of various shapes. If you need to reach me, you can either post on the blog or send me an e-mail by going to My Profile.
I do know, however, that some parents are unable to attend. This is completely understandable. Under the Homework Help websites, I have linked two sites that show how to set-up and do lattice multiplication. I was not able to find a site that showed column division how I generally set it up. However, I will be sending home explanation sheets for both the multiplication and the division with tomorrow's (Tuesday, the 23rd) handouts, so be on the lookout.
If at anytime you or your child have questions about these procedures, please don't hesitate to let me know. I consider this to be one of the most important indicators we learn this year because it becomes a foundation for so many other problems that we learn to do throughout the year, especially when we begin finding the area of various shapes. If you need to reach me, you can either post on the blog or send me an e-mail by going to My Profile.
Monday, October 15, 2007
What are Indicators?!?
It recently came to my attention (today) that many parents do not know what indicators are. I never put much thought into this because they are such a part of my every day vocabulary. As I thought about it, however, I realized that I had never taken the time to explain it. So here it goes...
At the beginning of October, your child brought home a letter with calendars attached. These calendars listed numbers, such as 5.1.1 and a short description of what was expected according to that number. In Indiana, there a academic standards that have been set by the Department of Education. There are standards in each academic area (english/language arts, math, social studies, and science). The standard is a very general statement of what we expect children to learn. Under each standard, there are what are called indicators. These indicators more specifically identify what a child is being taught. When designing our curriculum, we look at indicators to identify what skills need to be mastered by your child. Indicator 5.1.1. in math means that we are looking at 5th grade, standard 1 (number sense), indicator 1 (Convert between numbers in words and numbers in figures, for numbers up to millions and decimals up to thousandths).
We assess a different indicator or pair of indicators each week in math. Students are given a pretest on Friday, then they are grouped by how well they did on the pretest. The pretest is on 5th grade standards, therefore, it is completely acceptable for a child to not pass. The pretests are only used so that students who already know the material can be appropriately challenged. This happens in all four 5th grade classrooms, so students go to a different room each week. At the end of the week (or sooner if the students know the material), students are given an assessment on the indicator. If they earn an 80% or better, it is considered that they mastered that indicator. If they earn less than 80%, then they are retaught the material and reassessed when they seem to understand it. This process can be repeated until the student masters the inidicator. This is why you may sometimes see the same quiz with multiple grades. Only the highest grade will go in the grade book. However, I will send home all given quizzes so that you can review these skills with your child.
In reading and writing, indicators are assessed through performance on work samples, quizzes, and projects. Everything we do in class is linked to an indicator. Again, 80% or better is considered mastery. If I have graded on a rubric, a grade of a B- or better is considered mastery.
I am hoping that this clarifies what we are expecting students to accomplish in 5th grade this year. If you have any questions, please let me know either by posting a comment, sending me an e-mail, or calling me.
At the beginning of October, your child brought home a letter with calendars attached. These calendars listed numbers, such as 5.1.1 and a short description of what was expected according to that number. In Indiana, there a academic standards that have been set by the Department of Education. There are standards in each academic area (english/language arts, math, social studies, and science). The standard is a very general statement of what we expect children to learn. Under each standard, there are what are called indicators. These indicators more specifically identify what a child is being taught. When designing our curriculum, we look at indicators to identify what skills need to be mastered by your child. Indicator 5.1.1. in math means that we are looking at 5th grade, standard 1 (number sense), indicator 1 (Convert between numbers in words and numbers in figures, for numbers up to millions and decimals up to thousandths).
We assess a different indicator or pair of indicators each week in math. Students are given a pretest on Friday, then they are grouped by how well they did on the pretest. The pretest is on 5th grade standards, therefore, it is completely acceptable for a child to not pass. The pretests are only used so that students who already know the material can be appropriately challenged. This happens in all four 5th grade classrooms, so students go to a different room each week. At the end of the week (or sooner if the students know the material), students are given an assessment on the indicator. If they earn an 80% or better, it is considered that they mastered that indicator. If they earn less than 80%, then they are retaught the material and reassessed when they seem to understand it. This process can be repeated until the student masters the inidicator. This is why you may sometimes see the same quiz with multiple grades. Only the highest grade will go in the grade book. However, I will send home all given quizzes so that you can review these skills with your child.
In reading and writing, indicators are assessed through performance on work samples, quizzes, and projects. Everything we do in class is linked to an indicator. Again, 80% or better is considered mastery. If I have graded on a rubric, a grade of a B- or better is considered mastery.
I am hoping that this clarifies what we are expecting students to accomplish in 5th grade this year. If you have any questions, please let me know either by posting a comment, sending me an e-mail, or calling me.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Fire Prevention Week
Today, two members of the Portage Fire Department visited to talk with us about Fire Prevention Week. They had a great demonstration and video to share which emphasized the importance of smoke detectors and escape plans. The things we learned can help save lives. For example, every floor of the house needs a smoke detector. This includes the basement! There should also be a detector outside of every bedroom. The smoke detectors should be tested every month and the batteries changed once a year. There should be two ways out of every room in the house. These exits can be doors or windows. The other important information is to draw a map of your house and label ways out of every room. Your family also needs to have a meeting place outside of the home where everyone should go once they are out safely. Call 911 once you are outside of the home from either a cell phone or a neighbor's house.
I have included the National Fire Protection Associations website on the Cool Clicks list. Please check it out for more information on how to keep your family safe. They also have tools to help you design an escape plan.
The firefighters invited everyone to attend an open house at Fire Station 1 on Friday, October 12. There will be food, information, and fun. i will be sending home a flyer with additional information. I hope that you are able to join them!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Up and Coming Events
There are a few things that we have in the works. First of all is Grandparents' Day. Grandparents' Day is Wednesday, October 10, from 1:30-2:30. It will start with short program in the gym and conclude in the classroom. Our class is putting together a Power Point slide show about special memories. The students will then have a chance to share some of their work with their grandparents. It's a special day for everyone!
The next thing we have in the works is our first novel project. Students were given an assignment sheet with three choices to complete our reading of Bridge to Terabithia. We will actually be finishing the book on Monday, but I wanted everyone to be able to begin working on their project over the weekend. Parents may help their child within reason. Please, do not do the entire project, but do feel free to offer advice or ask questions. Part of the grade is showing me what was learned from the book. Students may come up with thier own project, but I must approve it. Anyone interested in doing this should write a description of the project and how he or she thinks it will show their understanding of the book. I'd like these by Monday so that I can approve them and everyone can get started on their projects.
The next thing we have in the works is our first novel project. Students were given an assignment sheet with three choices to complete our reading of Bridge to Terabithia. We will actually be finishing the book on Monday, but I wanted everyone to be able to begin working on their project over the weekend. Parents may help their child within reason. Please, do not do the entire project, but do feel free to offer advice or ask questions. Part of the grade is showing me what was learned from the book. Students may come up with thier own project, but I must approve it. Anyone interested in doing this should write a description of the project and how he or she thinks it will show their understanding of the book. I'd like these by Monday so that I can approve them and everyone can get started on their projects.
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