Wednesday/Thursday 4-19,20-17

On Wednesday we had a big cubby, binder, evidence clean and sort. It is a requirement that 5th graders keep an organized binder which some of us were surprised to learn.

Today we read had a long writing time to polish up our story due tomorrow in story cafe where we will all share at least part of our story. Ms. Lamb is looking for evidence from each station in your story tomorrow: beginning, ending, precise words and elaboration using description, dialogue, inner thinking and action.

Tomorrow we will also have a short share out of what you have been working on in your Something I Want to Know More About project. This can be a simple verbal share...I have been reading about... or I have practiced drawing.... You may also show anything you have created (but this is not required.)

Tomorrow we begin our science fair projects. Here is an overview. The festival will be sometime mid-May, so there is not a lot of time.

Tonight's homework:

Math - skill sheet due tomorrow
LA - story ready to share in the story cafe tomorrow
Simple share of Something I Want to Know More About project

Tuesday 4-18-17

We had a wonderful science class at Mills River Park today. Students worked in groups to find and take photos of the geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere and how the connect. When we returned to the classroom, we began our group slide show.

This morning, in LA, we had narrative writing stations. Students workshopped their short stories for beginnings, endings, elaboration and precise word choice.  We will continue to work on this short piece until our story cafe share this Friday.

Homework:
LA: Work on your story for 10 minutes - either finish a station or try something new
Read for 20 minutes
Math: Exemplars problem due tomorrow, skill sheet due Friday

Monday 4-17-17

We are hoping to take a science trip to Mills River Park tomorrow afternoon. We still need a few permission slips so be sure to check your email to see if I need one from you.

Today we tried to wrap up our character and theme paragraphs and upload those to google classroom. A few students are still working on those for various reasons.

Today we began a one week narrative writing project. Today we wrote to picture prompts. Tomorrow we will work in stations to try out beginnings, precise words, elaboration and endings. On Friday we will have a Story Cafe where will share a nosh and listen to and read stories or parts of stories.

Tonight's homework:

Science  - fill out the chart on the hand out
Math - skill sheet due Thursday and Exemplars due Wednesday
LA - work another 10 minutes on your story or write another one
Read for 20 minutes

Friday 4-14-17 Spirit Week Next Week Dress Up schedule

~BRMS School SPIRIT Week!!!  April 17-21~

*Mon.~ Comfy, Casual, Lazy Clothes Day!  Relax~

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*Tues.~ Dress To Impress Day!  Suit, tie, skirt, dress...

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*Wed.~ Each Grade is Assigned a Different Color to Wear!  

                    *8th ~ Black                                                        

                          *7th ~ Orange or Yellow

                          *6th ~ Green or Blue

                          *5th ~ White

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*Thurs.~ Twin, Triplet, Quadruplet....Day!  Dress alike…

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*Friday ~ Go BRMS!  Wear Red and White Day!

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~Show your BRMS spirit and have fun!!!~

Thursday April 12

As this weather warms, we are looking forward to studying ecosystems and biospheres in our amazing MIlls River Park.  The school requires a permission slip to allow me to take our students across the bridge and into the park. 

I have sent home a paper copy of this permission slip with your child today and I am attaching a digital copy to this email.  Our plan is to head over to the park on Tuesday for the afternoon.  I will need this permission slip before I can take your student to the Park.  If you could please return these tomorrow or Monday I would appreciate it.  Here it is again Permission Slip for Mills River Park

SBAC tests will be coming up right after vacation and would be very helpful if each student brought in their own earbuds for computers. Students will use these some times for the test and we also have other times when we need them for classes. We have set of large black headphones, but they are getting broken and left around the classroom a lot. 

It would be very helpful if students could get a set of earbuds and keep them in their backpack or cubby.

Tonight's homework:

Math: page (I forgot, but it's a tear out page and everyone has it)

LA: FINISH YOUR wordstudy packet all the way through - hand in tomorrow in LA

Read for 20 minutes (ready to log tomorrow)

Edutyping if you have not gotten to it this week.

April 9, 2017 Edutyping

I somehow got very out of the habit of posting here every day and no one scolded me. I hope you are reading, at least sometimes.

A parent asked me about edutyping goals, so I thought I would tell everyone. Here is the district dictate to teachers:

Grade 5 - Student is able to perform the following tasks while using a typing software:

• use the program without looking at the keyboard (use keyboard skin or cover)
• use proper hand placement: both hands on the keyboard, correct fingers on the home row, thumb(s) resting on space bar.
• assume good posture (sitting up straight, feet flat on the floor if possible)
• compose at least one page (about 500 words) on the computer in a 25 minute sitting
• practice at least two sessions per week for 12 to 18 weeks at 15+ minutes per session
• Standard
• Substantially below proficient: 0 – 14 WPM or less than 80% accuracy
• Partially proficient:  15 – 20 WPM and at least 80% accuracy
• Proficient:  20-30 WPM and at least 85% accuracy
• Proficient with distinction: 31 or more WPM and at least 90% accuracy

This translates to 4.5 to 6 hours per year on edutyping. The real goal is to type competently to help with writing.

I am asking students to spend 10-20 minutes per week on edutyping lessons (not games - but those are good too.) Students do not need to do more than a half hour per week which should look like 10 minutes per day for three days.