May, 2014
We began the month of May with the state testing and then
continued with our review of 5th grade math concepts. We spent
the end of the month with students reviewing and teaching one
another different models to solve multiplication problems.
Students working in small groups created anchor charts and
taught lessons to their classmates. As we move through the
month of June we will continue to review math concepts to
prepare our students for the End of Year assessment and for 6th
grade.
In science we have been exploring the Earth, the moon and
Beyond through labs where we investigated craters in the moon’s
surface and more recently the orbits of the planets. We will
conclude the year exploring Using Resources in order to discover
how we can best conserve our natural resources and protect our
planet.
Please continue to have your children utilize the i-Ready and First
in Math during the summer to maintain and increase their math
and literacy skills.
April, 2014
Time continues to fly by. We waited all month for the warm
spring weather, but even as we enjoyed spring break, the weather
was mostly colder than usual. Please ask your young scientists to
explain how we measure and predict weather. In science this
month, in addition to our study of weather, we investigated
oceans and landforms in the oceans. Next time you go to the
beach, check out the tides, the shore and if possible inspect the
jetties with your scientists. They can explain to you why we build
jetties in certain areas, and why some people oppose the building
of jetties.
In math we are preparing for the NJ Ask assessments that will
take place at the beginning of May. In addition to our regular
lessons on Numerical Expressions, Order of Operations, 2D
Shapes, Measurement, Graphing Line Plots and Coordinate Pairs,
we reviewed testing procedures with sample test questions. We
emphasized that the students need not stress over the testing,
they are prepared, and we ask that they show their best effort.
March, 2014
We enjoyed meeting you again during our parent/teacher
conferences, however brief our time together may have been.
Please take a few minutes to help your student access one of our
math practice sites (i-Ready.com or Firstinmath.com) for practice
and lessons at their skill level. April will fly by with our spring
days off and before we know it, NJ Ask testing will be here on
May 5, 6, 7 and 8.
During the past month, we solved problems of volume with
rectangular prisms and estimated, modeled and solved decimal
problems with all operations. For the next few weeks we will work
on Numerical Expressions, Order of Operations, 2D Shapes,
Measurement, and Graphing Line Plots and Coordinate Pairs.
In science, we continued our exploration of the causes of weather
and began our undersea adventures investigating ocean water and
landforms under the oceans.
It is the time of year where many students are running out of
notebook pages or are using pencils the size of fingertips, please
check in and make sure your student has the supplies they need
to be successful. As always we enjoy sharing our news with you
and hope that you enjoy reading our monthly updates. Please let
us know if you are reading our messages by emailing us at
krowe@franklinboe.org.
February, 2014
February was another fast moving month where snowstorms
limited our instruction time. However, in our short time together
we managed to complete two days of midterm testing, divide
fractions, and reintroduce volume. As the month came to a close,
we introduced two new online math resources, First in Math and iReady. Both programs offer math practice while entertaining the
students. Please encourage your children to practice with these
sites at home and we will include them both during our small group
time in math class. During March, we will continue our study of
volume and revisit decimals through addition/subtraction and
multiplication/division.
During our Science lessons in February, we explored the causes
of weather and the water cycle. As the month winds down, we will
explore oceans.
We enjoy sharing our news with you and hope that you enjoy
reading our monthly updates. Please let us know if you are reading
our messages by emailing us at krowe@franklinboe.org.
January, 2014
Since our last monthly update, we mailed home Progress Reports
for your child. Please contact us if you did not receive a report
with your child’s grades earlier this month in the mail.
Conferences are coming up in early March and we look forward to
seeing many of you then.
As we mentioned last month, we began the new year in math
reviewing fractions, and finding products of fractions and mixed
numbers using models and real world examples. It is important to
remember that it is expected that students master multiplication
of whole numbers, decimals and fractions using algorithms and
models during 5th grade.
During our Science lessons in January, we explored landforms,
including sinkholes, volcanoes and earthquakes through our
studies and lab explorations. Your child can now recognize Earth’s
landforms and how they change slowly and are unique. In addition
to understanding that water, wind, ice, and plants cause changes
to Earth’s landforms, they understand what is below Earth’s
surface and can describe how the movement of Earth’s crust can
change. During February, and into March, we will study the causes
of weather and the water cycle.
December, 2013
We can’t believe that December is over and with it our extended
holiday vacation. In our short time here during December, we
completed our math unit on Place Value with both whole numbers
and decimals. We wrote numbers in three forms (standard,
extended and word) and compared numbers as 10 times as much
as, or 1/10 of another number. We will begin the new year
reviewing fractions, and finding products and quotients of
fractions using real world examples. We will revisit decimals at a
later date in order to find sums, differences, products and
quotients. During 5th grade, it is expected that students master
multiplication of whole numbers, decimals and fractions.
During our Science lessons in December, we explored fossils.
Students had the opportunity to see and touch real fossils and
learn about the science of paleontology. In January, we will
explore landforms, including sinkholes, volcanoes and earthquakes
through our studies and lab explorations.
November, 2013
Time is flying by and the holidays are already upon us. November
was short with breaks for Teachers’ Convention and Thanksgiving.
Within the short weeks available to us, we enjoyed our day of
science with the Science Fair and all students participated in
science related events ranging from “Walking on Water,” lava
lamp creations, fingerprinting, robotics demonstrations, and more.
We all enjoyed the experiments and presentations by all of our
students.
We have been equally busy as mathematicians this month. We
explored fractions and mixed numbers by creating equivalent
fractions and solving real world problems through addition and
subtraction. As November ended, we began a unit on Place Value
with Whole Numbers. We will continue with place value in
December, concluding the unit with decimals.
As the calendar year comes to a close, we want to wish all of our
families a happy and healthy new year.
October, 2013
We have completed another busy month in math and science. In
math we explored multiplication using models and different
algorithms. Students used the standard algorithm, the area
model, and the partial products model to solve two digits by two
digit multiplication problems. From multiplication we moved on to
division with two digit divisors. Students explored long division
using the acronym, Does McDonalds Serve Cheese Burgers. Ask
them to show you how to solve 789 ÷ 13.
For the next few weeks we will explore fractions. After reviewing
how to create equivalent fractions, we will solve addition and
subtraction problems with models and with pencil and paper. We
will conclude the month by beginning our exploration of decimals
with different operations.
Our student scientists are exploring rocks and minerals through
labs and research. They have learned the difference between
rocks and minerals, and have classified minerals by color, luster,
hardness and streak. As the month of November continues we will
identify and classify rocks.
As November winds down, students will be completing quarterly
assessments in math and science on all topics studied up until this
point. November is a short month for school and soon the holidays
will be upon us.
September, 2013
September was a busy month! After getting to know our
students, we settled in to our new surroundings and got
comfortable switching classes with Mrs. Strezminksi and Mrs.
Donatelli. Then our new 5th grade mathematicians explored the 3
Dimensional Shapes and Volume in math. In addition to the unit,
we practice facts in all operations and encourage the students to
practice their facts at home. As we begin October, we will
explore the world of multiplication and division using a variety of
styles to solve and estimate the problems.
In science this month we concentrated on “Getting Ready for
Science.” In this unit we explored the ACACC scientific model,
tools used in science, and safety in the lab. In labs, we explored
and observed a variety of measurement tools and discussed
independent, dependent and control variables. In the beginning of
October we will continue to explore variables and will conclude
with an investigation with water rockets.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Mrs. Brundidge and Mrs. Rowe