Thank goodness for planners to keep you updated on what is happening in the classroom! Here is an update for this week:
Reading: We will be finishing the historical fiction story Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Writing: The students will be writing an opinion piece about life as a homesteader.
Spelling: Days of the Week (We don't have an official list this week with our reading series, and they need to know how to spell the days. There will only be seven words!)
Math: The students are working very heavily with division. They are learning their various facts and strategies to solve problems. Daily, they are beginning an introduction to fractions and a review of skills to prepare them for the NWEA MAP tests that they will take in early April.
Science: Our progress through Project Lead the Way Science is now in the building stage. They are designing their own gliders early in the week, and then they will build and test the flight of gliders. I imagine that you will hear a lot about this during the week. They love it!
Monday, March 13, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Feb. 14 - 18
Oh my! I am sorry for the lack of updates. Here is some important information to know about the next few weeks:
Friday, February 17 will be Spring Picture Day. We will be taking class pictures and individual Spring photos. Everybody will be in the class picture, but only students who order the individual pictures will get those taken. I sent home the order papers last week. If you need another, please let your kiddo or I know (via email or class dojo is best). I will send more papers and order envelopes home.
Wednesday, March 1 will be our first class field trip to the Alberta Bair to watch "Lights! Camera! Math! The show starts at 9:30, so we will leave in the morning before that. Please keep an eye out for permission slips for this trip.
Friday, March 3 will be our school carnival in the evening. Our class has voted to make an ocean themed basket for this year's raffle fundraiser. I will be sending home more information and a list of ideas that the students have, but you can send any "ocean-themed" item that you can think of. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the basket, each class is in charge of providing one basket of items. They are to be grouped around a central theme. If your family is in a position to purchase any items (or send money...that works too!), then you would send the item to school. We've had a parent volunteer to organize and put the basket together. It is then displayed the week before the carnival and raffled off carnival night. Everyone's efforts really come together to make beautiful baskets. It's pretty impressive, and they are a fun fundraiser for the school.
Also, my phone has been intermittently allowing me to get messages. If you have left messages or need to get a hold of me, please use email or class dojo to check in. Calling me works as well, as long as the phone works!
Thank you,
Mrs. Urbaniak
Friday, February 17 will be Spring Picture Day. We will be taking class pictures and individual Spring photos. Everybody will be in the class picture, but only students who order the individual pictures will get those taken. I sent home the order papers last week. If you need another, please let your kiddo or I know (via email or class dojo is best). I will send more papers and order envelopes home.
Wednesday, March 1 will be our first class field trip to the Alberta Bair to watch "Lights! Camera! Math! The show starts at 9:30, so we will leave in the morning before that. Please keep an eye out for permission slips for this trip.
Friday, March 3 will be our school carnival in the evening. Our class has voted to make an ocean themed basket for this year's raffle fundraiser. I will be sending home more information and a list of ideas that the students have, but you can send any "ocean-themed" item that you can think of. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the basket, each class is in charge of providing one basket of items. They are to be grouped around a central theme. If your family is in a position to purchase any items (or send money...that works too!), then you would send the item to school. We've had a parent volunteer to organize and put the basket together. It is then displayed the week before the carnival and raffled off carnival night. Everyone's efforts really come together to make beautiful baskets. It's pretty impressive, and they are a fun fundraiser for the school.
Also, my phone has been intermittently allowing me to get messages. If you have left messages or need to get a hold of me, please use email or class dojo to check in. Calling me works as well, as long as the phone works!
Thank you,
Mrs. Urbaniak
Monday, January 9, 2017
Jan 9-13
Good day! It is the last week of the second quarter. Just a quick reminder that there will be no school next Monday (PIR Day), and I will send report cards home on Friday, Jan. 20.
Reading: We are extending the Unit 2, Week 5 concept into this week as we continue delving into the question "How do people figure things out?" The students are also engaging in poetry as a means of expression. We are talking about character's point of view this week and finding examples of determining it from the text. We will also by finishing up The BFG!
Spelling: Because this is an extended week from last, we have the same Spelling words as last week. For those kiddos that got 19 or 20 correct last week, they will not need to retake the test. If they got 18 or less than that correct, they will be taking it again on Friday. With the exception of rewriting them in the planners, all students will have Spelling homework on Tues., Wed., and Thurs.
Vocabulary: same as last week
Math: Using arrays to model multiplication problems (arranging items in rows and columns). We will begin looking into different ways to break apart factors to determine products (7 x 8) can be thought of as (3 x 8) + (4 x 8).
Writing: Finish the draft describing how-to-do something (known as the "How-To")
Science: Start the Project Lead the Way investigation of "The Science of Flight: Balanced and Unbalanced Forces".
We will also be finishing up the Winter NWEA MAP tests (Reading, Language, and Math) and the SRI test (Lexile reading level). You will see the results of those when you get your child's report cards.
Enjoy your week!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Reading: We are extending the Unit 2, Week 5 concept into this week as we continue delving into the question "How do people figure things out?" The students are also engaging in poetry as a means of expression. We are talking about character's point of view this week and finding examples of determining it from the text. We will also by finishing up The BFG!
Spelling: Because this is an extended week from last, we have the same Spelling words as last week. For those kiddos that got 19 or 20 correct last week, they will not need to retake the test. If they got 18 or less than that correct, they will be taking it again on Friday. With the exception of rewriting them in the planners, all students will have Spelling homework on Tues., Wed., and Thurs.
Vocabulary: same as last week
Math: Using arrays to model multiplication problems (arranging items in rows and columns). We will begin looking into different ways to break apart factors to determine products (7 x 8) can be thought of as (3 x 8) + (4 x 8).
Writing: Finish the draft describing how-to-do something (known as the "How-To")
Science: Start the Project Lead the Way investigation of "The Science of Flight: Balanced and Unbalanced Forces".
We will also be finishing up the Winter NWEA MAP tests (Reading, Language, and Math) and the SRI test (Lexile reading level). You will see the results of those when you get your child's report cards.
Enjoy your week!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Jan. 3 to 6
Happy New Year!
Here are our learning goals for the week:
Reading - We are starting Unit 2, Week 5, and we will be exploring the question "How do people figure things out?" This is an integral week as we investigate how people design and invent things. The students will also be focusing on the genre of poetry using alliteration, similes, and personification as elements.
Grammar: Possessive Nouns
Vocabulary Words: inventor, imagine, observer, bounce, free verse, limerick, rhyme, alliteration
Spelling Words: Digraphs (two letters used to make one sound)
Math: Use bar models and arrays to solve problems
Writing: Alliteration and personal narratives
Testing: NWEA Reading and Math tests
Stay as warm as you can!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Here are our learning goals for the week:
Reading - We are starting Unit 2, Week 5, and we will be exploring the question "How do people figure things out?" This is an integral week as we investigate how people design and invent things. The students will also be focusing on the genre of poetry using alliteration, similes, and personification as elements.
Grammar: Possessive Nouns
Vocabulary Words: inventor, imagine, observer, bounce, free verse, limerick, rhyme, alliteration
Spelling Words: Digraphs (two letters used to make one sound)
Math: Use bar models and arrays to solve problems
Writing: Alliteration and personal narratives
Testing: NWEA Reading and Math tests
Stay as warm as you can!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Week of Dec. 5 to Dec. 9
Hello! Just a quick couple of reminders before I dive into our learning for the week:
1. If you would like to order books for December, I sent home the first book order forms last week. I will be entering the orders on Friday, so please send them in by then. If you want to look at or order them online, look to the right column and click on the Scholastic link. It will take you into our classroom site.
2. I will send home more information as soon as I get it, but the students will have an opportunity to shop at the Penguin Gift Shop next week for gifts for friends and family. The prices range from $.25 and up, and we will be visiting it on Wednesday afternoon. You can send money with your children if you want them to purchase gifts. It is a fundraiser for the 5th grade field trip.
3. The Winter Music Program is next Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m.
So here are our learning goals for the week!
Reading: We are starting the chapter book The BFG. In Wonders, the students are reading and learning about the US government and the process of becoming the president. They are also working on making nouns plural (add -s, -es, or change the spelling), rereading difficult books, and identifying the genre "Expository Text".
Spelling: Words with silent letters
Vocabulary: announced, elect, candidates, estimate, convince, government, decision, independent
Math: The students are continuing to gain more experience with multiplication by looking at and comparing factors and products in our game last week. We will also start a game of multiplication bingo to reinforce our learning. In independent practice, students are working on the online math portions of Moby Max and ST Math. Both of these programs are letting the students work at their own levels.
Art: Winter Craft
Thank you!
Mrs. Urbaniak
1. If you would like to order books for December, I sent home the first book order forms last week. I will be entering the orders on Friday, so please send them in by then. If you want to look at or order them online, look to the right column and click on the Scholastic link. It will take you into our classroom site.
2. I will send home more information as soon as I get it, but the students will have an opportunity to shop at the Penguin Gift Shop next week for gifts for friends and family. The prices range from $.25 and up, and we will be visiting it on Wednesday afternoon. You can send money with your children if you want them to purchase gifts. It is a fundraiser for the 5th grade field trip.
3. The Winter Music Program is next Thursday, Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m.
So here are our learning goals for the week!
Reading: We are starting the chapter book The BFG. In Wonders, the students are reading and learning about the US government and the process of becoming the president. They are also working on making nouns plural (add -s, -es, or change the spelling), rereading difficult books, and identifying the genre "Expository Text".
Spelling: Words with silent letters
Vocabulary: announced, elect, candidates, estimate, convince, government, decision, independent
Math: The students are continuing to gain more experience with multiplication by looking at and comparing factors and products in our game last week. We will also start a game of multiplication bingo to reinforce our learning. In independent practice, students are working on the online math portions of Moby Max and ST Math. Both of these programs are letting the students work at their own levels.
Art: Winter Craft
Thank you!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Week of Nov. 28 to Dec. 2
Hello! Have you seen that we have our Winter Concert will be on Thursday, Dec. 15? K-2 will perform at 8:45, and grades 3-5 will perform at 10:00 a.m.? We certainly hope that you can stay for the entire section of each performance. It can be distracting to the students if people are up and moving around.
Here's a look into our learning for the week:
Reading: We are continuing to read Because of Winn-Dixie. Extraordinary things are happening in our room, such as great discussions, pleas to read "just one more chapter", and the building of empathy. It's simply fantastic. In our Wonders series, we are in Unit 2 Week 2: Immigration. Each small reading group is reading a historical fiction book about characters that immigrate to America. As we read, the students are learning about making and revising predictions and using similes.
Vocabulary: whispered, immigrated, inspected, moment, photographs, valuable, immigrated, opportunity
Spelling words: Months of the Year
Math: We are starting multiplication this week! The kiddos are so excited! We will be playing games and doing activities in order to build their understanding of groups and items within each group.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Here's a look into our learning for the week:
Reading: We are continuing to read Because of Winn-Dixie. Extraordinary things are happening in our room, such as great discussions, pleas to read "just one more chapter", and the building of empathy. It's simply fantastic. In our Wonders series, we are in Unit 2 Week 2: Immigration. Each small reading group is reading a historical fiction book about characters that immigrate to America. As we read, the students are learning about making and revising predictions and using similes.
Vocabulary: whispered, immigrated, inspected, moment, photographs, valuable, immigrated, opportunity
Spelling words: Months of the Year
Math: We are starting multiplication this week! The kiddos are so excited! We will be playing games and doing activities in order to build their understanding of groups and items within each group.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Urbaniak
Monday, November 28, 2016
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