Class Updates May 20th, 2020
May 20, 2020
Hello 5th grade families,
Let me just start by saying that 5th grade has a lot of creative learners. I have loved to see all the different reading dioramas, and be taken from Hogwarts to cities, tall tree houses, space and many more settings. (Link below to see them all) Democracy projects continue to come in where students have made posters, flip-grids, stop-motion videos, mobiles, and so much more to show their understanding of the 3 Branches of government and checks and balances. I can wait to see the creativity and inventive skills our students continue to roll out until the end of the school year.
We are continuing to work on opinion essays, and should be finished with the rough draft by next Thursday. My hope is to have each student complete this essay so they have more essay writing experience going into 6th grade.
Also, please check on your student's grades for IXL specifically. I have reduced the workload to mastering only one skill or working for 15 minutes to reduce stress. As one student has put it, it really helps them learn writing and reading skills that they didn't know before. Please keep up the practice, so your student won't lose the knowledge, and so some can continue to work ahead!
I appreciate all of your hard work, the emails, and check-ins. While this may not be best situation for learning, I hope we can all find some silver linings. I've received many emails and heard on Zoom that student's are enjoying time to be with family, learning from siblings, andworking on hobbies.
Sincerely,
Video Clips:
Final Winner:
March Madness Writing Competition Week 6:
2020 Writing Competition Winner
Week 5:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 5:
March Madness Writing Competition-Championship!
Next round is due 4-15-20 at 11:59pm
Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge-Week 4
Next round is due 4-10-20 at 11:59pm
Week 3:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 3:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 3-Link
Week 2:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 2:
May 20, 2020
Hello 5th grade families,
Let me just start by saying that 5th grade has a lot of creative learners. I have loved to see all the different reading dioramas, and be taken from Hogwarts to cities, tall tree houses, space and many more settings. (Link below to see them all) Democracy projects continue to come in where students have made posters, flip-grids, stop-motion videos, mobiles, and so much more to show their understanding of the 3 Branches of government and checks and balances. I can wait to see the creativity and inventive skills our students continue to roll out until the end of the school year.
We are continuing to work on opinion essays, and should be finished with the rough draft by next Thursday. My hope is to have each student complete this essay so they have more essay writing experience going into 6th grade.
Also, please check on your student's grades for IXL specifically. I have reduced the workload to mastering only one skill or working for 15 minutes to reduce stress. As one student has put it, it really helps them learn writing and reading skills that they didn't know before. Please keep up the practice, so your student won't lose the knowledge, and so some can continue to work ahead!
I appreciate all of your hard work, the emails, and check-ins. While this may not be best situation for learning, I hope we can all find some silver linings. I've received many emails and heard on Zoom that student's are enjoying time to be with family, learning from siblings, andworking on hobbies.
We are continuing to work on opinion essays, and should be finished with the rough draft by next Thursday. My hope is to have each student complete this essay so they have more essay writing experience going into 6th grade.
Also, please check on your student's grades for IXL specifically. I have reduced the workload to mastering only one skill or working for 15 minutes to reduce stress. As one student has put it, it really helps them learn writing and reading skills that they didn't know before. Please keep up the practice, so your student won't lose the knowledge, and so some can continue to work ahead!
I appreciate all of your hard work, the emails, and check-ins. While this may not be best situation for learning, I hope we can all find some silver linings. I've received many emails and heard on Zoom that student's are enjoying time to be with family, learning from siblings, andworking on hobbies.
Sincerely,
Video Clips:
Final Winner:
March Madness Writing Competition Week 6:
2020 Writing Competition Winner
Week 5:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 5:
March Madness Writing Competition-Championship!
Next round is due 4-15-20 at 11:59pm
Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge-Week 4
Next round is due 4-10-20 at 11:59pm
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 3-Link
Final Winner:
March Madness Writing Competition Week 6:
2020 Writing Competition Winner
Week 5:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 5:
March Madness Writing Competition-Championship!
Next round is due 4-15-20 at 11:59pm
Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 4:
March Madness Writing Challenge-Week 4
Next round is due 4-10-20 at 11:59pm
Week 3:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 3:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 3-Link
Week 2:
March Madness Writing Challenge Week 2:
Learning Links:
Social Studies:
January 31, 2019
Hello All,
As a quick update, I just wanted to let you know that students should be bringing home copies of the book "brown girl dreaming". Each student should also have a handout accompanying this book.This work will be very critical for them, as they continue to develop their analysis skills for reading and to participate in discussion and activities in class about the book. Each student has access to the homework on Google Classroom in case their copy is lost or left at school.
Please email me if your child has difficulty accessing their Google Drive at home for their homework.
You can reach me at mkelleher@rivendellschool.org
___________________________________________________________________________
January 26, 2019
Hello 5th grade families,
It seems like January has flown past us! In language arts, students have been focusing on topics like independent vs. dependent clauses, analyzing details in poetry, and creative writing. We continue to work on vocabulary, with a focus on Latin and Greek roots. In intervention groups, students are continuing to work on when to capitalize (M.I.N.T.S.). Also, we are diving more into neater hand-writing by practicing letter-writing in intervention.
As an update on reading, 5th grade will be pushing back our class-read of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We are still collecting books, so if your child or family has a copy of the book please send it in. If you don't have a copy, please do not worry about purchasing one! We plan to read this book further in the year.
However, starting this week, students will be bringing home the book Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. As we study this poetry memoir, students will look deeper into her use of metaphors, symbolism, and character development. Additionally, we will be diving deeper into comparing poetry by Langston Hughes, speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the historical events surrounding the memoir. Students will be reading this book at home in order to discuss it in class, so please make sure your student stays up-to-date with their reading.
In social studies, we are completing our unit on American Indians and the civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca this week. Over the last few weeks students have researched their chosen Native American nations. Students are continuing to share there presentation in class. Shortly, we will be taking a unit test on the information.
*As a reminder, please expect your child to have homework in Humanities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every Monday will focus on vocabulary and students can use this link from Quizlet to study assigned words (https://quizlet.com/477420591/week-20-greek-suffixes-flash-cards/).
Kindly,
Ms. Kelleher
________________________________________________________________________________
December 16, 2019
Hello 5th grade families,
It seems like January has flown past us! In language arts, students have been focusing on topics like independent vs. dependent clauses, analyzing details in poetry, and creative writing. We continue to work on vocabulary, with a focus on Latin and Greek roots. In intervention groups, students are continuing to work on when to capitalize (M.I.N.T.S.). Also, we are diving more into neater hand-writing by practicing letter-writing in intervention.
As an update on reading, 5th grade will be pushing back our class-read of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We are still collecting books, so if your child or family has a copy of the book please send it in. If you don't have a copy, please do not worry about purchasing one! We plan to read this book further in the year.
However, starting this week, students will be bringing home the book Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. As we study this poetry memoir, students will look deeper into her use of metaphors, symbolism, and character development. Additionally, we will be diving deeper into comparing poetry by Langston Hughes, speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the historical events surrounding the memoir. Students will be reading this book at home in order to discuss it in class, so please make sure your student stays up-to-date with their reading.
In social studies, we are completing our unit on American Indians and the civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca this week. Over the last few weeks students have researched their chosen Native American nations. Students are continuing to share there presentation in class. Shortly, we will be taking a unit test on the information.
*As a reminder, please expect your child to have homework in Humanities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every Monday will focus on vocabulary and students can use this link from Quizlet to study assigned words (https://quizlet.com/477420591/week-20-greek-suffixes-flash-cards/).
Kindly,
Ms. Kelleher
________________________________________________________________________________
December 16, 2019
Hello 5th
grade families! Can you believe it's almost Winter Break? Time has flown by so
fast this year!
Over the last
month, students have been putting in a lot of hard work in social studies and
language arts. Students have finished Mr. Lemoncello's Library. We were
provided books by the Fairlee Public Library, but we are missing one copy of
the book (oh no!). Please keep your eyes peeled at home, in case your child may
have accidentally brought it home. Next on the reading list is Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone. Student's will be reading this book at home, and
holding student-driven conversations, projects, and analysis on the books in
class.
Students are
wrapping up their essays on National Parks, and it has been amazing to watch
them become experts on their specific park! Be sure to ask them about the
essay, and what they have learned on the topic! We continue to study
vocabulary, where students focus on word relationships, and using vocab in stories.
Over break, try to have your student continue with writing practice. Whether its
writing thank you cards for gifts, keeping a journal, or writing poems on the
winter season.
In social
studies, we have wrapped up our unit on geography. Now students are applying
their geography skills to compare and contrast different Native American
groups. Expect a project to be coming after break that focuses on specific
Native American Nations. Students have also been studying the causes and
effects of the Trail of Tears in class. After break, we will be exploring the
ancient civilizations of Central and South America.
Warmly,
Ms. Kelleher
_______________________________________________________________________________
November 14, 2019
Hello All,
In 5th grade we are steadily pushing forward into the year.
In social studies this week, students have been learning more about geography. Students are continuing to learn to use longitude and latitude to find exact location. We went over different landscape formations where students were able to use the snow outside to craft the different land-forms we learned about. Also, we are continuing to develop our discussion skills in class. Students are working to read current events articles, then hold small group conversations focused on enhancing their understanding of the article and connecting it to their lives.
Some great conversations to push students to see social studies "come alive". Talk with students about the land forms they see like rivers, mountains, valleys, etc! Some students were surprised that the school was in a valley. Also, as you scroll through or watch the news, try to bring up some world events up with your student. The more stories about the world your student, the easier they can make connections to different regions or countries.
Over the next few weeks we will also be exploring a new vocabulary strategy. You may notice homework changing as well. In class, students will work in teams to organize words. For instance, we focused on speed this week and comparing words like limp, lope, or meander. Every Monday, expect your student to use the 15 vocabulary words to create a story. These words are available on Quizlet (link included at the end). Also, always check in with students as they will always have Monday, Wednesday, and Friday homework in Humanities.
Then, in language arts kids are working on informational essays about the National Parks. They have been working to put together introductions, and are now researching their chosen National Park. Also, students have been practicing note-taking skills as they read news articles, and will continue to practice this skill. A great way to help your kids develop their analysis skills are to practice asking questions. Questions like, "What do you think is going to happen next?"or "Why do you think this character is doing that?" could help develop these skills even when watching TV or a movie.
I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in this weather, and feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns with your student's progress!
Sincerely,
Ms. Kelleher
Quizlet Link: https://quizlet.com/latest
Hello All,
In humanities class we have been learning about conjunctions and using conjunctions in writing. Students have utilized conjunctions to write their own creative sentences, stories, and skits. On Friday students were assigned a handout on correcting run-on sentences using conjunctions and proper punctuation. If your student needs this work, it can be found online under, " Correcting Run-On Sentences: Commas and Conjunctions" at https://www.k12reader.com/worksheet/correcting-run-on-sentences-commas-and-conjunctions/view/ .
Last week, students were wrapping up their timeline creations on Lucidchart. The final products looked amazing! Please check with your student to make sure they have completed this work, because they cannot move on to the next project until this step is complete. In the upcoming week students will be using their knowledge of the 5 Themes of Geography to create a brochure using Google Slides. Students will have time in class to develop the timeline, but any work remaining will be assigned for Friday, Oct. 11th.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Ms. Kelleher
