5A Homepage

I had this written on Thursday and I forgot to put it online! Sorry!

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

This will be the last Boomerang for the year! Thank you so much for such a great year. Here is a brief curriculum update for next week.

Class Auction is next Wednesday. Please donate an item or two under $2.00-$5.00. (It does not have to be food!) Be creative – the dollar store is always a hit!

Religion
During religion next week I will be teaching the girls about Chapter 6. The study guide for this chapter was handed out today and is do in class on Monday. (Mr. Schreck will be teaching the boys.)

Science
Students will explore voluntary responses of the central nervous system by testing visual reflexes. Students will measure and graph how fast they can grasp a ruler when it is dropped just above the thumb and index finger.
Family Life: Students will begin Chapter 6, Growing to Motherhood next Monday.

Social Studies
We have been learning about Chapter 14, The Constitution. On Friday we will begin to learn about the Bill of Rights in Chapter 15. Students will not be formally assessed on these two chapters but we will be working on the activities in the chapters during social studies classes until the Tuesday of next week.

Reading
This week 5th graders have been practicing the Target Skill of ‘Reading for Information.’ Rather than use the informational passages in our Scott Foresman Reading text, the students spent time in their Science text reading and re-reading the information to prepare for their Science quiz this week. We discussed the necessity of planning a strategy to better prepare for quizzes, including re-reading the text, studying notes, creating flashcards and making up questions.
Language Arts
This week, students explore newspaper writing. We identify examples of different styles of writing throughout the newspaper. Students choose one type of article to write in class (news story, editorial, feature, etc.). There is no spelling assignment or test this week.

Have a great week!

Ms. Semandiris

May 29, 2008
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

This has been a very busy week! Looking ahead, we will be having our last “Thank-you Auction” during the last week of school. Please feel free to donate any items under $2.00 $5.00 starting next week.

Here is a brief curriculum overview for the upcoming week.

Math
Friday: Lesson 105, Symmetry
Monday: Lesson 106, Reading and Ordering Decimal Numbers Through Ten-Thousandths
Tuesday: Lesson 107, Using a Percent to Name part of a Group
Wednesday: Lesson 108, Schedules
Thursday: Lesson 109, Multiplying Decimal Numbers

Religion
We will continue to learn about Chapter 19, which is mainly about Matrimony and Holy Orders. The next two Monday’s will be spent teaching Chapters 5 & 6 in Family Life. I will be teaching the girls and Mr. Schreck will be teaching the boys.

Social Studies
Tomorrow we will have the Chapter 13 test. Next week the 5th graders will begin Chapter 14, The Constitution. In this chapter the students will learn the events that led to the creation of the Constitution. They will list and describe key powers of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government. They will also learn and be able to explain the system of checks and balances.

Science
Students will learn how electric circuits are used in the home and how electricity is measured in voltage and kilowatts. Students will take a quiz on lessons 1 & 2 next Wednesday.
Family Life: Students will begin Chapter 5, Growing to Fatherhood next Monday.

Reading
The Number the Stars ABC books were an excellent review of the story. They have been on display this week, and should come back home today. The grading rubric is included in this boomerang. Please remind your student to find and return all copies of Number the Stars.

Language Arts: This week, students get to design their own spelling lists!! Each student’s list should:
*Contain 15 words or more
* Include words that have been challenging for the student to learn (for example, words with tricky suffixes like -sion/tion or -able/ible
* They may be new or interesting words a student would like to learn
* They may be contractions or homonyms (like you’re, your, yours…)
Students were to bring their lists to class today (Thursday) for me to preview. Then, each student will decide on an appropriate practice activity to complete, which will be due on Monday. Our test will also be on Monday. We explore the sections of the newspaper and learn to uncover the 5W’s and an H from news stories. I may ask that students bring newspapers to school a few times next week.

Ms. Semandiris

May 22, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

This week has been very interesting with all the changes in the weather! One day it is hot and the next… rain. Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny for Field Day. By the way, please have your child bring a water bottle to school tomorrow filled with some cold water for Field Day. 5A’s color is blue.

Math
Monday: Lesson 104, Rounding Decimal Numbers to the Nearest Whole Number
Tuesday: Lesson 105, Symmetry
Wednesday: Lesson 106, Reading and ordering Decimal Numbers Through Ten-Thousand
Thursday: Test # 20
Friday: Lesson 107, Using Percent to Name Part of a Group

Religion
We have begun Chapter 19, which focuses on the Sacraments of Commitment. Students will learn about the Sacrament of matrimony as well as Holy Orders. My Monday religion classes will be reserved for the Family Life curriculum. I will be teaching the girls and Mr. Schreck will teach the boys for Chapters 5 & 6.

Social Studies
The fifth graders have begun to learn about the Revolutionary War in Chapter 13. We will have a Chapter 13 test next Friday May 30th.

Reading
5th graders took a Selection Test today, which covered the story, In the days of King Adobe, some new vocabulary, and the target skill of plot. Also, students turned in their ABC books for Number the Stars.

Next week we will read another story from our Scott Foresman Reading books, followed by a Selection Test. Looking ahead to our end of the year test during the first week of June… It is not a test that students can study for ahead of time. It will be a series of short passages followed by comprehension questions. I will encourage the 5th graders to use the strategies we have been practicing all year, such as: pre-reading the questions, highlighting important information while reading, and re-reading parts of the passage for deeper understanding. I will also emphasize the importance of proper rest during these final weeks of school as a key to finishing strong!

Language Arts
The fifth graders will be studying the sections and writing forms used in newspapers. We’ll practice writing for different sections of the paper. Due to the holiday weekend, there is not a spelling assignment or test this week.

Science
Students are beginning a Chapter 4, Electricity. Students will learn how electrons cause objects to attract and repel and what causes electrons to jump from one object to another. Students will also discover how electric current flows in an electric circuit. Students will assemble an electric circuit to determine which objects are electrical conductors or insulators.
Family Life: Students will begin Chapter 5, Growing to Fatherhood on Monday, May 26th.

Have a great week!

Ms. Semandiris

May 15, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

May is going fast! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather we are having today. Here is the news for next week:

Math
Monday: Lesson 101,
Tuesday: Lesson 102, Subtracting Decimal Numbers Using Zeros
Wednesday: Lesson 103, Volume
Thursday: Lesson 104, Rounding Decimal Numbers
Friday: Lesson 105, Symmetry

Religion
We will have the Chapter 9 test next Wednesday. The study guide it due tomorrow.

Science
Students will take a quiz on Chapter 3 & 4 in the Family Life text next Tuesday. Students will begin Chapter 5. They will learn about the male reproductive system and its part in God’s plan for new life.

Social Studies
Tomorrow we will have the Chapter 12 test. Next week we will begin Chapter 13, The Revolutionary War. By the end of Chapter 13, students will be able to compare and contrast the American and British forces at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. They will be able to explain key factors that allowed the American colonies to defeat Britain in the Revolutionary War. They will also be able to list the key factors of the Treaty of Paris.

Language Arts
Students practice identifying and writing subject, object and possessive pronouns. We also review the use of pronouns as part of contractions. Students will take a quiz on pronouns next Thursday. They will be given a study guide this Friday. Spelling homework is due on Monday. Our test will also be on Monday.

Reading

Students turned in their 3rd Trimester Book Reports today. They are currently working on a culminating project for the novel, Number the Stars. Three class periods have been given to work on this. The ABC book is due on May 22nd. No homework passes will be accepted.

Ms. Semandiris

May 8, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

The following is a brief curriculum update for the week of May 12-16. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend!

Math
5/12: 97, Ratios
5/13: 98, Negative Numbers
5/14: 99, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimal Numbers
5/15: 100, Simplifying Decimal Numbers
5/16: Test # 19

Religion
This week we are continuing on with Chapter 9. The students are working on their beautiful Sacrament posters. These are due on Wednesday 5/14. (Rubric will be given on Monday).

Social Studies
The fifth graders are working on Chapter 12, The Declaration of Independence. Next week they will be creating skits to learn more about the meaning of the Declaration of Independence. There will be a test next Friday on Chapter 12. (5/16)

Language Arts: Students have been working hard on their comic books. We’ll finish these and print them next week. In class, we learn about subject and object pronouns. Students have a spelling assignment that is due on Monday. Our test is also on Monday.

Science/Family Life
In Chapter 3 and 4 of the Family Life text, students will look at messages they receive from communication media. They will learn the importance of honesty and respect in good communication and prayer as a communication with God. Students will also learn the changes that occur during puberty. They will discuss the importance of growing in a balanced way-physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually.

Ms. Semandiris

May 2, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

I hope you are having a wonderful week. We are in the month of May! The students keep saying, “I can’t believe it is May already!” I think that is a good sign! The following is a brief curriculum update:

Math 5/2-5/9
Friday: Investigation 9
Monday: Lesson 94, Using Estimation When Dividing 2-Digit #’s
Tuesday: Lesson 95, Reciprocals
Wednesday: Lesson 96, Using Reciprocals to Divide Fractions
Thursday: Lesson 97, Ratios
Friday Test 18

Religion: This week we are working Chapter 9, New Life. In this Chapter we will learn about the Paschal Mystery and how that is shown through the 7 Sacraments. Students will create a poster that illustrates and explains this. The rubric for this assignments will be handed out on Monday 5/5.

Social Studies
Next week the fifth graders will move on to Chapter 12, The Declaration of Independence. In this lesson the students will examine “artifacts” such as a letter and an invitation on Thomas Jefferson’s “desk” to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the events that led up to it. Students will learn to paraphrase, in simple language, key passages from the Declaration of Independence. They will also create short skits that capture important ideas form the Declaration of Independence.

Language Arts: This week, students continue to create their comic books. Thanks for helping them gather and save their artwork. It is important that students check their grading rubrics to make sure their plots and characters are well developed. We are still in the drafting phase, so it is fine for students to add and delete events or scenes.
There is no spelling test or assignment this week.

Science
Students will learn your cells produce and get rid of wastes and how cell wastes are removed from your blood. Students will take a test on Chapter 1 next Tuesday, May 6th.
Reading: Book Reports are due on May 15. Homework passes will not be accepted. We have been focusing on theme and mood while reading Number the Stars. We look forward to learning more about this time period in history from our guest speaker who was a fighter pilot and prisoner of war during World War II. Students are reminded to complete and turn in assignments on time. Don’t let Spring Fever get a hold of you!!!
Have a great week!
Ms. Semandiris

May 2, 2008
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
I hope you are having a wonderful week. We are in the month of May. The students keep saying, “I can’t believe it is May already!” I think that is a good sign! The following is a brief curriculum update:

Math 5/2-5/9
Friday: Investigation 9
Monday: Lesson 94, Using Estimation When Dividing 2-Digit #’s
Tuesday: Lesson 95, Reciprocals
Wednesday: Lesson 96, Using Reciprocals to Divide Fractions
Thursday: Lesson 97, Ratios
Friday Test 18

Religion: This week we are working Chapter 9, New Life. In this Chapter we will learn about the Paschal Mystery and how that is shown through the 7 Sacraments. Students will create a poster that illustrates and explains this. The rubric for this assignments will be handed out on Monday 5/5.

Social Studies
Next week the fifth graders will move on to Chapter 12, The Declaration of Independence. In this lesson the students will examine “artifacts” such as a letter and an invitation on Thomas Jefferson’s “desk” to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the events that led up to it. Students will learn to paraphrase, in simple language, key passages from the Declaration of Independence. They will also create short skits that capture important ideas form the Declaration of Independence.

Language Arts: This week, students continue to create their comic books. Thanks for helping them gather and save their artwork. It is important that students check their grading rubrics to make sure their plots and characters are well developed. We are still in the drafting phase, so it is fine for students to add and delete events or scenes.
There is no spelling test or assignment this week.

Science
Students will learn your cells produce and get rid of wastes and how cell wastes are removed from your blood. Students will take a test on Chapter 1 next Tuesday, May 6th.
Reading: Book Reports are due on May 15. Homework passes will not be accepted. We have been focusing on theme and mood while reading Number the Stars. We look forward to learning more about this time period in history from our guest speaker who was a fighter pilot and prisoner of war during World War II. Students are reminded to complete and turn in assignments on time. Don’t let Spring Fever get a hold of you!!!
Have a great week!

Ms. Semandiris

April 24, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

Next Monday 4/28 is the Magazine Sale Reward Day. (So we do not have school.) Next Tuesday 4/29, is “class picture” day! Please remind your child to wear perfect uniform. (Bring a red sweater too because it looks better in the picture!) Also, please read the letter and review the Family Life book in today’s boomerang.

Here is a brief curriculum overview for the next week:

Math
Tuesday: 91, Simplifying Improper Fractions
Wednesday: 92, Dividing by Two-Digit Numbers
Thursday: 93, Comparative Bar Graphs
Friday: Investigation 9

Religion
Next week we will begin Chapter 9, New Life. They will be learning that through the sacraments, Christ unites his followers to his Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Students will make a poster of how each sacrament celebrates the Paschal Mystery. Rubric will be handed out in class.

Social Studies
The fifth graders will be working hard to prepare for the big debate on Wednesday. Patriots vs. Loyalists. Tomorrow, the students will be broken up into small groups and given a specific “Patriot or Loyalist” in history. They will become that person in the debate on Wednesday. Each member in the group has a specific role. We will have the Chapter 11 test next Friday, May 2nd. Students should be studying the Interactive Notebook pages for this chapter, rereading the chapter and practicing on the “on-line” test a bit each night to study for the test next Friday,

Reading
We continue to read the novel, Number The Stars. The students have been very interested and motivated while reading this book. Ms. McLaughlin’s grandfather will come speak to both 5th grade classes on May 5th. He was a fighter pilot during World War II, and spent some time as a prisoner of war. He will help the students develop a deeper understanding of this story by sharing his experiences of that time and place. The students will be taking notes during his talk, and will write a brief summary of his remarks. We look forward to his visit.

5th graders should continue reading their books for the 3rd trimester book report. Remember, the major challenge of this assignment is actually reading a book from an unfamiliar genre. Additionally, students have been asked to independently set mini-due dates to help them stay on track during the completion of the assignment. The report forms, which have been passed out to the students, are to be completed neatly and thoughtfully.

Finally, I have encouraged all students to check in with Power Grade to see that they are up to date on all assignments. There are several students with 0’s for missing assignments, which can have a very negative impact on an overall grade. Along these same lines, we continue to talk about the importance of completing the assigned reading and staying organized as we try to juggle the busy spring schedules that so many of us keep.

Language Arts: Students continue creating their comic books. Students are expected to create all artwork at home, as part of their homework. Artwork should be saved to a CD or flash drive. (The easiest medium to use with this software is digital pictures). In class, students will continue drafting their panels and transferring these on to Comic Life. Some students will need to complete the planning sheets for homework if they don’t finish in class. Each student has several pre-writing sheets and a grading rubric.

Here is a schedule of due dates, which will also be posted on my web page.

Assignment Due Date
Planning Sheet: Panels #1-6 Friday, 4/25
Art Work: Panels #1-6 Friday, 4/25
Planning Sheet: Panels #7-12 Tuesday, 4/29
Art Work: Panels #7 -12 Tuesday, 4/29
Planning Sheet: Panels #13-18 Thursday, 5/1
Art Work: Panels #13-18 Thursday, 5/1
Planning Sheet: Panels #19-end Friday, 5/2
Art Work: Panels #19-end Friday, 5/2

Students will learn how oxygen gets to body cells from your lungs and how cells use oxygen to release energy from food (respiration). Students will take a test on Chapter 1 Thursday, May 8th.

Have a great week!

Χριστος Ανεστη!

Ms. Semandiris

April 17, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

Next week we will be taking the ITBS test 1st and 2nd periods as well as periodically in the early afternoon. Please make sure that your child gets much rest over the weekend. The following is a brief curriculum overview for next week.

Math-ITBS Testing all week during 1st period.

Language Arts: Students continue to work on their comic books. We complete much of the drafting in class. Students will be breaking down the plot elements panel by panel, indicating the characters, captions, actions and pictures needed for each panel. These rough drafts will help facilitate a more efficient use of the laptops when we transfer the stories on to Comic Life.

Homework over the next week: I am asking that students create or collect all the artwork needed to illustrate their comic books. They can draw original pictures, take digital pictures, use clip art, art from the internet or a combination of any of those options. Students need to save this artwork on to a CD that can be brought to school. We’ll then drag and drop the pictures into the comic book templates. If students need to scan original illustrations, I’d like them to bring them to school by Tuesday 4/22. Some students may be able to scan original art at home. I appreciate any assistance you give your child at home in making sure this artwork is saved properly and brought to school. Students have until next Friday, April 25th to have all the artwork completed.

Due to ITBS TESTING: There will be no spelling assignment or test.

Reading
The students have received their 3rd Trimester Book Report Guidelines. 5th graders are to choose a book that fits into a genre from which they have not read. They are to have their book choice approved by a parent for appropriateness of content and difficulty. In addition, students will be creating their own ‘mini due dates’ in order to break down the whole project into smaller, more manageable chunks. This is a step toward more independent study skills. Book Report is due: May 15th.

This week we started reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It is a historical fiction story, which takes place in Denmark during World War II. We will continue to work on the Scott Foresman Target Skills while reading this book. Again, with a focus on increased independence, we will be doing less “whole class” reading and more independent reading, while discussing each chapter thoroughly in class.

Social Studies
This week we will be moving on to Lesson 11, To Declare Independence or Not. In this lesson the students will learn about 6 prominent Loyalists and Patriots and record these leaders’ viewpoints on whether or not the American colonies should declare independence. We will have mock debates and the students will have to work in small groups to prepare for the debates.

Science
Students will make a model of the respiratory system to demonstrate what happens to the lungs when the diaphragm contracts and expands.

Religion
Next Wednesday (4/23) we will have our Chapter 18 test. It will be open book! The study guide for this chapter as well as the Dream Meal collage (rubric attached) is also due on 4/23. We will review for the religion test on Friday. This Monday the students will be reciting the Prayer for the Faithful Departed, which is one of the Fifth Grade prayers for the Archdiocese.

Ms. Semandiris

April 10, 2008
FYI: ITBS Testing is week of April 21-25.

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

We had a wonderful learning experience at Camp Seymour. We also managed to have a bit of fun too! Now we are back and ready to continue working hard in all subjects.

Here is a brief curriculum update:

Math
4/11Friday: Math Celebration for HW in on time. (Ask your child!) Students are encouraged to bring in a board game that has to do with mathematics and is age appropriate.
4/14 Monday: Lesson 87, Using Manipulatives to Divide Fractions
4/15 Tuesday: Lesson 88, Transformations
4/16 Wednesday: Lesson 89, Finding a Square Root
4/17 Thursday: Lesson 90, Reducing Fractions, Part 2
4/18 Friday: Test #17

Religion
The study guide for Chapter 17 is due tomorrow 4/11. We will have a test on this chapter on 4/16. A fifth grade “Prayers” handout will be passed out in class on 4/11. The “Prayer for the Faithfully Departed” has been assigned for the students to memorize. They will be reciting it on Monday 4/21.

Social Studies
The fifth graders are working on a written assignment. They have received the rubric for this assignment in class. Students should be working on a news report of the Boston Massacre or the Boston Tea Party. This assignment is due on Thursday for 5A and Friday for 5B. (I changed it to Friday for 5A too..) These papers will then be used to make a “pod cast” in Technology class.
This week we reviewed Lesson 10, Growing Tensions Between the Colonies and Britain. The test for this lessons will be Monday 4/14 for 5A and Tuesday 4/15 for 5B. Students have been instructed to reread the lesson several times as well as go online and practice the online test. Information in the interactive notebook should be studied as well.

The remainder of the week we will be moving on to Lesson 11, To Declare Independence or Not. In this lesson the students will learn about 6 prominent Loyalists and Patriots and record these leaders’ viewpoints on whether or not the American colonies should declare independence.

Reading
5th graders have begun a unit using Comic Books. We are studying favorite comic books to learn more about character development, setting, dialogue, and plot. Some have been surprised to see that there is a lot more to writing a good comic than drawing a few funny pictures and adding some text bubbles! The students will apply what they are learning in Reading to the actual writing of comics, using a special comic creating software in Language Arts with Ms. Corrigan.

We have also been using a Genre Wheel to study the various types of literature, and to note our own preferences as readers. The fifth graders will be using this information to select which book to read for their 3rd trimester Book Report.

Language Arts: Students will use the skills they’ve practiced in reading class to help brainstorm ideas for writing their own comic books. We will use a pre-writing/planning sheet to help guide our ideas, making sure students include the main elements:

1.) problem/conflict/plot
2.) imaginary, distinct characters
3.) action
4.) vivid language
5.) humor
6.) entertaining
In addition, students will learn to add important graphic features, such as: captions, word balloons, background setting, color, and sound effects. Students will use the Comic Life software on the laptops to create the final drafts. Spelling homework is due on Monday. Our test will also be on Monday.

Science
Students begin a unit on the human body. In Chapter 1 Students will learn about the structure and function of the respiratory system and excretory system. Students will blow and measure soap bubbles to explore their lung capacity. Students will discover how your nose prepares air for your lungs and how oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in your lungs when you breathe.

Have a great week!

Ms. Semandiris