Feb. 20-27

This week in math the students learned how to multiply and divide decimal numbers. We will have a quiz next Tuesday on decimal numbers, including rounding, comparing, adding, subracting, and comparing decimals and fractions. Grade 6s will also be tested on multiplying and dividing decimal numbers as well as percent.

In language students continued to work on speech writing. Many students have finished their rough drafts and practised saying their speeches out loud while timing themselves. Speeches need to be between 2-3 minutes long. Some students have begun to write their speeches on cue cards. Speeches will be presented during the week of March 2-6th. In guided reading our focus has been on using evidence from the text to support an inference.

We also continued to think about our inquiry on power. We read the book, "I Have the Right to Be a Child," and discussed children's rights, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Children. We made connections to our prior knowledge on the topic and discussed how it relates to power. Students learned that children have the least power and therefore need to be protected. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, Feb. 23rd: pool

Tuesday, Feb. 24th: math quiz

Thurs., Feb. 26th  homework due, danceathon

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. You will complete a third "Retell, Relate, Reflect" next week. 
2) Complete the decimals work for math. 
3) Practise typing for 10 minutes each day. Use one of the websites on the blog.
4) Complete the spelling work on homonyms. Their/ there and they're misuse is a big pet peeve of mine, almost as much as good vs. well!
5) Read the text, "Nearly 60 years ago Rosa Parks refused to change seats on the bus," then answer the questions attached.
6) Complete your speech if it's not already complete and memorize it. Read it aloud many times! It's even better practice if you have an audience. Work on intonation and eye contact. 

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Feb. 13- 20

This week in math the students learned how to add and subtract decimal numbers. Students wrote a quiz on decimal numbers, which was sent home to be signed and corrected as much as possible. We will take it up next week.  

In language students continued to work on speech writing. Students learned the various techniques for writing a good hook, then practised writing a hook for their speech.  In guided reading we're practising making inferences and proving them using the text.  Students also worked on a second retell, relate reflect response on their independent reading book. Finally, we talked about what it means to read voraciously and why it is important. Please talk to your child about his/her reading habits and whether or not he/she is reading voraciously enough. This is an important factor in reading success!

Important upcoming dates:

Mon, Feb. 16th: Family Day

Friday, Feb. 20th: pool

There is no homework this week in order to allow families time to spend together. Enjoy! 

Best,

Bronwyn

Feb. 6th- 13th

This week in math the students learned about the relationship between fractions and decimal numbers. Students practised converting fractions to decimals and putting decimal numbers in order. They also learned how to round decimal numbers. We will have a quiz next Thursday on fractions and decimals. 

In language students began to work on speech writing. We looked at the key features of a speech, and watched several examples of speeches being delivered. Together we co-created success criteria for what makes a good speech, including the writing and the delivery. Next week we will begin writing the speeches. 

We also began a new read aloud novel, entitled Branded, by Eric Walters. This novel fits well with our inquiry on power, as it's partially about power struggles between people and also ties in social justice issues. It's proven to be a very engaging read so far! 

Finally, the students created beautiful pieces of artwork on our snowy Monday. The works depict birch trees in winter and were created using tape, watercolour and tempera paint. The students made artistic choices about colour and use of space and learned how to create the illusion of light and 3 dimension by using shading and cast shadows. 

Important upcoming dates:

Thurs., Feb. 12th:  homework due, math quiz, super swim meet, Valentine exchange (Phew!) 

Fri., Feb. 13th: PA day

Mon, Feb. 16th: Family Day

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. You will complete a second "Retell, Relate, Reflect" next week. 

2) Complete the decimals/ percent work for math. 

3) Practise typing for 10 minutes each day. Use one of the websites on the blog. 

4) Read the text, "NYPD Officer's Random Act of Kindess Goes Viral," then answer the questions attached:

a) What type of text is this? Identify the key features and give an example of each from the text.
b) Summarize the text. (Who, what, where, when, why, so what?)

c) What kind of person is the officer? Use ideas from the text and your own ideas to support your answer. 
d) Officer DePrimo says that he’s always tried to live according to the wise words of his grandfather. What wise words do you try to live by? Why do you think these words are so meaningful?

e) How does this article relate to our inquiry on power?

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan 30- Feb. 6

This week in math the students continued to learn about fractions. Students continued to practise ordering and comparing fractions. The quiz will go home today to be signed. Today we began to learn about decimal numbers and how they relate to fractions.  

In language we watched the PSAs and news clips on a social studies issue. Students finished their writing on a piece called, "A Person I Admire," and read a text about the history of basketball. 

In science we conducted our experiments. The grade 5s did an egg drop and the grade 6s did distance flights of their paper airplanes. The students then recorded their results and reflected on what worked well and how they would change their design.  

Important upcoming dates:

Thurs., Feb. 5th: pool, homework due, recognition assembly

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night.

2) Complete the fractions work for math. 
3) Read the text entitled, " Edmonton Grads" and answer the questions. 

4) Practise typing for 10 minutes each day. Use one of the websites on the blog. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan 23-30

This week in math the students continued to learn about fractions. Students learned how to create equivalent fractions, including putting a fraction in simplest terms. For example, 8/12= 2/3. Students also learned how to represent and convert mixed and improper fractions and how to compare fractions. There will be a quiz on these concepts on Wednesday. 

In language students finished their PSA or news clip on a social studies issue. We looked at exemplars and wrote a piece entitled, "A Person I Admire." Students also wrote a shortened CASI reading test, which is a standardized reading test. Ask your child about his/ her mark and their reflection on it. 

In science students have been busy creating their project. We will have our egg drop and distance flights on Monday.  

Important upcoming dates:

Mon., Jan 26: egg drop and distance flight

Wed., Jan 28: math quiz on fractions

Thurs., Jan 29th: pool, homework due, Glen Ames form due for grade 6s

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. You will complete a "retell, relate, reflect" on the book that you are currently reading next week in class. 

2) Complete the fractions work for math. 
3) Complete the grammar work on adverbs. 
4) Ensure that your science project is complete and at school on Monday. (Anyone who is not finished by today, Thursday, can take it home to complete it independently.)

5) Make a Bitstrips comic that clearly explains a concept related to your science curriculum. 

Grade 6s: Newton's 3rd Law, Bernoulli's Principle, thrust, drag, gravity, lift, elevator, aileron, rudder

Grade 5s: - tension, compression, force, load, forces of nature and how they effect structures, how sports equipment protects the body from the impact of forces

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan 16-23

This week in math the students completed a quiz on data management. It was sent home on Thursday to be corrected and signed. We will take it up on Monday. We have started a new unit on number sense and have begun with fractions. You can help your child by talking about fractions used in real life, such as cooking. 

In language students have been working hard on their PSA or news clip on a social studies issue. Students have been filming themselves and others and using imovie. We will watch the final products next week.  

On Monday students participated in Scientists in the School. Grade 5s learned about structures and mechanisms while grade 6s learned about flight. Both groups have now been assigned a "design and make" project that will be completed in class. I've asked that students gather materials from home, but that no work be completed at home, as I want to see the process. 

On Tuesday we had a Toronto Urban Studies field trip to Eastern Commerce. Students practised the inquiry process and investigated the school and area's past using primary documents from the school and from the Toronto archives. It was hard work and I was pleased with how focused the students were all day. Many thanks to Ellie and Bea's dads, Arthur and Mark, for coming with us and helping bring history to life.    

Important upcoming dates:

Mon., Jan 19th: bring science project materials to school

Wed., Jan. 21st: pool

Thurs., Jan 22nd: homework due

Fri, Jan 23: PA day

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. You will complete a "retell, relate, reflect" on the book that you are currently reading next week in class. 

2) Practise the 9 times tables and review up to 8. 

3) Complete the fractions work for math. 
4) Gather any materials needed for your science project. Bring them on Monday. 

5) Complete the learning skills self-assessment. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan 9-15

This week in math the students continued to learn data management skills. Students learned how to read and create broken line graphs and line graphs, and how to interpret pie graphs. Students also learned how to find the range, mean, median and mode in a set of data. There will be a quiz on data management next Wednesday. 

In language students worked on independent writing pieces and read texts related to social studies in guided reading. We watched several public service announcements and news clips and identified the key features of each. Students worked on a script, and some have begun the filming process. Students will use imovie to create their PSA or news clip on a social justice issue. 

We continued our investigation of our inquiry question, "What is power?" and read two picture books, "The Promise" and "Let the Celebrations Begin."  I was so impressed with the deep thinking and accountable talk that the students were engaged in! Ask your child about these books and how power was used differently in each.  

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, Jan. 12th: scientists in the school (AM), independent writing due

Tuesday, Jan. 13th: field trip to TUSC- all day
Wed., Jan. 14th: pool, math quiz

Thurs., Jan 15th: homework due

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. 

2) Practise the 9 times tables and review up to 8. 

3) Complete the graphing work for math. 
4) Read the text entitled, "Craig Keilburger," and answer questions provided. 
5) Complete independent writing if it is not yet complete. (due Monday)

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson