Simchat Torah and other updates

Tomorrow we are having an all-school Simchat Torah celebration. It is such a joyous holiday and our celebration will leave lasting good memories in the hearts and minds of our students.  In class, students have been working on their “Three Wishes” story. Some are editing their writing, some are developing certain areas of their stories to improve them, and some are revising whole plots. The exciting thing to see is how the writing process has taken hold and each child feels emboldened to be a creative writer and story teller. We have also been working on vocabulary development, learning about prefixes, suffixes and root words. Everyday of 5th grade will present some activity, lesson or experience which will enhance our students’ understanding of the English language. In math, we have started working on solving word problems that are geared to build the student’s understanding of algebraic thinking. We don’t use symbols such as “X” and “Y” but, we solve for the unknown by using pictorial bars. This allows the student to see how to solve for the unknown and eventually, to be able to transfer the concept to more abstract symbolism. We also had a test on place value and rounding for estimation. Today we went over the test and worked with individuals who needed help with certain problems.  In our Inventions unit, the students finished  making posters of the inventions they designed to help a fairytale character. For example: designing an invention that could put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Tomorrow, each group will present their designs and ideas to the whole class. We are trying to create an atmosphere where each child is thinking creatively and pragmatically about technology, design and solving problems. We hope to have a classroom of inventors by the end of the year! In Literature, every student was assigned a portion of a chapter from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle to prepare and read for our Reader’s Theater experience today. It was wonderful hearing the students read dramatically and fluently to the class. I learned we have some fine actors in our class and that every child is a good reader. The book is getting very exciting and the students are becoming very good at discussing and analyzing the story. Every student should be reading a novel independently. I will soon teach the class how to write a book report and they will be writing a good portion of their first book report in class in mid-October. I am also working on helping them to develop organizational skills. It has started with their keeping their homework assignments in their planner book. I am checking each day to see that students write down their homework assignments, pack in the necessary books and papers and keep their papers filed in categories in their binders. This is a challenge for some and an easier task for the lucky who are naturally well organized. Yet, everyone, will practice routines and habits that will promote organization. You can help your child by reminding him/her to pack in their planners, their finished homework papers and their books in their backpacks at night before going to sleep so these necessary items will come to school the next day.