A Sweet & Healthy Rosh Ha’ Shana

I hope you all had a pleasant and meaningful Rosh Ha’ Shana. Despite the days off, the Fifth Grade has been very busy with our units of study. For the last two weeks we have been learning about some important inventions, writing mini-reports on an invention, drawing and writing about an invention and how it looked and worked in the past, in the present and the most fun, how might it evolve in the future. The latter assignment engaged the students creativity and thinking. We have many books on inventions displayed around the classroom. Students were fascinted by such old relics as the record player, the typewriter and the original telephones.  They are already thinking about what original invention they might design. Many children in the class were surprized that “bread” is an invention. We discussed the role of agriculture and use of grains as one of the key elements for the advancement of civilization in the history of humans.

In history, we are finishing up our unit on the Age of Exploration. Each student is keeping a history notebook where they take notes. They are learning outline form and Roman numerals and hopefully, how to use notes as a study aid. We are reviewing the unit and are learning how to prepare for a test. Next week, I will give everyone a study sheet listing all the topics that will be on the test and the 3 essay questions. I will have them write outlines for the essays – once again, showing them how to study. Study skills are a major skill that I strive to teach 5th graders over the course of the year.

In writing, the students have been writing stories in their journals. Some, have made several “chapters’ and hope to continue on in their novellas all year. We continue to practice proof reading/editing skills. Next week, I will begin teaching the class how to write a formal paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details. This will develop into how to write a multi paragraphed essay and eventually, a report.

In math,  my math class has begun a unit on division with 2-digits in the divisor. We just finished learning multiplying by 2 and 3 digits. Division is one of the great challenges of the curriculum. Soon we will start fractions and learn how fractions is a form of division. Today, Tuesday, some students had to finish up some math for homework. I never give homework on the holidays but, they have a full day tomorrow before the holiday begins and they need the practice for mastery.

We have gotten to the exciting part of the book we are reading, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. The class is really riveted by the juicy plot and the great descriptive writing in this book. Last Friday we went to the library and every student took out a book for independent reading. They should be reading their new book as close to daily as possible.

In our  last Wednesday class meeting, we discussed how hurtful and embarrasing it may be for people to point out or make fun of other people’s physical characteristics such as: “you’re so short,” “Your ears are as big as Dumbo’s,” “You’re fat/skinny/tall,” etc. Many kids shared with the group how they have been teased or humiliated by other kids making these kinds of statements. When asked, “who in this class has ever felt bad about being teased about their physical traits, every child raised a hand.   We spoke of the Jewish value of not doing to others what you wouldn’t want for yourself. We spoke about the concept of empathy. How would you feel in that situation? Everyone agreed that we should pledge to be careful with our words and not use them to be hurtful to others.