4 Day Weekend!

Wednesday

It was wonderful to see so many of you last night at Back To School Night! I will post the 5th grade BTS Night PowerPoint presentation very soon.

Please remember that you can always check the sidebar to the right for more information about what we do in 5th grade, and in Room 14.

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Responding to the Text (The Wild Robot, Chapters 1-13) -- at least 5 citations
- Zombie Fractions (equivalent fractions)
- At Home STEM Project (due September 18th)

Tuesday

I'm looking forward to seeing Room 14 families tonight at Back to School Night!

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes. (Remember: Students are reading for their Animal Book Report and 40 Book Challenge, in addition to our Wild Robot reading.)
- Read Chapters 6-13 in The Wild Robot for Thursday.  Annotate.
- Math Creations worksheet (pink)
- Astro Camp paperwork
- Optional: Musical Theatre sign-up

Monday

We are starting The Wild Robot today! Tonight students will be reading the first five chapters of The Wild Robot as a part of their homework. Students who requested one of the five classroom copies of the book received it today.

Tomorrow is Back to School Night! I hope to see you all there.

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Read Chapters 1-5 in The Wild Robot
- Math Creations worksheet
- Earthquake Kit (last chance!)
- AstroCamp paperwork
- Musical Theatre sign-up

Have A Great Weekend!

Happy Thursday!

5th grade social studies is all about U.S. History. Students will be learning about state capitals, landmarks, and basic geography. Today we began exploring the the 50 states in a game of Scoot!

We will be starting The Wild Robot next week, but before we begin, we will have a reading quiz on the informational texts we have read this week: "People cannot say no to a begging robot" and "Making new emotional robots".  Students will be allowed to use their annotated texts during the assessment.

Also next week, students will be given their first research project of the year: Significant Americans.  This will be in addition to regular daily homework (Monday-Thursday), their Monthly Book Report book, and the 40 Book Challenge. Time management will be essential!

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Article Summary worksheet
- School Supplies + Earthquake Kit
- AstroCamp paperwork
* ELA Assessment/Quiz on Monday*

Happy Wednesday!

I’m posting from the road. ;-)

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Response to Reading handout
- School Supplies + Emergency Kit

Happy Tuesday!

We have been talking about what we know about robots, and we had our first day of Technology Lab today! Ask your students what they learned.

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes 
-T-Chart for the article: “What happened when a robot asked people not to turn him off”

• Re-read the article 
• write at least 3 statements on each side of your T-Chart 

- Optional: Classroom Job Applications for Teacher’s Assistant (1), Technician (1), Librarian (1), and Secretary (1)
- Optional: Colored pencils for Romero Britto portrait
- Please return all Back to School paperwork
- School supplies + Earthquake Kit

Happy Monday!

There's so much great stuff happening this week!

Tomorrow we have Technology with Mauricio, and Wednesday will be our regular Library day.  Also on Wednesday, we have the first Art rotation. We will have P.E. on Thursdays and Fridays.

This week we also start our science rotation! Today students had Earth Science with me. On Wednesday and Friday they will have Life Science (with Danielle) and Physical Science (with Brandon).

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Close Reading: "What happened when a robot asked people not to turn him off"
- Annotate: 

• circle unfamiliar words
• underline important details
• make notes in the margin
• Use "?" and "!" to mark something you have a question about, or thought was especially interesting

- If you haven't already, please try to bring in items on the School Supply List, in addition to an Earthquake Kit, and have a copy of The Wild Robot (for next week)

Wish List

If you have a chance to get a hold of the items on the Supply List this weekend, it would be ideal for all students to have their items next week. You can print out the supply list HERE. (I have a few extras of most items, in case students are missing anything.) We are hoping to get Earthquake Kits from all students as well.

THANK YOU to all of the parents who have sent in paper towels, wipes, kleenex, etc. for the classroom! I very much appreciate it!

• empty toilet paper and/or paper towel rolls, and cardboard egg cartons to be used for engineering projects
• 36" x 72" carpet remnant for the Classroom Library area
• colored Sharpies
• post it notes in any color (3" x 3" size)

Thanks!

Have a Great Weekend!

Happy Friday, Room 14 Families!

We ended the week strong, with an escape room, a rocket launch, and book buddies! I'm sure your kids are tired, because I'm exhausted.  :-)

Have a lovely and restful weekend!

Day Three!

Good Evening, Room 14 Families!

If you haven't had a chance to buy school supplies yet, feel free to wait until the weekend -- no need to rush out during this crazy first week of school. (I went to Staples to buy labels last night, and it was packed with students and parents!) Also, we are collecting Earthquake Kits for all students, so that would be a great weekend project as well.

Room 14's 40 Book Challenge has already begun! There are about 40 weeks in the school year (counting vacation time), so that's about a book a week. Several students have already read their first book! Please read the yellow letter that came home today about what this challenge is all about.

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- 40 Book Challenge Letter for Families
- Compare & Contrast Writing: Elbow Partners (use Venn Diagram from class)
- Remember: All homework from this week is due tomorrow!

Day Two!

What a great bunch of kids! I'm so excited that we get to journey together through 5th grade.

If you are so inclined ask them: 1) how they saved Fred, 2) what they lied about, and/or 3) about the most dangerous animal on Earth.

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- 5th Grade Book Report Information (needs parent + student signature)
- The Life & Times of Me
- Parent/Student Handbooks (LAUSD)

First Day!

We had a great first day! We discussed expectations and procedures, became reacquainted with old friends, made new ones -- and had a lot of fun!

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to teacher your children this year, and I look forward to getting to know all of the Room 14 families as the year progresses.  

We are better together, and I am eager to partner with all of you to ensure your children are ready to embark on a successful middle school experience at the end of the year.

I have sent home a packet of Room 14 paper work, which includes:

• The 5th grade Welcome Letter
• Homework Policy
• Information about the first novel we will read: The Wild Robot
• Family and Student questionaires

I know families are inundated with paperwork this time of year, but I tried to keep it manageable!

Students were told about the monthly book reports today; our first genre will be Animal Fiction.  This book should be read by September 12th. I will be sending home a letter about book reports tomorrow.

Planners are an essential tool for middle school, and beyond, so 5th graders are expected to use their planners daily. I will post daily homework on this page as a back up. 

Homework:
- Read (at least) 20 minutes
- Complete Back to School Paperwork
- Write a question for Mystery Doug

Supply List

During the Paperwork Palooza, several parents asked about the 5th grade school supply list.  

There is a supply list posted on the "5th Grade" page on the Community website: HERE. 

For your convenience, I am also posting the supply list here:

Pencil box 4 composition books (different colors) One 3-subject notebook 2 pocket folders Pencils School scissors Glue sticks Colored pencils 2 erasers Highlighters Pack of colored markers, felt tip, or gel pens Optional Pack of colored Sharpies (to share with the class) Baby wipes (we do not have sinks in these rooms) Paper towels Kleenex White printer paper

Paperwork Palooza!

I can't wait to meet the new Room 14 families at Community's Paperwork Palooza tomorrow!  

See you there!

Room 14 Rules!

What I'm Reading Now

The Ruins of Gorlan: The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1

by John Flanagan

They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . .

Here is the fantasy adventure that launched the Ranger's Apprentice series, an epic story of heroes and villains that has become an international phenomenon. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series.

• Age Range: 10 and up 
• Grade Level: 5 - 6
• Lexile Measure: 0920

What do you wonder?

Are You Ready?!

Get ready for our 40 Book Challenge!