Weekly Update: 9/29

The above quote has been something that we have been discussing as a class this week.  We are working on stopping and thinking before acting and choosing to do the right thing just because it's the right thing!  It is an ongoing conversation in our classroom and I encourage you to have those conversations with your kiddos at home as well.  Kids seem to truly benefit from the school and home connection and consistency can be the key to success!  Thank you so much for all of the support from home-- what we do at school would not be possible without the wonderful support from Y-O-U!

Here's what we've been up to...

Science:  We began our engineering chapter this week!  It has been so much fun and the kiddos are having a chance to get creative.  We are designing prosthetic arms for a character from our read aloud book, Home of the Brave, using the engineering design process.  We will present our prototypes next week and receive feedback to improve our designs.

Reading: We began our second round of book clubs this week.  We are focusing on comparing and contrasting characters for the next week.  We are practicing having thoughtful discussions with our group members and holding ourselves accountable for our group responsibilities.  Book clubs will be wrapped up on October 6th.

Writing: We are well into our second personal narrative and are approaching our celebration which will be on Thursday (October 5th).  It will be a PJs and Personal Narratives celebration AKA pajama day!  Each kiddo is working so hard and they have made so much growth since the beginning of the year.  I am one proud teacher! 

Math: We took our math chapter 2 test on Tuesday and then began our next chapter (division).  This week we reviewed the steps of division with two-digit dividends.  Next week, we will begin working with three and four-digit dividends!  We are combining chapters 3 & 4 so our test will not be for a little while.

Upcoming Events:

10/5: PJs and Personal Narrative Celebration (PJ DAY)

10/6: Book Club Books Complete!

10/6: Family Trivia Night

10/13: Half Day 

Have a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy the beautiful weather! :) 

Thanks,

Meredith Holtmann

Picture Day is TOMORROW!! (September 27th)

Weekly Update 9/25

Happy Monday!!  Here's what we are up to in 5th grade....

***Important Reminder: Tomorrow is our chapter 2 math test.  You can access the answer key to the study guide by logging into our google classroom (child's email and 10-digit code).  Please encourage them to spend at least 30 minutes studying this evening!***

Picture Day is this Wednesday, September 28th!!! 

Science:  We started our second chapter in science today.  It is all about the engineering design process.  The kids are super excited and had great discussions this morning.  We are looking forward to a fun chapter!  Also, science tests from Thursday were sent home today.  

Reading: We started our second round of book clubs today!  We will be using our book club meeting time to discuss themes and characters across two texts.  The kids are really excited about their new books!

Writing:  We are writing our second personal narrative.  We created story arcs today and will be working on drafting, editing, and revising this week.  We will celebrate our final pieces next Thursday (10/5).

Math:  We will be taking our chapter 2 math test tomorrow (9/26).  We will kick off chapter 3 on Wednesday!

A note from our fifth grade team:

As we embark on our second science unit, Engineering Design Process, we are in need of lots of recycled materials. If you have any of the following at home (and looking to get rid of it!) please send my way. I greatly appreciate any and all materials! Anything we do not use in class will be donated to our Concord Creation Station. 

Recycled Materials List

Aluminum foil 

Bottle caps
Cereal boxes/ Cookie boxes

Craft/Popsicle sticks 
Egg cartons
Empty cans
Empty soda/water bottles
Empty yogurt containers

Fishing line
Food storage containers

Jelly jars

Milk/juice cartons
Newspapers
Old cards
Old cds (appropriate for children)
Paper bags

Plastic bags

Plastic cups

Plastic utensils

Scrap wood

Straws

String Toilet Paper/ paper towel rolls

Toothpicks 

Upcoming Events: 

9/26: Math Chapter 2 Test

9/28: Picture Day & Grant's Farm Night (5-9)

10/6: Family Trivia Night (6:30)

Have a great week!

Thanks,

Meredith Holtmann

Hats Off to You, Bobby!

Science Chapter 1 Test (Thursday, September 21)

Dear Parents,

We are quickly approaching the Ch.1 Science Investigations test on Thursday, September 21. In class we will be reviewing this week. There are lots of resources to use at home to study between now and then. Check them out below.

As always, I encourage the students to develop good study habits by reviewing a little each night instead of cramming the night before a test. I will be reminding them of this every day.

Happy studying!

What can I use to study at home?
Notes from my science notebook

Science book pages 6-27

Online Text at Pearson Online Text
Username: 25firstnamelastname
Password: PASSWORD1 (all caps)

Investigation papers (paper airplane, paper towel): Glued in Science Notebook

Ch.1 Science Investigation Slides (linked here)​

Study Guide (we will work on this and review in class)

Weekly Update: 9/17

Here's what we were up to last week in 5th grade...


Science:  We wrapped up our paper towel investigation and began our paper airplane investigation.  The kiddos are testing to see which paper airplane flies the farthest (newspaper, notebook paper, or construction paper).  We are finishing up that investigation today and will begin reviewing for our first science test which will be given on Thursday, September 21.  Here is the study guide that I will be giving out tomorrow-- Science Study Guide!

Reading:  We began working in book clubs last week.  We are practicing pushing our thinking by making predictions, inferences, connections, etc with our text.  The clubs are off to a great start.  Please continue to encourage and check in with your child about their reading.  We are having a bit of trouble holding ourselves responsible for getting our reading done before our meetings.  Clubs meet everyday and each kiddo should have filled out a calendar that is kept in their reading notebook that tells them where to read to each day.  Thanks!

Writing: We worked on doing revisions and peer editing to our first personal narrative last week!  We focused on leads and endings, as well.  Today will be the last publishing day for the personal narratives and we will have a class celebration TOMORROW.  

Math:  We started chapter 2: Multiplying Whole Numbers.  We discussed multiples and prime numbers and also learning how to find the prime factorization of a number.  We also discussed powers and exponents and how we can express answers using those.  On Friday, we practiced using a table to organized information when solving word problems.

Social Studies:  We continued our study of the Declaration of Independence in Chapter 6.

Upcoming Events: 

9/21: Science Chapter 1 Test
9/22:  No School

Hope you all had a great weekend! 

Thanks,

Meredith Holtmann

eReading Resources!

I am writing to give you more information on eReading resources that are available to your child. They LOVE devices, so why not put some books on them :) We have gone over all of these sites in class, but I wanted you to be aware of them as well. 

First up is Clever (also known as MyON). Click "login as student" in the top right corner. Search Concord Elementary (be sure it is says Lindbergh Schools under it). Enter login information. Click MyON app. Students can access these books at home and school. 

Username is 25firstnamelastname 

Password is their 10 digit code

Second, is Lindbergh eLibrary. This one is set up like St. Louis County digital library powered by Overdrive. Students digitally check a book out and it is automatically returned in a couple of weeks--or sooner if they manually return it. Students can access these books at home and school.

Library card number is their 10-digit code.

Finally, Epic. Students are able to use this resource for free at school, but if they want to read at home, you must purchase a home subscription by following these directions. Each home subscription gives our classroom points that we can use to purchase books. 

Students use their 10 digit code to login to the computers almost daily, so they should have it memorized. 

All of these are incredible resources and each have unique things that I love, which is why I felt compelled to share them all. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! 

Happy Reading! :)

Math Tests are coming home today!

Please check your child's backpack for their math test today.  You are welcome to keep the tests.  However, if your child has a score below 70%-- please have them make test corrections and return it to me signed.  If they received a score between 70 - 79% they have the option of making corrections.  

Weekly Update 9/9

Happy weekend, everyone!

Important reminder: Please make sure to sign and return the early release/ half day form that I sent home with the kids yesterday.  If yours did not make it to you, it is also included in the email I sent yesterday afternoon.  We would like to have all forms returned by Monday if possible (our first early release day is on Wednesday!).

Also, PikMyKid will go live on Monday (9/11).  Please use the app to make any changes to your child's dismissal plan.  We would also like you to use the app to mark why your child is absent.  If you need more information about the app you can find it using the link below.

PiKMyKid Direction Sheet

Here's what we've been up to this week:

Science: We completed our Paper Towel Investigation where we tested out three different brands of paper towels to see which brand was the most absorbent.  We've been practicing the scientific method throughout this chapter!

Reading:  We've continued to work on the entries that we are making when writing about our reading in our reading notebooks.  We specifically discussed characters and how we can use their struggles and motivations to learn more about them as a character.  That can help us push our thinking deeply in our reading notebook rather than just summarizing the book.

Writing:  We chose the personal narrative that is going to be published and we flash-drafted (wrote the first draft in one day!).  We then talked about how famous authors often write pieces many times before it is just right.  We re-drafted our personal narrative and then worked on creating a story arc.  The story arc helped us identify the most important part of our story and we used that to zoom in on that part through our writing!

Math:  We spent this week reviewing chapter 1 (place value) and then we took our first math test on Friday.  I will have the tests graded and returned on Monday!

Upcoming Events:
Wednesday (9/13)-- Early Release 1:40 dismissal

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  

Sincerely,
Meredith Holtmann

Early Release/ Half Day Form (RETURN BY MONDAY PLEASE)! -- See email!

Hats for Harvey! Sept. 8th!

Compliment Chain!

Ask your kiddo about the Compliment Chain that we started last week!  We are trying to get compliments from the adults at Concord and once our chain reaches the floor, we will celebrate! :)

Test on Friday!

Dear Parents,

We are approaching the Ch. 1 Place Value test. We will be reviewing in class September 6-7.The test is Friday, September 8.  Below are all of the resources you can use to study for our test.

• Ch.1 Place Value
• Pages 3-66
• Review Test pg. 67-69
• Reflection pg. 70
• Old homework assignments
• Ch.1 Practice Test (in email)
• Ch. 1 Check My Progress Sheet (in email)
• Ch. 1 Study Guide (in email)
• Ch. 1 At Home Game
• Throughout this chapter, I have posted video links on the google classroom that you may use, as well.