Welcome to Room 9

Welcome to fifth grade in Room 9!

This week (4/22)

Happy Earth Day!
Students will be able to start registering for middle school class today through May 3
In language arts, we are learning about the structure of an opinion paragraph as well as building knowledge about aspects of the Civil War
Our class is taking the module 5 math test on Wednesday, and then we will begin module 6 - graphing
In science, we are learning about ecosystems, and the transfer of energy and molecules within an ecosystem
We will be walking to Parras Middle School for a tour next week on Thursday, May 2

This week (4/15)

Welcome back from Spring Break!
We had a short assembly on Monday to discuss recycling our lunch trays
On Tuesday, the Parras counselors are coming to talk to the 5th grade about middle school
On Wednesday, we have our next Hands On Art lesson
In language arts, we are continuing to build knowledge about the Civil War, and we are learning about the structure of writing an opinion essay.
In math, we are learning about geometric figures, specifically quadrilaterals.
In science, we are exploring how matter moves through an ecosystem.

This week (4/1)

We have started our new language arts model on the Civil War. We are spending the first few days building knowledge about the history surrounding the time leading up to the war.
In math, we are working on finding the area of rectangles with fractional side lengths.
In science, we are learning about how the Earth's system of hydrosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere work together.
In social studies, we are learning about the writing of the Constitution.

This week (3/25)

We are wrapping up our second module of our language arts program by writing our end of module story. We will be starting module 3, The Civil War, on Wednesday.
Wednesday of this week, we are taking the math mid-module test on volume.
In science, we are continuing our water unit by learning about the way temperature affects the water cycle and water drop formation.
In social studies, we are continuing to learn about forming our democracy.

This week (3/18)

Monday is our athletic field day at the high school!
We have gardening on Wednesday
We are starting our end of module writing project for our Wordplay unit in language arts.
In math, we are developing our understanding of volume
We are connecting our understanding of condensation to how raindrops form in the environment
In social studies, we are starting to learn about the development of our government and constitution.

This week (3/11)

We are discussing and writing about the themes of The Phantom Tollbooth in language arts.
In math, we are starting module 5 by learning about volume
We are continuing our new science unit about Earth's water
In social studies, we took our chapter 9 test on the American Revolution and are taking our next states and capitals quiz on Wednesday
Wednesday we are both meeting with our little buddies and having our net Hands On Art lesson
On Friday, we have a "Skydome" assembly

This week (3/4)

This is a short week for us. School is dismissed every day at 1:30 for parent teacher conferences. There is no school Friday 3/8 for the trimester break.
Wednesday the Parras band will come perform for our fifth graders and Mr. Erskine will talk to the kids about band as an elective choice in middle school.
Wednesday is also 5th grade spring picture day as well as the 5th grade panorama picture.
In language arts we finished reading The Phantom Tollbooth and are discussing themes in the book.
In math, we are reviewing for our unit 4 test on multiplying and dividing fractions.
In social studies, we are wrapping up our chapter on the American Revolution and preparing for a test next week.
In science, we have started our unit on Earth's water.

This week (2/26)

Our band concert for parents is this Friday at 8:30am in the Jefferson Cafeteria. Hope to see you there!
Next week is parent teacher conference week. School will be dismissed at 1:30 every day, and there is no school on Friday 3/8.
In math, we are working on dividing with fractions
For language arts, we are looking at specific characters and character development in The Phantom Tollbooth.
We are wrapping up our science module on matter and beginning the new unit on Earth Systems with a focus on water.
In social studies, we are continuing to learn about the events of the American Revolution
The book fair is available to students every day after school this week, and during our library time on Thursday.

This week (2/19)

No school Monday 2/19
We had such a great time at Camp Pali last week!
We have band practice Wednesday and Friday this week to get ready for our concert next week. Please bring your instrument both days.
We are continuing with The Phantom Tollbooth and analyzing character
In math we are relating fractions to decimals, and will begin division with fractions
We conducted an experiment with emulsifiers last week and are learning how they work at the molecular level this week.
In social studies, we are learning about the American Revolution and taking a states and capitals quiz on Wednesday.
Friday is our D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read) event. Parents are invited! (1:45 on the field)

This week (2/5)

We are seeing our kindergarten buddies this Wednesday!
In math, we are starting the week with MAP testing, and then getting back to multiplying and dividing fractions
In science, we are learning about emulsifiers
In language arts, we are working on our next writing project - an exploded moment. We are also continuing to read and analyze The Phantom Tollbooth.
In social studies, we are looking at the text of the Declaration of Independence.

This week (1/29)

This week is our Walk Through the American Revolution on Friday 2/2 at 8:30am in room 10
Tuesday we will have an emergency lockdown drill
Wednesday is our states and capitals quiz on the western states
We are learning how to multiply a fraction by a fraction in math
We are taking the MAP language arts test this week
We have gardening this Wednesday

This week (1/23)

No school 1/22 for staff development
On Wednesday we will be having a discussion about an upcoming intruder drill, and on Thursday we will walk off-campus briefly as practice for an intruder situation
We are reviewing multiplying a whole number by a fraction and will have our mid-module test this Friday
In science, students will write a scientific explanation about what happens at the molecular level when solids do/don't dissolve in liquids

This week (1/16)

No school 1/15 in honor of Dr. King. No school next Monday.
Tuesday, we did a science experiment to discover more about solubility and sediment.
Tuesday, we also had a special author's assembly where a mime acted out stories our Jefferson students wrote.
In social studies, we are both preparing for our upcoming Walk Through the Revolution as well as learning about the events leading up to the war.
We are developing our understanding of multiplying a fraction by a whole number in math.
In language arts, we are continuing to read The Phantom Tollbooth and learn about plot development.

This week (1/8)

Students received their roles for our upcoming Walk Through the Revolution on February 2, and we will be practicing in class. We are also learning about conflicts between the colonies and England that led to the Revolutionary War.
In language arts, we are writing a character snapshot, as well as reading an analyzing character and setting in The Phantom Tollbooth.
In math, we are continuing our study of fractions and how they relate to division. We have a topic quiz on Wednesday.
We are finishing our first science unit on matter and students will be writing scientific explanations on Thursday about molecules in our chromatography experiment.

This week (1/3/24)

Welcome back! We only have 3 school days this week.
We are starting math module 4 with line plots and concepts of fractions as division
In language arts, we analyzed surrealist art, and connected it to analyzing fiction writing
In science, we are continuing with our understanding of molecules
In social studies, we are starting our states and capitals study, as well as starting to prepare for our Walk Through the American Revolution

This week (12/11)

Tuesday we had our second Hands on Art Lesson
Wednesday we decorated gingerbread houses
Thursday we are visiting with our little buddies
Friday we are having a band performance for our kinder buddies.
Friday we are also enjoying a movie with cocoa and cookies.
This week we finished our third math module and took the test on Tuesday
Student groups finished posters about their colonial regions and presented them to the class
Have a wonderful holiday break! See you next year!

This week (12/4)

We are going on a field trip to the Griffith Park Observatory this Thursday! Students must arrive at the front of Jefferson at 7:20 am and bring a lunch. Students should wear their fifth grade Jefferson t-shirts.
This week is RBUSD's Inclusion Week. Jefferson is hosting a movie night on Thursday, and we are discussing inclusion throughout the week.
In math, we are continuing our student of adding and subtracting fractions. Our unit test will be next week.
In science, we are studying matter, and will be doing an experiment with chromatography to discuss the movement of molecules.
In social studies, student have been assigned to small group to create posters based on a colonial region.
This Friday is our Jog-a-thon! Fifth grade will be running at 10:00am.
1:30 dismissal for parent-teacher conferences will go through Wednesday of this week. We will return to 2:30 dismissal on Thursday.

This week (11/27)

We have 1:30 dismissal every day this week for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
We are continuing to work with adding and subtracting fractions in math.
In language arts, we are analyzing character and setting while reading The Phantom Tollbooth.
Students are taking their social studies chapter test on Friday.

This week (11/13)

We had our second gardening/nutrition lesson on Monday. We planted carrots and lettuce.
This Friday is the pie feast with our little buddies.
We are into our new language arts unit: wordplay.
In math, we are continuing to work on adding and subtracting fractions.
We will be making observations in science for our new unit on matter.

This week (11/6)

Happy November!
This week we are concluding our first language arts module "Cultures in Conflict" and beginning our second module "Wordplay"
We are starting module 3 in math - adding and subtracting fractions. This week, we are reviewing equivalent fractions
In social studies, we are learning about some of the first permanent European settlements in North America
Thursday is our special Veteran's Running Club morning, followed by our Veterans Day Town Hall meeting
No school Friday to honor our Veterans!

This week (10/30)

We had our first gardening/nutrition lesson this Monday
Tuesday is Halloween!
No school Wednesday, Nov. 1. Staff development day
We are writing our final essay for module 1 of language arts program
We took our module 1 science assessment on Monday. We'll be moving on to module 2
Our module 2 math test is this Friday

This week (10/23)

We have Hands on Art this Wednesday!
In language arts, we are working on writing assignment #5, a compare and contrast essay
We are taking a math topic quiz on long division this Tuesday. Then we will be continuing with division, but incorporating decimals
In science, we are making observations about the yearly patterns of stars
In social studies, we will be starting our unit on early colonies of North American

This week (10/16)

We are seeing our little buddies on Wednesday!
On Thursday, Jefferson is taking part in The Great Shakeout earthquake drill at 10:19 am
In math, we are working on multi-digit long division
For language arts, we are continuing to read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, and preparing to write a compare and contrast essay
In social studies, we are wrapping up our European Explorers chapter. The study guide is due Thursday, and students will take a test on Friday.

This week (10/9)

We are moving forward in our book, Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, with a deep study of character.
In math, we are taking our Module 2 mid-module test on Tuesday. We completed and reviewed a study guide on Monday.
In science we are starting to wrap up our unit on astronomy.
In social studies, we are continuing to learn about European exploration and settlement of North America.
We will have vision and hearing screenings this week

This week (10/2)

Tuesday, I will be at a district training. The students will have a very capable substitute.
Friday, students have a superhero assembly. Our class is requested to wear green.
In math, we are continuing to work on multi-digit multiplication, including decimals. We will then transition to division.
For language arts, we are discussing portraits of leaders from our core novel, and continuing to read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.
In social studies, we are continuing with European exploration on North and South America.
In science, we are continuing with astronomy of our solar system, and the force of gravity.

This week (9/25)

No school on Monday
In math this week, we are working on multi-digit multiplication
We are continuing to read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains in language arts, and learning how to write compare and contrast essays.
In social studies, we are learning about European exploration of the 1400s.
In science, we are continuing with patterns within our solar system

This week (9/18)

Today we announced that the fifth grade will be going on a field trip to the Griffith Park Observatory on December 7th!
We are starting module 2 in math, working with larger numbers in our base ten system
In language arts, we are writing about the role stories play in Nez Perce culture, and we will be starting our novel, Thunder Rolling in the Mountains by Scott O'Dell and Elizabeth Hall
We are beginning our next unit in social studies called "European Exploration"
In science, we are looking at how the Earth moves through finding patterns, and discussing gravity.
On Tuesday, we will start our MAP math testing.
Wednesday is picture day
Jog-a-thon t-shirt logo contest has begun for fifth grade. Information went home with students this week. All entries are due by Monday, October 9th.

This week (9/11)

Tuesday, the students will have a substitute, but I will be on campus for other school duties.
Tuesday, our school counselor will be doing a presentation on counseling services at school.
In math, we are working on division with decimals. Our end of module test will be this Friday.
In language arts, we are reading/listening to Native American mythology, then comparing and contrasting the stories.
Our social studies presentations are coming up this Friday. Students are working in class with their groups to prepare.
In science, we are wrapping up concepts of star distances and light pollution, and moving on to daily and yearly patterns on the Earth, moon, stars and sun.
On Wednesday, we will be having a school Town Hall meeting to learn about Running Club, which is starting next week!
Friday, students should bring their band instruments and books to school.

This week (9/4)

Monday is a holiday for Labor Day

We are going to meet our Little Buddies on Wednesday!

In math, we are subtracting and multiplying decimals

We are working on social studies group presentations this week

In language arts, we are learning about various aspects of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) culture and writing paragraphs with evidence and elaboration

For science we are continuing our learning about patterns of the night sky

This week (8/28)

Back to School Night is this Thursday (5:30pm and 6:15pm). Hope to see you in Room 9!
We have band every Monday and Friday now. Families should work on acquiring instruments and books, either purchased, rented, or through the district loan program. Here is a link to the band website
In language arts, we are working on writing a well structured summary while we learn about Westward Expansion in the 1800s.
We have our math mid-module test Wednesday, covering lessons 1-8 (except lesson 4). Students will get practice tests on Tuesday which we will review together.
In science, we are learning about the size and distance of stars, as well as light pollution.
In social studies, we will be beginning group projects on Native American regions of North America.

This week (8/21)

Our p.e. program starts this Tuesday. Please wear comfortable shoes/clothes for movement.
We are wrapping up our introduction module of our language arts program, and will be starting module 1, Cultures in Conflict, on Wednesday.
In math, we are working on place value, exponents, and comparing decimals.
We have begun unit 1 in social studies about the first people living in North America
In science, we are looking at patterns of what we see in the sky during our science unit.
Friday, we will have a meeting with the band teacher. Students will learn about the program and the instruments they can choose from.

This week (8/16)

We are getting to know each other and adjusting to life in Room 9.
We are starting module 1 in math, beginning with place value.
For language arts, we are starting module 0 of Wit and Wisdom while will be a short introduction to language arts routines for the year.
We will have our first lessons in science and social studies.