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Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: None today due to extra time with science.

Writing: We wrote an example paragraph about how to use a core democratic value as evidence to prove an opinion. Students also worked on drafting their persuasive letter (here’s a student example and another example). Homework is finish drafting these parts:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: Today we started a small unit on algebra, beginning with writing equations using variables. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Science: Students worked on an experiment about measuring the speed of a cart moving down a ramp. Tomorrow, we will test what happens to the speed of the cart if it is started from different positions on the ramp.

Social Studies: We used this time to talk about the complexity of DNA and molecular machines within our cells. We learned about the flagellum of a bacteria and how it takes 40 pieces to function.

Notes:

• Our school is looking for some volunteers to help with the book fair March 7-10 during the school day. Please contact me if you can help.
• Spring conferences are March 7-9. Here is the schedule.
• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: We started to review common spelling patterns for the /k/ and /s/ sounds. We noticed that a letter c can make both types of sounds.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: We talked about how to cite the source of a survey to use as evidence in a persuasive letter. Here’s an example that cites the name of the survey group and the date:

According to a survey of 1,323 people by Quinnipiac University in February 2017, 51% of people oppose restarting the Keystone pipeline.

Students worked on drafting their persuasive letter (here’s a student example and another example). Homework is to work on drafting these parts:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: Today was a final in-class practice day for graphing skills. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Science: We tried to take a district science test today but were prevented due to technical difficulties with the testing website.

Social Studies: Students worked on a test about life in the colonies today.

Notes:

• Our school is looking for some volunteers to help with the book fair March 7-10 during the school day. Please contact me if you can help.
• Spring conferences are March 7-9. Here is the schedule.
• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: Students finished working on making Words to Learn lists from words missed on the last spelling test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a reading skills and AR practice day.

Writing: Students worked on prewriting conferences for their persuasive letter (here’s a student example and another example). Students also started to draft their letter. Homework is to work on drafting these parts:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: Students completed a STAR Math test today. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Science: Students received new books about the topic of force and motion, and we’ll start our first experiment about measuring speed next week.

Social Studies: Students completed a digital review and quiz about the French and Indian War. We’ll have a test about life in the colonies, slavery, and the French and Indian War next week.

Notes:

• Our school is looking for some volunteers to help with the book fair March 7-10 during the school day. Please contact me if you can help.
• Spring conferences are March 7-9. Here is the schedule.
• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: Students worked on making Words to Learn lists from words missed on the last spelling test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Students auditioned for our class play today by reading parts.

Writing: Students continued to work on prewriting for their persuasive letter (here’s a student example). Homework is to finish prewriting these parts:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: We tried to take a STAR Math test today, but it was interrupted by a lockdown drill. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Science: We learned about how fossils show that some organisms have remained the same over time, and some creatures that lived long ago are now extinct. Fossils are created when animals or plants are buried rapidly, usually in some type of catastrophe (flood, landslide, volcanic eruption).

Social Studies: We finished learning about the French and Indian War; France lost to the British and was expelled from their territory.

Notes:

• Our school is looking for some volunteers to help with the book fair March 7-10 during the school day. Please contact me if you can help.
• Spring conferences are March 7-9. Here is the schedule.
• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: Today was a preview of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Students completed a STAR Reading test today.

Writing: Students published their research questions for their persuasive letter about improving our country. We also read a student example letter and students started prewriting. Homework is to work on prewriting these parts:

1. Introduction describing a public policy problem in America (vaccines, fighting ISIS, body cameras for police officers, healthy foods for schools, etc.).
2. Their opinion about a solution to the problem.
3. Some kind of data to support their opinion.
4. At least one core democratic value to support their opinion.
5. A conclusion restating their data and opinion.

A persuasive Letter to the Editor (guidelines) about a public policy issue facing the US will be due Friday, March 3.

Resources:

• Persuasive Letter Guidelines
• CNN Student News
• Pollingreport.com
• Debate.org
• Petitions.whitehouse.gov
• annenbergclassroom.org/speakouts

Math: We worked on graphing again today, focusing on making shapes by graphing points. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes using MobyMax Math or Khan Academy.

Science: We learned about how animals survive by their behaviors (wolves hunting in packs, spiders making webs) and by their traits (sharp teeth, woodpecker beak, eagle beak).

Social Studies: We started to learn about the French and Indian War.

Notes:

• Our school is looking for some volunteers to help with the book fair March 7-10 during the school day. Please contact me if you can help.
• Spring conferences are March 7-9. Here is the schedule.
• Our class will be performing a class play in March. Here are the after school class practice and performance times. Hopefully getting the schedule early will allow everyone to work out scheduling conflicts.
• Have you set a Daily Homework Time for your student? Consider 15 minutes of math, 15 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of something else to make a brain smarter!
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• View links to all the websites we use in class.
• View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.