Happy New Year! 2007 is the year of the boar.
The end of the first semester, 2006, was busy and productive for the 5th grade. The students shared portfolio reflections with their teachers and parents and set goals for the new year. In math, the 5th grade students have built a strong foundation with numbers and operations. Their confidence in math has increased across the board and a majority of the students have used their study hall time efficiently, staying after school from 2:30-3:00pm to seek help on new concepts (time management skills). Understanding fraction computations can be challenging because it requires multiple steps, organization, concentration. The students have met the challenge and are moving on to fraction multiplication and division, geometry, measurement, and algebra. Past concept knowledge is critical to the understanding of new concepts, so we will continually review and build on past concepts to refine our mathematical skills.
In science we are moving from our study of the solar system to the study of the earth and the environment we live in. The students have recently developed an understanding of the periodic table that lists the elements that make up all matter. They have chosen an element to study and are having fun learning about the different properties and uses of those elements. We will be doing experiments to break down and/or combine elements to form compounds and change the states of matter. All of the experiments will be recorded using the scientific process. We will make predictions (hypothesis), perform the experiment and reflect on the results.
Most of the students continue to develop an appreciation for their planner, but there are still a few students who need to be reminded of the importance of being organized ( and organizational skills. ) The 5th grade students continue to refine their study habits. Responsibility, motivation, and respect are a few of the many traits they are focusing on to make their learning environment productive (social skills & study habits). They are all polite, pleasant, and inquisitive young adolescents gaining confidence in their academic abilities and social responsibilities.
Posted on January 4, 2007 8:01 AM | Permalink