Off to a great start!
The fifth grade students are excited about learning. They have three core subject teachers: Mr. Black teaching math and science, Ms. Hoddick teaching language arts, and Ms. Jill Brooks and Ms. Hoddick teaching social studies. It is a busy schedule that requires the student to refine their organization and time-management skills. The students have taken well to using the planners to keep track of their daily assignments. They have also taken on new responsibilities as leaders of the elementary school.
At our first elementary school assembly, the fifth grade students performed skits to demonstrate how HUGSS and Peace Team members provide helpful services to our elementary school community. They are comfortable with the daily routine and use their study hall time effectively to get a jump on their homework. Many of the students are also staying after school from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. to finish their homework with the teachers' tutoring assistance.
The class had a great discussion about multiple intelligences and individual learning styles. The majority of the class feel they learn best interpersonally as a group, working together to solve a problem, research a subject, and/or perform an experiment. This interaction helps to build their person-to-person relationships and communication skills.
In math we will be learning different concepts using Investigations Math, Everyday Math, and other math resources. The students share ideas for solving problem after lectures, visual demonstrations on the SmartBoard, practice questions, and hands-on experience with manipulatives. At the end of the week, Friday, we have a review quizz of all the material we have covered that week. After I grade the quizzes and return them, it is the students' responsibilty to make any corrections or ask the teacher for help with challenging problems. They then will take them home for their parents' signature and praise.
In science we have been studying our solar system and the origins of life. We have had interesting discussions and watched a video about the materials in the universe that make up stars and everything else, including us. This week we will be starting our Planet Inquiry Project, in which students will select something in our solar system to research and share the information they find with the class. The requirements for the report will be shared with the parents, but the majority of the researching, writing, editing, revising. and publishing will be done in class. The time frame for this project is three to four weeks. The presentation dates will be announced soon.
Posted on August 27, 2007 12:18 PM | Permalink