Hi Room 14 Community!
We had a fantastic time on our field trip to the House of Blues. We learned about US history through the progression and influence of the blues. We all loved it. Being there made me realize that there are so many resources in Los Angeles that could help bring our classroom learning alive. At the Museum of Natural History right now, they have an exhibit about the silk road. We learned about this during our unit on exploration, and a visit there might give your child the opportunity to connect to that learning again. Also, the California Science Center has a room where they show how water is supplied to the Los Angeles basin. This exhibit, in particular, really connects to the earth science unit your kids are studying at school. This room, could also be a great starting point for a discussion about importance of water and the drought we are experiencing right now in California. In class we have been discussing the fact that it is everyone's responsibility to conserve during this difficult time. Finally, in life science we have begun learning about plants. Taking a closer look at any plant, whether it be on a hike, or in your house, would be a great learning extension for your student. The kids loved the experiment we did in class with celery and colored water where they got to see, first hand, the xylem and phloem tubes. This experiment can be easily replicated at home. All of the kids know what to do.
As a teacher, I realize that we have to spend a lot of time with pencils, paper and books. But, I also realize that hands on learning is probably the most powerful. You, as parents, can really help in that area. Especially in a city like Los Angeles, where lots of learning opportunities abound!!
Happy Learning!
:)Phyllis
Friday, February 21, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
February Begins
Hi Room 14 Families,
February is upon us...as usual, there is a lot to look forward to!
Feb. 14th is Valentines Day. We will have a small celebration to share Valentines. If you choose to have your son/daughter bring valentines, please make sure they bring one for every student in the class. We have 32 students. I will send home a class list next week just in case your child is ambitious and wants to personalize their valentines.
Our field trip to the House of Blues is February 20th. We can take a few parents, so if you are interested, please let me know.
We are finishing up our body projects in life science. We will have one more class session to work on them in school, and then what is not complete will become homework. Completed body projects will be due to me on Monday, February 10th.
We will have a small written assignment to close up our Using Your Wits unit. The students will have to write about a person who they think used or uses their wits in a creative way. This will go home the week of Feb. 10th after the science project is turned in.
Other than that, all goes well. We have been working hard in class to write responses to literature using text based evidence to support our ideas. This is a big, lofty task, and I have to say that I am really proud of the way your kids have stepped up to improve their writing. Many of us did not do this kind of writing until middle or high school, but these kids are blowing me away each and every day.
Hope all is going well in your lives.
Tally Ho!
Phyllis
February is upon us...as usual, there is a lot to look forward to!
Feb. 14th is Valentines Day. We will have a small celebration to share Valentines. If you choose to have your son/daughter bring valentines, please make sure they bring one for every student in the class. We have 32 students. I will send home a class list next week just in case your child is ambitious and wants to personalize their valentines.
Our field trip to the House of Blues is February 20th. We can take a few parents, so if you are interested, please let me know.
We are finishing up our body projects in life science. We will have one more class session to work on them in school, and then what is not complete will become homework. Completed body projects will be due to me on Monday, February 10th.
We will have a small written assignment to close up our Using Your Wits unit. The students will have to write about a person who they think used or uses their wits in a creative way. This will go home the week of Feb. 10th after the science project is turned in.
Other than that, all goes well. We have been working hard in class to write responses to literature using text based evidence to support our ideas. This is a big, lofty task, and I have to say that I am really proud of the way your kids have stepped up to improve their writing. Many of us did not do this kind of writing until middle or high school, but these kids are blowing me away each and every day.
Hope all is going well in your lives.
Tally Ho!
Phyllis
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Hello Again!
Hi All,
It has only been two weeks since we returned from Winter Break, but it seems like much longer. We have been working hard, and keeping busy with our studies.
In language arts we continue with our unit called "Using Your Wits," and it has been really interesting to discuss the different ways people and animals must use their wits to solve problems, create things, and get out of sticky situations. A great home extension would be to discuss people who you feel use their wits in some way. To culminate the unit, we will have a mini project where the kids will have to research someone who used their wits in a creative way. You might be surprised at how much your kids like to discuss this idea.
Math has been both challenging and fun. We are exploring fractions, decimals, and percents to see how they are all different ways of expressing the same idea. If you come across a time where you use decimals ($), or percents in your life, let your child know!
We have also gotten right back into our science mixing, and although social studies has slowed down a bit, we are going to be learning about colonial America next.
Our next field trip will be to the House of Blues in February for an amazing African American History presentation. We will learn about history through music. Then, our final field trip will be CIMI camp in May. Needless to say, your kids are anxiously awaiting our next sleep away extravaganza.
For enrichment, we have Art with Emily on Monday afternoons, and technology on Tuesdays. We will begin Ballroom Dancing at the beginning of March. Our next book report will be on February 12, and they will do a project in class on their award winning/classic book. They should be well into reading that book by now.
Once again, thanks for being such great parents who send students to school who are motivated and ready to learn. You, and they, make my job a pleasure!
:)Phyllis
It has only been two weeks since we returned from Winter Break, but it seems like much longer. We have been working hard, and keeping busy with our studies.
In language arts we continue with our unit called "Using Your Wits," and it has been really interesting to discuss the different ways people and animals must use their wits to solve problems, create things, and get out of sticky situations. A great home extension would be to discuss people who you feel use their wits in some way. To culminate the unit, we will have a mini project where the kids will have to research someone who used their wits in a creative way. You might be surprised at how much your kids like to discuss this idea.
Math has been both challenging and fun. We are exploring fractions, decimals, and percents to see how they are all different ways of expressing the same idea. If you come across a time where you use decimals ($), or percents in your life, let your child know!
We have also gotten right back into our science mixing, and although social studies has slowed down a bit, we are going to be learning about colonial America next.
Our next field trip will be to the House of Blues in February for an amazing African American History presentation. We will learn about history through music. Then, our final field trip will be CIMI camp in May. Needless to say, your kids are anxiously awaiting our next sleep away extravaganza.
For enrichment, we have Art with Emily on Monday afternoons, and technology on Tuesdays. We will begin Ballroom Dancing at the beginning of March. Our next book report will be on February 12, and they will do a project in class on their award winning/classic book. They should be well into reading that book by now.
Once again, thanks for being such great parents who send students to school who are motivated and ready to learn. You, and they, make my job a pleasure!
:)Phyllis
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Naturally November
Hi All,
Yes, I know....it has been ages since my last post. It seems that time just gets away from me. As your kids have probably told you we have been working very hard on many things. Our dioramas of the Native American Geographical/Cultural regions are complete and on display in the library. If you happen to be on campus in the next few days, go and have a look!
In social studies we will be moving on to European exploration in the coming weeks. This fits in very naturally with our Westward Expansion language arts unit. We have been reading about the early days of our nation, and exploring various genres. The kids fell in love with Tall Tales, so we decided to write some of our own. These fifth grade authors are extremely creative and humorous with their creative writing.
In science we just took quizzes in all three mixing classes. They are taking them home today, so you might want to ask your kids about them.
And finally, in math we just finished up a unit on geometry and are going to spend some time taking a deeper look at division. Ask your kids to show you how to do partial quotients division. It is a new, but very simple way to divide numbers. It is probably different than the way you learned division, unless you grew up in another country. The kids find it easier than the usual two/three step division process.
Well, that's about it. Looking forward to seeing you all at parent conferences beginning next week. Our next book report, our science book, will be due in class next week as well, on Wednesday November 13th. Be on the lookout for an explorer project coming up soon.
As usual....be well, and have some fun!!!
Phyllis
Yes, I know....it has been ages since my last post. It seems that time just gets away from me. As your kids have probably told you we have been working very hard on many things. Our dioramas of the Native American Geographical/Cultural regions are complete and on display in the library. If you happen to be on campus in the next few days, go and have a look!
In social studies we will be moving on to European exploration in the coming weeks. This fits in very naturally with our Westward Expansion language arts unit. We have been reading about the early days of our nation, and exploring various genres. The kids fell in love with Tall Tales, so we decided to write some of our own. These fifth grade authors are extremely creative and humorous with their creative writing.
In science we just took quizzes in all three mixing classes. They are taking them home today, so you might want to ask your kids about them.
And finally, in math we just finished up a unit on geometry and are going to spend some time taking a deeper look at division. Ask your kids to show you how to do partial quotients division. It is a new, but very simple way to divide numbers. It is probably different than the way you learned division, unless you grew up in another country. The kids find it easier than the usual two/three step division process.
Well, that's about it. Looking forward to seeing you all at parent conferences beginning next week. Our next book report, our science book, will be due in class next week as well, on Wednesday November 13th. Be on the lookout for an explorer project coming up soon.
As usual....be well, and have some fun!!!
Phyllis
Friday, October 18, 2013
Fantastic Frantic Fifth Grade
Hi Families,
Sorry it has taken me some time to re-post, but it time just flies by. To say that we have been busy, would be an understatement. Astro Camp, pumpkin geography, autobiographies, regional dioramas, science mixing, along with our reading, writing and arithmetic, means that there is barely enough time in the day to accomplish all that we have to do. But, no worries, 5th graders are incredibly industrious and ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Your students are an enthusiastic bunch and love to learn through projects.
Next week, on Wednesday, we will be taking our field trip to The Griffith Observatory, which will continue to deepen their understanding of both earth and physical science. We are planning to watch the movie "Our Water Planet," which highlights the impact of fresh water on populations. Most of our students will be surprised by the fact that some children do not have the luxury of opening up a faucet for fresh drinking water. Ask your child about it when they return from the trip.
We will also be finishing up unit 3 in mathematics which focuses on understanding geometry. The test will be on Wednesday, October 30th.
In life science we are tying up our study of the circulatory system. We have focused on how the specialized structures of the human body help give our cells the 4 main things they need to survive. Ask your child about what a cell needs to live, and how their circulatory system helps provide those things. There will be a small science quiz, mostly focusing on vocabulary, next Friday. I know it is the day after Halloween, but I will give the students ample time to study all week.
Next in life science....the digestive system!
Our next book report, due on November 13, is a science book. This does not need to be a chapter book, but a book about something in science that interests your child. As usual, we will be completing the project in class. The book just needs to be read by the due date.
Well, that's all for now...I will try to post again soon. Who knows, I might even figure out how to post pictures by then!
:)Phyllis
Friday, September 27, 2013
Hi All,
We had a great week, and the excitement is building for our trip to Astro Camp. Many of the students asked about the packing list, and although it was sent home before I sent another copy home with everyone today. So, if you are wondering what to pack, ask your child for the list! Another question I've been asked a lot over the past few days is about sleeping bags. The kids will be sleeping on beds, but we request that they bring a sleeping bag and pillow rather that a blanket and sheets. It is a lot easier for the kids to throw a sleeping bag on a bed as opposed to regular bedding. Thanks for your help in this matter. Finally, we will be leaving on Wednesday morning soon after the buses arrive. Please make sure you and your child are there by 8:00. We do not recommend any student taking the bus that morning since they will have a lot of gear with them, and most students like their parents to see them off.
This week the kids also received their login IDs and passwords for everydaymathonline.com. They can access the Student Reference Book, the study links (homework), and a multitude of other resources including games to strengthen skills. The ID card is glued into their homework planner right next to the book report dates. This website is a fantastic resource for the students. Check it out! There will be a math test on Unit 2 on Tuesday, so if they want to go over any material they can go to the website.
Other than that, all is moving along at lightening speed. Today I was marveling at the patience, generosity and kindness of this group with their book buddies. The kindergarteners in Florita's class look forward with anticipation to our arrival each Friday. This group is very special in the way they have taken responsibility for their little friends. It is truly wonderful to see.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Phyllis
We had a great week, and the excitement is building for our trip to Astro Camp. Many of the students asked about the packing list, and although it was sent home before I sent another copy home with everyone today. So, if you are wondering what to pack, ask your child for the list! Another question I've been asked a lot over the past few days is about sleeping bags. The kids will be sleeping on beds, but we request that they bring a sleeping bag and pillow rather that a blanket and sheets. It is a lot easier for the kids to throw a sleeping bag on a bed as opposed to regular bedding. Thanks for your help in this matter. Finally, we will be leaving on Wednesday morning soon after the buses arrive. Please make sure you and your child are there by 8:00. We do not recommend any student taking the bus that morning since they will have a lot of gear with them, and most students like their parents to see them off.
This week the kids also received their login IDs and passwords for everydaymathonline.com. They can access the Student Reference Book, the study links (homework), and a multitude of other resources including games to strengthen skills. The ID card is glued into their homework planner right next to the book report dates. This website is a fantastic resource for the students. Check it out! There will be a math test on Unit 2 on Tuesday, so if they want to go over any material they can go to the website.
Other than that, all is moving along at lightening speed. Today I was marveling at the patience, generosity and kindness of this group with their book buddies. The kindergarteners in Florita's class look forward with anticipation to our arrival each Friday. This group is very special in the way they have taken responsibility for their little friends. It is truly wonderful to see.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Phyllis
Monday, September 23, 2013
Hi Room 14 Families,
We are off and running....the beginning of each new week feels like the start of a new adventure. These kids really keep me on my toes.
This week we will not have any new spelling or vocabulary words. We are finishing up our unit on Taking A Stand, and tying up some loose ends. Your kids have a grammar packet to complete by Friday in preparation for the unit assessment, also on Friday. They also have their extra math packets which will be due on Friday as well. Having these long term assignments is a great opportunity for them to practice some time management skills. You might want to check in with your child to make sure they are not keeping everything until the last minute. If they did, Thursday evening could end up a nightmare!
Your kids also received their Social Studies books, and we began to learn about how geography affects the life of individuals. We are learning about the different Native American cultures and comparing climate, homes, food, tools, etc. If you could make a trip to the Southwest Museum within the next couple of weeks, it would really connect to their learning.
Finally, we are in the final stages of preparing for Astro Camp. Please make sure all your forms have been turned in. If your child has any special health concerns, please send me a note or e-mail. I know you put it on their health forms, but I like to connect personally on these issues.
That's all for now...all I can say it Tally Ho!!!
:)Phyllis
We are off and running....the beginning of each new week feels like the start of a new adventure. These kids really keep me on my toes.
This week we will not have any new spelling or vocabulary words. We are finishing up our unit on Taking A Stand, and tying up some loose ends. Your kids have a grammar packet to complete by Friday in preparation for the unit assessment, also on Friday. They also have their extra math packets which will be due on Friday as well. Having these long term assignments is a great opportunity for them to practice some time management skills. You might want to check in with your child to make sure they are not keeping everything until the last minute. If they did, Thursday evening could end up a nightmare!
Your kids also received their Social Studies books, and we began to learn about how geography affects the life of individuals. We are learning about the different Native American cultures and comparing climate, homes, food, tools, etc. If you could make a trip to the Southwest Museum within the next couple of weeks, it would really connect to their learning.
Finally, we are in the final stages of preparing for Astro Camp. Please make sure all your forms have been turned in. If your child has any special health concerns, please send me a note or e-mail. I know you put it on their health forms, but I like to connect personally on these issues.
That's all for now...all I can say it Tally Ho!!!
:)Phyllis
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