I want to wish all of our families a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope that you enjoy a relaxing break with your children.  I am looking forward to spending some time with my family as well.

We are continuing to work hard in fifth grade.  Students have finished topic four in math and will take a benchmark test on Wednesday, 11/22/17.  A study guide will go home on Monday, 11/20/17.  The test will cover number sense standards 1-7.  Students will need to understand the place value system to thousandths and be able to round decimals, compare and order decimals, add, subtract and multiply with decimals and whole numbers.

In our journeys of learning we finished writing narratives from the point of view of African-American slaves.  This stories will be put into a book and published.  A copy will be sent home to the parents of students who completed their essay.

In writing we have begun a unit on persuasive writing.  Students are writing an essay this week to form their opinion as to whether or not Lincoln supported slavery or was opposed to it.  They will use several texts to support his/her opinion in writing.

In reading we are continuing to work with nonfiction comprehension strategies such as using context clues, summarizing main ideas, and responding to text-based questions.  Students are reading paired passages about the beginnings of slavery and the events that led to abolition.

Enjoy your holiday!  ~ Mrs. Mark

Hello everyone,

As we welcome fall weather to New England, we are continuing to work hard in room A219!  In reading we have been using a variety of texts to learn how to read closely, annotate the text, hold an accountable talk discussion and write about the text using evidence.  In math we reviewed place value and number sense, and are currently learning to compute with whole numbers and decimals.  You can help your child by making sure he/she knows the multiplication facts through twelve.

In journeys of learning we are studying the beginnings of slavery in America. We learned about how African people were captured and shipped to America, where they were sold as property to work on southern plantations.  We are now learning about the culture and economies of the southern states and northern states, and the events that led to the beginning of the Civil War.  Students wrote narratives from the point of view of the slaves, and those who completed the assignment will be published in our own class book.  I can't wait for you to see them! 

Parent conferences will be held next week - a paper will be sent home on Wednesday, 11/08/17, so please sign up to meet with me and review your child's progress in fifth grade.  Thank you!  - Mrs. Mark