Dear Parents,

This is just the beginning of our regular updates regarding classroom instruction.  I apologize for the delay in getting this first communication out. 

We have been very busy getting to know one another and refreshing our basic skills in reading writing and math. In addition we have begun our first. Social Studies and Science Units

Math

We are learning about Rectangular and Square Arrays, and the Divisibility Rules for 1,2,3,4,5,6,9, and 10. We are learning the differences between Prime & Composite Numbers, and we are brushing up on our Multiplication Facts. We learned a math game called Factor Captor.

Social Studies

Our first unit is the study of the first European Settlements in the America’s. We are learning the early Spanish, French, English, and Dutch settlers, and about their relationships with the Native American, and Enslaved Africans, These are a few new vocabulary words your student can share with you.  Presidio, Mission and Missionary, St. Augustine,

Reading

We are currently reading Letters from Rifka, the first of three, fifth grade core books.  These are books read by all fifth graders in Glastonbury.  Letters from Rifka will serve as background information to our We are reading the The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a historical fiction based in Wethersfield Connecticut during the late 1600’s.  This book will be integrated with our Social Studies unit on early American History. We also kicked off our volunteer book club.  The first book we will be reading is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, ask your student if they are participating and find out what else we plan to do with the book. We are utilizing our reading skills to identify text to world, text to text, and text to self connections, and building on our questioning skills.  Finally, we will be utilizing Time for Kids and Kids Discover magazines to support learning in Social Studies, and Science.  

Writing-

Our Writing program is based on the Writers Workshop approach to writing.  Expository is the main form of writing assessed by the fifth grade Connecticut Mastery Test, therefore will spend a great amount of time preparing for this during Language Arts. the Diagramming, What I Enjoy
Doing In My Spare Time, Brainstorming, 

Computers-Web Searches, Time for Kids, Puzzlemaker.com

Library-Search, Scavenger Hunt, find sections of the library, fiction, non fiction, reference, post cards, Book check out, new browser usage

Gym-running the mile, cooperative team building games monarch, bus stop, push ups, curl ups

Art-patterns positive, negative, smocks needed

Music-star spangled banner, welcome song from Alaska, Landlord song, goodbye song in English Spanish and French, class rewards,

Chorus-Warm ups, humming notes,