This Week's Recap

I won't keep you too long this week as the weather forecast looks wonderful for our first long weekend of the school year! And won't it look even lovelier accompanied by our 'Thankful Pumpkins'....?

In E.L.A., I wrote three paragraphs in ten minutes. How? By planning well using a sequencing chart and then three five-finger organizers. Students had an opportunity to try and I must say that many of us are quite good at recognizing when to start a new paragraph! It can be hard to understand ('It just feels like it should be a new paragraph') but there's a wonderful resource here with a few key points for starting new paragraphs in narratives (as well as recounts and biographies). Next week, we'll begin looking at how to improve my writing!

In Grade 5 Math, we are practicing different ways of estimating sums and differences. To reinforce these (and show their relevance in daily life), you might take your student along to the grocery store and have them keep a running estimate of five items as you shop ... or estimate how much change you might get back after a purchase. In class, we've been looking at fliers and estimating how much different combinations of items will cost (as well as reviewing place value).





Social Studies has continued along rather smoothly. There is certainly a lot of information to cover, but students are working hard at stations and I've again been impressed with their diligence in finishing work. On Friday, October 17 we will be holding our presentation day for the class. Students should have brought their duotangs home this weekend to work on their interview/cultural festival contribution. Please email me with any questions related to their projects.

Lastly, I was away Monday morning and would like to share below the note I received when I got back. What a lovely welcome....

Happy Thanksgiving!