Happy Friday to All!
Over the past two weeks, the students of Room E4 have experienced:
Celery Experiment
This week we observed the movement of water up a celery stalks xylem and its subsequent evaporation out of the leaves. Ask your child to share with you something memorable from the experiment.
Writing Curriculum
We have launched a comprehensive writing program this week that will last throughout the year. For the next few weeks, we will engage in a myriad of activities to help us understand the structure and organization of different paragraph types. Most nights your child will do a related writing assignment for homework.
Math Centers
Thank you to Michele Sine, Danielle Racich, and Margaret De Somma for running three of the four math centers last Friday. The students had a great time and you were all very supportive and wonderful to them. Ask your child which their favorite center was.
Over the past two weeks, the students of Room E4 have experienced:
- two authors share their story-writing perspectives
- Street Beat dance up a storm
- celery draw water up its xylem
- four math centers
- two seminars
- two literature circles
- our first art class
Celery Experiment
This week we observed the movement of water up a celery stalks xylem and its subsequent evaporation out of the leaves. Ask your child to share with you something memorable from the experiment.
Writing Curriculum
We have launched a comprehensive writing program this week that will last throughout the year. For the next few weeks, we will engage in a myriad of activities to help us understand the structure and organization of different paragraph types. Most nights your child will do a related writing assignment for homework.
Math Centers
Thank you to Michele Sine, Danielle Racich, and Margaret De Somma for running three of the four math centers last Friday. The students had a great time and you were all very supportive and wonderful to them. Ask your child which their favorite center was.
Photos by Class Photographer Tatiana
Literature Circles
In groups of five or six, students are reading a book together and engaging in rich discussions about its elements of literature. They write open-ended questions to pose for each other, and then meet once-a-week for 45 minutes with a parent leader that facilitates their conversations. Thank you to Christine and Patrick Svenfeldt, Carolyn Cohan, Rose Costa, Alexa Robinson, and Courtney Finnegan for leading our literature circle groups the past two Fridays! We could not do lit circles without you.
Seminars
This week your child started two separate six-week seminars (50-minutes each). Each small-group course was selected specifically for your child's interests, areas of need, and/or areas of enrichment. Ask your child which seminars they are taking.
Homework
We have finally found an equilibrium with our homework assignments. There are 4 parts to homework each night, and they are viewable on Edmodo (simply click "Latest Posts" underneath your child's avatar to see the two separate posts on the wall).
Home Technology Survey
Now that I am primarily issuing homework online, I would love for you to take a minute or two to complete this survey about the technology you have at home. Also, a day here or there where you have technical difficulties is to be expected. Please simply send a brief note with your child the next day and they will be excused from their homework. However, if your child is in an environment where you anticipate a regular lack of connectivity, please notify me of this on the survey above and I will be sure to always provide alternative hard copy homework.
5th-Grade Team October Newsletter
For an overview of your child's learning goals and experiences for the month of October, please visit our monthly newsletter.
Upcoming
1. Field Trip to the Rafael Film Center
Next Tuesday, October 9th from 8:30-12:00 the 5th-graders will be going to the Rafael Film Center for a screening of Tales of the Night, part of the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Here is a sneak preview...
In groups of five or six, students are reading a book together and engaging in rich discussions about its elements of literature. They write open-ended questions to pose for each other, and then meet once-a-week for 45 minutes with a parent leader that facilitates their conversations. Thank you to Christine and Patrick Svenfeldt, Carolyn Cohan, Rose Costa, Alexa Robinson, and Courtney Finnegan for leading our literature circle groups the past two Fridays! We could not do lit circles without you.
Seminars
This week your child started two separate six-week seminars (50-minutes each). Each small-group course was selected specifically for your child's interests, areas of need, and/or areas of enrichment. Ask your child which seminars they are taking.
Homework
We have finally found an equilibrium with our homework assignments. There are 4 parts to homework each night, and they are viewable on Edmodo (simply click "Latest Posts" underneath your child's avatar to see the two separate posts on the wall).
- Reading for 30 minutes (text of their choice, ideally their literature circle book or a leveled Accelerated Reader book).
- Language Arts - usually a writing assignment that your child submits via Edmodo
- Math Facts Practice (5 minutes timed) on a skill they are practicing
- New Math Skill Practice - Usually on IXL (about 20 minutes)
Home Technology Survey
Now that I am primarily issuing homework online, I would love for you to take a minute or two to complete this survey about the technology you have at home. Also, a day here or there where you have technical difficulties is to be expected. Please simply send a brief note with your child the next day and they will be excused from their homework. However, if your child is in an environment where you anticipate a regular lack of connectivity, please notify me of this on the survey above and I will be sure to always provide alternative hard copy homework.
5th-Grade Team October Newsletter
For an overview of your child's learning goals and experiences for the month of October, please visit our monthly newsletter.
Upcoming
1. Field Trip to the Rafael Film Center
Next Tuesday, October 9th from 8:30-12:00 the 5th-graders will be going to the Rafael Film Center for a screening of Tales of the Night, part of the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Here is a sneak preview...
2. Bradley Klahn Tennis Visit
Attention all tennis enthusiasts! We are fortunate to have tennis pro, Bradley Klahn, visiting our campus next week. Details can be found on my website.
Nathan Jacobson
Special Events, PE Teacher
Bel Aire Elementary School
Enjoy your weekend,
Mr. Devoto
Attention all tennis enthusiasts! We are fortunate to have tennis pro, Bradley Klahn, visiting our campus next week. Details can be found on my website.
Nathan Jacobson
Special Events, PE Teacher
Bel Aire Elementary School
Enjoy your weekend,
Mr. Devoto