Hello
Parents!
Lots of new
and exciting things have been happening in our classroom! It’s kind of like a
fresh new start for everyone!
Today we
finally got into our new Unit of Inquiry topic, Matter! Since I was able to get my hands on a TV this morning, we watched
a few introductory videos, including Bill Nye (which the students were pretty
happy about). As students were watching these videos, they were also filling in
a worksheet on solids, liquids, and
gases. This was a great way for them to pick up key concepts, so they will
have some background knowledge when we start discussing it in more detail.
Students were given a blank piece of paper for their title page, which was
assigned for homework. They also have a basic worksheet to fill out, where they
must fill in the blanks using the words from the word bank (at the bottom of
the page). I have also given them a few other print outs of useful information
they can refer to throughout this unit, as well as a list of questions that we
will be covering (focusing on one question per day). These papers will be kept
in their UOI duotangs, and should not be removed until our unit is finished.
Tomorrow we
will be starting on our new math unit, which is Unit 5: Data Management. This
unit will tie in nicely with out UOI unit, as we will be interpreting and
displaying data as we learn about various aspects of Matter. It’s all about
making connections through inquiry!
I handed
back the Unit 4 math tests (on decimals) today- they should be signed and returned. After
talking to a few students, as well as running it by a few teachers, I have
decided to change a few marks on some students’ tests. The reason for this is
because there appears to be a discrepancy between the way the previous teacher
taught some lessons, and the way I have taught some lessons. With that being
said, I will be reviewing the marking scheme again, and will giving students
the mark for a few questions they might have gotten wrong. Going forward,
students are reminded that when it says to “Estimate each sum or difference,”
they should be ROUNDING TO THE NEAREST
WHOLE NUMBER AND THEN SOLVING THE EQUATION. They should be rounding to the
nearest whole number, unless the question indicates to round to the nearest
tenths, hundredths, etc. I have specified that in class numerous times;
however, some students may have gotten confused based on being told something
different prior to me teaching. My apologies for the mix up, and I can ensure
you that this will not happen again, since I will be their teacher for the rest
of the school year. Again, we are starting a new unit, so it’s a new start
going forward. Just to clarify, the marks from the Unit 4 math test will NOT be going towards the next report
card. It will however include Unit 5 (Data Management), which we will be
starting from the beginning tomorrow.
Just a few
things before I go:
1.
Students must complete a title page and the fill-in-the-blank
worksheet for homework. Both of these items are related to our new Unit of
Inquiry (Matter).
2.
Students must read Chapter 12 in their novel study book (Percy Jackson).
3.
Please sign your child’s unit 4 math test, and
make sure they bring it back to school tomorrow.
4.
We have our lesson
13 spelling test on Friday, December 2nd!
5.
The students have a FRENCH test on Friday,
December 2nd!
6.
The MYP’s bake sale has been extended to
tomorrow!
7.
The Science Fair boards and projects can be
taken home! Poster Boards left in the classroom by Friday, December 2nd will be thrown out. So please claim
them!
8.
The Art Reach Workshop will be on Friday, December 2nd, from
12pm-2pm. Students who are on my list have made a note of it in their agenda. Please
remember to bring in an old t-shirt to wear on top of your uniform.
9.
Our class will be singing, “Santa Claus is coming to town,” at the Christmas concert this year.
We will be making time to practice soon! (Get your singing voices ready!) We
will also be deciding on what to wear, and the props we should use. I will keep
you all posted!
10.
The grade 3 classes are organizing a food and
toy drive, and are asking for non-perishable food items, as well as new toys/
books. We will be collecting them from November
30th until December 21st. This time of year can be difficult for
many families, so let’s try to help out those who need it!
11.
Please remember to look over the “Secret Santa” gift exchange form I
sent home with your child. If you would not like you child to participate,
please send me an email, or write a note in their agenda. If it’s okay for your
child to participate, please have them fill out the form, and bring it back to
school by TOMORROW. We will be
drawing names at the end of this week. The price limit will be $10, and we will
distribute gifts on our last day of school (Thursday, December 22nd).
If you have
any questions or comments, please send me an email! I hope you all have a
wonderful night!
Ms.
Ramnarine
Grade 5
St. Jude’s
Academy
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