5th Grade News for The Last Week of September

  Hello All,                                                                                                                             9/29/14


     As we came back from Rosh Hashanah "vacation," things started heating up in our classroom learning! On Monday, we spoke about Descriptive Writing: how to do write effectively and grab the readers' interest. Students are excitedly planning their topics, to be presented in front of the class during the week of October 20th-23rd.
     As always, we continue reading in our class. We have completed six chapters, or almost half of the fun and lively fiction book, Frindle. We expect to finish reading it by the end of the month and write a book review about Andrew Clements' popular tale.

     In social studies class, students are gearing up to present their findings about ancient civilizations. The students were interested in learning (and teaching their classmates) about the defense, army, citizen rights, education, business and technology of such countries as Ancient Greece, Rome, India, and Israel. It is important that the students use their OWN words when talking about their research, as we discussed in class.

   Stay tuned every Monday to find out more about the 5th Grade English and Social Studies Events and activities.

   Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year,
    M.Berlin

Math Class - Week #2

Dear Parents,
We continued with the topic of Whole Numbers in chapter 1 in Math this week, and are almost finished the chapter. We compared numbers to 10,000,000, and learned how to identify and continue number patterns. We rounded numbers and discussed the difference between rounding and estimating. Students practiced rounding numbers in order to get the estimated sums and differences.
Students enjoyed using cards for learning, in class, this week.  Some students were practicing their multiplication facts, others were comparing positive and negative integers.
Some students were introduced to the idea of algebra and using a variable in a mathematical equation. They also worked on solving some challenging word problems, using the bar modeling method- the method used by our Math Program- Math In Focus, Singapore Math.
Wishing all the Mazel parents and your families a Shana Tova Umesuka!
Mrs. Neuman

Math Class #1

We have completed our first full week of school.  It was a real exciting and successful week!
We began our week by creating a math project called "The Math In Me". Students shared numerical facts about themselves, in mathematical equations, and created beautiful projects that are displayed in the 4th floor hallway. It was  invigorating for me to see how all the students were all   engaged as they made up mathematical expressions to equal the facts they were expressing. They enjoyed the projects and were proud to see their projects hanging in the hallway.
As they worked on the projects they also learned how to follow directions, how to plan first, to check their work,to work independently, to ask for help when necessary, to work quietly, and to put away their supplies when done.
Thank you parents for helping your children bring in pictures of themselves.
We begin our math class by filling in a chart counting what number day of the school year it is, and writing the day as a fraction of 100, a percent, and if the number is prime or composite.

After our exciting introduction to the world of numbers we began learning the first chapter in our math book- Whole Numbers.
We split into 3 math groups so each student can learn at their level and pace.
We covered: reading and writing numbers up to the millions in standard form, word form and expanded form. Most of the students, after a quick review, remembered the place value from previous years and were able to identify  the value of each digit in a number up to the millions place.
Students spun a 10 sided die, and used the digit they spun to create a number with that digit in a specified place value.
Other students found all the prime numbers through 100. They wrote these  numbers on bananas and we hung them on our palm tree in the back of the class room- The message of the tree is "Go Bananas for Math!"
Looking forward to the coming week:
1. We are going to be introducing a behavior modification system where students can earn dollars for doing their work, proper behavior, being on time, having all their work and supplies and being organized.
2. We are going to be having quizzes on multiplication facts. The purpose is to increase the students' fluency of the multiplication table.
3. Please make sure your child has the following supplies daily:
   A) Binder- can be the same binder used for other subjects with a divider for Math.
   B) Math Journal-composition notebook
   C) Pencil Case with pencils, markers, scissors, glue, eraser, color pencils,
   D) 12inch ruler
I am looking forward to another exciting week of math!!

First Week of School

   Dear 5th Grade Parents,

     What an amazing first (full) week we've had in English/Social Studies class!

      We started our first fiction book, Frindle, and everyone is excited to read and discuss the popular Andrew Clemens work next week. We also wrote a letter to someone in school after we practiced brainstorming and drafting in class IN GROUPS!

      We made headway in our first two projects: In English, the class will be writing about a special person, place, event or product. Over the weekend, students will have the unenviable task of choosing just three potential topics and next week each student will meet with me to finalize ONE topic.

    Social Studies class has been given a team assignment: to explore the various aspects of life in ancient civilizations. Stay tuned for updates on this awesome project and pictures of it in action!

   As always, feel free to contact me at (718) 675-9370 or mendelberlin@gmail.com should any questions or comments arise.

   Thanks!
             
  Mendel Berlin