Dear Parents,
Welcome to the launching of the Fifth Grade Gazette, a newsletter to provide information and insight into your child’s educational experience at P.S. 199. The partnership of parents and teachers is essential to the growth and development of the children. We will be sharing with you topics that include: Read To Succeed , Math Matters, Write On and The World of Social Studies. Information concerning current and up and coming activities will also be available. Our goal is a happy and highly productive year for your children. Working together, we are hopeful that the boys and girls of the fifth grade will make great strides and achievements this coming academic year.
Mrs.W. Bullock Mrs. A. Colorafi
Mrs. S. Fazio Ms. M. Radday
READ TO SUCCEED!
This month we began our character study unit. The students will have the opportunity to develop a theory about a character. They will also be reading and collecting evidence that supports or challenges a theory about a character. In addition, they will be making inferences using the evidence from a text and will also follow a character’s development and change.
The children are encouraged to read both in school and at home, as well. They must keep a reading log. Our students need to build “stamina” in reading. Stamina refers to teaching children to read on their own for extended periods of time each day. Students are actively engaged in reading when they have “stamina” to read independently. Students practice their reading strategies during independent work time.
Word Work~
Students focus on words that are critical to the development of reading. This is the time during the day when we practice independently our strategies, for example, learning and practicing a spelling pattern, word sorts and memorizing high-frequency words.
MATH MATTERS
This year our fifth grade students are on a roll. By administering an inventory test early in September, we were able to quickly assess each student’s strengths and weaknesses. As a whole, most of the students showed a solid understanding of the concepts and skills they learned last year.
The year’s curriculum began with a review of the number system with emphasis on reading and writing large numbers while using the place value system as a guide.
October will focus on developing concepts in fractions and decimals. Through hands on experiences, turn and talk, and small group activities, students are engaging in interactive learning and are enjoying math.
The month of November will be devoted to learning about ratio, percents, and addition and subtraction of fractions.
At home, your child’s awareness of math can be encouraged by sharing simple experiences with them. Baking a cake by following a recipe, showing your child how you balance your checkbook, or having a conversation about food prices while at the supermarket are all simple, but valuable lessons you can reinforce at home.