Great job, Alders!
Coming up this week:
5th Grade Math -
5th graders are starting a new unit on Multiplication and Division strategies. One of the main goals of the Bridges curriculum is to expand students number sense and problem solving abilities. We will be using multiple strategies for multiplying and dividing 2- and 3- digit numbers, and numbers with decimals using partial product multiplication, and area model. Students practice using strategies that highlight the relationships between multiplication and division, the Half-Tens facts, doubling & halving, and the connection between decimals, fractions, and whole numbers.
Alder East Writing -
This week we'll be working on our journal writing and word word work, and starting a unit on spelling. We'll also be doing reflective writing in each subject area as students select artifacts from their learning and prepare reflections in preparation for student lead conferences.
Alder East Reading -
Independent Reading:
Students should always be doing independent reading at home - a chapter book, graphic novel, biography, or non-fiction that isn't focused on pictures and graphic information. Each Friday we're doing quick response journals based on what students are reading at home. Students compose brief paragraphs about what they are reading, what reactions they have had, what predictions they are making, and what connections they make.
Alder East Humanities -
We'll be finishing our about Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere - Mayas, Incas & Aztecs. We'll be studying the Aztec king, Moctezuma, and the end of the Aztec Empire before comparing temples and other architecture of the three empires.
Other important business:
Student Lead Conferences:
Conferences will be held on April 12th from 3:00 to 8:00 and April 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. These conferences are led
by our students with a teacher in attendance to assist as needed. Students have already begun to prepare for these conferences and
will be excited and proud to share their work with you.
Here are links to the sign-ups, including specials:
Alder East
Great River
Mountain Meadow
Wildwoods
OAKS and Smarter Balanced assessments -
We are preparing to take the OAKS and Smarter Balance tests beginning April 4th. We have been working hard to learn how to use the embedded tools in the test and have looked at a few practice test questions. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to take the full practice test for Language Arts and Math. We could really use your help with giving your student time at home becoming familiar with the test.
We recommend that 5th grade students take the practice test for each of the tests:
Grade 5 OAKS Science Practice Test
Grade 5 Smarter Balanced ELA CAT Practice Test
Grade 5 Smarter Balanced ELA PT Practice Test
Grade 5 Smarter Balanced Math CAT Practice Test
Grade 5 Smarter Balanced Math PT Practice test
For 6th Graders, we recommend they take the following practice tests:
Grade 6 Smarter Balanced ELA CAT Practice Test
Grade 6 Smarter Balanced ELA PT Practice Test
Grade 6 Smarter Balanced Math CAT Practice Test
Grade 6 Smarter Balanced Math PT Practice test.
Here is the link to the practice test site: http://oaksportal.org/students/
MRA students don't take the ELPA21 or the 5th Grade Social Science OAKS, so don't spend time on those.