Student Conferences are November 9 & 10th.
Sign up for times HERE
If you are not able to sign up online, please notify me so that I can give you a slot. Conferences are 15 minutes each and you will be able to do a drop-in meeting with the specials teachers while you are here.
5th Grade Math -
We started Unit 2 - Adding and Subtracting Fractions. This week we looked at using money and coins as models to help us add and subtract fractions whose denominators are factors of 100 - 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5, 1/4, 1/2. Next week we will start looking at using clock models to help us think about some other common fractions like 1/3, 1/6, & 1/12 (also 1/4 and 1/2 which can be modeled either as money or as clocks).
Alder East Reading -
We continued our in-class Novel Study - Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman. Each chapter tells the story from the point of view of a different character. The story is about how a diverse group of strangers come together to build a community garden in what was an abandoned lot in a rough part of Cleveland.
At Home: Students should still be doing independent reading at home - a chapter book, graphic novel, biography, or non-fiction that isn't too focused on pictures and graphic information. This year, students will track all the books they read and use that info to evaluate their reading, and set reading goals.
A new Reading Log went home on Friday, and is due Monday 11/14 (since we don't have school next Thursday/Friday).
Alder East Writing -
This week, we did a lot of reflective. All year long students will collecting and reflecting on examples of their work in different subjects as part of preparing for student lead conferences in the spring. First we had a check-in day with Homeroom and Specials teachers. Student prepared for these quick conferences by writing about what they are proud of in each area (Computers/PE/Music/ Writing or Math), and what are their biggest challenges. Then we did reflections about the 5th graders' Unit 1 Post-Assessment, and the 6th graders Chapter 1 & 2 tests. We ended the week with students selecting a piece of writing their have done this year (journal entry, poem, story or essay), sharing it in front of class, and talking about why they selected this writing.
Alder East Humanities -
This week, we began a unit on Presidential Elections. We are learning about the election process from local city, county and state issues, primaries and general elections, party platforms, debates and the electoral college. First we learned about some of the political parties (not just Republican and Democrat). We have six groups that will represent a different political party, select a candidate, study their party platform, choose issues they want to campaign on, write press releases, make bumper stickers, political ads, and even hold a debate on the issues. Should be lots of fun!