Final results for our chocolate milk debate

Our chocolate milk results-7 days in...it was amazing to see the POWER of knowledge!  Each class started with very few people being against serving chocolate milk in school to the following results.  It was a powerful experience and we learned a lot during the process!

10 against and 12 for and Mrs. Skeels' class

8 against and 16 for in Mrs. Stoyle's class

13 against and 12 for in Mrs. Will's class

We continue to read aloud Because of Mr. Terupt, it is an engaging book for sure!

Next week marks the last week of the 3rd quarter.  There will be an informational reading summative next week.  This week, we are reviewing the skills that will be covered on this test.  Reading Counts points are due by March 11. I met with each child last Friday and reviewed their progress.  This Friday there is a reading log due that is required for all students.  If your child meets his/her reading counts goal by this Friday, they will be excused from next week's reading log homework.

We also will finish the quarter writing opinion pieces.  We have learned how to write a counter-claim so ask your child about it!  The kids chose their own topics to write about this week ranging from the need to recycle to world peace to building a Chipotle in Aurora!  Ask your child what he/she is writing about.

AIR Testing (our Language Arts testing) will take place April 12 and 13. There are two testing sessions.  One day is reading, answering a few questions and writing an essay while the other day is just reading passages and answering questions.

Update 2-22

We are four days into our chocolate milk debate!  Tomorrow is the big day where the kids will have to decide their final position on the issues.  We have watched videos, read articles, and had many discussions and sharing sessions.  They will have to choose a position and we will be writing opinion essays about it.  I am curious how many changed their minds.  I will take a final picture when done and post.

During read-aloud, we are reading a book called "Because of Mr. Terupt".  Click the book below to read more about it.   The book is awesome because it is about seven different kids experiencing fifth grade and their interactions.  Each child is unique and his/her own quirks about them.  The beauty of this book is that each kid can identity with at least part of one character if not more.  The characters change through the story...the kids seem to love it so far!


Later on this week, we will learn about tone and mood.  Ask you child about the Mary Poppins trailers at the end of the week.  We will also discuss how visuals affect the story by reading a story called, "Sweet Music in Harlem."

Reading Counts goals are due by March 11.  There is an incentive if they finish them early by March 4...

...your child will be excused and earn a 10/10 for the last reading log of the third quarter.  

*That means, he/she won’t have to do the last one due March 11!  Any questions, see Mrs. Skeels.

Chocolate Milk Debate

Should we continue to serve chocolate milk in our schools?

This is the question we will be researching and debating in class. First, I had all of the kids decide which point of view they support. Then they wrote a quick response about it.  And then, our research began. 

Mrs. Will's Random Acts of Kindness Project

Mrs. Stoyle's Random Acts of Kindness Project

Mrs. Skeels' Random Acts of Kindness Project

update 2-10

This week we started our opinion writing.  We have practiced writing about our position on school uniforms and in groups, we looked at some other issues too.  Students either wrote about fifth graders needing a set bed time, being able to eat lunch in the cafeteria or all over the school, and if tests are a good use of time.  They presented to the class their positions.  We have been practicing writing a claim, including reasons followed by examples that prove it, and ending with how our claims benefit others.  Tomorrow, kids will get to brainstorm topics they are interested in writing about.  I will say, they love arguing!!  They get very excited and will clap at the end of persuasive paragraphs that really move them.

In reading this week, we worked on the February edition of StoryWorks.  We read a story about the Lusitania, a ship that sunk in 1915, three years after the Titanic.  This one sunk, however, from being hit by a torpedo.  Today, we read a fictional story called The Cow's Horn which was about a present a boy received from a friend.  The present, the cow's horn, represented doing what you love and how hard work can earn rewards.  Tomorrow, we will look at it more closely.

Next week, we will start talking about mood and tone along with visual elements.  Look for the next post's links to two different movie trailers about Mary Poppins...they are really good!

Earlier this week, I met with each child and gave them an update on their reading counts points.  Most students are moving along and reading lots of books!! I have been impressed this quarter so far with all of the books the kids are reading.

A few reminders:
-Google Logs are due each Friday including this week.
-Reading Counts points are due by March 10
-Yearbook forms are due by February 29
-Valentine's Day party is tomorrow at 2:45

Will's Number the Stars Projects

Stoyle Number the Stars Project

V

Skeels Number the Stars Projects