ESS 5TH GRADE NEWSLETTER January 2019 “Happy 2019 “ In this Issue: Ms. Cheatham’ s Math News Ms. Eggleston’s Science & Social Studies Updates Ms. Jack’s “Read All About it!” Homework Reminders : Read each night for 20 minutes Practice math skills Come to class prepared with pencils, notebooks, journals etc… Happy New Year! Welcome to a new year and a fresh start for 2019! We have completed our 1st semester of learning and are gearing up for the next wave of learning and increasing our skills. We are looking forward to continued success and academic growth as we get ready for 3rd quarter. Information regarding the learning goals by Measurement Topics for Math, Reading and Writing as well as the new skills for Science, will be explored as well as the thinking and academic success skills will be incorporated for the next quarter. As winter is upon us remember to “bundle up and dress for the weather”. 1/1 New Year’s day …no school 1/8 PTA mtg. 1/15 Dr. Martin L. King, jr. birthday 1/15 New TPMS parent orientation mtg. 1/21 Holiday observance of Dr. King birthday…. No school 1/25 ½ day –Early Dismissal 1/28 No school for students (Professional Day for teachers) 1/29 3rd Marking period begins ESS 5TH GRADE NEWSLETTER Happy Birthday to our January “Pandas”! Contact us at: 240-740-0620 carol.d.eggleston@mcpsmd.net rashanda.jack@mcpsmd.net amanda.cheatham@mcpsmd.net

Math – Believe it or not we are now almost half way through the school year. In Math 5 we have completed multiplying whole numbers using the Standard Algorithm, and finding the volume of a rectangular prism. We will finish the quarter by evaluating numerical expressions, and using decimal numbers (add, subtract, multiply, and divide) using picture models. In Math 5/6 we have completed multiplying and dividing with fractions and whole numbers and will now focus on finding the area of rectangles (using fractions), creating line plots (using fractions), and adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with decimal numbers. As our Google Classrooms get set up we hope to offer some more online assignments that students can work on at school or at home.

Reading with Ms. Jack Students read and analyzed adventure stories. They were able to demonstrate flexibility as they adapted ideas, questions and strategies during the reading process. We began the marking period examining the characteristics of adventure stories and describing the impact of a narrator’s point of view. Students were able to accurately quote text when drawing inferences and use details to determine the theme of a story.   Students focus on reading traditional stories, specifically tall tales and legends. Students will examine the characteristics of tall tales and the use of figurative language, specifically hyperbole, to recount the story. Key details are then synthesized to determine theme. Students analyze elements of plot, with emphasis on the exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action, and look at how the narrator’s point of view influences events. The majority of reading instruction is provided during small-group instruction. Guided reading provides an opportunity for students to develop skills and strategies while reading instructional level text. Sample learning tasks may be used or modified for small group instruction.

Science and Social Studies with Ms. Eggleston We participated in a very interesting study which included Matter and its Interactions, and Energy, Waves and their applications. Students were able to “see” waves in action and create their own simulations of wave energy.   In Social Studies we will continue our discussion of the concepts of “conflict vs. compromise”. After visiting the formation of the states our discussions will include how issues and concerns of the new republic led to laws and expectations of government. We explored the notion of “why does government exist and what is its purpose?”