Parents-
I was glad to hear everyone survived the holidays and Black Friday without any injuries. My family celebrated by passing the flu around. I was actually looking forward to the week back so I could get out of the house.
Here are the email highlights:
· Symphony trip next Tuesday (December 9)
· Social Studies test Thursday (December 11)
· Science Test Tuesday (December 16)
· They may have math work on IXL.com if they don't finish in school.
· Roll Tide!
As always, the kids have been working hard. As a matter of fact, they've almost all completed our Social Studies and Science units BEFORE the deadline. The test for Social Studies is Thursday, December 11. In our discussions, they seem to have a great grasp on it all. Our Science test is the following Tuesday, December 16. Again, they seem to have mastered the Matter information. We had a few start off slow but they're picking up the pace now.
In Math, we've been working on adding/subtracting with decimals. I gave the kids another math skill benchmark and I'm assigning them IXL skills. At this point, I'd like to individualize the math instruction as much as possible. Some are ready to move beyond what we're working on and others need to solidify their foundations a little more before moving on. We'll continue with our math instruction in class and small groups (or individual), but the assignments each day/night may be different for each student. With the IXL skills, if they're not able to master the skill during school they will need to work on it at home (just be prepared for the "But Mr. Brazile doesn't give homework" arguments). I've told them I expect it to be mastered and they may need to complete at home so they've heard it from me.
In reading, we'll continue working on our various skills through novel study and skill work.
With writing, I'm having them focus on longer pieces of expository writing using specific examples to support their points. Running into a lot of bullet points and sentence fragments for their writing, so we'll focus on this until it's where we need it.
Next Tuesday, December 9 is our Performing Arts field trip to the symphony. We'll eat lunch early (around 10) that day, then board the bus to the symphony. We always arrive as it starts and then we leave right as it ends. Not sure how our timing is always so close, but I doubt it changes this year. We'll return around 1:30. I ask that the students dress appropriately. Some require their best outfits, but that's really a family decision in my opinion. We're going to the symphony with a bunch of other 5th graders around the county. On one hand, it's the symphony. On the other, it's with a couple hundred 10-11 year olds. No tank tops, please.
Feel free to send any questions my way (about school). Actually, I'll answer any question, but I may have to make up the answer if it's not about school.
Have a good weekend and Roll Tide!
Shane Brazile
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