Friday, September 27th, 2019

Happy Friday Families!

Please read below to find out about all of the wonderful learning that is going on in 5th grade at Ivy Hall!

Literacy

*After finishing our novel, Night of the Spadefoot Toad, we read a short story called “Shells” and an excerpt from the book Hatchet. After reading each of these additional texts we have been making connections between all three pieces. We have been comparing and contrasting characters, settings, and events, within and across the three texts. We have also continued to work on using quoted evidence to support our thinking.

*The book fair starts next week with a preview day on Tuesday.

Writing

*Students have continued to work on narrative writing. They have continued to use graphic organizers to plan, then developed their stories through the use of a detailed sequence of events and effective character development. Students have also continued to be encouraged to add dialogue into their writing to enhance the reader’s understanding of their characters, setting, and events.

Math

*This week we began our second math unit focusing on addition and subtraction of fractions. This week we have been utilizing money and time to model the operations. The models have provided a springboard for teaching students to make common denominators before adding or subtracting. As we come to the end of this week students are looking at the models to determine what type of problems they would be useful for.

Social Studies

*Last week we concluded our discussions on why America declared its independence from Britain. As we move forward in the next portion of our social studies unit, our focus will be on the responsibilities and powers of officials in the United States after gaining independence. Much of the conversation will center on understanding the powers and responsibilities of each of the three branches of our government.

Science

*We have continued our unit on ecosystems by learning about the difference between producers and consumers. When learning about consumers we got an opportunity to dissect owl pellets in class. Students thoroughly enjoyed looking through the pellet at all of the bones to see the animals the owl ate. After dissection we discussed the flow of energy through food chains in ecosystems.

What Else Is Happening In Class?

Our students earned the "Golden Shelf Marker" Award for exhibiting exemplary behavior in the Learning Center!

Our students also dissected owl pellets in Science in order to have a deeper understanding of the flow of energy between living organisms.

Upcoming Events

*Sept. 30 - No School

*Oct. 1 - Kirberger / Holzhauer Field Trip - BRING A SACK LUNCH

*Oct. 3 - Ice Cream Social / Book Fair - 6pm-8pm

*Oct. 4 - Pangilinan / Dalton Field Trip - BRING A SACK LUNCH

*Oct. 9-14 No School

Friendly Reminders

** Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack. Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack! Please also remember that we do have students in our room with allergies, so snacks need to be allergy friendly. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding appropriate classroom snacks.

** Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued partnership and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Friday, September 13th, 2019

Happy Friday Families!

What a perfect morning for our annual Ivy Hall Fun Run!  It was so great to see our students running their hardest.  At your convenience, please scroll down to see a couple of pictures from the event!

Please read below to find out about all of the wonderful learning that is going on in 5th grade at Ivy Hall!

Literacy

*We are finishing up our first shared reading book of the year—Night of the Spadefoot Toad by Bill Harley. We’ve used this text as a springboard for many reading and writing learning targets thus far.  This book has also connected nicely to our study of ecosystems in science. Be sure to ask your student about what he/she has learned about vernal pools and spadefoot toads!

Writing

*Students are in the process of finishing their first narrative stories of the year! After utilizing graphic organizers to plan, students developed their stories through the use of a detailed sequence of events and effective character development. Encouraging students to infuse dialogue into their writing was also an emphasis.  We will be writing yet another narrative in order to apply what we’ve learned and produce an even higher quality sample.

Math

*Our students are continuing their work with writing and evaluating numerical expressions with parentheses as well as demonstrating their understanding of how find the volume of rectangular prisms. We also began our “Number Corner” routine which takes place each day for about 20 minutes outside of our regular math block. Here, students practice skills in such areas as computational fluency and problem solving (in addition to several others) on a daily basis. 

Social Studies

*We started our discussion on the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches of government and in different times and places.  Over the next two weeks, the focus of our discussions will revolve around why America declared its independence from Britain.

Science

*We are continuing our focus on understanding the characteristics of  various ecosystems around the world. Our first science investigation involved “traveling” to virtual ecosystems and studying the interactions between living and nonliving organisms.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 30 - No School/District Holiday

Friendly Reminders

** Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack.  Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

** Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.


Fun Run Pictures!

Fun Run Before...

...Fun Run After!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Thank you for your continued partnership and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan

Friday, March 15th, 2019

Happy Friday Families!

March has definitely roared in like a lion! Let’s hope that pleasant weather is soon on the horizon! We have only one week until spring break and we planning to work hard right up until next Friday! 

As we progress through the coming months of school, we will have many special events and dates that will be important to mark on calendars. Please pay special attention to the dates listed at the bottom of the blog so that you can stay informed!

Please also note that student council is working with Bernie’s Book Bank in order to collect gently used books for donation. Bernie’s Book Bank is a wonderful organization that does a great job of getting books into the hands of children who really need them! If you have any books to donate, please send them with your student to school! We have collection bins located throughout the school for this purpose.

Here is what we’ve been working on in each of our content areas:

Literacy

This week in shared reading we are continuing our theme of “Exploring New Worlds” as we begin reading a book titled Pedro’s Journal, a story that depicts the exploration of Christopher Columbus. Interestingly, it is told through the perspective of a young boy who traveled with him as a crew member. Much of our learning as we read will focus on author’s perspective, as well as determining theme. 

Writing

We are using the above-mentioned story, Pedro’s Journal, as a springboard for our next opinion essay. Here, students will be utilizing multiple sources in order to research about Christopher Columbus and his explorations. In doing so they will decide whether they feel that Columbus should be considered more of a hero or a villain. Students will utilize the strategies we’ve been learning throughout the year in order to compose a well-written paper that contains evidence and reasons to support their opinions.

Math

We have officially finished our focus on multiplication and division of fractions. We have now started Unit 6, which will emphasize skills in the area of geometry. Students will practice classifying figures in a hierarchy based on properties. They will also locate points on a coordinate plane based on ordered pairs. In addition, students will identify patterns between corresponding terms and show their ability to generate numerical patterns when given specific rules.  

Social Studies

We will soon begin out unit on Economics. We will study how goods and services work in a market economy and we will eventually study how people of the past were positively and negatively impacted by cultural exchanges.

Science

We have started our new science unit on Changes in Matter. We will be conducting some engaging investigations where students will identify various powders by their attributes and reactions to substances.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, March 19—6th Grade Literacy Placement Test

Wednesday, March 20—Illinois Science Assessment (taken in a.m.)

Friday, March 22—Last Day before Spring Break

Wednesday, April 3—First Day back after Spring Break 

Friendly Reminders

**Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack. Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!

**Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

Happy Friday Families,

This week Trimester 2 has come to and end and we are ready to kick off our third and final Trimester next week! Here is what we’ve been working on in each of our content areas:

Literacy

*This week we started a new unit in reading. We have started reading a nonfiction text, “Explorers: Triumphs and Troubles”. In this text we have been learning about different explorers throughout history and the positive and negative impacts of their explorations. While reading this text we are working on looking at how authors use reasons and evidence to support their points. We are also continuing to work on identifying multiple main ideas within a text and the supporting details.

Writing

*In writing we have been working on analyzing the author’s writing style through our Explorer’s books. By understanding the author’s style we can better understand their point of view and purpose for writing.

Math

*Within Unit 5, we are continuing to work on multiplying fractions. We’ve continued to practice multiplying fractions by fractions. The students have continued to work on creating diagrams using the area model. We have also been practicing our skills with fraction multiplication story problems.

Social Studies

*As we move into the third trimester we are beginning our unit on economics. We are looking forward to our trade fair that will occur later in the trimester in relation to this unit. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting event!

Science

*This week we have wrapped up our unit about the Earth, the Moon, and the Stars. Our next unit will be on Matter. Students will start by identifying and comparing and contrasting the various states of matter.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, February 26 -- PTO Special Lunch

Friday, March 1 -- Teacher Institute Day // No School

Monday, March 4 -- No School

Thursday, March 7 -- Early Release - Collaborative Conferences

Friday, March 8 -- No School - Collaborative Conferences

Friendly Reminders

**Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack. Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!

**Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.

**Don’t forget to sign up for your collaborative conference. Students are working hard to prepare for these conferences and are excited to tell you about their learning and progress in 5th grade. Use this link for our class:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e44a4ab2fa6f58-march19

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you and enjoy your weekend!

Friday, February 8th, 2019

Happy Friday Families,

With the chilly temperatures and the rain and ice, it seems as if Spring can't come soon enough. Trimester 2 is quickly wrapping up, and Trimester 3 is quickly on its way.  

Here is what we’ve been working on in each of our content areas:

Literacy

*We are continuing to read through Angel Island, which discusses the journey and challenges of Chinese immigrants as they entered the United States. To dig deeper into the topic of Angel Island, students also began reading about Li Keng Wong's personal story as a Chinese immigrant. By exposing students to first and second hand resources, we are continuing to explore more about perspective and point of view. As students are reading about Angel Island, many of them made connections to Ellis Island, which they learned about in 4th grade. 

Writing

*Recently, students read Real-Life Superheroes, which they learned about honorable names such as Rosa Parks, Richard Martin, Raoul Wallenberg, and Thomas Barnardo. From these four "superheroes", students chose a person to conduct research and create a Keynote presentation to highlight his/her biography and accomplishments. Be sure to ask your student about his/her chosen superhero! 

Math

*Within Unit 5, we are continuing to work on multiplying fractions. This week, we've practiced multiplying fractions by fractions. The students are working on creating diagrams using the area model and geoboards to represent dimensions and the area of rectangles. As we head into the next week, students will be practicing their skills with fraction multiplication story problems. 

Social Studies

*We are beginning to learn about patriotism. Previously, we've learn about liberty and the Pledge of Allegiance. Connecting those two topics, students will explore the meaning and importance of patriotism. They will also discuss how people in the United States can show patriotism to their nation. 

Science

*We have started our unit about the Earth, the Moon, and the Stars. This week, we learned about the sun and other stars. Students read about how the brightness of star depends on their proximity to the Earth. We even learned that one star (Rigel) is 773 light years away from the Earth. This means that the light left that star 773 years ago! 

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, February 12  -- 5th Grade Band Concert (Twin Groves) @ 6:30 pm
Thursday, February 14 -- Valentine's Day Parties @ 1:45 pm
Monday, February 18 -- President's Day // No School
Tuesday, February 19 -- PTO Book Fair @ 6:00-8:00 pm
Tuesday, February 19 -- Ivy Hall Celebrates Diversity @ 6:30-8:00 pm
Friday, February 22 -- Half Day Dismissal @ 11:45 pm // End of Trimester 2
Tuesday, February 26 -- PTO Special Lunch
Friday, March 1 -- Teacher Institute Day // No School

Friendly Reminders
**Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack. Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!

**Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you and enjoy your weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan

Friday, January 11th, 2019

Happy New Year Families!

We've hit the ground running into the new year! We enjoyed sharing our winter break adventures with each other, and now we are ready to resume the school year with renewed energy and enthusiasm!

Please read below to find out the specifics of what we've been working on!

Reading:

During shared reading we have been delving into a  nonfiction book entitled Real Life Superheroes.  Be sure to ask your student about some of the amazing individuals which are highlighted in this book! We are using this text as a springboard to work on literacy targets in the areas of finding main idea, summarizing and comparing and contrasting texts of similar topics. 

Writing: Along with reading about Real-life superheroes, we will also be writing about them! Students are selecting an individual in history who they feel has made an outstanding contribution to society--someone who they feel portrays the characteristics of a real-life superhero. After researching about this individual's life, students will be writing an essay which highlights the important biographical, as well as the reasons this person should be considered a hero. Upon completion, students will share their essays with each other so that we can all hear about the amazing accomplishments of these remarkable people!

Math:  This week we've been continuing the work we started prior to break with multi-digit multiplication. Upon completion of our unit, students should feel comfortable in utilizing the traditional method, as well as other algorithms such as partial products. Ideally, students will show proficiency in being able to solve two and three digit multiplication problems with accuracy. Those students who have already demonstrated mastery of such skills have been working on extending their skills with related challenges.

Social Studies:  Students have been "digging deeper" into the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. We've done a variety of activities to increase each student's understanding of what they are saying during our daily recitation of the Pledge. In coming weeks we will also be learning about patriotism and further explore the liberties we value in our country. During this learning, we will compare our liberties with certain countries that are not as fortunate to possess such rights and freedoms.

Science:   In science we are starting our unit on the Earth, Moon and Stars. Within this unit we will explore such concepts as gravity, how distance affects the brightness of stars, and how day and night occur. 

** Please keep in mind that on MOST days students will be going outside for recess. Please make sure that your child brings appropriate outdoor clothing, including gloves, to school each day.

**Band and orchestra students should remember to be prepared with their instruments and music books on the days that lessons take place. Students are not able to call home once the school day begins.

Important upcoming dates to remember:

Wednesday, Jan. 16th--4/5th grade Orchestra concert at Twin Groves @ 7:00 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 21st--No school Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday, Jan. 29 PTO Special Lunch/Early release @ 2:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan

Sunday, December 16th, 2018

Happy Bears Victory Sunday!

Winter break is quickly approaching and students have been hard at work. As the calendar year comes to a close, I can't help but look back on all the wonderful things students have done so far this year! With winter MAP testing finished up, students have been doing some reflection on the work that they have done so far this year and the progress they have made towards meeting their goals. This reflection and goal setting is important for student growth and will continue as we move forward into the New Year. 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful winter break and that you are able to take time to rest and be surrounded by peace, love and joy!

Here are the targets we are focusing on as we continue to work through the second grading period:

Literacy
*Through our ReadyGen lessons students read a historical fiction piece titled "Operation Clean Sweep". This story was told from the point of view of a young boy living in Umatilla, Oregon in 1916. The story tells how the women in the town had recently earned the right to vote and had decided to run in the election for local political offices and surprised everyone when they won! After reading and analyzing this story, students spent time comparing and contrasting this story with our previous story "Road to Freedom" and looking at how the two stories approach similar themes of "people fighting for equality". We are now reading and analyzing a biography with a similar theme about Cesar Chavez, and we will proceed to compare that story to the previous two. Through all lessons we have been working on summarizing, comparing and contrasting, and point of view.

Writing
*We have finished our opinion papers based on our reading of The Road to Freedom, and are currently writing opinion papers on the effects of video games on kids. Students conducted research on the pros and cons of video games and are now writing opinion pieces using the evidence they discovered.

Math
*We have started our next unit on multiplying multi-digit whole numbers. In this unit students will learn a variety of strategies for multiplying multi-digit whole numbers, but ultimately will be responsible for knowing how to solve problems using the standard algorithm. As we work through this unit, students are also being exposed to and practicing multiplication involving decimals and division strategies.

Social Studies
*We are starting to dive into our new unit on government/civics in the upcoming weeks, and our students will begin to start digging deeper into the concepts of patriotism.

Science
*We are reaching the end of our unit on Earth Systems. The unit discussed the four main systems of Earth: the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. In addition to learning about their attributes and characteristics, we also identified interactions that occur between the systems. We also looked at how humans impact the Earth's system, particularly the affects of farming and industry. Students conducted an investigation to model the effects of the mining industry on the geosphere by "mining" chocolate chips from chocolate chip (safe snack list approved-"Enjoy Life" brand) cookies!

Upcoming Events

December 21 (Friday): Winter Parties @ 1:45 PM 

December 22 - January 6: WINTER BREAK

January 8 - Feb 15: 5th Grade Parents don't forget to provide the office with your proof of residency. See Mr. Hanrahan's blog for more details: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih-principal/blog/1617015/december-7-2018 

February 19 - Ivy Hall Celebrates Diversity 

Friendly Reminders

**Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack.  Nothing feeds the brain better than something healthy!

**Please continue to have your child practice his or her multiplication facts up to 12.

**If students want to play in the snow outside, they must have the appropriate snow gear in order to do so. Students must be equipped with snow pants, snow boots, jacket, gloves, and hat.