Friday, February 17th, 2023

Happy Friday Families!

Trimester 2 is coming to an end next week. Starting this week, and finishing next week, our students will complete several literacy/writing assessments to demonstrate their progress on T2 learning targets.  They have worked so incredibly hard!

Check below to see what we've covered over the last couple of weeks:

Reading

We just wrapped up our exciting novel, George’s Secret Key to the Universe. The kids enjoyed the plot twists and the character development of George, Eric, and Dr. Reeper all throughout the book! They especially fell in love with George, who discovered the mysteries of the universe while he learned about various aspects such as stars, planets, and moons.  This is the first in a series of books.  Students showed so much interest that they have asked for other books in the series.  Unfortunately our library does not have any copies of the other books, but your local library should have a few copies available!

Writing

Connecting to the theme of the universe, the students just finished their own science fiction narratives. They brainstormed characters, events, and others ideas to include within their stories.  It was so neat to see their creative juices flow!  Remember to ask your student all about the sci-fi narrative he/she wrote!

Math

We're currently strengthening our abilities to multiply fractions while utilizing the area model and the traditional method. Most recently, we have been learning different methods to multiply mixed numbers by a fraction, using both the area model and improper fractions. We're learning how to solve these problems utilizing models, as well as more traditional strategies. We will be moving on to division of fractions next week!

**Please note: Students will take the first math placement test next week, on Wednesday, February 22nd.

Social Studies

We are wrapping up our second unit in social studies, on the Colonial Era. Most recently, we have explored the way that slavery and social structures influenced the colonial era. We will wrap up our unit by creating quilt squares as a project to demonstrate our understanding of how complexities of the past can help us meet challenges of the present. We are excited to share these at conferences next month!

Important Dates

Monday, February 20th- No School (President’s Day)

Wednesday, February 22nd- 6th Grade Placement Test- Math

Friday, February 24th- Student Council Mismatch Day

Friday, February 24th- Trimester 2 Ends

Friday, March 3rd- No School (Institute Day)

Monday, March 6th- No School (Pulaski Day)

Tuesday, March 14th- Early Release

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.

**Band and orchestra students should remember to be prepared with their instruments and music books on the days that lessons take place.

Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan

Monday, January 23rd, 2023

Happy Monday Families!

We've officially hit the halfway mark of the school year. Entering into the latter half of the school year, we're looking forward to all of the learning, growth, and fun that comes with it!

Read below to find out what we've been learning!

Literacy

After we returned from break, we continued to practice analyzing multiple perspectives using nonfiction texts. With various reading passages, we compared and contrasted different author's points of view regarding topics such as driverless cars and paying students for good grades. The students definitely had their fair share of opinions about getting paid for grades! Both of our current shared texts, Beyond the Horizon and an excerpt of Pedro's Journal, feature characters who find themselves discovering valuable lessons during their exploration of different lands. With each text, we will work on multiple literacy skills, such as identifying character point of view and determining theme.

Writing

Within analytical writing, we worked on effectively organizing our paragraphs, crafting engaging hooks and closures, providing accurate supporting details, and elaborating on big ideas with further explanations. As we move into our new unit, we will be shifting our focus from analytic writing to narrative writing with a science fiction based prompt. This will tie in nicely with our upcoming novel, George's Secret Key to the Universe!

Math

Last week, we wrapped up our unit on multi-digit multiplication using the standard algorithm. Students worked to successfully solve multiplication problems by following the procedure of the standard algorithm and ensuring they arrive at accurate solutions by attending to precision errors. This week, we will start our unit on multiplying and dividing fractions. Throughout the unit, students will be using equations along with labeled models to multiply and divide fractions. We will start this unit by learning how to multiply whole numbers and fractions. 

Social Studies

In this unit, we are focusing on the Colonial Era. We discussed the motivations behind why European countries had a strong desire to expand their empires into the "New World" during the age of exploration. We also analyzed the effects and impacts of colonization in North and South America during this time in history. 

 

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, January 24 - Early Release (Dismissal @ 2:05 PM)

• Friday, January 27 - Pajamas Day / PTO Special Lunch

• Tuesday, February 14 - Early Release (Dismissal @ 2:05 PM)

• Friday, February 17 - Half Day (Dismissal @ 11:45 AM)

• Monday, February 20 - No School (President's Day)

• Friday, February 24 - Trimester 2 Reporting Period Ends

Friendly Reminders

• As winter weather approaches, please make sure your student is properly dressed for recess.

• Please remind your student to charge his/her iPad and Logitech Crayon every night

• Please remember to send your student with a healthy snack - nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

• Please continue to have your student practice their multiplication facts up to 12

• If your child participates in orchestra or band, please remind him/her to bring their instrument on their lesson day

Have a wonderful week!

Enzie Pangilinan

Thursday, December 22nd, 2022

Happy Thursday Families!

As the calendar year comes to a close, I can't help but look back on all the wonderful things our students have done so far this school year!  As we reflect on the hard work that they have done so far this school year and the progress they have made, our students will leap into the new year and continue to work towards meeting their academic and social-emotional goals. 

Here are the concepts we are focusing on as we continue to work after Winter Break:

Literacy
Our students just wrapped up reading our shared text, "Angel Island".  The text told about the history and hardships surrounding immigrating through Angel Island in the early 20th century.  As we worked through the text, we practiced identifying while comparing and contrasting the author's point of view and the evidence they used to support their points.  When we return from break, our students will continue to practice this skill using various non-fiction texts and take their end of cycle assessment to test this standard. 

Writing
Our students are working to wrap up their current analytical essays.   The prompt given was "Which classroom pet would be best for the classroom?".  As we work towards their end product, we will continue to focus on students' organization, explaining how the evidence in their papers support the key ideas and the overall thesis, and writing effective and engaging lasting impressions within their conclusions.  

Math
Students have worked hard to master the standard algorithm of multiplication for both 2-digit by 2-digit and 3-digit by 2-digit problems.  Students took a checkpoint on this skill yesterday and the results of the assessment will be available after the break.  We will spend the week when we return from Winter Break to work on long division.  This skill will not be formally assessed for mastery until closer to the end of the year.  After multiplying and dividing whole numbers, our next unit will focus on multiplying and dividing fractions.

Social Studies
When we return from break, we will shift our focus to the Colonial Era.  Through reading various texts, discussions, and activities, our students will work to answer how facing the complexities of America's past could help us to meet the challenges of the present?

Science
We are starting to wrap up our studies about the Earth's systems.  Recently, we analyzed how farming and industries negatively impact Earth's four systems (biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere).  We also discussed ways people could protect the Earth, which involved the conservation of resources, such as fossil fuels.  In our investigation yesterday, we took on the role of engineers and used various materials to design a water filter that could remove dirt and produce clean water.  Through this investigation, we explored the consequences of pollution and ways to protect the Earth's systems.

Upcoming Events

December 22nd - January 9th(Thursday): WINTER BREAK

January 16th: No School (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

Friendly Reminders

*As winter weather approaches, please make sure your student is properly dressed for recess.

*Please remind your student to charge his/her iPad and Logitech Crayon every night.

*Orchestra & Band Parents: Please make sure your students have their instrument on assigned days.

*Please remember to send your student with a healthy snack - nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

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

I hope everyone has a wonderful Winter Break and that you are able to take time to rest and be surrounded by Peace, Love and Joy!

Enzie Pangilinan

Sunday, December 4th, 2022

Happy Sunday Families!

Happy December! I hope that everyone had a wonderful, restful Thanksgiving break! Included within this week's email that was sent, there is a family letter regarding our upcoming unit in math, which focuses on multi-digit multiplication. We also have MAP testing this week, starting with Reading tomorrow, Monday, December 5th.

 

As we begin to wrap up 2022, here's what's going on within our classroom!

 

Literacy

This week, our shared text featured an excerpt of the novel, Hatchet. The text tells the story of Brian, a thirteen-year-old boy, who encounters a completely unexpected and unfortunate event that leaves him stranded in the Canadian wilderness to survive by himself with nothing but a hatchet. Using Hatchet, we discussed Brian's thoughts, actions, and feelings in order to analyze the challenges he faced and determine the overall theme. We also practiced our summarizing skills by identifying the main events and character responses in the text.

 

Writing

Our analytical writing focuses on the students' opinions of what type of class pet we should get. After researching, students have been utilizing graphic organizers to organize information into reasons and evidence that support their animal. We will be practicing more with writing an engaging introduction, keeping our body paragraphs clear and organized, and writing strong conclusions. Ask your student which class pet they chose and why!

 

Math

We wrapped up our math unit on decimals and place values by reviewing learned concepts and taking the end of unit assessment. The Unit 3 targets included reading/writing decimals, comparing decimals, rounding decimals, and adding/subtracting decimals. Our upcoming unit encompasses mulit-digit multiplication. Students will be learning how to use the standard algorithm to multiply. In Number Corner, we will measure our height and feet length within inches. Throughout the month of December, we will regularly plot the data onto a line plot. We will also be plotting the data onto a scatter plot to analyze the correlation between height and foot length.

 

Science

We are beginning to get deeper into our unit about the Earth's systems. We have learned about Earth’s four systems (biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere). We will be analyzing how farming and industries negatively impact those four systems. We also discussed ways that people could protect the Earth, which involves the conservation of resources, such as fossil fuels.

 

Upcoming Events

Monday, December 5th- MAP Testing

Tuesday, December 6th- MAP Testing

Tuesday, December 13th -  Early Release (Dismissal @ 2:05pm)

Friday, December 23rd - Sunday, January 8th - Winter Break

 

Friendly Reminders

• As winter weather approaches, please make sure your student is properly dressed for recess.

• Please remind your student to charge his/her iPad and Logitech Crayon every night.

• Orchestra & Band Parents: Please make sure your students have their instrument on assigned days.

• Please remember to send your student with a healthy snack - nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

• Please continue to have your student practice their multiplication facts up to 12.

Monday, October 31st, 2022

Happy Halloween Families!

How did Frankenstein get around town in October? He drove a monster truck! This week, we're heading full speed into November and we're starting to wrap up Trimester 1. It's crazy to believe that we're almost through a third of the 22-23 school year! Included in this update, you will find the family letter for our upcoming unit in math on place value and decimals, which we just started at the end of this week. 

Here are the targets we are currently/planning to work on throughout the next couple of weeks:

Literacy

Last week, we started reading a nonfiction text titled Explorers: Triumphs and Troubles. This text highlights the details and impact of various explorers' expeditions throughout history. As we read the text, we will continue to work on identifying the author's main point(s) while determining reasons and evidence as support. To practice determining the author's main point(s), our students are asking themselves, "What does the author MOST want us to know or believe about what was written?" We will continue our work on this learning target using various texts.

Writing

We are continuing our writing on the positive effects of cellphones on children in school. After collecting and organizing their research, students worked to draft their extended response. During instruction, they were guided through the process of writing an extended response, which included an engaging introduction, well-supported body paragraphs, and an effective conclusion. After our students have completed a rough draft, they will work on revising and editing their writing, making sure that they include all necessary components of an analytical response. 

Math

We wrapped up our second unit, which focused on adding and subtracting fractions, and we started our next unit on decimals. This unit includes building students' knowledge of place value, powers of ten, reading/writing decimals, and adding/subtracting decimals. Although a portion of this unit is instructed in Trimester 1, the learning targets will be reported out on the report cards for Trimester 2. In Number Corner this month, weighed two carrots regularly to collect and plot data onto a double line graph. Both of our carrots have drastically changed in appearance and weight since the beginning of the month! To extend our investigation on the carrots, we decided to put them back into water to see what will happen! Be sure to ask your student about his/her prediction on how the carrots will change after being submerged in water for a few days! 

Social Studies

During our first unit, we we engaged within inquiry-based learning by participating in discussions and research. We've been focusing on the essential question, "How does a relationship to the land shape culture and way of life?" by learning about Native American tribes based on cultural areas and regions. Within groups, students were tasked to collect information and create a slideshow presentation on how different aspects of Native American life (e.g. food, shelter, tools, clothing, etc.) were influenced by the environment they inhabited. Groups did a great job presenting their findings with the class! 

Upcoming Events

• Monday, October 31 - Halloween Parade & Classroom Parties

• Tuesday, November 1 - PTO Special Lunch

• Friday, November 11 - Trimester 1 Reporting Period Ends
  

• Friday, November 11 - School Spirit Day (PJ Day)

Friendly Reminders

• Please remind your student to charge his/her iPad and Logitech Crayon every night

• Please remember to send your student with a healthy snack - nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

• Please continue to have your student practice their multiplication facts up to 12

• If your child participates in orchestra or band, please remind him/her to bring their instrument on their lesson day.

Thank you for your continued partnership and Happy Halloween!

Enzie Pangilinan

Friday, October 14th, 2022 And Event Pictures!

Happy Friday Families!

 

It was great seeing you at conferences last week to discuss your student's academic and social emotional progress.  I loved that I was able to learn more about each student through the conversations we shared!  Now that we're deep into the first grading period, I am excited to see how much more our students will grow throughout the year.  There is so much to teach and so much to learn, but so little time!

 

Here are the concepts we will focus on as we work through the next couple of weeks:

 

Literacy

Our students started our new shared text, The Road to Freedom. The story is narrated from the point of view of a young girl, Emma, who is traveling on the Underground Railroad with her mother in hopes of making it North to freedom. Our students are highly engaged throughout text and are having many great discussions related to topics raised within the story.  Using this shared text, we will work on literacy skills such as summarizing and identifying narrator's point of view.

 

Writing

We started to lay the groundwork for analytical writing this week.  We revisited the differences between opinion and informative writing and will start to plan our first analytical paper, focusing on the topic “The Benefits Of Cell Phones In Schools”.  Students will work through the writing process step by step, writing the introduction, working on body paragraphs, and then conclusion. They will end with editing their work.

 

Math

We are continuing to focus on fractions as we make our way through our second unit in math. Our students are starting to move away from utilizing money and time to model the operations and are learning how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators by finding common denominators and equivalent fractions (5.NF.1). Over the next two weeks, we will apply and stretch our knowledge in order to solve fractions story problems (5.NF.2). 

Science

We wrapped up our discussions about ecosystems.  Over the last couple of weeks, we learned about consumers and the flow of energy through an ecosystem.  We learned that consumers must eat other animals in order to survive.  We also learned that the flow of energy starts at the sun and flows to the producers and then to the consumers.  Various discussions, activities, and investigations allowed us to create food chains that show the flow of energy from the sun to the owl.  

 

Social Studies

This week, we started our new Social Studies program!  The program focuses on students' voices and choices and the ability to connect to their own experiences and interests.  Through the inquiry-based learning model and engaging investigations, our students will build knowledge in history, civics, geography, and economics.  Our first discussions have focused around the perceptions of Indigenous American Cultures and learning how to formulate questions to help guide our students' learning on how to better honor the cultural heritage of this land.

 

 

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, October 25th - Early Release

Tuesday, November 8th - No School (Election Day)

 

 

Friendly Reminders

**Please remind your student to charge his/her iPad and Logitech Crayon every night.

**If your child participates in orchestra or band, please remind him/her to bring their instrument on their lesson day.

**Please remember to send your student with a healthy snack - nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!

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

Pictures from our Back to School Assembly and Fun Run!

Friday, September 1st, 2022

Happy Friday Families!

Welcome to the first installment of our bi-monthly blog post! Our school year is off and running! 

It was an absolute pleasure meeting many of you at curriculum night last week. I hope you found it to be an informative and useful evening.  Your involvement and support is greatly appreciated! It is my goal to keep you informed and up-to-date about the learning that is taking place in the classroom, as well as making sure you know about important dates and and events.

Here are the targets we are currently / planning on working to master over the next couple of weeks:

Literacy

Our students are currently working on finding the theme of fictional stories and passages. This will lead to learning about how to summarize important events and noting the reactions and responses of important characters. We are also working on “quoting accurately” within a text which involves students supplying text support for their answers. We are greatly enjoying our shared reading book, Night of The Spadefoot Toads. Because some of the chapters are quite lengthy, students are being required to read portions at home. They are able to use their print copy of the text, or read the story on their I-Pads. Students are welcome to use this reading towards their daily required reading of 20-30 minutes. Once we are finished with the book, students are expected to use their own self-selected books for at-home reading.

Writing

Our current instruction has involved “laying the groundwork” for students to plan and write an original narrative story. As we progress through this instruction, students will compose original story with the goal of including an effectively written introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and an effective conclusion. 

Math

Our students are currently working on writing and evaluating numerical expressions with parentheses. The first few weeks have also involved getting used to our math routines. In fact, since September started yesterday, we also started our daily Number Corner routine. 

Science

Instruction utilizing our TCI science curriculum is well underway!  Our current focus is on understanding the makings of various ecosystems around the world. We’ve learned about how members of an ecosystem interact and depend on each other. Currently, we are also learning more specifically about the producers, consumers and decomposers who make up our ecosystem. We have a very engaging science investigation to look forward to at the end of our current lesson! Fortunately, our ecosystems unit in science ties nicely into the reading we are doing with The Night of the Spadefoot Toad book we are reading during our literacy block.

Upcoming Events

** Monday September 5th - No School (Labor Day)

** Friday, Sept. 16—Ivy Hall Fun Run (more details to come!)

** Wednesday, September 7— PTO sponsored ice cream Wednesday

** Tuesday, September 20th- Early Release @ 2:05

** Monday, September 26th—No School District Holiday

Stevenson Math Carnival

Hello parents! The Stevenson High School Math Team is excited to invite you to their annual Math Carnival on Thursday, October 13 from 6 - 8 pm. Students from 3rd to 5th grade will have the opportunity to play fun and engaging math games to win prizes ranging from candy to Stevenson Math Team t-shirts. Admission is FREE upon registration. For more info and to register, visit the event webpage at this link.

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 great long weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan