5th Grade Newsletter

We have successfully finished our Magnetic Reading Books, we are going to finish the year by studying Native American Cultures!

Learning intention is:

• We are learning about Native American Cultures.

We will know we have learned this when:

• I can listen respectfully to student presentations. I can create Cultural Atlas pages about the Plateau Indigenous peoples and the Yakama.
• I can listen respectfully to student presentations. I can create Cultural Atlas pages about the Great Basin Indigenous peoples and the Shoshone.
• I can listen respectfully to student presentations. I can create Cultural Atlas pages about the California Indigenous peoples and the Yurok.
• I can listen respectfully to student presentations. I can create Cultural Atlas pages about the SouthEast Indigenous people and the Cherokee.
• I can explain how European colonization affected Indigenous Americans in general.
• I can explain how European colonization affected Indigenous people from four specific cultural regions.

To support students, explore this guide from the Alaska Department of Early Education and Development: https://education.alaska.gov/akreads/5th%20Grade%20Reading%20Family%20Guide.pdf

Reading an additional 20 minutes at home has been proved to greatly improve students' fluency, vocabulary, and test scores. We encourage students to open up a book at home!

No more Spelling!

Our learning intention is:

• We are learning about converting unit of measurements.

We will know we have learned about decimal comparison when:

• I can indentify units with the same measurement system.
• I can make connections between strategies for converting units during partner discussions.

To help your student feel more successful, practice those math facts at home! Being able to quickly recall multiplication facts makes this process much easier.

• Most lessons take 15-20 minutes to complete. If a student does not complete it, they may have to restart the lesson the next day. We emphasize the importance of focus and staying on task during iReady time.
• Student's iReady path is based on their diagnostic results. Lessons are assigned based on holes in their learning and the diagnostic placement test. We emphasize the importance of doing their best on the diagnostic for this reason.
• Students are given 45-60 minutes a week (for each subject) to complete their math and reading iReady lessons in class.
• Students are expected to complete 2 reading lessons and 2 math lessons each week.
• Diagnostic Testing will occur three times a year. If students meet their stretch growth goal for 2 years in a row (fall to spring), the research says they will be at or exceeding their grade level within two years.

During the month of April, we will be focusing on Safety. We can be safe by:

• I will do what I am supposed to do.
• I will be on task.
• I will follow the rules.

Brainstorm at home: What are some ways we can be safe?