Fifth Grade is off to great start for the 2009-2010 school year! The fifth grade is departmentalized this year with Miss Boehme teaching Reading/Language Arts, Mr. Shaver teaching Mathematics, and Mr. Kish teaching Science, Social Studies, and Health.

            In Mr. Kish’s Science classes, the STEM Fair has begun. Students in the Fifth grade will need to have their proposals turned into their homeroom teacher by Monday September 14, 2009. Remember that this STEM Fair Project will count for their Science Grade in both the first and second quarters.

            In Miss Boehme’s Reading/Language Arts classes we are working with non-fiction texts for Unit 1 with focus on the strategies activate/connect and questions. These strategies will help the students become more confident in their ability to write down and become aware of their thinking while they read. Unit 1 also focuses on becoming aware of text features and how they help the reader understand the text. Students are to read at least 30 minutes every night complete their reading log which allows for them to practice writing down their inner thoughts while they read.

            Mr. Shaver’s Mathematics class has been studying divisibility rules and algebraic expressions during the first three weeks of our school year. These lessons can be found in your child’s text on pages 10-13 and 28-31. Parents will notice on these pages the importance of the mastery of the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts are to the understanding of these critical mathematical concepts. Please assist your child in mastering the multiplication tables. Many students have done so, but a fair number have not yet learned these math facts. It is extremely frustrating for a child to fully grasp algebraic concepts without a mastery of multiplication. Thanks for your support on this issue. Homework is given in mathematics each and every day. Homework is assigned after a thorough introduction and application of the skills and concepts has taken place in class. Students, who have paid close attention in class, and participated in individual or group activities during the class period, should be fully prepared to complete any mathematics homework assignment. Please feel free to contact Mr. Shaver if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic progress in mathematics. Thanks for your support, parents.