Upcoming Events:
May 3rd - Tie Dying as a PBIS reward and Tim Abbott (Revolutionary War reenactor)
Hi, my name is Fern Weisman and I am teaching fifth and sixth grade Social Studies and fifth grade English. When not teaching, I enjoy being with my 13 and 16 year old boys. I also like to read, go on hikes and cook in my free time. I have a B.A. from Kenyon College, a teaching certificate from University of Washington, and a Master's degree in reading from C.C.S.U.
The fifth graders had a blast at Nature's Classroom! Thanks to all our Dads who came up and spent a night with the boys and helped out. We couldn't have done it without your help!
Grade 5
Reading: Our focus through read-alouds and discussion on books we are reading in small groups is on understanding characters, looking for a problem and solution, making deeper connections, understanding the theme, revealing the point of view and discovering cultural differences in literature. We also read non-fiction each week in social studies.
A weekly reading assignment will be due each Friday. I encourage students to work with their parents on this assignment. In addition, students should read 20 minutes per day at home. If it is missed one day, it can be made up on another day. Their reading logs are due every other Friday.
Students are beginning new literature circles and will begin book discussion groups in which they have certain roles such as visualizer, word definer, summarizer or question writer.
They'll be doing another book talk using a template to be presented in April on Fridays. These may be presented as poems or as a letter from a character for extra credit. These will be done outside of school.
The address below is the template we will be using if they choose to do so.
http://www.ldworldwide.org/pdf/bkreport_temp_sedita.pdf
Writing: Students are learning about how to write a 5-paragraph expository essay this year. They will go through the stages of brainstorming and gathering ideas, writing a rough draft, revision, editing and typing a final essay.
We are beginning essays about what students can do to protect their environment in honor of Earth Day. Students will also be learning about poetry and writing poems.
Students continue to learn and practice grammar and punctuation rules.
Spelling: Students are working in the Words Their Way program and continue to work at their developmental spelling level. Introductory sorts will usually be on Wednesdays and assessments will usually be on Fridays. There will be short nightly spelling homework.
Grades 5 and 6 Social Studies
Students have Social Studies daily and incorporate reading, writing, cooperative learning, art, role playing and public speaking into what is expected in class.
Fifth graders focus on American history beginning with the Age of Exploration, colonial history, the founding of the United States and ending the with the writing of the Constitution.
Sixth graders focus on map skills, and then focus on Latin America, Canada, the Middle East and North Africa. They will also learn about religions rising out of the Middle East.
Current Social Studies:
The 5th graders are learning about the early events that will lead to the Revolutionary War. They are keeping journals about their reaction to the events. They are also making shop signs using calligraphy.
For information about colonial trades go to:
http://eev.liu.edu/kk/colonial/resources.htm#Trades
For information about the 13 colonies go to:
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/13mapnew.htm
The 6th graders are learning about the early Egyptian civilization. As part of an integration with art, they will be making silhouette drawings of themselves as ancient Egyptians.
the Lake at Nature's Classroom, Beckett, Mass.
Remember PBIS:
Respect
Responsibility
Safety