STATE MATH TEST WEEK! - Next Week in ELA

• Monday  - ReadyGen Lesson 2B.2 (4/30)
• We will be reading the book "Escape to Freedom".  We will read chapter 1 and will be working with the following I Can statements:
•  I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.RI.5.1
• I can determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. RI.5.2
• Tuesday - New York State Math Test Session 1 (All Multiple Choice) (5/1)
• Day 1 Math State Test.  Read the question multiple times to make sure you understand them fully before you answer any questions; understand the question before you attempt to answer it;  READ CLOSELY and TAKE YOUR TIME! 

• Wednesday - New York State Math Test Session 2 (Multiple Choice and Extended Responses) (5/2)
• Day 2 Math State Test focuses on both multiple choice and show your process responses.  NO WORRIES!  Remember, your brain works faster then your pencil, so go back and make sure you didn't leave out words that you thought you put in and that you showed all your steps to solving the problems asked of you.
• Thursday - ReadyGen Lesson 2B.3 (5/3)
• We will continue to read Escape to Freedom.  While reading chapter 2, our I can statements will be:
•  I can explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals in a historical text based on specific information in the text. RI.5.3
• I can determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. RI.5.2
• Friday - Skill Review Friday (5/4)
• Skill Review Friday - We will be practicing the skills we have covered this week in ELA by using Time for Kids.  The article we will be using as our main text is The Problem With Plastics. It is a double issue in honor of EARTH DAY, so we will be spending both blocks reading the extended issue and doing practice skill work.  This will be a nice relaxing day of fun reading, discussion, and group work to end our testing week.

• No Homework Packet This Week Due to MATH State Testing!!!  

• Students should still be reading their independent reading books and doing their RRJ's.

Please make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep this entire week.  That means going to be early and getting up a little earlier so they can be wide awake and ready to do well on the State Tests.  Have a "good breakfast" with a combination of complex carbs (oatmeal, whole grain cereal, etc) and protein (eggs, bacon, etc), as well as orange juice and water.  Encourage them and remind them they have been getting ready for this test since school started and they will do great!  Try to have positive, happy interactions before school so they come ready to "show what they know!"  

PS8 Baseball - Supporting the Home Team!

Sample Intro and Conclusion with Reminders

sample body paragraph - slavery

sample paragraph - civil rights

Sample Civil Rights Paragraphs

Sample Body Paragraph

This Week in ELA - April 23rd - 27th

• Monday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A. 16
• We will continue to read Cesar Chavez pages 86-98.  Our I can statements for the day will be:
• I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. RI.5.1
• I can present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.  Correct sentence fragments.
• I can expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.

• Tuesday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.17
• Today is a wrap up day for Unit 2.  We will end the unit by comparing the text we have used during this unit to look at how visuals and text features add to understanding.  Our I can statements will be:
• I can compare and contrast stories in the same genre on their approaches to similar themes and topics. RL.5.9
• I can recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize  or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources. 
• I can expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style. 

• Wednesday: Assessment Day
• Students will show what they have learned by completing the end of unit 2A unit test and turning in completed Unit 2A PBA "Speeches for Justice".  Students will also take their next AR Test to check if reading comprehension levels are continuing to increase with exposure. 

• Thursday - ReadyGen Lesson 2B.1
• We will start the day by looking at the expectations for Unit 2B.  Then we will move into ReadyGen Lesson 2B.1.  We will start a new book called "Escape to Freedom".  Our I can statements for today will be:
• I can determine the main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. RI.5.2
• I can determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area. RI.5.4
• I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

• Friday - Skill Review Friday
• We will be practicing the skills we worked on this week by reading our weekly reader - Time For Kids.  The article we will focus on is  Kids of Kakuma about kids in a Kenyan refugee camp and their struggle to go to school.  This ties in not just with our skill review but our unit on overcoming obstacles and social injustices.  Students will work on analyzing text features, close reading, and comprehension.

Homework:

1. Reading Response Journals should be completed five nights out of the seven nights of a week.  They are do on assigned days.  Monday (1-5) Tuesday (6-10) Wednesday (11-15) Thursday (16-20) and Friday (21-25).  This is part of their homework grade.
2. Homework Packet #27 was passed out on Monday and is due on Friday.  Students will practice close reading, analyzing text, answering multi-level questions, and responding to a written prompt. 

Taking notes about civil rights movement

Taking notes about slavery

This Week in ELA

• Monday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A. 12
• We will start reading a text collection story called "Operation Clean Sweep" about a town in Oregon that is changed forever in history when women get the right to vote.  Our focus will be comparing and contrasting the main characters.  The I can statements for the day will be:
• I can determine a theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges; summarize the text. RL.5.2.
• I can write opinion pieces on topics, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. 

• Tuesday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.13
• We will finish reading the text collection story "Operation Clean Sweep" today.  Our focus will be looking at craft and structure through sentence choice and sensory use.  The I can statements for the day will be:  
• I can read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. RF.5.4
• I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes. RL.5.4
• I can Write opinion pieces on topics, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

• Wednesday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.14
• Today we will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between "Heart and Soul" and "Operation Clean Sweep" in terms of how they approach theme.  The I Can statements for the day are:
• I can determine a theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story respond to challenges; summarize the text. RL.5.2
• I can compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text. RL.5.3 

• Thursday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.15
• Today we will be starting our look at another social injustice "workers rights" by reading another story from our text collection,  "Cesar Chavez - Champion of Workers".   Our focus will be on craft and structure and how the author's choices help with reader understanding of the text.  The I Can statements for the day will be: 
• I can determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. RI.5.2
• I can explain how an author uses evidence and text structure to support particular points in a text. RI.5.8. 


• I can demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing  capitalization, and spelling.  

• Friday - Skill Review Friday
• We will be practicing the skills we worked on this week by reading our weekly reader - Time For Kids.  The articles we will focus on are A New Home about how the National Aquarium is creating a new home for dolphins, and a similar article The Future of Zoos which talks about how zoos will have to change and adapt in the future to survive.  As usual, the students will read, discuss, and do skill practice as well as take a comprehension quiz related to the articles.

Homework:

1. Reading Response Journals should be completed five nights out of the seven nights of a week.  They are do on assigned days.  Monday (1-5) Tuesday (6-10) Wednesday (11-15) Thursday (16-20) and Friday (21-25).  This is part of their homework grade.
2. Homework Packet #26 was passed out on Monday and is due on Friday.  Students will practice close reading, analyzing text, answering multi-level questions, and responding to a written prompt. 

502 is ELA STATE TEST READY!

Dear Family,

 Throughout the next few weeks, our math class will be studying two-dimensional and three-dimensional figures. The students will use definitions to identify and describe characteristics of these figures. We will also learn how to find volume of rectangular prisms. You can expect to see homework that includes identifying types of triangles and quadrilaterals. Here is a sample of how your child will be taught to classify a triangle by the length of its sides.

Querida familia,

Durante las próximas semanas, en la clase de matemáticas estudiaremos las figuras bidimensionales y tridimensionales. Usaremos las definiciones para identificar y describir las características de esas figuras. También aprenderemos a hallar el volumen de los prismas rectangulares. Llevaré a la casa tareas con actividades para identificar diferentes tipos de triángulos y cuadriláteros. Este es un ejemplo de la manera como aprenderemos a clasificar un triángulo por la longitud de sus lados.

Warmly, Ms.Cruz

Welcome Back!

• Monday  - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.10
• We will continue reading Heart and Soul with a reading focus of  determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. RL.5.4 and interpreting figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context as we read chapters 10 and 11.  Our writing focus will include producing clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. W.5.4
• Tuesday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.11
• We will be reading Chapter 12 of Heart and Soul with a focus of  determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. RL.5.4 and to determine a theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges; summarize the text. RL.5.2 in reading.  Our writing focus will be to write opinion pieces on topics, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. W.5.1

• Wednesday
• Day 1 ELA State Test focuses on CLOSE READING.  Students will be reading 5 different passages and answering a total of 35 multiple choice questions.  This day is worth 2/3 of their score, so it is super important for them to take all the time they need; read the text multiple times to make sure you understand them fully before you answer any questions; understand the question before you attempt to answer it; use the text to come up with the best answer.  READ CLOSELY and TAKE YOUR TIME! 
• Thursday
• Day 2 ELA State Test focuses on writing.  Students will have to read 3 different passages and answer 6 short response questions (Just like our 2 point RACE work in class) and one extended response (just like our 4 point PBA's).  In other words, we have been practicing for this part since DAY 1 of fifth grade!   Just remember to Restate, Answer, Cite (2), and Explain... and sum it up!  Extended Responses just need an introduction, then RACE each bullet point, and add a conclusion.  NO WORRIES!  Remember, your brain works faster then your pencil, so go back and make sure you didn't leave out words that you thought you put in and check for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.  
• Friday 
• Skill Review Friday - We will be practicing the skills we have covered this week in ELA by using Time for Kids.  The article we will be using as our main text is Standing Strong Florida.  This will be a nice relaxing day of fun reading, discussion, and group work to end our testing week.

Please make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep this entire week.  That means going to be early and getting up a little earlier so they can be wide awake and ready to do well on the State Tests.  Have a "good breakfast" with a combination of complex carbs (oatmeal, whole grain cereal, etc) and protein (eggs, bacon, etc), as well as orange juice and water.  Encourage them and remind them they have been getting ready for this test since school started and they will do great!  Try to have positive, happy interactions before school so they come ready to "show what they know!"  There will not be "homework packet" this week, but we will have some targeted readings they they will have to read closely, analyze, answer multiple choice questions and even some short response writing.  Though I wont be collecting RRJ's this week, I want them to continue to read nightly and write about what they read to keep their reading and writing stamina up.