Good afternoon,
Just a couple updates-
Social Studies/Writing: Our test is scheduled for Thursday. We have been reviewing in class this week, and I have been encouraging students to take home their book and folder each night for additional studying (about 10-15 minutes a night). We are researching explorers in writing and will be writing a traditional informational paragraph essay in class over the next couple weeks. In addition, students are working on a choice project connected to their chosen explorer. This assignment was sent home yesterday to be signed for tomorrow. I have put the assignment on our classroom website as well.
Technology: Our class has been asked to pilot a typing program for the 5th grade. The technology standard for 5th graders is that they should be able to type 25 words per minute by the end of the year. They were each given a user name and password today and took the pre-assessment to see their current WPM. I am sending a letter home today to be signed for Thursday. This letter includes more details about the standards, the program, and your child's current WPM. If he or she is currently below 25 WPM, he or she will be using the program in school at least 3 times a week. I also ask for your at home support encouraging your child to use the program at home and to practice using the home keys when typing.
Science: Next week we will be starting our next science unit- "Earth, the Moon and the Stars". Instead of having a traditional test with multiple choice questions and short answers, students will be participating in a performance assessment at the end of the unit. In general, a performance-based assessment measures students' ability to apply the skills and knowledge learned from a unit or units of study. Typically, the task challenges students to use their higher-order thinking skills to create a product or complete a process in a more "real world" scenario. I am hoping that the kids will enjoy this opportunity and be able to demonstrate their knowledge in a more authentic manner. They will still have their lesson book quizzes, vocabulary cards, online accounts, and a study guide to outline the main concepts being learned.
There are some new pictures to check out on our classroom webpage photo gallery!
Thank you for your at home support,
Mrs. Lapham
Just a couple updates-
Social Studies/Writing: Our test is scheduled for Thursday. We have been reviewing in class this week, and I have been encouraging students to take home their book and folder each night for additional studying (about 10-15 minutes a night). We are researching explorers in writing and will be writing a traditional informational paragraph essay in class over the next couple weeks. In addition, students are working on a choice project connected to their chosen explorer. This assignment was sent home yesterday to be signed for tomorrow. I have put the assignment on our classroom website as well.
Technology: Our class has been asked to pilot a typing program for the 5th grade. The technology standard for 5th graders is that they should be able to type 25 words per minute by the end of the year. They were each given a user name and password today and took the pre-assessment to see their current WPM. I am sending a letter home today to be signed for Thursday. This letter includes more details about the standards, the program, and your child's current WPM. If he or she is currently below 25 WPM, he or she will be using the program in school at least 3 times a week. I also ask for your at home support encouraging your child to use the program at home and to practice using the home keys when typing.
Science: Next week we will be starting our next science unit- "Earth, the Moon and the Stars". Instead of having a traditional test with multiple choice questions and short answers, students will be participating in a performance assessment at the end of the unit. In general, a performance-based assessment measures students' ability to apply the skills and knowledge learned from a unit or units of study. Typically, the task challenges students to use their higher-order thinking skills to create a product or complete a process in a more "real world" scenario. I am hoping that the kids will enjoy this opportunity and be able to demonstrate their knowledge in a more authentic manner. They will still have their lesson book quizzes, vocabulary cards, online accounts, and a study guide to outline the main concepts being learned.
There are some new pictures to check out on our classroom webpage photo gallery!
Thank you for your at home support,
Mrs. Lapham