Here is a quick peak at one of our multiplication strategies that students have been working with at a station during Centers. Working with arrays gives students a great opportunity to work hands on with multiplication!

We finished off our last day of Centers this morning. All activities are due tomorrow morning! Please make sure that everything is handed in before the holidays!

After recess, students had Science with Mrs. Gale. We then had Computers where students had free time!

After lunch, we worked in partners to complete Problem 85 involving the strategy of Using or Making a Table. Students then worked individually on Problem 108 to hand in.

Reminders:
- Class party and gift exchange tomorrow.
- Early dismissal tomorrow (2:10)

Thank you to all of the parents for the wonderful support the kids received at the Christmas concert last night! We had one of the biggest turnouts that we have ever had!!
Congratulations to the students for an excellent performance! You brought the Christmas cheer!

The next few days will be used to tie up some loose ends in the classroom. I sent out the latest Markbook for Math for term 2 this morning. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. All of the students did an EXCELLENT job on the Multiplication test yesterday. I am very proud of each and every one of them!! The tests will be coming home with the students today. Please return them to school on Monday.

The school newsletter for January was also sent home today with each student.

We completed Day 3 of Centers this morning. We are a day behind with Centers as the dress rehearsal was held during our Center time yesterday. We will get the last day of Centers in before Christmas break on Friday.

We wrote our Lesson 11 Spelling Test this morning as well. Great job Grade 5!

In math, we reviewed the 6 different multiplication strategies that we have covered in the Multiplication Unit. Students were given a practice test to complete as well. We reviewed the practice test together. Students were also given time to study individually or with a partner for the Unit test tomorrow morning.

We spent the last hour of the day practicing for tomorrow's Christmas concert. You are all in for a real treat this year!!!

We had the dress rehearsal for the Christmas concert this morning. The students did a wonderful job and are excited to perform on Thursday!

After recess, we looked at our final strategy in our Multiplication unit. Students are working on pages 94/95 (4, 12). These questions are due for tomorrow. We will have a unit review tomorrow and students will write their unit test Thursday morning.

Reminders:
-Spelling Test Lesson 11 - Wednesday, December 16
-Math Test - Thursday, December 17

Students worked on word processing their Lesson 11 spelling words this morning.

After recess, we spent some time working together as a whole group to improve the Word Choice in the story we have continued to work on. The kids have done a wonderful job on improving this story throughout the Traits that we have focused on. We will continue to work on Word Choice in our individual work as well.

Enjoy Early Dismissal!!

Reminder:
Santa's Workshop is tomorrow!! There are many wonderful and fun items that have been donated. We are going to have a great time seeing the looks on the other students' faces as they pick a gift for someone special in their lives.

Students were given their Lesson 11 spelling words this morning. This week's words are: true, lesson, lessen, library, knowledge, beginning, believe.

Yesterday's math quiz was returned this morning as well. Everyone did a great job! We corrected an assignment from a previous day and began discussing yet another multiplication strategy. We will continue with this strategy tomorrow.

Students then had French and Phys. Ed.

Reminder:
Please return the report card envelopes as soon as possible.

We finished up our last day of Centers this morning. All Center activities are due tomorrow morning.

We took some time after recess to get ready for Friday's Santa's Workshop. Thank you to everyone who has donated items!

Students wrote Lesson 10 spelling test before recess. We did much better this week! Great job Grade 5!! We also read two chapters in our read aloud.

After lunch, we wrote our Mental Math quiz. We then broke into Pods where we worked with Base Ten Blocks to practice multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. We also multiplied using arrays and drew a picture to represent 2 questions.. This portion of pods is due tomorrow. Students also worked with the computers to practice their multiplication table.

To finish off the day, we continued to work on our Christmas stories for the Minor Journal.

Welcome to a new week! We completed day 3 of Centers this morning.

After recess, students returned their libray books.

We completed a day of Math Pods as well. At seat work, students worked on a review of Compatible Numbers mulitplicaiton strategy. We worked at teacher table to use arrays to mulitply two 2-digit numbers. We will continue working on this strategy tomorrow. Students completed the pods on the computer reviewing their mulitplication tables with a variety of games. We are having a short quiz tomorrow reviewing the three mutliplication strategies we have focused on so far (Halving and Doubling, Breaking Down the Number, and Compatible Numbers).

Students have French and Phys Ed. to close out the day.

REMINDERS:
- Spelling Test tomorrow - Lesson 10 (separate, precious, notice, misspelled, harsh, challenge, tournament)
- Math Quiz - tomorrow
- Drama practice - tomorrow
- Santa's Workshop - Friday, December 11

Compatible Numbers

Thank you to all of the mom's who helped popped popcorn this morning!!

We completed Day 2 of Centers this morning. Some of the students have asked for the link for the Mystery station, Mahjong Tiles. We are just finishing "The Last Dragon" in guided reading, and the story refers to Mahjong.

After recess, students began working on their Christmas stories for the Miner Journal.

During Math Pods, students worked on page 90 (5,6,7). This assignment is due for Monday. Students practiced multiplying with Sum Sense. At teacher table, we used the small wipe boards and practiced using the three multiplcaiton strategies we have looked at so far.

* Students have asked to do a gift exchange. They would like to buy a $5 gift for a classmate. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. Students picked names today and can bring their gifts on the last day of school.

Breaking The Number Down

We began our day with a new set of Centers. Students completed day 1 of centers.

Students were given some free time before lunch in the Computer lab.

After lunch, we completed another day of Math Pods. Today, students reviewed yesterday's strategy of Breaking the Number down. Today's video explains this strategy. We also worked on a new strategy using Compatible numbers. Stay tuned for tomorrow's video explaining this strategy. Students also used 20 minutes to play multiplication games on the computer.

Reminders:
Tomorrow is the popcorn sale!
Report cards will be handed out in the afternoon.

Halving and Doubling

We started off the day completing word processing for Lesson 10 spelling words.

After recess, students took some time to fix the dialogue within their picture stories. We then completed a class activity searching for the "WOW" words in a short story. Students then worked in pairs to hi-light the "WOW" words in a piece of their writing. We will continue to focus on Word Choice throughout December.

In Math, we reviewed yesterday's Halving and Doubling strategy. I have included two short videos of students demonstrating this strategy. This is a new strategy for parents as well so I hope these short videos will help you to help your son/daughter with their homework. We completed Pod's today. Students worked individually to complete a Halving and Doubling review. At teacher table, we worked on a new strategy to break down numbers to multiply. At computers students played Meteor Multiplication

We finished off the day with stations in Social. Students worked on their individual coat of arms, the Canadian coat of arms, and played Canadian Geographic at the computer station.

December Newsletter

December Newsletter
Room 20

It always amazes me as to how fast the year flies by. We are already into the month of December! Time flies when you are having fun.

We are continuing to collect items for Santa’s Workshop. If you have any items to drop off, please bring them to room 18 or 20. Santa’s Workshop will take place December 11th. Thank you to all of the families who have donated items.

Our December popcorn sale will be held on Friday, December 3rd. The Grade 5’s will be selling popcorn for 50 cents a bag. This month’s flavour is cheese. The proceeds of all of our popcorn sales will be going towards the Grade 5 trip. We will be attending a play called the Whiz and the Science Center in February. We will continue to fundraise to keep student contribution to a minimum. This trip will be in place on a June trip.

Report cards will be handed out Friday, December 4. The copy that is being sent home is yours to keep. If possible, please send the envelope back to school for the next term. The report cards will consist of a single sheet of paper showing you the percentage grade in each subject area. Some teachers have chosen to add an additional Markbook sheet describing in more detail the composition of your child’s mark. Teachers are not required to attach this additional information. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to phone me at school or email me.

Our classroom Christmas party will take place on Tuesday, December 22nd at noon. Students responsible for snacks are:
Sweets – Ally
Veggies and Dip or Fruit – Dalton/Sydney
Crackers and Cheese – Hunter
Chips and Dip - Rebecca
Please remember to bring a small lunch this day. Students will be dismissed at 2:10 pm.

Language Arts
We are completing our anthology “Together is Better.” Students are continuing to work in their Guided Reading groups during Centers to focus on a variety of reading strategies.
We have also begun to focus on the Word Choice trait of 6+1 Writing. Students are doing a wonderful job pulling all of the components of writing together. The use of dialogue and details in their writing has been very impressive! Keep up the great work Grade 5!
Students are working on their Lesson 10 spelling words. Please remember that students write their spelling test every Day 6 of the cycle. Encourage your child to practice their spelling words.

Math
We are continuing with our Multiplication/Division unit in math. I am hoping to wrap up this unit before the Christmas break. Students are also working on Using or Making a Picture or Diagram and Using or Making a Table in the Problem Solver strategies.

Social
We have begun our Canadian Symbols unit. Students will continue to look at the individual provinces/territories of Canada, as well the variety of national symbols that represent our county (provincial/territorial flags, mottos, flowers, capital cities). Our national coat of arms, as well provincial/territorial coat of arms, will be discussed. Students will be designing a Coat of Arms to represent themselves.

Science – Mrs. Gale
The students have started their new unit entitled Matter and Its Changes. Students have completed an activity that dealt with describing examples of matter using their senses. We have turned our attention now to working on “Tool Shop” activities that will develop skills in identifying, describing, and measuring different types of matter.

Art – Mrs. Schentag
Students have been having fun “clowning” around while participating in drama games and other drama activities related to clowns. We will conclude this unit of work with a visual art activity on clown face painting and an internet study of the famous tour group – Cirque du Soleil.
The month of December will bring about a theme change where we will begin a visual art unit entitled, The World of Art. Students will prepare a Powerpoint presentation and a Time Capsule Box depicting their culture and values. The Elements of Art will also be emphasized in this unit of work. As Christmas quickly comes upon us, we will also practice for the upcoming Christmas concert!
IMPORTANT: I would like the students to bring a show box or other small box to use for their Time Capsule Box. Also begin gathering items to attach to your box. Items should depict students’ interest and values.

Health – Mr. Leidl
Students will continue to work on their fitness and wellness plans. Strategies for improved health will be discussed.

Physical Education – Mr. Leidl
The students will focus on team play, cooperative games and the promotion of positive physical activity and fitness strategies. Emphasis will be on participation, fun, and sportsmanship.

French – Mrs. Orosz
Students will learn to do a dance called “La Bastringue,” to the folksong of the same name. Along with our regular work, we may do some seasonal activities, and students may listen to some Christmas carols in French.

Have a great holiday!

Students handed in their Center activities this morning.

We then worked on our Lesson 10 spelling words (separate, precious, notice, misspelled, harsh, challenge, tournament).

In math, we worked in pods to work on two of the multiplication strategies we are focusing on. At the first station, students worked on muliplication questions using the doubling strategy. At teacher table, I introduced a new strategy known as Halving and Doubling. I will post a short video soon explaining this strategy as this may be new to some of the parents. Students worked at computers to review their multiplication tables with Space Racer.

Enjoy the snow everyone!! Countdown until Christmas has begun!