September Review

Hello! We have had a wonderful start to

our new school year. Here are some
updates on our month.

What We Have Learned

Math- For the month of September we have learned about place value and the
importance of multiplication. Students learned multiple ways to solve tricky math
problems. Students will start division for our next unit.
Reading- Students have just finished our first launching unit for reading. Students
learned what to expect during readers workshop and they even presented on their
favorite book. We are looking ahead to our social issues unit!

What We Have Learned

Picture of the month:
Writing: We started our first
writing unit. Students
learned about writing
stamina, descriptive writing,
and sensory details
Science: Students will begin
Students working together to create
their unit on US our first classroom mural. Students
Government. created their own all abou me
handprints!

Looking Ahead
-We are starting our first DARE class on Thursday, 10/6
-Please make sure students are spending time on our
educational websites.

Other Important Dates

-Wednesday October 5th is a half day.
-Walking field trip on October 5th to run the track at the high school.
-Monday, October 10th, no school.
 October
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.
What We Have Been Learning
Math- For the month of October we will be working with division. Students are
better able to complete division problems using the traditional algorithm, and partial
quotient. Students will work with division problems in word problems and also in real
world contexts.
Reading- Students are currently working on their social issues unit. We are wrapping
this unit up and starting our social issue project where students will identify a social
issue to research. In November we will start Poetry.

Picture of the month:

What We Have Been Learning
Writing: Students are working on
publishing their first imagined
narrative. Students have learned
how to use dialogue, vivid verbs, and
strong leads to bring their stories
and characters to life.
Social Studies/Science: We just
completed our unit on Kid
Here is a picture of our first Kid
Governor! Students learned how to
Governor Assembly. Here we
create a platform and a speech
watched the campaign videos.
around a community issue.

Looking Ahead
-No school Election Day, November 8th
-Veterans Day, November 11TH with guest speakers.
-Half Day, November 23rd
-No School, November 24th-25th
-Half Day, Parent Conferences November 29th and
December 1st
November In a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We completed our poetry unit and our first poetry slam. Now we are moving
into our changemakers biography unit.
Math: We completed our division unit and we moved into our decimal unit. Students
are learning about writing decimals as fractions, word form, and expanded form.
Students are also using decimals in real world applications.

What We Learned Picture Of The Month

Writing: Students are
wrapping up their imagined
narratives. Next, we will move
into our informational piece
about a social issue or
changemaker.
Science:
Students are working on their
light unit. Moving next to the Veterans Day Celebration
eye. with Mr. Kunze

Reminders
-Publishing party 9:00am on Friday, December 23rd to celebrate our
imagined narratives piece
- Please remind students that they must complete their at home reading
log even if it is not for twenty minutes.

Important Dates
-Shop Till Your Drop 12/2
-Publishing Part 12/23
-Half Day 12/23
 December at a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month. Here are some
updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We wrapping up our biography unit on changemakers. Students are looking
at influential people who brought social change. These people include, Martin Luther
King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Malala.
Math: We completed our decimal concepts unit and we moved into our decimal
operations unit. Students will learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide
decimals in real world applications.

What We Learned Picture of the Month

Writing: We are now going to
move into informational
writing. Students are writing
about and influential
changemaker.
Science: We are wrapping up
our unit on eye. We are also
deep in our our Peace First
curriculum for changemakers National Coding Day!

Reminders
-Students need to be completing their reading log at home. Reading at home
is a huge focus at the middle school.
-Please make sure to have your student go on any of their educational
websites if they have any free time at home. Students should spend 50
minutes of homework. If students finish early from assigned homework have
them go on a website :)

Looking Ahead: Important Dates

- Kid Governor Field Trip 1/13
-Martin Luther King Day, No School 1/16
-Early Dismissal, 1/25
 January At A Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We completed our biography of changemakers unit. Students did such a
great job on their pizza box projects. Now we are studying informational texts.
Students are reading about different topics from black holes to presidents.
Math: We completed our decimal operations unit and we will soon move into our
adding and subtracting fractions unit. We will also have a focus on problem solving
questions.

What We Learned Picture of the Month

Writing: We just wrapped up
our informational writing unit.
We will move into our
opinion/persuasive writing
unit.
Science: We have completed
our light unit. Now we will
review for the CMT. We will 100th day of school!
go over the scientific method.
Reminders
-Students can bring in Valentines on February 14th. They need to bring a Valentine
for each student.
-Look out on remind.com for STAR testing day.
-Students are preparing for CMT science test, this test will be in March. I have
review websites on my classroom Website.
-Please remind your scientist to keep up with their moon journal for Mr. Delias
class.

Other Important Dates

-Harlem Wizards Game 2/9 (Miss Rafferty is playing)
-Bring in Valentines, 2/14
-No School 2/17-2/21
 February at a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: In February we worked on our informational reading unit. Students worked so
hard on their magazine project. Next, we will move into our Insights of Characters Unit.
We read the book Wonder and study the development of characters.
Math: In February we worked on our decimal operations unit and now we are moving into
fractions. During this unit students will add and subtract fractions, simplify fractions, and
solve fraction problems in a real world context.

What We Learned
Writing: In February we finished our Picture of the Month
informative writing unit. We are are
currently working in our persuasive
writing unit. Here students are
writing letters about a change they
want to see in our world.
Peace First/Science: In February we
worked on conflict resolution. We
also started reviewing for the
Science CMT

Reminders:
-Please email me if you would like to schedule a conference on 3/8
-Homework is so important at the middle school. Please remind students to
complete homework at home.
-March 16th at 2:30-3:00 we will have our publishing party to celebrate
students informational writing pieces.

Looking Ahead
-Conferences 3/8 half day for students
-Publishing party 3/16 2:30-3:10pm
 March at a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We are in the process of completing our character unit. During this unit students
read the book Wonder and loved it! We are next going to move into our mythology unit.
During this unit students will study literature about the Greek Gods and Goddesses.
Math: We just finished our adding and subtracting fractions unit. We are also almost done
with our multiplication of fractions unit. When we come back we will move into Geometry.

What We Learned
Writing: Students just finished their Picture of the Month
persuasive letters. We are sending
out those letters this week to the
person they wrote their letter too.
Next we will move into research
writing. They will write a research
paper on one of the 13 colonies.

Social Studies: Students are working

in their sound unit. We are taking
the Science CMT on 4/25. Our next Saint Patrick's Day
unit will be the 13 Colonies. Celebration

Reminders

-Students should be doing their reading log. We have homework every night,
Monday through Thursday please check your student's homework.

Important Dates
-Spring Break April 10th-April 14th
-Science CMT April, 25th
-DARE Graduation May 5th around 2:00pm.
-Tentative Fifth Grade field trip date May 18th
-Field Day 6/6
-Last day of school for students 6/16
 April at a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We just finished our character unit. Now we are working in our mythology unit.
During this unit students are reading about Gods and Goddesses. Look out for their final
project, coming soon.
Math: We are wrapping up our measurement unit. During this unit students learned about
the metric and customary systems. We also learned volume! Next, we move into geometry.

What We Learned Picture of the Month

Writing: Students just finished their
opinion pieces. Now students are
working on an informational
research paper on one of the 13
colonies.

Social Studies: Now are currently

learning about the 13 colonies both
in writing and in social studies. We
are preparing them for our BIG field Life in our class garden! Thank
trip! you to all who donated!

Dates
-SBAC testing on 5/3-5/4. Make sure your student has a good breakfast and a good night sleep.
-D.A.R.E. Graduation 5/5 @ 2:00pm
-CMS Parent Night 5/11
-5th Grade Field Trip 5/12
-Chorus Concert 5/25 6:00pm at CHS
-Field Day 6/9
-Last day of School and promotion ceremony 6/16 @10:00am

Reminders
-Information will be sent home about field day. The theme of this years
field day is Space. Our class will purchase shirts designed around our
space theme. More information to come.
 May at a Glance
Hello! We have had a wonderful month.
Here are some updates on our month.

What We Learned
Reading: We just finished our unit on mythology. Now students are learning about short
stories. We are reading some great new stories. We also will look at digital literacy at the
end of the year to create story mountains on Pixar Shorts.
Math: We are wrapping up our Geometry unit and we will move to our last unit for the year,
Algebra. Students will learn how to perform order of operations and graph coordinate pairs.

What We Learned
Writing: Students just finished their
Picture of the Month
informational research. Students
completed an essay on one of the 13
colonies. Next we will move into
poetry!

Social Studies: Now are currently

learning about the Revolutionary
War. Students are learning about
King George and the events that lead
to the revolution! Our Field Trip!

Reminders
Field Day 6/9
> -5th Grade Picnic 6/14
> -Last day of school 6/16, Promotion Ceremony @10am

> New Dates to mark in your Calendar:

> 6/8 Changemaker publishing party at WIS from 2:00-3:00. We will celebrate our writing pieces
and our community projects

> 6/16 immediately following the promotion ceremony, you are invited to come and watch the end
of year video for Miss. Rafferty's fifth graders. The video will be shown in room 175 (all family
members welcome).