Hi kids!
I hope you are all ready and excited about fifth grade! I'm sorry that I'll be missing out on that exciting first day with you, but I know it will be great. Fifth grade is my FAVORITE year to teach, and I'm already planning some great things for when I return.
So far, no baby. Monday was the "due date," of course, like anything that deals with humans or any other living things, there are no guarantees! As of right now, I am planning to take Jack to his first day of preschool and then just... wait!
So, in honor of Baby Girl Taylor, who has decided not to arrive yet, here are your questions for your first blog assignment:
**I AM ADDING A FEW THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU OUT, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IN ANSWERS:
* Don't forget to write in complete sentences for every answer! This is one of the requirements for blog assignments & it helps me see what you understand and what you don't. This week, your answers could be very confusing if you don't write in complete sentences and correctly number your answers.
* If I ask "why," please give me your thoughts on "why."
* Read the WHOLE blog entry before you start your assignment - this week, I gave some tips and even sample answers at the end, which I think some kids missed. Some folks are even missing the last questions. Be careful!
1. When were you born, in relation to your due date (early, late, by how many days - if your parents know/ remember)?
2. What was the probability that someone would be born then - that many days early or late- according to this graph: Birth Probability Graph
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is NOT born tomorrow, when is the next MOST likely day, according to the information on the graph?
4. I have brown eyes. Mr. Taylor has blue eyes. What color eyes will the baby most likely have? Why do I say "most likely" - why isn't it definite?
Use this site to help you: Genetics Site (it seems to actually be directed at people breeding birds, but I liked the way it explained recessive and dominant traits - you will study this a bit more later this year).
If you want to take it to a more complicated level (you can just go with the basic blue + brown stuff for now), it will help you to know the eye colors of my parents and Mr. Taylor's parents:
My mom has hazel eyes and my dad has brown eyes. Mr. Taylor's parents both have blue eyes. **This is an EXTRA step, that we will study later this year. **
(Jack has brown eyes - is this to be expected?)
5. Try it for yourself - is your eye color the predicted eye color? What about any siblings you may have?
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I were to respond, these would be my answers, about myself:
1. I was born about 30 days before my due date.
2. The probability that someone would be born then is about 0.3% - that's highly unlikely.
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is not born tomorrow, the next most likely day is ______ (not giving away the answer to that one). I know because ___________________ (explain your answer).
4. It is most likely that Baby Girl Taylor will have ___________ eyes (answers will vary, depending on how "in-depth" you want to go and how you understand the information).
5. My eyes are brown. My mother's eyes are hazel and my father's eyes are brown. This means that my eye color is pretty much what you would expect. Hazel is an unusual eye color, though, so nothing there is entirely expected!
Please email your responses to me at my gmail account - sylvan.taylor@gmail.com
Using my school email at home can be tricky, and there are a lot of "spam" filters, so it is much easier for me to use my personal email. I do have a checklist where I will be keeping track of everyone's assignment submissions, and I will respond to everyone to let you know I've gotten your responses and to answer any questions you have.
You have until next Monday (September 3 - Labor Day), to submit your answers. I will post a new Blog Assignment on Monday, September 3.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Excellent Resource
Hi folks!
This is a great, free resource that recently came to my attention. I plan on incorporating it into blog assignments this year, and maybe as an option during math time for some variety and differentiation, as well.
Check it out!
Parents, this is a wonderful option for those looking for new ways to reinforce skills at home!
http://www.khanacademy.org/
This is a great, free resource that recently came to my attention. I plan on incorporating it into blog assignments this year, and maybe as an option during math time for some variety and differentiation, as well.
Check it out!
Parents, this is a wonderful option for those looking for new ways to reinforce skills at home!
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Monday, August 13, 2012
End-of-Summer "Bucket List"
Hi kiddos!
Well, summer is almost over!
As the start of school draws nearer, make the most of your time! I am challenging each of you to create an End-of-Summer Bucket List - write out all the things you wanted to do all summer and never got around to... or really enjoyed and want to do at least one more time!
Here are some of mine:
1. Go fruit picking (raspberries before they're gone or apples when they're ready).
2. Make one more batch of home-made ice cream.
3. Read 2 more books (suggestions?)
4. Spend as many hours as possible outside with Jack.
5. Train-watching!
6. Wash the dogs (more fun than it sounds)
7. Go swimming!
8. Update my blog (guess I can check that one off).
9. Make lemonade.
10. Create a sidewalk chalk town on our walk (the rain washed away our last one).
What things do you most want to do before summer is over?
STUFF FOR PARENTS:
Parents, are YOU ready for the end of summer?
Just a reminder, I will not be able to start the year with the kids. My sub, Ms. Janet Langham, is a fantastic teacher with many years of 4/5 experience at the Downtown School. Many of you already know her, and you will all get a chance to talk with her at Open House conferences.
I plan to return the week before Thanksgiving Break.
Students will be expected to complete a weekly blog assignment - they should check here each Monday for a new assignment, and will always have until the following Monday to complete that assignment, whatever it may be. I will be keeping track of their progress, and the assignments will follow what the students are working on at school.
Fifth grade homework also brings the Wordly Wise program, a great vocabulary study program. You may be familiar with it from 3rd grade, as I believe several of the teachers use this or something similar.
The students will be working on a "State Project" during the first 2 quarters, and then transitioning into Teaching Academy for the last 2 quarters. I believe many students already have some idea of what they plan to research! Of course, they have time to change their minds.
** This is the same list that can be found on the county website and at all area Targets, Wal-Marts, etc.
Links for new Common Core Standards and Essential Standards:
http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/domain/7423
First Quarter Math includes volume, decimal place value and adding/ subtracting decimals.
First Quarter Science will be a study of weather.
First Quarter Social Studies will cover early Native Peoples and Explorers from Europe.
Reading skills throughout the year will build upon earlier skills. Note that the Common Core expectations focus a great deal more on literary study, discussion and analysis, and are stepping more away from the isolated skills that were previously tested. I am more than thrilled with this change, and this is something we began to work with in fourth grade. Expect even more journaling and analysis of author's craft.
Second Quarter Math includes multiplying and dividing whole numbers and decimals and classifications of 2-dimensional figures. There will be problem solving related to volume, as well.
Second Quarter Science will begin an in-depth study of ecosystems and the interplay of living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem, including weather and climate.
Beginning Second Quarter, many of our novel units will center around works of historical fiction, and through these literature units, we will be discussing important eras of U.S. history such as World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. One definite "break" from these units will be a study of Louis Sachar's novel, Holes, which deals with many of the same "big ideas" of equality in a fictional, exciting, humorous tale. There is GREAT deal of exceptional author's craft in this novel and fifth graders always seem to love it, so it holds a place near and dear in my heart!
Stay tuned for more curriculum updates as the year progresses!
Well, summer is almost over!
As the start of school draws nearer, make the most of your time! I am challenging each of you to create an End-of-Summer Bucket List - write out all the things you wanted to do all summer and never got around to... or really enjoyed and want to do at least one more time!
Here are some of mine:
1. Go fruit picking (raspberries before they're gone or apples when they're ready).
2. Make one more batch of home-made ice cream.
3. Read 2 more books (suggestions?)
4. Spend as many hours as possible outside with Jack.
5. Train-watching!
6. Wash the dogs (more fun than it sounds)
7. Go swimming!
8. Update my blog (guess I can check that one off).
9. Make lemonade.
10. Create a sidewalk chalk town on our walk (the rain washed away our last one).
What things do you most want to do before summer is over?
STUFF FOR PARENTS:
Parents, are YOU ready for the end of summer?
Just a reminder, I will not be able to start the year with the kids. My sub, Ms. Janet Langham, is a fantastic teacher with many years of 4/5 experience at the Downtown School. Many of you already know her, and you will all get a chance to talk with her at Open House conferences.
I plan to return the week before Thanksgiving Break.
Students will be expected to complete a weekly blog assignment - they should check here each Monday for a new assignment, and will always have until the following Monday to complete that assignment, whatever it may be. I will be keeping track of their progress, and the assignments will follow what the students are working on at school.
Fifth grade homework also brings the Wordly Wise program, a great vocabulary study program. You may be familiar with it from 3rd grade, as I believe several of the teachers use this or something similar.
The students will be working on a "State Project" during the first 2 quarters, and then transitioning into Teaching Academy for the last 2 quarters. I believe many students already have some idea of what they plan to research! Of course, they have time to change their minds.
Fifth Grade Supply List:
|
Links for new Common Core Standards and Essential Standards:
http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/domain/7423
First Quarter Math includes volume, decimal place value and adding/ subtracting decimals.
First Quarter Science will be a study of weather.
First Quarter Social Studies will cover early Native Peoples and Explorers from Europe.
Reading skills throughout the year will build upon earlier skills. Note that the Common Core expectations focus a great deal more on literary study, discussion and analysis, and are stepping more away from the isolated skills that were previously tested. I am more than thrilled with this change, and this is something we began to work with in fourth grade. Expect even more journaling and analysis of author's craft.
Second Quarter Math includes multiplying and dividing whole numbers and decimals and classifications of 2-dimensional figures. There will be problem solving related to volume, as well.
Second Quarter Science will begin an in-depth study of ecosystems and the interplay of living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem, including weather and climate.
Beginning Second Quarter, many of our novel units will center around works of historical fiction, and through these literature units, we will be discussing important eras of U.S. history such as World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. One definite "break" from these units will be a study of Louis Sachar's novel, Holes, which deals with many of the same "big ideas" of equality in a fictional, exciting, humorous tale. There is GREAT deal of exceptional author's craft in this novel and fifth graders always seem to love it, so it holds a place near and dear in my heart!
Stay tuned for more curriculum updates as the year progresses!
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