Mr. C's Blog

Hi Parents,

As I keep writing, time is really flying by. Some fun things coming up also - Springfield Trip, Crestwood Baseball Game, Memorial Day, June 4th! Wahoo! And, to cap off the ending of the year, the Progress Reports for Math and Social Studies were impressive, and the number of Accelerated Math objectives soared. I enjoyed running the Accelerated Math program by myself this year. I also am anxious to see the results of the Terra Nova Tests, taken the first week of March.

Last week we covered multiplication of fractions. The students understood the importance of "cancelling" first, rather than reducing the answer to lowest terms. Have you seen the "doodle drawing" worksheets I make for assignments? It takes about 45 minutes to make a new worksheet from scratch, but the students love them and work feverishly solving the problems and decoding the answers to read what the "doodle drawing" is.

This week in Math, we will begin Chapter 15 on Probability. This is an exciting "hands-on" chapter where the probability of events occuring can be tested by students working in groups. We will be testing probability with playing cards, dice, colored cubes, spinners, etc.. Wonder if this chapter will produce a multi-million dollar winner in some future "World Series of Poker" tournament?

The students will also work in groups determining combinations of objects - how many ways objects can be arranged in different orders. Did you know that ten different objects can be arranged 3,628,800 ways? Of course, the students will catalog combinations with a smaller number of objects. Then I will show them the simple mathematical way to predetermine the number of combinations without trials.

At the end of the week in Social Studies, I am going to show how messages were sent in code during the Civil War. It is not a coding system that can be easily deciphered without studying Cryptology. However, the students will work in groups, decoding given cryptograms and creating their own secret messages for the other groups in the room to decode. Students love doing this. You may be receiving some "alien-looking" messages at home from your son or daughter. More later. Mr. C.

Hi Parents,

The fifth graders did a great job in learning how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. This week they will begin chapter 12 on multiplying and dividing fractions. You can follow along on pages 324 to 337.

In social studies, we begin unit 7 and learn how our Nation grew with the population increasing in big cities. I would recommend that you read this unit also. You will enjoy it. More later.

Mr. Ciezadlo

Hi Parents,

It may sound unbelievable, but I am happy to be back. My Fifth Graders are always respectful and make me feel like a "billion dollars". Thank you for doing such an excellent job in raising and guiding them.I make sure I protect them as my own when they are with me.

As with every week, Monday is Accelerated Math day. The students always have unfinished classwork to complete at home and be ready to score their work the following Monday.

Before Easter vacation, we began working on adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. The students said this material was new to them, and the hardcover book touches upon fractions with unlike denominators too briefly for my satisfaction. I have been giving extra worksheets that I once used in my Math Camp program. The students enjoy these assignments because after solving the problems they then decode the answers to riddles and my corny jokes. The "doodle" on the "Army of Ants" was rated as the best so far. Ask to see it too.

The rest of the week will cover adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators ( see pages 284 to 289 ). This material is also new, but I will make sure they understand (not memorize) the methods for solving with mastery.

In Social Studies, the students will study about a sad time in our nation's history - the Civil War. I am an admirer of President Abraham Lincoln and how he remained steadfast to his beliefs despite adversity and ridicule. I hope to pass on these principles to my students.

Again, please check the assignments and readings. You may want to read the pages we cover in class yourself. I know you will enjoy it.

As an aside, I want to tell you that I will be doing some very serious soul searching during the next few weeks. This year may be my "Last Hurrah". Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you. Mr. C.

MATH
Accelerated Math on Monday. The remainder of the week will cover finding the Least Common Multiple of two numbers, then using the LCM to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. This is new for the fifth grade, so I want to start slowly so that the technique is mastered. In the hardcover book, pages 268 to 281 will be covered.

SOCIAL STUDIES
On Monday, we will review unit 5 for Tuesday's test. The students will prepare ten test questions, then quiz each other. On Wednesday, we begin unit 6, which covers the events that led to the Civil War. The greatness of Abraham Lincoln will be realized and cherished as a role model.

MATH

Accelerated math on Monday. The remainder of the week will cover finding the least common multiple of two numbers, then using the LCM to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. This is new for the fifth grade. I want to start slowly so that the technique is mastered. In the hardcover book, pages 268 to 281 will be covered.

SOCIAL STUDIES

On Monday, we will review Unit 5 for Tuesday's test. The students will prepare ten test questions, then quiz each other. On Wednesday, we begin Unit 6, which covers the events that led to the Civil War. The greatness of Abraham Lincoln will be realized, and cherished as a role model.

Guess we are getting ready for the final stretch of school. Spring is coming, then Easter, and the Terra Nova Tests are over. It's been a long time since I had a homeroom grade level that had to take this test. I can tell you that testing all week can be stressful for the students. Of course, being able to eat hard candy and drink juice during the breaks was a nice respite.

The Fifth Graders had Accelerated Math on Monday which included work to be finished at home. The students are competing against themselves to each achieve their personal best. Good for them. It's a great work ethic.

On Tuesday, we begin Chapter Nine ( page 239 ). The meaning of fractions using manipulatives, equivalent fractions, greatest common factor, and using the GCF to reduce fractions to lowest terms will be covered. You can check the progress by referring to the Math notebook and the assignment notebook.

In Social Studies, "The Age of Andrew Jackson", "Texas and the War with Mexico", and "The California Gold Rush" will be covered. As of this writing the price of gold is $1,174.87 per ounce. This material covers pages 226 to 239 if you wish to follow along. See you next week.

Hi Parents,

Wow. The second trimester of the school year ends this week Friday. It's going so fast. Even the students are amazed how fast the year is going. Hope this means they are happy (and busy).

Terra Nova exams begin the first week of March. This will take up almost a full week of morning classes. I expect the scores to be high again.

In Math we will finish chapter 9 on dividing. The remaining pages are enriched with word problems, data collecting, and group analysis.

In Social Studies the students will learn how the constitution and bill of rights were written; how government is run; and how the United States expands westward.

Again, you can follow Math and Social Studies progress by checking the student notebook and assignment notebook.

Wow. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It is really going fast.

Hi Parents,

Thank you for visiting me on Sunday at our Open House. I always enjoy meeting my parents. You are so nice and always express gratitude. My thanks to you for working so hard in raising your children. It really shows.

During Catholic Schools Week there is always something extra-special going on most days. Schedules and class times are adjusted accordingly. The best way to keep up on what is being done in fifth grade Math and Social Studies is to check the student assignment notebook and subject notebook.

Hi Parents,

As you know, this week began on a very sad note. On Monday, the funeral Mass was celebrated for Mrs. Gavin's husband, Phil. I have taught both of Mr. and Mrs. Gavin's daughters, Erin and Maura. Mr. Gavin has left behind a beautiful legacy in his wonderful family.

The fifth graders will finish Chapter 6 on "Metric Measurement" this week. It can be a challenging topic to learn and understand, but the students were steadfast. In reality, how many parents know how far 10 kilometers is? Is it more than or less than 10 miles??? See!

There are only two more lessons left in Volume One of the Social Studies course. Next week, we will begin Volume Two ( the final textbook ). The students gained a valuable insight into the trials and sacrifices of Colonial America and what it means to be a patriot of our wonderful country. We are proud to be Americans, very proud.

Hi Parents,

Well. back to learning. Hope 2010 will be a safe and healthy year for all of us. The first four months of the school year seemed to go very fast. Even the kids felt the same way. At least the amount of daylight is now increasing each day.

The agenda for Math this week begins with Accelerated Math on Monday. On Tuesday, we will begin Chapter 6, Metric Measurement, starting on page 150. In addition to learning the units of metric measures, the concept of area of a rectangle will be incorporated. (page 159) Toward the end of the week the students will learn metric units of capacity, as well as volume of a cube (page 163). Finally, metric units of weight, (page 165), and using metric units in word problems (page 167), will be covered. Please follow the lessons in the Math notebook, and the daily homework in the assignment notebook. Also, remember that the students always have extra homework for the entire week from Accelerated Math.

In Social Studies, we will begin unit 4, " The Struggle for North America ". One lesson per day will be covered, pages 145 to 169. During class we will read and discuss each lesson. For homework, vocabulary, answering the " Check Understanding " questions, accompanying workbook pages, and study guide worksheets will be assigned. You can follow the progress by reviewing the student notebook and assignment notebook.