Teacher Home Page - Jessica Sarandrea

     Thank you for visiting my web page.  Please visit the page often to find out what is happening in our fifth grade class.

Sarandrea Scuba Diver's Log

 Fifth grade is an exciting time.  In my class  this year, we will be searching for all of our hidden treasures.  Students will learn to appreciate their uniqueness and guard them like they are precious gems.

MATH - Math class will be focused on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  It is very important that your child know their facts with speed and accuracy.  Please practice these with them at home.  There are many good websites that allow children to practice independently so as to alleviate some of the work on the parents.

We will also have a short unit on geometry to break up some of the operations.  Be sure to point out where in the world we see different geometric shapes and figures.

SCIENCE -   To continue our study of electricity, we will spend the month of January investigating light.  This is another abstract concept that fifth graders tend to struggle with.  I will be sure to put information into terms that are more easily understood.  Please encourage your child to review nightly and ask when they don't understand.  I also share with the classes ways that I am able to remember certain facts and information to try to help them find new and easier ways to study.

READING - Students are continuing to practice reading workshop routines.  I will be instituting a new routine after break.  I am hoping that the routine will be easier for students to follow and allow them to be and feel more successful.  They will be asked to read silently for a given amount of time, as well as quietly discuss their reading with a partner or a group.  Many small group meetings will be held to ensure a higher level of learning for all.  We will be focusing on many strategies while we also dive deeper for better understanding of a text.  I will be asking students to dive into their questions to make them stronger and more meaningful.

At home, you can help by reading with your students.  Please encourage them to read 25 minutes a day and ask them about their reading.  Always be sure that students are able to answer why something is important or why they feel a certain point is important. 

 Language- Students will be working on a writing workshop this year.  This means that all students will be able to write on a topic of choice at many points during the week.  They will see their writing through to a final copy once a month.  We will be working on many different genres throughout the year, including narrative writing, personal essays, expository essays, fiction, memoirs, nonfiction, memoirs, and poetry.  Students will also be working on research projects throughout the course of the year.

I have been very proud of the work that the students have been producing.  They are taking ideas that are being given to them and truly working hard to incorporate them into their writing.  Be sure to review their writing during the weekend when their five subject notebooks come home for the parent response letter.

At home, please work with your students to point out different types of writing.  Please encourage your child to write at home and gather "seeds" in their writing journals.

Spelling - Students will be given a pretest every Monday.  After the pretest, students will be given a spelling menu to be completed by Thursday.  Every Friday, there will be a spelling test.

Social Studies - Students will be switching with Mrs. Barlow for Social Studies.  Please visit her website for more information on these topics. 

HOMEWORK

Math- Students should review lessons daily.  This would mean that their notebooks should be coming home everyday and they should be using this to complete their daily homework.  Also, please encourage students to review math facts daily.

Science- Students should review notes daily.  Students will get a study guide prior to a test.  This should be completed and signed by the next day.

Spelling - Menus should be completed by Thursday.  Tests are every Friday.

Reading - Read 25 minutes nightly and discuss your reading.

Writing - Look for seed ideas in every day life.  Write in a journal daily. 

Creating a timeline for writing:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline/

Reading sites:

http://www.mrnussbaum.com

http://www.readwritethink.org

http://www.spellingcity.com

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

http://www.storylineonline.net

https://ep-storytown.wikispaces.com/5th_Grade

Math Sites

http://jmathpage.com/JIMSGeometrypshapesphedra.html

http:www.mrnussbaum.com/multiplication.htm

http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-5

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/mult/mult.html

Check out our trout program and pictures at:

http://www.kids.ct.gov/kids/cwp/view.asp?a=2577&q=467076

2011-2012 trout page

http://www.kids.ct.gov/kids/cwp/view.asp?a2577&q=491554

Virtual poetry http://kids.magpogames.com/createpoem.cfm?kit=4

* Students are not allowed to bring their own equipment to school to play with at recess.  Equipment will be provided to all students.

*Watch for newsletters to come home regarding half days and days off for the holidays!

* We need tissues for all of our runny noses!!!! 

Please feel free to email me at sarandreaje@watertownps.org

You can also call me at school using 860-945-4840.  If I cannot be reached at this time, please leave a message with the secretaries and I will get back to you as soon as possible.