Week of March 18

Fifth Grade Math

     Students performed well on the Chapter 6 Adding & Subtracting Fractions.  After the final Diocesan Extended Response Assessment on Monday, we will proceed to Chapter 7, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions.  Students will be given a graded Math assignment, due on Tuesday, April 2nd that reviews all the topics covered this year in Math. I still plan to begin Multiplication and Division Timed Tests each week.  Please practice flashcards or use the websites recommended in the Tab above. 

 Fourth Grade Math

     The Chapter 7 Long Division Test is Tuesday.  Any student struggling with long division should try to attend Monday after school and/or Tuesday morning Math Help. Students will be given the opportunity to earn 5 extra credit points applied to their Tuesday test. Completing Text Book pages 314-315, numbers 1-5 all, and 6 - 32 will earn the 5 points. Students must show all work to gain the points.  I will post answers on the blog Monday evening so students can check their accuracy. This test will be applied to 4th Quarter Grades. Students will be given a graded Math assignment, due on Tuesday, April 2nd that reviews all the topics covered this year in Math.  See the RECOMMENDED WEBSITES tab at the top of this page.  It contains a video and step-by-step Long Division examples.  

                 For List of MATH WEBSITES - Click the tab at top left corner 

Math Help - Office Hours

Tuesday through Thursday:  7:15am

4th Grade Mondays:  2:25 - 3:15 

5th Grade Wednesdays: 2:25 - 3:15

Fifth Grade Science

Science Highlights:   Lesson 3, Vertebrates and Invertebrates.  

Fifth Grade Reading, Spelling & Vocab

Reading Highlights:   Lesson 20, Reader's Theatre selection, Invention Convention; 

                             Comprehension skills review: making inferences, point of view, and, main 

                             idea & details; and, 

                             Comprehension & Vocabulary Test will be on Thursday this week.  

Spelling Highlights:   Lesson 25 (the lesson we skipped), workbook due Thursday; and,

                             Lesson 25 Test on Friday.

Vocab Highlights:      Unit 13 Definitions, Sentences, Synonyms and Antonyms on Cards (or

                             Spiral Notebook) are due on Friday.

Fifth Grade Religion

Last week was very exciting with the visit from Bishop Conlon and the new pope being elected.  Students watched live news on our computers as the Pope Francis I stepped out onto the balcony!  Students essays on Cardinal Virtues were excellent.  

Religion Highlights:  Study Holy Week and complete Stations of Cross reflections;

                            Open book Chapter 6 Test on Monday; and,

                            Station of Cross Booklets are due on Thursday, March 21st. 

Other Fifth Grade News

Stations of the Cross Friday in School Hall @ 1:15

April Field Trip to Tivoli - Permission Slips due April 6

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me an email at dhall@stjosephdg.org.

Week of March 11

 Fifth Grade Math

See Tab at Top "Ch 6 Fractions EC"  for answer key.  Hope you did well!

      Congrats to the students for creating impressive Fraction Project Booklets and posters.  The Chapter 6 Test was rescheduled for Thursday, March 14.  Monday and Tuesday will be spent reviewing skills as well practicing estimating fractions to the nearest 1/2 inch and reviewing Properties of Addition.  Students will be allowed one index card to be used on the test.  The card will contain all the steps necessary to solve a subtraction problem involving renaming.  The problem will involve the important skills of the chapter. 

     Mr. Sparke, the pilot from Southwest Airlines, will visit on Monday morning to complete his Math-Science Program. Last visit, he discussed science behind a plane taking off, landing and steering. 

     Fifth graders will begin Multiplication and Division Timed Tests each Monday.  Please practice flashcards or use the websites recommended in the Tab above. 

 Fourth Grade Math

     Fourth graders continue Long Division in Chapter 7 this week. They will learn about interpreting remainders in word problems as well as calculating the mean/average of a set of numbers. Students will receive a Chapter Review sheet on Wednesday in preparation for the Chapter test on Monday, March 18th. We continue with Multiplication Timed Tests once a week.  See the RECOMMENDED WEBSITES tab at the top of this page.  It contains a video and step-by-step Long Division examples.  

                 For List of MATH WEBSITES - Click the tab at top left corner 

Math Help - Office Hours

Tuesday through Thursday:  7:15am

4th Grade Mondays:  2:25 - 3:15 

5th Grade Wednesdays: 2:25 - 3:15

Fifth Grade Reading, Spelling & Vocab

We will read the Lesson 19 Biography selection, Inventing the Future: A Photobiography of Thomas Alva Edison.  We will focus on comprehension using  Main Idea & Detail graphic organizers. The Lesson 19 Comprehension & Vocabulary Test will be on Friday.  The Spelling Lesson 27 Workbook is due on Thursday, with the Spelling Test held on Friday.  The Unit 12 Vocabulary Blue Book (or Spiral Notebook Definitions) is due on Friday.

Fifth Grade Religion

Bishop Conlon will visit with the Fifth Graders shortly after 11am on Thursday! The Students did a fabulous job performing the Living Stations of the Cross last Friday.  Students are producing essays on the four cardinal virtues, habits which lead to a good moral life. We will share essays, continue discussing moral dilemmas and reflect on the meaning behind each station of the cross.  Essays and Cathedral Days Paragraphs will be posted in the hallways.  

Other Fifth Grade News

Reconciliation - Wednesday, March 13th @ 12:45

Mass with Bishop Conlon - Thursday, March 14th @ 8:15

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me an email at dhall@stjosephdg.org.

Week of March 4

Additional Websites for Fractions and Long Division were recently added.  Please see Recommended Website Tab at the top left.

Fifth Grade Math

     We continue with Chapter 6 Adding & Subtracting Fractions. The Fraction Project, featuring where fractions are found in the real world, a center Fraction problem designed by the students or choosing from a list of problems, and tripling their favorite recipe, is due Tuesday.  Students will take a short quiz on Wednesday:  Adding and Subtracting with "like denominators", and a short quiz on Friday:  Adding & Subtracting with "Unlike Denominators".  Students will be assigned a Chapter Study Guide/Review Sheet on Friday.  The Chapter 6 test is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13th. Here's a website that explains Adding Fractions and contains an online quiz:  Adding Fractions (University of Chicago website).   Additionally, the Recommended Websites Tab contains websites with videos and worksheets you can download for practice. 

     Mr. Sparke, the pilot from Southwest Airlines, will visit on Monday morning to resume his Math-Science Program. Students have a booklet to use for the program.  Last visit, he gave us a copy of his schedule and we were asked to compute his weekly trip hours.  

     Fifth graders will begin Multiplication and Division Timed Tests each Monday.  Please practice flashcards or use the websites recommended in the Tab above.

    Fourth Grade Math

Fourth graders continue Long Division in Chapter 7 Division this week.  There will be a short quiz Tuesday on Dividing by powers of ten and dividing without a remainder.  On Friday, there will be a short quiz on Estimating with compatible numbers and dividing with remainders.  Students will receive a Division Packet with notes and steps to help practice their division skills.   We continue with Multiplication Timed Tests once a week.  See the RECOMMENDED WEBSITES tab at the top of this page.  It contains a video and step-by-step Long Division examples.  

                 For List of MATH WEBSITES - Click the tab at top left corner 

Math Help - Office Hours

Tuesday through Thursday:  7:15am

4th Grade Mondays:  2:25 - 3:15 

5th Grade Wednesdays: 2:25 - 3:15

Fifth Grade Reading, Spelling & Vocab

We will read the Lesson 18 Realistic Fiction selection, Project Mulberry, a story of the lifecycle of a silkworm.  We will focus on comprehension using Story Structure and Main Idea & Details graphic organizers. The Lesson 18 Comprehension & Vocabulary Test will be on Friday.  We will skip Spelling Lesson 25 and proceed with Lesson 26 this week.  The Spelling Lesson 26 Workbook is due on Thursday, with the Spelling Test held on Friday.  The Vocabulary Cards (or Spiral Notebook Definitions) for Blue Book Unit 12 are due on Friday. 

Fifth Grade Religion

Last Thursday, the fourth and fifth graders began practice for the Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 8th.  We will continue discussing the Cardinal Virtues in Chapter 6 of the Religion Book.  Students will write about the meaning of the virtue, Justice.  Additionally, students are reflecting on each station of the cross in a packet they received on Ash Wednesday. 

Other Fifth Grade News

Living Stations of the Cross - Fri., March 8th @ 1:15

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me an email at dhall@stjosephdg.org.