Unauthorized Comment Posted

A "comment" came to this blog that was in a forgein language was not intended for any of us. I am unsure of what it said, but as a result have disabled ALL abilities for comments (not posts from our classroom needing username and password) to this blog as a safety measure. I do not want my students to reach any inappropriate message by checking in with what should be a fifth grade classroom blog. There is a way to allow posting from "members of the blog only" which I will be working on developing. If you have any questions about this or any classroom topic please email me at avalenti@austinisd.org. Sorry for the interuption in comment ability, but I have to ensure that my students are kept safe and away from things we do not approve of. Check back tomorrow...we will still be posting everyday!

Back to School Night a Success

Thank you to all of the families that were able to make it on Tuesday night! It is so nice to meet and be able to talk with all of you. We have been keeping vey busy this week in the classroom. Tomorrow is our big RIF kick-off assembly! In Language Arts we have been continuing to work on develping reflective responses to literature through Reader's Response. Our spelling rule this week invloves words that have the (k) sound in them. Ask your child to take a look at their many sample words in their spelling spiral. In math we are continuing our study of the number system and how new math words are related to one another. (factors, multiples, prime, composite, square numbers) We continue to work on rigorous math problem situations. Students really seem to enjoy using their math skills in this way! For homework tonight students have one problem they need to work with and attempt to represent the problem/solution with words, numbers and pictures (this is what we have been modeling in class). Thursday folders went home today and contain information that is important to review. Planner signature check is Friday!

Library Day

Today was our first trip to the library as fifth grade students. Ms. Gooch overviewed all of this year's Bluebonnnet books. Many students in the class have read almost all 20 of them already. There were only three on the shelf for checkout so we will wait patiently until some are turned in. Ms. Gooch also reminded students that these books are also at the public library. In math students played a math game called Close to Zero. They have this tonight for homework. The game builds the ability to determine the difference between two numbers mentally and continues the develpoment of reasonableness and estimation skills. Today in Science the students used thier observation skills as they explored a substance called "Oobleck". Is it a solid or is it a gas? Ask a fifth grader! In History Alive today students found points on a map after taking a quiz on longitude and latitude. Back to School night is tomorrow night! It is from 6:00pm-8:30pm. K-2 classroom presentations will be from 6:00-7:00 followed by a brief PTA meeting in the cafeteria from 7:00-7:30. 3rd-5th grade classroom presentations will be from 7:30-8:30. Fifth grade parents will be visiting all three teachers classrooms ust as the students do each day! Hope to see you there!