Everyday Math Info

Our district uses the Everyday Math curriculum. In fifth grade, students have three Everyday Math books:

• Student Reference Book (SRB)--This can travel to and from school. But students must have it with them in class every day. It is used to help students complete homework assignments.

• Math Journal--This workbook stays in school and contains their daily activities.

• Study Links--This workbook contains all of their homework worksheets. The book stays at school, but students will tear the assigned pages out of it each time there is homework (at least 4 times per week.

We'll be covering these units in Fourth Grade:

Unit One: Geometric Figures (lines, angles, rays, polygons)
Unit Two: Organizing Data
Unit Three: Multiplication and Division
Unit Four: Decimals
Unit Five: Estimation
Unit Six: Division
Unit Seven: Fractions
Unit Eight: Area and Perimeter
Unit Nine: Percents
Unit Ten: Reflection and Symmetry
Unit Eleven: Solids & Weights
Unit Twelve: Rates

Mr. Curran's Bookmarks

Great Math Site!!!

Great Site with Language Arts activities

Sites for Kids--From the American Library Association

Smithsonian Education--A great site for kids to explore and discover new things. Also a good source for interest project ideas.

National Geographic Kids

Thinkquest.org--Sites created by kids on a wide range of topics. Great for exploring, learning, or to help you come up with interest project idea.

Online Map Games--Interactive games that help build geography knowledge.

More Geography Games

More Math Games--This site is a little hard on the eyes, but it has great games. Try Lemonade Stand under "Top Ten." It's sweet!

Great Learning Games--A list of the top ten learning games on the web from web guru Larry Ferlazzo.

Westward Trail--This game lets you experience life on the Oregon Trail.

Magnetic Poetry Online--Use this page (and your creativity) to create your own free verse poems!

Book in a Bag

Book-in-a-Bag is our nightly reading program. Students are required to read at home for at least 20 minutes per night. They must fill out a log sheet and have a parent sign it every night, too.

The books they read must be approved by their teacher. These books must travel back and forth to and from school each day because they will also serve as the child's independent reading book during Reading Workshop.

On the back of the log sheet is a question bank. Students must choose ONE of these questions and then answer it by writing a detailed paragraph on the back of their log sheet.

All log sheets must be completed and turned in every Monday morning.

Need a new log sheet? Download and print this one:

Book in a Bag Log and Question Form

Scholastic Book Clubs

Next order due: NOVEMBER 19!!!

Online Ordering Information

Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs

Class Activation Code: GXJ7K

Dear Parent,

Now it's easier than ever to find the right books for your child — and help us earn FREE books for our classroom library at the same time!

With new online ordering from Scholastic Book Clubs, you can choose from a much wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card. 

Best of all, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent places their order online.

It's so simple! Here's how it works:

• SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This code ensures that your order is sent to me.

• SELECT the books you'd like to order from over 500 titles available online...and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts.

• SEND your order to me online by the due date. Books will be delivered directly to our classroom, as always.

Of course, you can still order using the form from the printed flyer. But why not experience for yourself how convenient it is to order online?

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure. Plus our whole class benefits thanks to the FREE books we'll earn with every parent online order. 

Go to www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs now to get started.

Thank you!

Problem of the Week

The Problem of the Week (POW) is a problem solving activity with two parts: the data sheet and the write-up. Both parts are due each and every Friday morning.

These problems will be challenging. They will require patience and careful calculations. Students might even need help from adults.

It is very important that all work is shown on the data sheet. The write-up is new for fifth grade, but is pretty straight forward. Just follow the format provided in the guide.

If you've lost your write-up sheet you can download and print this one, which includes a step-by-step guide:

POW Write-Up and Guide

Slice of Life Writing

Each week students will have to write one Slice of Life story in their notebooks or on their wiki page.

Stories will be due every Monday.

What is a Slice of Life story? It's a piece about a small moment in your life. It can be a special moment or an ordinary one.

It doesn't have to have a problem or a plot.

It should have dialogue (inner and outer) if possible. It should also have as much detail as possible.

Just think of something that's happened to you, recently or long ago, and write.

Here are some examples:

Slice of Life Example 1

Slice of Life Example 2

Slice of Life Example 3