Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there, especially the ones who have 5th graders at Our Lady of the Angels School! Thanks to Mrs. C for volunteering to watch everyone during the Teacher Appreciation Week luncheon, to Mrs. M for this year's running club, to Mrs. H, Mrs. J, and Dr. S. for being narrators at Stations of the Cross, and to all of the Moms who have already volunteered to chaperone our June 5 field trip to the Museum of Science. And to all you Moms out there, helping with homework every night, making sure everyone gets plenty of rest for school, and just being supportive Moms, thank you a thousand times!
By the way, make sure you have your permission slips for the June 5 trip in tomorrow. TOMORROW. Tomorrow.
In Math this week, we look at the areas of rectangles, squares, and parallelograms. We also finish up the lesson on the circumference of a circle. We'll have a quiz on Thursday on the perimeter of rectangles and squares, like the problems you did on "Mouse Pad Geometry." In Social Studies we'll continue our discussion of the voyage of Lewis and Clark, then examine the life and times of Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory, our seventh president. This worksheet goes with Lewis and Clark, and we'll answer these questions about Andrew Jackson. There will be a quiz on Thursday on the questions you answered about Washington and his Cabinet last week.
In Reading we'll read "A Model Scientist," an interview of a guy who does for a living what Waterhouse Hawkins loved to do... design and build models of animals, especially dinosaurs. Then we'll get ready to read our next selection in the book, "Mahalia Jackson," about a famous blues singer. This vocabulary will help us along. In Religion we continue our discussion of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Thanks to everyone for good behavior at Mass on Friday, and to Father Daugherty for tailoring his homily to us!
Finally, remember that the Jog-a-thon is Friday morning, along with the next collection of canned goods for Jeremiah's Inn. Let's take first place in the school contest to see who can bring in the most!
May 6, 2012
That sure was a lot of tests and quizzes last week. This week there's more written work and less studying, but we do have a math test (multiplication of fractions) on Tuesday. There's the music quiz Tuesday, too. Look for study sheets to be handed out in class.
Help! Help! A dinosaur of Waterhouse Hawkins!
After the math test, we'll do this word problem worksheet, then begin a chapter on perimeter and area. We'll cover the circumference of a circle as well. In Religion we'll start a chapter on the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and in Social Studies we'll continue our discussion of the early years of our nation, when titans like George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were President. James Madison got elected, too, though there was a war while he was in office. We'll read about all of it, and do this worksheet to help us understand it all.
In Reading we'll study for a selection test on "The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins," using these questions and this vocabulary.
Thanks to everyone for passing in their Jog-a-thon permission slips last week. This week, look for a permission slip for a June 5 bus trip to Boston's Museum of Science. We'll need to collect some money for museum admission for that one. Have a great week!
Ah,the Cabinet. Hey. Hamilton. Stop stepping on my foot!
April 30, 2012
The Religion test is postponed until Friday. Here's the new study sheet. So sorry for the mix-up. Ask the kids... it just wasn't my day when it came to the copy machine!!!
April 29, 2012
He still doesn't want to be called "Daddy," but he's still the Father of our Constitution. And James Madison wishes to remind you that there's a Social Studies test on Thursday, and to be using this study sheet all week to prepare. We'll use it in class, too, so bring it back and forth to school and home every day.
There's also a Religion test on Wednesday. Use this study sheet to get ready for that one. After the test, we'll resume our study of the Seven Sacraments with chapter on the Eucharist. Did you know that the word "Eucharist " comes from the Greek word for "Thanksgiving?" You will soon. Actually, you do now.
We The People... of the 5th grade... are studying multiplication of fractions in math this week. We studied it last week, too. There's a lot to it. We'll be doing some problem solving too, using this worksheet.
In Reading we'll read the story of "The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins." We'll use this vocabulary to do an assignment in the middle of the week, then these questions to discuss the story.
We have a pizza party on Tuesday, the party promised when the class reached $25.00 worth of quarters from Mr. M. calling everyone by the wrong name in the beginning of the school year. Bring a contribution if you want to help get the pizza... $25.00 doesn't go as far as it used to. I'll provide the pizza and some bottled water to drink.
Did you know that the Easter season is fifty days long? It ends with the Feast of Pentecost on May 27th this year. So I'll still be wishing everyone a Happy Easter when school starts tomorrow. We had some great warm weather during our vacation, and now it's time to get back to work!
In Math we're starting a new chapter on the multiplication of fractions. For Reading class we'll discuss our work from before the break on "Leonardo's Horse," then use these questions you worked on in class to study for a selection test.
In Religion we'll continue to bask in the glory of our marvelous Stations of the Cross performance two weeks ago (have you seen the slideshow below yet?), then look into some details about the first Easter and the early Church. We'll then receive this study sheet for a quiz next week. In Social Studies we'll finish up our work on the Bill of Rights (and the other amendments to the Constitution), do this assignment, then use this worksheet to study how a bill becomes law within the three branches of our Constitution. Finally, we'll get a study sheet near the end of the week to start getting ready for our next test. I'll put it here on the wiki by the end of the night. Remember, we have to know the words to the Preamble for this one... you can find them in your Social Studies folders or look at them here.
April 8, 2012
Happy Easter! Haaappppy Easter! He is Risen! He is Risen! Alleluia!!!!!!
Great job on the Stations of the Cross presentation on Thursday, everyone! It's a three day week, then April vacation for you, so you can expect a lot of homework and things to do in the short time we have!
In Math we will prepare for a test on the addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. A lot of you need help with the subtraction when you have to borrow, so be ready to ask questions and practice.
The 3rd quarter ends Friday, and that's no April Fool's Day joke. Check your grades on the EDGE (IEI Schools) website and get that work made up!
It's Holy Week, too. Our performance of the Living Stations of the Cross is scbeduled for Wednesday at 1:15 in the Church. Parents, friends, and hangers-on are cordially invited to pray with us.
It's also a school week, believe it or not. In Math we continue our study of the addition and subtraction of mixed numbers and fractions until we're ready for a test, most likely on Thursday. In Reading we read about a young inventor named Becky Schroeder, and answer some questions about her to test our reading comprehension. In Social Studies we'll finish up our discussion of the Articles of Confederation and begin a chapter on the U.S Constitution (complete with yet another snappy song about it from the people at Schoolhouse Rock).
In Religion we'll finish up the worksheet on Chapter 9, due on Wednesday. Then we'll have Good Friday off from school, celebrate EASTER, and return to school for a very short week before the kids go on April Vacation. The teachers have to go to Boston to attend the NCEA Convention on Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th, so the vacation is extra long this year. Now there's something to really celebrate about!
March 31, 2012
Today's trip to Lexington and Concord has been postponed due to the rainy weather forecast for the day. We'll talk about a new day for the trip next week.-- Mr M
Due to a scheduling conflict with our pianist, we've had to move the performance of the Living Stations of the Cross to Wednesday, April 4th at 1:15 p.m. I'm sorry for any trouble this causes for people who already arranged to take time off work. This letter will go out to the kids tomorrow to explain the logistics.
In Math this week we'll continue our discussion of the addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. In Social Studies we'll prepare for a test on Wednesday using the study sheet the children received last week. Then we'll study the Articles of Confederation, the document that organized our federal government before the U.S. Constitution. This worksheet goes with the chapter.
In Reading we'll continue to read and discuss "Wings for the King," acting out various scenes in class to the amusement of one and all. We'll then use this vocabulary and these discussion questions to prepare to take the selection test.
In Religion we'll re-do the questions on Chapter 8 for a test grade, then do the last of the three independent study chapters, Chapter 9, using this worksheet. Remember to ask questions this week in class if you need help.
Finally, congratulations to our actors and actresses from the drama club play over the weekend, and to the stage crew, props makers, refreshment sellers, and other hangers-on who made the production so much fun to see. You all were just great!
March 18, 2012
We're busily preparing for a presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross, to be performed on Holy Thursday, April 5th. The presentation time is still to be determined, since our volunteer musician, who plays the piano accompaniment to our singers, does not yet know what time she will be available. As soon as I know, I'll get a letter out to everyone.
Thanks to all who helped our class WIN the magazine drive contest on the first collection date Friday. Everyone was pretty excited about the prizes they earned. Keep up the good work and thanks so, so much for all the support you give to OLA School.
Finally, congratulations to our boys basketball team for a well-fought playoff game last Monday. As I told everyone who would listen, we couldn't be prouder of you, win OR lose, than we have been all year. I know it was a tough season for wins and losses, but the way you represent the school with good sportsmanship, listening to your coach, and playing hard for the entire game counts for A LOT. They're the things that count the most to me. Of course, we'd rather have won that game than lost it-- but you're all winners in my book.
March 11, 2012
Anyone going to the St. Patrick's Day parade today? Look for me near Blue Jeans Pizza on the corner of Park and Pleasant. I'll be screaming "O-L-A! O-L-A!" and holding my camera while everyone stares in bewilderment.
Congratulations to our 5th and 6th grade girls basketball team for a tournament well done up in Leominster. The team got eliminated yesterday, but they fought hard and made everyone proud! Don't forget that our boys team has a playoff game this week, too!
I'm trying to plan an optional outing to Lexington and Concord to see the Battle Road Trail and other historic sites. How does March 31st work for people who are interested? The basketball season should be over by then. Will Little League baseball already have begun?
This week we're back to a full class schedule, with nightly homework. In Math we'll prepare for a test on Fractions on Friday, preceded by a Wednesday quiz on mixed numbers and improper fractions (the things you did on the "Cheezz" sheet during testing week). In Religion, the Lent unit re-dos are due on Wednesday, then we'll begin another independent work unit (Chapter 8), using these questions. In Reading we'll have the selection test on Longfellow's poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, using these study questions. The Spelling test on the words that go with this story will be on Thursday.
In Social Studies we'll conclude our study of the Declaration of Independence, then begin a chapter about the war between Britain and its American colonies. These questions will be assigned at some point.
Remember that Tuesday is a no school day for students, as the teachers will be holding an inservice day. There will be the regular amount of homework assigned Monday night, since Tuesday is not a holiday. Also recall that I'll be out of school on Wednesday to attend a conference, so the substitute teacher will give out the work that day.
March 3, 2012
If you were a baby, you wouldn't have school next week. You also wouldn't need to bring in proof that your parents have seen your 3rd quarter progress report. You wouldn't need to get plenty of rest and a good breakfast for Monday morning, because you wouldn't be having Diocesan Testing all week.
But you aren't a baby. And you need to remember all of those things. On the bright side, there'll be hardly any written homework in school. On the other bright side, the St. Patrick's Day parade is next Sunday, the 11th. Furthermore, I've updated all of the IEI Schools data (now the EDGE data... whoopee!) so you can see how you're doing so far this quarter.
We will do some work in school, though. We'll continue studying fractions in math, do this worksheet while studying the Declaration of Independence in Social Studies, and use these questions and this vocabulary to get ready for a selection test on the famous Longfellow poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." In Religion, it's Stations, Stations, Stations of the Cross practice, with this worksheet due on Monday.
I won't even go into what things would be like if you were an armadillo. Use your imagination.
Welcome back, everyone! We have a busy first week back to school, but since we spent all of the week before vacation studying for eighteen (well, it seemed like eighteen, didn't it?) tests and quizzes, this week is light on the studying and heavier on the written work.
In Religion we'll begin practicing for our performance of the Living Stations of the Cross for the whole school, which takes place on Holy Thursday, time to be announced. While the different Stations and discussed and planned, the class will work on this independent study unit on Lent. It's due on Friday, March 2nd. I'll correct the work over next weekend, then students will have a couple of days to fix up any mistakes and pass the work in for a test grade. We'll have two or three other independent study units like this over the course of the season of Lent.
For Math, we'll review the use of the powerful Least Common Denominator method for comparing, adding, and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. We'll discuss how to deal with answers in improper fraction form, and how to "borrow" when subtracting fractions, too. We'll also take a time out during the week to review the marks on the inch side of the ruler, in preparation for next week's standardized testing. There'll be a quiz on Thursday about the finding of Least Common Denominator.
Double update: The podcast is fixed. Still on the Podcasts page...
Update: The podcast is up, on the Podcasts page, of course...
February vacation is on the horizon, and this week is full of tests and quizzes to finish up chapters and units in all of our subject areas. In Social Studies, we have a test on Friday about the American colonies' relationship with the mother country, Great Britain. Use this study sheet to get ready. In Religion we'll have a test on Wednesday, on the chapter about Baptism and Confirmation. This is the study sheet for that one. In Spelling we'll have a quiz Friday on the words that go with "Jane Goodall's 10 Ways to Save Wildlife," and we'll have the selection test on that story as soon as we've finished reading it in class, using these study questions and this vocabulary sheet.
We don't have a test in Math. We''ll instead continue the chapter on fractions that we began last week.
Thanks to everyone who helped us with the Holy Cross field trip. The Crusaders beat American University, and a fine time was had by all!
February 10, 2012
The Holy Cross basketball trip is tomorrow. It's also supposed to snow. They'll play the game anyway, but if the weather's really bad, people might want to opt out. So today I'm giving everyone their ticket to the game. Anyone who still wants to go tomorrow should come to school at 1:15 as planned. Those who choose to stay home should either leave me a note on the Student Page of this wiki, or e-mail me at jmistretta@worcesterdiocscek12.org. Go CRUSADERS!
We will return from tomorrow's game between 4:15 and 4:30, unless they game goes into overtime.
February 5, 2012
First of all, a heartfelt thanks to all of our 5th grade parents for helping to make Catholic Schools Week such a huge success. From donations of food to designing picnic lunches, from organizing outfits for the day to giving to the needy, many of you came through for us in a big way. Much appreciation and thanks from me to you~
On to the next school week! In Math, we'll begin the week with a review of multiplication of decimals, followed by the beginning of our study of fractions. The fraction unit starts with a discussion of factors, prime numbers, and prime factorization, and lasts a couple of months. In Social Studies, we'll continue our lesson on the Boston Massacre, talk about the Boston Tea Party, then look in on the Battle of Lexington and Concord, all part of our chapter on the runup to the American Revolution. The Tea Party reading is available at this link, as are the questions we'll answer about it for homework.
The Holy Cross basketball outing is next Saturday. The permission slip online has the details. Thanks! Have a happy Super Bowl Day!
January 29, 2012
It's Catholic Schools Week! There are a variety of activities planned, most of which were presented in this letter. The details were fleshed out in school last week, On Monday, we'll have an Animal World presentation at 9:45 a.m., paid for with the $2.75 everyone kicked in last week. We also have our annual Picnic Day, where students come to school dressed according to the theme their group has chosen. Groups planned out who would bring what for food, drink, etc. last week. Don't bring anything that needs to be heated up. It's a picnic, not a gourmet dinner.
Tuesday, we'll celebrate Mass with Bishop Rueger and enjoy our intermediate grades choir, which has been practicing every day at lunch recess for a week or so. On Wednesday, we'll be visited by the Catholic Free Press, whose reporters want to interview a few of us as we make prayer cards for persecuted Christians around the world. Thanks to the good offices of Aid to the Church in Need, we have a liaison to deliver our cards to churches in Iraq. Students may come to school out of uniform if they dress in red.
We're also hoping to conduct a Spelling Challenge on Tuesday morning. Students have been split into teams and have been studying a list of challenge words. If we score above a certain amount correct, we can be out of uniform for free on Thursday, too!
On Thursday, the school will hold an Open House from 10:00-12:00. On Friday... hmm. what's happening on Friday? I'll let everyone know as soon as the tale of the tape comes in from Mrs. Albert!
By the way, report cards go out tomorrow, too, for the second quarter.
We have an optional field trip coming up on Saturday, February 11th to a Holy Cross basketball game. Here's the permission slip,
January 22, 2012
Good evening! I've completed all of your second quarter report card grades, but people who are making up tests this week can still have them count toward the second quarter, since they won't be printing the report cards until next Monday. You won't be able to view your grades on the IEI Schools website this week, anyway, to give your teachers time to figure everything out. Also, IEI is changing its name to EDGE. So now it's the EDGE website. Passwords and everything will still be the same, and don't ask me why they did it... but there it is anyway.
This week we'll read The Chi'Lin Purse in our Reading books, then use these questions to help us understand it. We'll have the Social Studies test on Wednesday using this study sheet, then read more about Great Britain's disagreements with its American colonies. We'll also begin a chapter about the French and Indian War, known in Europe as the Seven Years' War.
We'll have a couple of meetings for your picnic groups to help you get ready for the picnic on the 30th, and the spelling teams will meet a couple of times to get to know the words on the list I handed out last week.
Finally, in Math we'll continue our chapter on the multiplication of decimals. Thrilling, but try to stay in your chairs for it.
January 15, 2012
I've been going to a lot of the OLA team basketball games this month, and can't say enough about how proud I am of teams. Win or lose, they follow directions, work as a team, listen to their coaches, and hustle from the beginning of the game to the last whistle. I'm going to see the 5th and 6th grade girls this afternoon to take some yearbook photos. Hope your clocks didn't freeze in the cold overnight weather, kids!
In Math this week, we'll start a chapter on the multiplication of decimals. Some of the kids will need to make up the long division test, too, with an after school help session on Thursday and a retake opportunity on Friday during class. That was one tough topic! We'll do some of the problems on this worksheet as well.
In Reading, we'll do some vocabulary from this sheet for our next story, "The Chi'Lin Purse." We'll also discuss wedding traditions around the world as we work on comparison and contrasting skills. Thrilling, yes, but we can manage it!There will also be a spelling quiz on Wednesday on the words we looked at last week.
In Religion we'll finish Chapter 5 and use this study sheet for a test on Friday. That's this Friday. Yeah.
January 9, 2012
We've been working hard and doing a lot of homework since we returned from Christmas vacation, and that will continue this week as we finish up long division in math, continue our study of colonial America in Social Studies, and take a closer look at "Passage to Freedom" in our Reading books.
First, a big THANK YOU to Mrs. A, Mrs. M, and Mrs. H, who came in and made the colonial baked apples for all the good little colonial boys and girls on Friday. They were just delish!
Now: In Religion, we'll study Jesus' Baptism and the story of Nicodemus and the Kingdom of Heaven. In Math, we'll prepare for a Friday test on long division (though we'll take a break Monday to do this problem solving sheet). In Social Studies, we';ll study dissent in colonial New England, then use this study sheet to prepare for a Thursday quiz about slavery in the southern colonies. In Reading, we'll use this study sheet and these vocabulary words to take a selection test on Wednesday on our current story, "Passage to Freedom."
Our charitable collection for Jeremiah's Inn this month is called "Wraps 'n' Wipes." We're asking for used blankets of all types for the homeless men, and boxes of diapers for the women who come in from the Main South neighborhood for help with their children. Diapers are expensive, so it's also good if you send whatever you can in the way of a monetary donation in an envelope labeled "Wraps and Wipes." I'll then go buy whatever diapers can be purchased with the collection.
January 2, 2012
Time for a new year, and time to come back to the classroom, everyone! Thanks to all who contributed to the wiki over the Christmas break. I hope everyone had a fabulous vacation. Here's what's happening during the first week of January.
In Reading, we pick right up where we left off, writing second drafts of the summaries you passed in before Christmas, then reading a new story in our text, "Passage to Freedom," about a Japanese diplomat who bravely assists refugees from Nazi Germany. We'll use this vocabulary sheet and these questions to discuss it.
In Math, we forge ahead with more Long Division, Division, Division, Division (not that bird again! Nooooo!). We'll take a break from it sometime during the week to do some problem solving on this worksheet, too. In Social Studies, we use this assignment to conclude our discussion of slavery in the southern English colonies in America, then move to a discussion of life in Puritan New England, using this assignment.
In Religion, we review the details of the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, then read about the Baptism of Our Lord as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany on Friday.
August, 2011-- for the new 5th grade
Welcometo the official OLA 5th grade wiki ! A wiki is a collection of web pages designed to allow a community of users (that's us) to talk, share work, and see what others are saying and doing in the group.
We use this wiki in a variety of ways. Every Monday morning during the school year, parents and students can check this page for news and updates about the upcoming school week. There will also be updates by fifth graders on the Daily Blurb page that will answer the eternal parental question, "What did you do in school today?"
The Problem Solving page will have math problems of interest for extra credit, and the Photos page will have slide shows of different events in our class. The Social Studies and Math pages are for special presentations in those subjects, and the Students page is for fifth graders to ask questions about class or tell stories about what they do outside school.
I've also been experimenting with a few new things-- there's no real information on them yet, but you can listen to a couple of samples below.
E-mail me at jmistretta@worcesterdiocesek12.org if you had any trouble with either of the above. You can also e-mail me now if you have questions about anything you read here.
Soon you will receive a newsletter in the mail with a little information on what to expect in 5th grade this year. There's a lot more to know, though, and a longer letter will go home during the first week of school.
Huh? School? When?
When I send the letter home, you'll also be able to access it on the Handouts page of this wiki. Give it a try and see if it works for you. During the school year, you'll find many class notices, handouts, and study sheets there.
To write on the wiki, you'll need a username and password. To give these to you, I need a signed permission slip, which I'll pass out (and put on the Handouts page) in September. Until then, check back here once in a while... you never know what might pop up on a 5th grade wiki!
OK, let's hope that guy doesn't pop up. He looks kind of like me on a Monday morning, actually (the wizard hat keeps my bald head warm on those chilly fall mornings). But never mind. Check back once in a while anyway.
June 22, 2011 Update for All!
To all of the parents and kids who contributed toward the most generous gift I received on the last day of school this year, thank you very, very much. It was a really good year for me working with all of you... people like you make me want to come to work every day. I will put both the Staples card and Dunkin Donuts gift card to excellent use, and will think of and pray for all of you this summer. Have a wonderful, restful, fun-filled vacation, kids!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.