Week 34 Newsletter

It's the first week of May, and man were we busy! Students have been creating their towns and 3-D buildings in Geometrocity which is always a very exciting time. These towns will be on display at Open House in two weeks time, and they are very creative! What a fun town we could one day in live in.

Our last writing unit of the year is Memoirs. To end our elementary career, students will be writing about themselves within a larger theme... writing small about big ideas! It's one of my favorite writing units of the year and I can't wait to hear the stories they will share. Check out some of their work on Google Classroom.

To end our 5th grade social studies curriculum we are all traveling along the Oregon Trail as Pioneers. In groups of 5-6, students are in Wagon Companies that will have to navigate the 2,000 mile journey to the Willamette Valley from Independence, Missouri. We've spent a long time planning our wagon supplies, and starting next Tuesday we begin to travel. This simulation is always a highlight of the year.

There's only 4 weeks left of school and we will be packed with a lot of events! Next week, we start our state testing, so please have your students in school on Monday and Tuesday (5/7 and 5/8) as we tackle the ELA testing.


PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Every year our PTA puts on a wonderful field day to cap the end of the school year. This year, field day is on Thursday, May 31st. They are in need of many wonderful volunteers. It would be great to see our families out there! If you are interested in volunteering, please follow the link HERE and sign up!


UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Monday, May 7
• ELA testing (CAASPP)
• Tuesday, May 8
• ELA testing (CAASPP)
• Wednesday, May 9
• A's Game Field Trip (10:30am-2:50pm)

Week 29 Newsletter

We have been enjoying the novel, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. Would everlasting life be a blessing or a curse? Our class has been having a lot of wonderful conversations around life and how we treat each other. This book is full of great characters and it's been fun to spark some debate in the room.

Speaking of debates... we started our Argument writing unit. Our very first argument piece will be on the topic of Chocolate Milk in schools. We definitely have a lot of opinions in the room and it's leading to very good debates. Students will be publishing a final argument piece after we return from Spring Break.

Next week will be a very busy 4 day week, especially in math. We will be finishing up Module 5 by learning about several different kinds of quadrilaterals. Geometry is always a really fun unit, and the students have been doing so well on all our new lessons. For homework, students will often have 2 lessons a night, so we can finish Module 5 before Spring Break.

Attached to this week's progress report is an important letter about all our upcoming events. You can view the letter HERE. Please keep this letter in a safe place! 5th grade has a lot of events happening from now until June 1st. Make sure you mark your calendars!


UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Monday, March 26
• Library Books due
• Thursday, March 30
• Module 5 Math Test
• Pay Day
• Friday, March 31- April 8
• Spring Break
• Monday, April 9
• Auction

Weekly News: Week 36

There are only 2 more weeks of school! Where did the year go?

Thank you to everyone who was able to come by Open House last night! I hope you enjoyed seeing all the hard work your student has done over the last year. While it is only a small fraction of their work, I am so incredibly impressed with how much they've learned.

  

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, May 22nd
• Science CAST 8:15am. Please be on time to school.
• Last Band & Strings of the year
• Human Growth- Parent Preview 2:15pm in 12C (our room)
• Tuesday, May 23rd
• Eagle TV Party
• Permission Slips for Human Growth due
• Thursday, May 25th
• Human Growth Part 1
• Safety Valet Pizza Lunch Party
• Friday, May 26th
• Human Growth Part 2
• Last Pay Day of the Year

Weekly News: Week 35

This week was our first week of state testing and the class did a great job! It can be a little overwhelming to spend your mornings reading passages and answering questions, all while staying really quiet, but the class handled it really well!

We also finished our kites, which looked wonderful hanging from the ceiling in our room. They are ready to be viewed at Open House this Thursday. The school year is winding down pretty quickly and there is still so much to come.

Our last Social Studies unit will be a pioneer unit featuring the Oregon Trail. The class has been divided into six Wagon Companies, and has been making key decisions in what items their wagon brings with them on their journey to the Willamette Valley. Along the way the wagons will encounter choices that could ultimately decide their fates.... it should be a great way to wrap up 5th grade.


Just a reminder... we have the Math CAT tomorrow morning. Please be on time to school! We start right at 8:15.


Upcoming:

• Monday, 5/15
• Math CAT
• Thursday, 5/18
• Math PT
• Open House, 6:30-7:30pm
• Friday, 5/19
• Minimum Day

Weekly News: Week 33

It's hard to believe that Week 33 of the school year has ended! Where has the time gone?

On Monday, students took the 6th Grade Math Placement test. It can be a very stressful day for our fifth graders but they all tried their absolute best and I was very proud of their dedication. Information regarding the Placement test timeline can be found HERE.

In Writer's Workshop we began our last writing unit... Memoirs. It's a wonderful way to end 5th grade and their elementary school careers by thinking about themselves and what makes them unique.

I've really been enjoying the conversations we've been having as we dive deeper into our Memoir Unit. Check out your student's Google Classroom account to see more of what they've been writing.


We are nearing the end of our Revolutionary War unit in Social Studies. We've looked at the battles, studied the roles that women played in the cause, and studied a few of the major battles. Without France's help we might still be with Great Britain! The Unit 6 Social Studies test will be on Tuesday, May 9th.


Next week Mohr School will be raising money for the Wheelchair Foundation. More information will be posted next week.

One last thing... today's Friday Folder includes a permission slip for 5th grade's Human Growth Unit. Please read the letter carefully and return it by Tuesday, May 23rd. The Unit will be taught on Thursday, May 25th and Friday, May 26th. The Parent Preview will be on Monday, May 22nd.


Upcoming Events:

• Monday, May 1st
• Daily BYOD begins
• Wednesday, May 3rd
• Mid Module 6 Test
• Friday, May 5th
• Chapter 5 Science Test

Testing Schedule:

• Monday, May 8th
• ELA CAT
• Thursday, May 11th
• ELA PT
• Monday, May 15th
• Math CAT
• Thursday, May 18th
• Math PT
• Monday, May 22nd
• Science CAST pilot

Weekly News: Week 30

Have a wonderful week off from school! I know we are all looking forward to a little rest and relaxation.

In your child's backpack today you should see a packet of work and a letter regarding all the important events for the last 8 weeks of school. 5th grade has a lot going on over the last few months so please keep that blue calendar handy. You can access the letter HERE or check them out below:

Upcoming Events:

• Spring Break
• Mon, April 3- Fri, April 7
• Module 5 Test
• Wed, April 12

CAASPP Testing Letters

Please check out the Parent Letters linked below about our upcoming testing. 5th Grade will be taking the CAASPP in both ELA and Math, as well as the CAST which is the new Science test.

English               Spanish               Korean              Mandarin

Also, a quick reminder... here is our class's testing schedule:

Weekly News: Week 29

This week the students worked on finishing their Tuck Everlasting maps of Treegap, they spent more time with area and perimeter, and looked into events like The Boston Tea Party, The Intolerable Acts, and the First & Second Continental Congresses, as we gear up for our Unit 5 test next week.

Next Wednesday is also our Fun Run for STEAM! Keep collecting donations online, or in your child's envelope and return it next week. We are looking into adding a lot of really cool STEAM ideas to our school.

Just an FYI... below I've included our upcoming spring testing dates. Please make sure your child is at school on time those days.




Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, March 29th
• Fun Run for STEAM! 5th Grade wears BLUE... students will get their shirt on Wednesday.
• Thursday, March 30th
• Unit 5 Social Studies Test
• Pay Day for March
• Friday, March 31st
• March Auction

Don't forget... Spring Break is April 3rd-April 7th! School resumes on Monday, April 10th.

Upcoming Testing Dates

As many of you are aware, the month of May is a busy time for testing. 5th grades takes the CST Science Test, on top of the CAASPP in both Language Arts and Math. Below are the testing dates. Please make sure your student is at school on these days, are well rested and have eaten breakfast before coming to school. Make-up testing will be at the end of May.

Week of May 2nd- CST Science Testing (actual dates TBD)
Tuesday, May 10th- CAASPP Language Arts Computer Adaptive Test
Thursday, May 12th- CAASPP Language Arts Performance Task
Monday, May 23rd- CAASPP Math Computer Adaptive Test
Tuesday, May 24th- CAASPP Math Performance Task


Also occurring in May is the 6th grade math placement test. Please read through the attached letter from Ken Rocha, Director of Secondary Education regarding the specifics of the 6th grade math placement test.

LINK TO LETTER

There are a few important dates regarding information nights. The actual test dates have not yet been scheduled. Your student will be notified when the test is scheduled.

Testing Reminder

Just a quick reminder... we start testing next week. Our first test is Monday, April 27th and we'll be taking the ELA Computer Adaptive Test.

Please make sure your child is at school next Monday, on time, and has eaten a good breakfast.

Here's the dates, again, for anyone who needs them:

Mon, 4/27- ELA CAT
Mon, 5/4- ELA Performance Task
Mon, 5/11- 6th Grade Placement Test Part I
Tues, 5/12- 6th Grade Placement Test Part II
Wed, 5/13- Math CAT
Fri, 5/15- 6th Grade Math Placement Test Part III
Tues, 5/19- CST Science Part I
Wed, 5/20- CST Science Part II
Fri 5/29- Math Performance Task


Remember that this just a chance for your student to share how much they've learned this year.  We are having a great year together, and they are such a friendly, exciting, thoughtful, intelligent group of kids. I want them to try their best, and be happy with their effort.

SBAC Practice Test

Today we went to the computer lab and practiced how we will be taking the State SBAC tests this year. I showed everyone the practice test site so they could familiarize themselves with the test functions, particularly the various tools they have access to when they are testing such as notepad.

If you are interested in practicing a little more the site can be found at bit.ly/1QaXT6B. Remember to just go in as a GUEST.

Mark Your Calendars!

We have many things in store for our last few months of 5th grade. Please mark these dates on your calendar. Times for events will be sent out as they approach.

For testing, we will be taking 1 test per week starting the week of April 27th. Please make sure your student is at school on those days.

Testing Dates (SBAC and CST Science Tests)

Monday, April 27
     SBAC ELA Computer Adaptive Test
Monday, May 4
     SBAC ELA Performance Task
Wednesday, May 13
     SBAC Math Computer Adaptive Test
Tuesday, May 19
     CST Science Part 1
Wednesday, May 20
     CST Science Part 2
Friday, May 29
     SBAC Math Performance Task

**6th Grade Placement test has yet to be scheduled

Field Trips & Events

Monday, May 11
     DARE Graduation AVHS Theater 6:30pm
Friday, May 15
     PUSD Short Film Festival
Wednesday, May 27
     A's Game
Wednesday, June 10
     Pool Day-- Pleasanton Aquatic Center
Thursday, June 11
     Field Day
Friday, June 12
     Culmination  MPR; Time TBD

UPDATED: State Testing & Math Placement Dates

Here's the finalized schedule for the testing dates. Please mark your calendars. Students should be on time to school each day of testing:

Thurs, May 8- Math Placement Part A
Mon, May 12- SBAC (Smarter Balance)
Tues, May 13- SBAC (Smarter Balance)
Wed, May 14- SBAC (Smarter Balance)
Fri, May 16- SBAC (Smarter Balance)
Mon, May 19- CST Science
Tues, May 20- CST Science
Thurs, May 22- Math Placement Part B
Wed, May 28- Math Placement Part C

State Testing & 6th Grade Placement

Over the weekend you should've received an email from the district about state testing this year, and all the changes. Please know that this is a very transitional year, so information is slow. Here's what is known so far.

Fifth grade is taking 3 different tests: 
(1) Smarter Balance online testing,
(2) CST Star Science Test, and
(3) 6th Grade Placement Test.

The online Smarter Balance test is a completely new format and as such this year is a practice year. Students and teachers will be learning the new format of the state test, and while the students will be completing the test, their scores will not be known. Their scores do not count. You will not get results. If you are interested in seeing the Practice tests, please go to http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/

The entire 5th grade at Mohr will be taking the Smarter Balance tests the week of May 12th. 

The CST Science test is the same format we have done for years with a test booklet. This is the last year of the CST format. As of right now, the test dates are not yet scheduled.

The 6th grade math placement test will also be taken sometime in the month of May. It's exact date is not yet scheduled.

Once these tests are scheduled, I will send out an email with all the dates.

I hope this clears up any confusion. Let me know if you have any questions.