First Jews in New Amsterdam

Today students examined a primary source document, the letter Peter Stuyvesant sent to the Dutch West India Company asking for the Jews who arrived from Recife, Brazil be expelled.  The class then acted out a play about this first boatload of Jews.  They were appalled by Stuyvesant's slanderous language about the Jews.  They are working on a cartoon (or a written piece) to retell this part of history, due next Tuesday.

Tuck on Monday

On Monday, the fifth graders, drawing from the experience of Winnie as she grows up in Tuck Everlasting,  pondered their own changing responsibilities and freedoms as they graduate from fifth grade and move to middle school and onto adulthood and beyond.
-Ethan

The students were super engaged in creating their ferris wheels of life, which was a testament to Mr. Lobovits's well crafted lesson!
-Mrs. Woods

Midah 11/22/11

On Tuesday, the fifth graders practiced their attentiveness by honing in on their listening.  They stopped all forms of noise making and listened as intently as they could to their surrounding to find out what new things they could hear.
-Ethan

Awesome Fifth Grade Parents (NY Times Article)

The following article reaffirms how valuable your parenting it to your child's success at school.  Read it to bolster your self-confidence as a parent and/or for tips on what more you can do:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-about-better-parents.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Upcoming Due Dates

DOL Quiz: Tue 11/22
Essay: Fri 12/2
Reader's Letter #3: Choice of 12/16 OR 12/22

Yoga Balls and Crates for after break

Fifth Graders should arrive to JCDS-RI after the Thanksgiving break with a yoga ball (that will stay at school) and a crate.  An old milk crate is fine, or something from an office supply store, like this:  http://www.staples.com/Staples-File-Storage-Crates-Clear/product_498606
Please let Mrs. Woods know if cost is an issue; we want this to work for everyone, and we can provide one or two balls for those who might not buy their own.

Ecocolumn Observations

Observations from the class:
"The grass is wilting, and we think it's because it grew so much that it was heavy on the top."
-from Emma, Leah, and Maya

"The algae is bigger, and we think it's because it's in the water, which helps it grow."
"We have 7.5 by 14cm of mold on our plants, because of all the moisture that's contained in it."
- from Josh B. and Yoni

"There's less mold, because we didn't water it for a long time."
"Some of the grass is dead, because the water evaporated."
-from Alec and Josh P.

Chumash

We have finally gotten into our groove of learning Chumash. Students took a quiz on Tuesday, and they did a great job of remembering the important vocabulary.
We are now learning about the process of how Bnei Yisrael became slaves- was it instantaneous or more gradual? Why did Pharaoh do such a horrible thing? Why does the text say that the Pharaoh didn't know Yosef- how could ANYONE not know Yosef?
Students have also learned about Rashi, and worked on creating their own Rashi-style nicknames.
This is the RES, signing off! (That's my Rashi style name- Rabbi Eliana Seltzer)

Torah Project Peer Editing

Students this week have been working on peer editing their Torah Project commentaries. Our students are such kind and thoughtful peer editors, and they have been helping their friends do their best work.
Heard at school, while working on peer editing:
Alec: "Can I move my chair later? I don't want to miss learning Torah with Josh"
It makes my heart melt!

Lashon

In Lashon this week, we have been learning about the 3 mitzvot wirtten in the Torah, about our responsibility to the environment: לאכלה, לעבדה, ולשמרה: "Eating from the land, working the land and protecting the land. Students have begun working on an in class art project to demonstrate what they have learned about these 3 mitzvot. What a great way to integrate with what they are working on in Science and to reinforce what they learned on Teva!

Field Trip to Touro Synagogue

After learning about Roger Williams, the concept of  religious freedom, which was truly novel back then, and thinking about what a new Jewish community would need to establish itself, we journeyed to Newport to visit Touro Synagogue.  Many of the students remembered being there for their siddur ceremony in first grade.  Our tour guide did a wonderful job engaging the class with questions.  Their understanding of life in Colonial Providence Plantations was detectable as they made connections from what we've been learning in the classroom to what they were hearing at Touro.
Their behavior was so exceptional that they earned another letter!  In total they now have "Fifth Grade ROC."  After the KS, we'll have a party. :-)

Tuck Everlasting

We've all been thinking a lot about the circle of life and what it might mean to live forever.  Fifth graders are eager to grow up and do not fancy the idea of remaining ten or eleven indefinitely!  Reader response journal work is becoming more thoughtful and in depth.  Readers are using textual support, an important skill in many subject areas, with increasing ease.  We plan to finish the novel together shortly after we return from the Thanksgiving break.

Essays are Progressing

Writers completed graphic organizers and are currently working on their drafts.  Some students are already revising.  The essays are due December 2nd.

Math Test

Fifth graders completed their math tests on division and multiplication on Monday.  The test was quite challenging.  Over all, the class did well.  I will work closely with students who missed key concepts on the tests to ensure understanding of the material.

Eye Contact

Our midah (value) of the month is Shmiat HaOzen, Attentiveness. Today in class, we did an exercise where each student shared something with a partner when their partner was first very distracted, and then kept eye contact with them. The students were able to reflect on how important it is to look at someone when they are talking, and how that makes them feel heard, respected and cared for.

Learning on Yoga Balls

Today learners sat on yoga balls, in lieu of traditional chairs.  I've wanted to try this for years, having read a bit about it.  Were they more focused because it was Monday?  Perhaps they found the word problems in math particularly riveting.  Maybe they were well-rested from the extra hour.  My instincts say that sitting straight and being able to bounce a bit helped add to the focus and productivity.
I'd like to try it again.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12547799

A great way to prepare for Thursday's quiz

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/multimedia/uploads/alberta/Ecosystem.html 

Evidence of Learning

Fifth graders passionately shared what they learned about Colonial America.   From witchcraft to slavery to ordinary home life, each child spoke clearly and presented concrete evidence that he or she indeed learned.  We had some oral presentations and some visual aids.  This was my first time using individualized learning contracts, and I was very impressed with the students' engagement, process, reflections, and ultimately, their learning. 

Math Facts

Starting Monday there will be a daily, timed and graded, multiplication facts quiz. 

Tuck Everlasting with Mr. Lobovits

On Wednesday, while reading  Tuck Everlasting, the fifth graders explored the notion of being "caged in"  through play acting.  I would like to note that the student audience was very attentive while watching their peers present: They were silent with their eyes focused on the actors, and they even maintained proper posture while sitting on the rug, which is no easy feat!  They also gave a hearty round of applause at the end of each performance. 

Upcoming Due Dates

Science Quiz: Thursday, November 10th
Next Reader's Letter: Friday, November 18th
(Note: readers should finish reading their books by November 11th)

Learning Contracts

Students have been busy working on what topics of their own they'd like to explore.  On Friday they'll show us the evidence of their learning. 

Tuck Everlasting

We started our second class novel of the year, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt.  Readers listed characteristics of a fantasy novel and made lists of the pros and cons of living forever.  Parents who would like their own copy should ask Mrs. Woods.  The prose in this book are beautiful!  Students will begin peppering their own writing with metaphors and beautiful language.