Late January Update from F3

A narrow street in Colonial Boston. Still there today!

First off, make sure you've read Ms. V's letter to parents asking for supplies.

Second, you should know that the kids right now are deeply engrossed in learning about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1760s and 1770s. Tomorrow F3 will take part in a special assembly just for fifth grade at Maple about the involvement of African and African Americans in the American Revolution. This multi-media presentation will take place at 2:20 tomorrow, 2/1.

Students are also learning all about erosion and deposition in science. Please show your child or talk to your child about any landslides or mudslides you have heard about lately.

As always, make sure your students are getting their daily Xtra Math practice. Eight students have completed Xtra Math!!! Hats off to: Venus, Jaden, Yu Yang, Michael, Vincent, Jennifer, Junjie, and Jessica!

A Tremendous Start to 2010

Moving up with Xtra Math!

January has stared out so well for us in F3! Back in December, we had started using Xtra Math, and now we have had three students complete all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. I truly believe that the students will be much successful in middle school once they can prove mastery of the basic math facts.

What else is new, teacher candidate Jeff Calaski is now full time in F3. Mr. Calaski will be at Maple everyday from now through to the start of April. He is very enthusiastic, and is looking forward to the next few months with all of the students. Mr. C, as the kids call him, is very much looking forward to leading the students through their learning of Colonial Boston, our next Social Studies unit. He started out as a volunteer in F3 two years ago and is now getting his teaching degree at Seattle University.

Step 1.
Make a new T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".

Step 2.
Use the almanac again to find the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each of the following dates: June 21 and December 21.

This time look up each date for the following places:
Fairbanks, AK
Boston, MA
Miami, FL

Record the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each date on your T-chart.

Step 3.
Learn about the path of the sun as it travels across Earth's sky.

Step 4.
Click the start button to watch the video animation of the sun.

Draw the path of the winter sun in your science journal.

Next, draw the path of the summer sun.

What happens to your shadow when you stand facing the winter sun? How about the summer sun? Write your reasponse in your journal.



Angle of the Sun

The Astronomy Scavenger Hunt for the Week of January 3, 2010!

Step 1.

Make a T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".

Step 2.

Use the almanac to find the sunrise and sunset times for each of the following dates in Seattle, WA: March 21, June 21, September 21, and December 21.

Step 3.

Record the sunrise and sunset times for each date on your T-chart.

Step 4.

What do you notice about the times? Write your observations on the same page.

Our Awesome Week in Pictures!! Thanks F3! Have a Great Break!!

The Week Before Break!! It's A Big One!!

F3!!! It's a pretty great this week! LOTS to look forward to:

Monday: MAP Math Testing at 10:20.... No sweat, you guys have learned so much this school year already, now is just a chance to show it all off! Just think of how much better you've done on each of your post tests every math unit.... You're going to do so well.

Tuesday: Our field trip to the Sheraton! We're going to meet Chef John, see our favorite architect Stacy, and check out all of the gingerbread houses, including the one that we helped on!!

Wednesday: MAP Reading testing at 10:20... Again! No sweat! You've been reading at school and at home everyday at your level. You'll be great.

Thursday: Gingerbread Village in F3!! After lunch we'll get started on our graham cracker houses/creations... WahooooO!

Friday: Nick Licata comes to talk about his book Princess Bianca and the Vandals at 11:00a.

WHAT A GREAT WEEK IN F3!! Stay tuned on the blog for pictures!

-Ms. V

Mr. Parker and His Unit Received Our Care Packages!!!

Here is a thank you note, below:

Marcia R. Ventura,

Thank you so much for taking the time to send my soldiers and me a little bit of home. It is a great feeling to know that we risk our lives for a grateful and deserving nation. I speak for all of the soldiers here that may not receive packages or letters from home, when I say you brightened our day. A touch of home whether it be a book, food, candy, or movie makes this place a easier to bare. During this time of year it is increasingly hard trudge through the day not being able to spend the holidays with our families. Your gifts are very appreciated. My unit is the 101ST Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY. We are currently deployed to Afghanistan near the city of Kandahar. The Company that I am in is a MEDEVAC company. Our job is to provided immediate response to saving the lives of wounded casualties on the battlefield via Helicopter transportation. We have been here since March of 2010, and we should be making our way back stateside in late February to March. We all appreciate your kindness and wish you all happy holidays. I would also like to add a special thanks to Nathan, Jaime, Jessica, Shaila, Dylan, and Jennifer For their letters. Thank you.

CW2 Parker, Tyson
UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot
101st Airborne Division
MEDEVAC
"No Mercy DUSTOFF"

Ms. V's class is starting Xtra Math this week!

Time to Reschedule Conferences!!

Ms. V will be in touch with all of the F3 families to make up parent conferences that were cancelled because of the snow.

Look forward to meeting all of you!!!

--Ms. V

Welcome to Parent Teacher Conferences!

Check out pictures of our Veterans Day Assembly and Care Package Project.

Welcome Parents!!! It's good to have you at Parent Teacher Conferences this week. We will be going over your child's work so far in fifth grade. We'll look over their science and math notebooks, listen to a recording of your child read, and take a look at MAP scores, this years upcoming MSP tests, and readiness for middle school.

While your waiting for your conference, please check out this website and the links on the right side of the page. Please make sure that your child goes on Study Island and Everyday Math Online about three or four times this Thanksgiving Break.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Global Reading 2011!!!

The Global Reading books are out, the Global Reading books are out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo!!! Check em out! We'll be getting to know these books VERY well in the next few months....

F-3 Architects to work with KMD Architects for the Seattle Gingerbread Village!

Stacy showing F3 kids some of KMD's designs on the computer.

We're already getting excited here in F3 ever since we went on that fantastic field trip last week to the offices of KMD Architects in downtown Seattle to visit our architect friend Stacy.

KMD takes part in the annual Seattle Gingerbread Village that takes place at the Sheraton Hotel, and this year F3 is making helping KMD make their gingerbread house. Well, guess what, the gingerbread has been made!

Coming up soon, the kids will be researching holidays around the world-- and making their 6 x 6 square to add to the KMD design.

In other news, thanks to the kids for helping me celebrate my birthday on the 18th. That cake ROCKED!

Time to get on the Island... Study Island!

Hey everyone! It's time to get started on Study Island!

Starting this week, six kids will get to go on Study Island each day during our reading block. Make sure you are only working on the Study Island assignments I've given you whether you are at home or at school.

Enjoy some time on the Island every week!

-Ms. V

Get a Camera and Start Taking Photos!!

Parents!

By now your F3-er has come home and interviewed you to I'll be providing camera for your child to take home and take pictures of things that keep them healthy either at home or in their communities! Check my pics out above!

See you tonight at Curriculum Night!!

-Ms. V

Thanks F3 for a GREAT first week!

What a great first week in F3! We got off to a good start last week by playing some fun games in class, getting most of the pretests out of the way and completing a couple of very important art projects. We also celebrated Michael's birthday :)

Check out the quilt above! Each square represents a a kid in F3. Our squares are absolutely the most colorful and full of charm. Good job F3!

So what's coming up this week?! On Tuesday night is a meeting for all fourth and fifth grade parents who are still curious about camp! On Thursday, we get to have our first buddies session with B3! We'll be reading and singing :) On Tuesday, we'll be starting our Micros and Me science unit. Students will be coming home to interview their parents about health care issues in our community and take pictures of health practices at home. I'll be giving students cameras to take home for an evening.

Thanks for filling out all the paperwork for me and for the school last week!

Cheers!
Ms. V.

Welcome to the 2010/2011 School Year in F3!!

Hello! I am Marcia Ventura, and I will be your child’s fifth grade teacher this year. I have taught in the Seattle School District for eleven years, and this is my fourth year at Maple, and I love it here deeply!

Fifth grade is a very exciting year for students. At this moment they are one year from starting middle school, and as such, it is critical that throughout the year, students become academically and socially ready for that transition. Instruction, especially in the areas of reading, writing, and math, will be rigorous to ensure that readiness.

What will students learn this year? In science, they will work with microscopes, learn about erosion and ground water, and even become engineers. In social studies, your child will learn about early US history and the principles this country was founded on. Math starts to get a little tricky for kids, and for that reason, I have a Math Breakfast club that will begin in October for kids that need a little extra help.

Homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Students should be spending about 30 minutes on homework, and and thirty minutes reading a book of their choice. I expect homework to be done completely independently. If your child is asking for help often with the homework, please let me know. All homework given in class will be directly related to what was taught during that school day.

Coming up very soon will be FOURTH and FIFTH GRADE CAMP!!!! Woohoo! Most of the students are already signed up and paid for. If you are not, you'll be receiving a phone call from me very soon :). Camp is very exciting and will be taking place at Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor from September 29, 30 and October 1.. More information about camp can be found in the links on the right side of the screen.

As you know, Maple is an open-concept school, and because of that, students will not only have me as their teacher, but they will also learn from Ms. Wood and Mr. Allen, the two other fifth grade teachers. The three of us have worked hard in preparation for the start of the school year and will continue to work closely together throughout the year.

Check the blog often for updates and pictures throughout the year, and make sure to get all of the paperwork signed by the end of the first week.

Cheers!!

Ms. Ventura

PS: You will also see links on this page to the Maple PTSA because I am the co-president this year with parent Jen Moore-Arterburn. In the packet that comes home on the first day of school, please remember to sign up as a PTSA member for this coming school year!

What a GREAT school year!!!

The YOU DECIDE unit!!

What's new in F3? Kids are learning to make strong arguements defending positions on controversial issues in F3. This is part of a unit all fifth graders in the state of Washington do as part of social studies.

We are learning about how laws are interpretted to favor either the individual right or the common good. For example, backpack searches can be controversial. A principal may feel like he or she can alsways search backpacks for any reason-- in order to protect the common good. However, students may feel that they have a right to privacy, and that principals and teachers should respect their individual rights.

All week this week students will be listening to different viewpoints from all the stakeholders in this issue or backpack searches.

Cheers!

Ms. V

Our Nutrition Lesson for Wednesday, April 21!

We'll be watching this short video and having a discussion in class about food marketing.

-Ms. V.

Thanks Tony B!! What an awesome Census Song!

Tony B from KUBE 93 came in today and showed us his brand new Public Service Announcement for the 2010 Census called "Count Me in"! A representative from the Seattle Census Media division came in as well and told us that we were "Seattle's Star Census Class"! Good stuff, F3!