Yay 2018!!!
The
students have got off to a great start since the break! We have completed our
first Engineering Challenge of the new year (the Catapult Challenge), have been
exploring student government during classroom meetings, and just started a new Science Unit on Matter!
Coming up later in January:
- Division of Fractions
- Nutrition Classes provided by Solid Ground
- Social Studies Unit that asks the students, “What is the greatest priority for Mayor Durkan?"
Ms. V and I have been so amazed by the community the students of F3 have built so far this year. We are very excited
for the upcoming trimester and look forward to keeping you up to date on
your student's progress.
Best,
Chris Veltri, Resident Teacher (Seattle
Teacher Residency, University of Washington)
A new science unit: Astronomy!
Look up the hours of daylight on your birthday in the following cities:
Seattle, WA
Miami, FL
Fairbanks, AK
Boston, MA
Keep track of the times in your science notebook!
Our 2017 2018 F3 Charter!
We will be awesome by having class meetings everyday, being good sports, making class friends and having engineering challenges.
We will be safe by using materials properly and keeping hands to ourselves.
We will be calm by listening to calming music during independent work time and counting to 10 when we are angry.
We will be responsible by cleaning up the classroom, being quiet during work time, not yelling, following the Maple Way and keeping things organized.
We will be challenged by silently reading for the entire time, not using the easy way out, telling the teachers when something is too easy, trying our best during engineering challenges and having higher level books in the classroom.
We will be happy by laughing everyday, and maybe even singing ;) !
And we will be happy by loving each other, being kind and polite and treating people the way you want to be treated.
When issues arise in F3, we should solve them using restorative justice. If there is an issue and the class members involved do not want to participate in restorative justice, they will resolve their issues with the principal.
Welcome to Fifth Grade 2017 2018!
Dear Families!
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 since 1998, and this is my 11th year at Maple, and I love it here deeply! Joining me this year is Chris Veltri from the Seattle Teacher Residency program. Mr. Veltri will in the classroom Monday-Thursday and in class on Fridays.
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 learn about forces and matter and complete several engineering design challenges. In social studies, your child will learn about early US history and the principles this country was founded on.
Homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Students should be spending about 10-20 minutes on homework, 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!! 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 27-29.
Please visit the blog often! Also, the kids will get started on podcasts soon. They will be their reading stories over "the air" and you will be able to listen to their weekly KOF3 radio shows. Just visit our blog, http://venturamaple.blogspot.com.
Please fill out the paperwork attached by Friday the 8th.
Cheers!
Marcia Ventura
5th grade teacher, Maple School
Who should be Seattle's new Mayor?!? You Decide!
We've been getting to meet Mayoral candidates, and it's been AWESOME. State Senator Bob Hasegawa came on June 1 and State Representative Jessyn Farrell came the next day on June 2. We've been asking questions on where these candidates stand on the issues. Then... it's time for You Decide!
Students will answer these questions as they write an essay or create a campaign ad for the candidate they endorse. Who do you think should be our next Mayor? What is their position on an issue that you care about? Along with you, who are other stakeholders on that issue? Does the candidate of your choice stand for the common good or for the individual rights side of the issue?
"Top Tier" candidates for Mayor (top 6 out of 21):
Bob Hasegawa
Jessyn Farrell
Cary Moon
Jenny Durkan
Nikkita Oliver
Mike McGinn
Ask your student to tell you who they chose to endorse and why!
Visiting Municipal Court: What is the Justice System?
We will be visiting Municipal Court first tomorrow! What questions do you have?
The judge we will be visiting is Judge Shadid. What can you find out about this Judge? How did he become a judge?
We will also be meeting Pete Holmes, City Attorney!
Visiting City Hall: All about Mayor Ed Murray
What should we ask the Mayor? How are his views different then the views of Council member Sawant?
What can we learn about Mayor Murray?
Visiting City Hall and Municipal Court: Councilmember Kshama Sawant
On your quest today to find out as much as you can about Councilmember Kshama Sawant, let's start by answering these questions:
What are ways that Councilmember Sawant thinks we should solve the housing issue in Seattle? How does she name those issues differently then the council?
What are three things from this page that you think are the most important to know about Councilmember Sawant before meeting her on Thursday?
Write down three questions you have for Councilmember Sawant.
Welcome Representative Smith (WA 9)- our Representative!!!
Representative Adam Smith is coming May 9 to Maple! Let's learn as much about him as we can so that we can ask SMART questions!
Esperanza Rising and the UDHR Readers Theater!!
We're so excited for our Readers' Theater coming up on Wednesday, November 30, 2016!
For now, we'll work on writing our scripts!
Wondering about the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!
In F3 we are learning about the presidential election and the electoral college. Who will win in November? Who would we vote for if we could vote?
Let's see what the polls say about who will win the electoral college votes in each state.
Welcome to 5th grade 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 since 1998, and this is my 10th year at Maple, and I love it here deeply! Brittney Jones will also be your teacher this fall! She comes to Maple from the Student Teacher Residency Program at the University of Washington.Families: come visit often! You are ALWAYS welcome. We are located in Portable 3 on the north side of the main building. Don't forget to sign in first at the office.
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.
Homework will be given Monday through Thursday. Students should be spending about 30 minutes on homework, 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, or is completing homework very quickly, 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!! 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 28-30.
Please visit the blog often! Also, the kids will get started on podcasts soon. They will be their reading stories over "the air" and you will be able to listen to their weekly KOF3 radio shows.
Cheers!
Ms. Ventura
Preparing for our field trip to City Hall
Visit the website associated with the person/place you have been assigned, and be prepared to tell us all about it!!!
Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes
Potatoes! We won!!!!!!
We will be spending day with Blue Ribbon Cooking, in Seattle, who will host F3 for an afternoon of cooking lessons, chef competitions and a fully catered lunch! Best of all, they get to Share the Love with others, and prepare meals that will be donated to a local shelter and children in need. CONGRATULATIONS and thanks to everyone who entered!
We had over 500 entries in our Potato Lovers Month Contest! See who the lucky winner of a day with Blue Ribbon Cooking, in Seattle, who will host this teachers class for an afternoon of cooking lessons, chef competitions and a fully catered lunch! Best of all, they get to Share the Love with others, and prepare meals that will be donated to a local shelter and children in need. CONGRATULATIONS and thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Washington State Potato Commission on Tuesday, March 1, 2016
F3 is studying graphic novels!
Thanks to Katie Wheeler and other graphic novelists coming in today to help us welcome in our new unit!
Learning about MLK and the Black Lives Matter Movement
Now that we have a better understanding of the words of Dr. King, we are going to make connections between the the Black Lives Matter movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's.
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