newletter

Mr. Weber's Gazette
Tuesday, November 11, 1997

Lots of things have been happening lately in our fifth grade class. We have relocated our class to a different room. It is a new unit (#47) that is located at the far end of the playground. This room comes equipped with a sink, a water fountain and hot water. I’m sure we will all be having some exciting experiences there.

Moving has come at an awkward time. As you may already know this is parent teacher conference time. Mrs. Baker has been working hard by helping the students create their portfolios. Everything is finally coming together due to a lot of cooperation between the students and us. We will be looking forward to seeing everyone during conferences.

The walkathon was a complete success this year. Tyler (one of our fastest students), had covered well over 10 miles in 2 hours. Everyone worked hard and participated. Thank you for all the pledges. They are important for our field trip this spring.

What’s happening in the classroom?

We have been working hard in math. We have spent the last couple of weeks reviewing our multiplication rules. This is preparation for some exciting material to come.

Our math program includes a concrete or visual approach to math. At the moment we are using a technique called base ten blocks. This gives students a visual of how to multiply difficult algorithms.

In social studies we have been sailing into an explorers unit. Pairs of students have been assigned a famous explorer from the early years of exploration. They will be working on a report, a map and a presentation about the explorer. This is giving them their first real taste of how to do research. It has been challenging and fun for everyone involved.

In science we have been venturing into the solar system. We have been defining many of the basic facts about the planets and have been gaining an understanding of how the whole system works.

What lies ahead for me?

I have about four weeks left in my student teaching assignment. After the next two weeks I will begin to fade out of the classroom scene. I have created a unique relationship with each one of the students. It has been a learning experience for both of us and I believe we have accomplished a lot. I’m proud of everyone. Through cooperation and hard work we will strive to learn more.