Monday, #166 2011 2012

Monday, May 21st
Day 166 of week 36

CNN Students --   Students learned and wrote about the G8 Summit and why economies of the other 7 countries matter so much to President Obama and the USA.    Since we missed Chen Guangcheng’s story last month, we caught up on his amazing escape and the fears that arise when you protest in a country that does not have a Bill of Rights.   Finally students learned and listened to the song Taps as it “celebrated” its 150 anniversary.

Seaman -- the Corp of Discovery is leaving Fort Catsup and heading back to St. Louis.  

In the documentary on Lewis and Clark, the group is at the exact area and they are anxiously beginning their triumphant return home.  The anticipation is having the Corp of Disc., especially Lewis, act different as they steal from the Indians, almost destroy an Indian village and he over-reacts with one of the crewman.  

Math -- Taxes.  We went over the math and art projects for the week while also delving deeply into Federal and State taxes.  If you have time please talk with your son/daughter about taxes -- specifically the Federal and State income taxes.  As we worked through how much we give to our government the students were starting to think beyond their other everyday expenses and how little $$ would be left over.  
Here are our notes.

States and Capitals -- Mr. Hubbard’s class averaged a 90% on the 2nd states and capitals test!! This A average had our class ranked 1st out of the three fifth grade classes.  We had five success stories where students raised their 50% or lower score into an 80% or higher!!!  The key to memorizing?  “Repeat to remember and remember to repeat.”  

Being inspired in our kick butt country, the power of math and the imagination of science --- we spent 20 minutes discussing the Curiosity Science Lab that will be landing on Mars in August 2012.  
Here is the access to the videos that we watched today and will be watching over the next few weeks.  

Follow up on Summer School:
Here is the requested information:
Location:  Fallon School
When:  June 15 through July 6 (no school on July 4th)
Hours:  8:00-12:30 p.m.  

Summer School possibilities --  They will be offering a 5th grade going into 6th grade summer school this summer.  It will be taking place at Fallon School.    If you do not have much planned or the resources to have your child participating in mind enriching activities during the summer please strongly consider having your son or daughter attend summer school.   Sitting around watching television or playing video games will only increase or create a learning gap.   I have the summer school applications and I have a limited amount of “jump to the head of the line” applications for those serious about summer school.  

Not sure about pulling the trigger on summer school and you don’t have a “plan” for summer, please read through the links below:

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers he outlines that students that have a summer spent doing enrichment based activities (summer school, museums, science camps, etc..) actually may experience “more” learning than during the school year.   I would recommend getting the book or reading these links since I am giving you a super short review of what the findings show.  

Write up #1 explaining how doing activities or schooling during the summer directly pay off.

Write up #2 explaining how doing activities or schooling during the summer directly pay off.

Write up #3 explaining how doing activities or schooling during the summer directly pay off.

Write up #4 explaining how doing activities or schooling during the summer directly pay off.

On Sunday, May 20th, I had the pleasure to listen and watch Jared M. perform his award winning story for all those who attended the 5th Grade Short Story gala at the Oakland Library.  
Here is the link to Jared's both topical and historical fiction based story.  
You can see from this link that over 400 stories were submitted so to take place 3rd place is a great honor.  

Kind regards,

Ron Hubbard
http://www.diigo.com/user/iamron
http://mrhubbardsclass.blogspot.com/
Use my Gmail account and you can make me your coach on http://www.khanacademy.org/class_profile
When I do good, I feel good; when I don't do good, I don't feel good.
Abraham Lincoln

Homework for the week:

Math
MUST SHOW YOUR WORK, COLOR NICELY AND COMPLETE THE “TAKING IT FURTHER”
Pattern block Star due Tuesday
Whirling Octagons due Wednesday
Rising Star due Thursday
Aztec Art due Friday
Linked Together due Friday

States and Capitals test is on Friday

While at home put at least 15 minutes of work into the CNN presentation for Open House night on the 30th

While at home put at least 15 minutes of work into the Lewis and Clark presentation for Open House night on the 30th

Rough draft of the persuasive letter is due on Friday
Here are the potential topics they can write about.