December 11, 2014

 Thursday already?

The weeks leading up to camp are always a little la vida loca as we often have to complete district mandated assessments before year-end, complete some important math before the long break, inspire some future coding kids and deal with all of the logistics entailed with getting 95’ish students to camp.  

We all seemed to survive the storm today.  We hope that it will be safe going forward.

Regarding camp next week?  I like to use this website:

http://www.weathertrends360.com/

They are in the business of predicting weather and they do just as haphazard of a guess as the next guy.  Bill Martin loves to point out when on KNBR that anything beyond 48 hours is really just an educated guess.  The only reason television news even offers 4 or 5 day forecast is to appease audience demands.   Weathertrends360.com predicts light rain on Monday and Tuesday while we are at camp.  I can guarantee the kids will have a great team regardless.  

Here is the packing list if you need it.

What have we been working on?

Pen Pals -- I have a good friend, that goes back to when we played together all four years on the tennis team in high school, who is also an elementary school teacher.  He has moved to New Jersey and this year is teaching 3rd grade.  We decided to start PenPals with our class.  I promised him we would mail off our letters before heading off to camp so his students can have them prior to the holiday break.  So today they were given time to read their initial welcome letter and create a welcome letter back to their person.  

The Battle of Trenton or the Crossing of the Delaware….

We are reading George Washington’s Socks therefore we are also learning about the status of our colonies in the Winter of 1776.  We have done some reading on the subject, watched two great Liberty Kids about this time period and today watched a dramatic acting out of these events.  

Ask your son or daughter about this important historical event that took place on Christmas day and evening.   

Math

We have now completed two assessments regarding geometry concepts.  Many students lost points on minor sloppiness issues regarding labeling the X and Y axis when making a graph.  They also left out some characteristics of specific parallelograms.  

Math and IXL --

Some of the IXL skills take longer than other ones to earn a 100 point total.  Unfortunately IXL does not offer data such as “average time spent” therefore some are more laborious than others.  Therefore the goal should be no more than 30 minutes on one IXL topic in one sitting.  Some kids have come back saying they have spent hours in one evening trying to earn 100 on a skill or skills.  I can say with full assurances that I have asked kids never to exceed one hour and they can feel confident that they tried their best if they stop after 30 minutes.  Please feel free to literally or figuratively just pull the IXL plug on them if they won’t quit.  Their sticktoitiveness is impressive but cognitively not in their best interest.  

Science --Tuesdays and Thursdays they join Mrs. Cargo’s class to work on topics associated with the water cycle.  

Coding:

Due to weather conditions today, we were unable to bring over a group of chromebooks since Mrs. Rodriguez’s class had to complete their district assessments.   We have a tarp to cover the devices however it will not offer enough protection in heavy wind and rain.  So kids are encouraged to code to their hearts content tonight.  

Here is that master list again.  

Kind regards,

Mr. Hubbard

"I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it."

• Harry S. Truman (1945 - 1953)

Homework:

Be prepared for Camp on Monday by reading through this packet again and being packed.

Math:

Page 219-220  1-13 all chapter 9-8

Students are to write out the boxes for the problems.

X or division by 10, 100, or 1000 handout

Test on Chapter 9, 10, and 11 w/ lessons through 8 (review homework from these chapters)

Pen Pal letters

Ideally students will complete their rough draft by typing it up following the format they were given 20 minutes in class today.   

15 minutes of coding

Free - Write due on Friday

“Modernize” Santa Claus --bring his operations into the year 2014;  Ipad?  Naughty/Good App?  Text you when your bad?  Email him your wish list?  Take selfies with him at the mall instead of standard photo?  Give out Bitcoin?  

Read for 30 minutes.

Getting to know you survey.....

Monday, December 1st

Happy Post Thanksgiving!!

We only have 10 school days until we take off for camp therefore today was jammed packed.  

Camp information?  Did you misplace the packing list?  Are you a chaperone and misplaced your packing list?  Click here for all of your parent information.     Click here for the chaperone information.  

If you want to send well wishes and encouragement to your son or daughter as they are away at camp, here is the mailing address:    You can send them mid to late next week and they will be waiting for them on their first evening.

YMCA at Camp Arroyo

FBO:  Child’s Name (Hubbard’s class)

5555 Arroyo Rd,

Livermore, CA 94550

Ms. Mitchell has officially moved onto her next big adventure.  Since September 1st our class has been lucky to have Ms. Mitchell student teaching and helping w/ our class.  She completed her two weeks of complete solo teaching right before Thanksgiving.  We are hoping give her a surprise party on Thursday of this week.  I have covertly worked out the details with Mrs. Cartmell since Ms. Mitchell is subbing for her this week.    

Your son/daughter will be making a thank you and a “words of advice”  letter for her that they can give to her on Thursday.  I’m also hoping to give her a Golden Apple gift card , possibly have a sweet treat on Thursday afternoon and a final Ms. Mitchell circle-time.   If you would like to pitch in for the gift card that would be highly appreciated, however as we head into the holiday season there is definitely no obligation.   You can either send it in an envelope to my attention or use paypal

Math:

We are heading into the homestretch with many of our math chapters.  As you recall we are snaking our way into each of the five chapters.  In many cases the chapters are just about over.  Prior to the Thanksgiving break, I explained to the students that I would be assigning specific skills that students must master related to the chapters that are ending.  Therefore students will literally have www.ixl.com homework over the upcoming weeks.  Students should be using graph paper and pencil when completing 95% of their IXL work.  From working with students, the ones that experience the biggest frustrations and slowest to master skills are the ones that guess and don’t use paper.  

Vocab this week is fun:  All the words came from other languages and cultures.  We had a talk why this makes learning English and spelling it correctly so challenging.  

Next week throughout the United States they are having an Hour of Code week as a way to inspire and encourage our students to evolve from just being consumers of technology to the creators of technology.  This is a matter important to both boys and girls, however they are definitely hoping to increase the number of female coders within the industry and girls showing the desire could very well earn scholarships and other financial incentives that will lessen the cost of college.  

Needless to say next week we will be dedicating an hour a day towards having the students discover some of the various websites that are out there related to self-directed learning & coding.

Something related, I have been asked by numerous parents about a Chromebook as a gift for their 5th grader.   Before you read anything below, please note you must have a wireless signal.  Without internet connectivity the Chromebook is really nothing but a glorified paperweight.  

Here is a quick article and video about the chromebook.

Google is giving away 1TB in free memory if you purchase a chromebook this holiday season.

Here are the ways that you as a parent can make the chromebook as safe as possible.  Specifically in this article read through the safety tools on the right hand side.  You can create their @gmail.com account as a supervised user through your account.  Also note that if they use the @dublinusd.net account there already are limitations put on in regards to use of the app store, chrome store and no ability to use the chat function.  

Kind regards,

Mr. Hubbard

Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.

• Aristotle

Homework for the week:

Math

360-361  1-14 Chapter 15 review due Tuesday

Chapter 16 test will be on Wednesday.

IXL skills are due and 100 points earned by Wednesday: (students were given 45 minutes to work on this Monday)

• CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.1 (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

• Coordinate graphs review - whole numbers only (Fifth grade - R.1)
• Coordinate graphs with decimals and negative numbers (Fifth grade - R.2)
• Graph points on a coordinate plane (Fifth grade - R.3)

• CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.2.

• Graph points on a coordinate plane (Fifth grade - R.3)
• Coordinate graphs as maps (Fifth grade - R.4)
• Relative coordinates: follow directions (Fifth grade - R.5)

• CCSS.Math.Content.5.OA.B.3 e.

• Function tables (Fifth grade - Q.7)
• Convert graphs to input/output tables (Fifth grade - Q.8)
• Graph linear functions (Fifth grade - Q.10)
• Coordinate graphs review - whole numbers only (Fifth grade - R.1)

268-269 1-12 all chapter 11 lesson 7 due Thursday

216-217 1-32 all chapter 9 lesson 7 due Friday

Review and correct prior test due on Friday.

Friday -- 2 week test based upon chapter 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16

Free Write due on Friday:

“You are a turkey that survived Thanksgiving, tell us how you stayed alive”

Vocab work page 33 due Tuesday; page 34 due Wednesday and page 35 due Thursday

Weekly non fiction reading and writing due on Thursday -- week 10

Spelling and Vocab test on Friday.

Ms. Mitchell letter due on Thursday morning.

• Thank you her for 2 months with us
• Based upon your six years of being a student, give her advice to be a successful teacher
• Share out one favorite memory

Pen Pal Letters -- due on Friday

More details to come.

November 18, 2014

Week 13...

Sorry for the long gap between communication.  Student led conferences and reports card take a large portion of the school day and post school day therefore the emails were put onto the back burner.

Things going on?

1st thing -- tonight Dublin Elementary School is having their “Spotlight” presentation for the school board members.  It begins at 5:30 p.m.   We are the first item on the agenda therefore we should be completed w/ our presentation early.  If you have the time, it is great to show up, fill up the school board room and show our Dublin Elementary Shark pride!!!!

Here is our official video capturing the 2014 2015 Spotlight Presentation:

2nd thing -- Parent Information Night hosted by DUSD is on Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ( 11/19 and 11/20)

The next edition of Parent Information Nights are part of our continued Common Core Implementation.

The evening will begin with a short general session to provide an overview of our district’s implementation. Parents may then attend two 40-minute breakout sessions, choosing from a wide menu of workshop selections in an effort to meet their needs and answer their questions.

These evenings are for ALL PARENTS, from kindergarten parents to parents of seniors. We believe that parents’ understanding of this shift in content and practice in our classrooms is vital to our students' success.

Childcare will be provided on site by the Dublin High Leadership Class at no charge.

3rd thing -- Family Science Night is on Wednesday, November 19th from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room.   PFC is paying for this so it is 100% free and it sounds like it will be awesome.  

Math

We had a large math test on Friday.  Holistically as a class students are struggling with keeping multiplication, addition and subtraction with fractions straight in their heads.  There were students trying to make common denominators when they were multiplying fractions.  Students just adding denominators regardless if they were common or not (e.g. 2/3 + 4/5 does NOT = 6/8 )

Additional homework for students that are could use something to do or need to refine these skills:

http://www.ixl.com/math/fractions

In 5th grade focus on skills “M” through “N” -- if a student worked on mastering M1, then M2, then M3, etc….one skill per evening, they would find fractions far less divisive (math pun).  

Narrative Writing -- we continue to do some of a Hubbard’s modified Lucy Calkin’s writers workshop.  We are adding key writing points for the students to go back and add to their previously created narratives.  We recently added “transition” words & phrases and this week added “endings.”   

Friday’s Friendship Soup and Circle Time:

A Hubbard tradition is creating our version of “stone” soup on Friday.   I don’t use a stone however all the students pitch in and bring their favorite vegetable to add to our large soup pot.  Truth be told, it doesn't have to be their favorite vegetable, it could also be whatever happens to be in your pantry and/or freezer as of Friday morning.   The point of the tradition is that we all help create our yummy soup, we have a communal circle time and we ease our way into the Thanksgiving break.

Reminders and “rules” regarding our soup:

1. We have a strict nut free diet in our entire class.  Therefore if you feel compelled to saute your vegetables before bringing them in, please do not use nut based oils.
2. A sandwich size bag of the vegetable will be enough.  Believe me, with 24 students all bringing in a sandwich size bag we will have a cornucopia of vegetables.   You may use a small Tupperware if your vegetable is messy or you are soaking the diced potatoes in water to stop discoloring.  
3. The school does not like me to bring a big knife in and I don’t necessarily have a can opener therefore if your vegetables could be pre cut, pre washed and placed inside the bag that would be highly appreciated.  
4. Students asked if they could bring additional flavorings such as:, jalapeno, diced sausage, hot sauce, Sriracha sauce, etc.  You can bring that in as an additional item, we will put that off to the side and kids can choose if they want to add it to their soup.
5. If you have the time or inclination, vegetables such as onions, tomatoes (I know they are really a fruit), zucchini or whatever are nice additions to our soup.   Going off the beaten path ensures that we do not have just a carrot, corn and potato soup.  
6. You know your son/daughter best, if they enjoy vegetable soup then possibly have them bring a lighter lunch on Friday.  We will be eating right after lunch time.  If they do not like vegetables unless they are covered in molten cheese or ranch dressing, then they should bring a normal size lunch on Friday.  
7. We frequently will have some left over soup.  Therefore if your son/daughter brings in a Tupperware container, thermos, etc..I will happily allow them to bring some home.  

The kids would love some additional niceties if people have the inclination to help.    Bowls, spoons, rolls or rustic bread, butter, chicken broth, popcorn….Look for that request to help to come from Shutterfly in the near future.  

Outdoor Education and 5th Grade T-Shirt

Camp is approaching fast and our 5th grade camp T-shirts are being ordered soon!  All of the 5th grade classes have been sized for our newly designed 5th grade camp T-shirts.  All 5th grade students will receive a camp T-shirt the morning they leave for camp (cost was included in camp fee).  We ask that the students wear this shirt the first day for the group picture that will be taken for the yearbook.

Last year some parents wanted to purchase a camp T-shirt for themselves.  If you would like your own 5th grade camp shirt to wear when you volunteer at camp or on campus, please fill out the form below and return to your child’s teacher.

Name:_________________________________________________  

Phone #:_________________________

Child’s Name:__________________________________  Child’s Teacher:_____________________________

Size (circle one):    

Adult Small       Adult Medium       Adult Large       Adult XL      Adult XXL

                                   (Larger sizes available upon request)

Cost:  $10.00

(Please return form with payment to the PFC mailbox no later than this Friday 11/21.) Or you may pay online through Pay Pal by going to Dublinpfc.org under donations.

Kind regards,

Mr.  Hubbard

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.

• Old Native American Saying

Homework for the remainder of the week:

Math

Page 266-267 (1-29 all) due Wednesday   11-6

Page 214 - 215 (1-30 all) due Thursday       9-6

Page 242-243  (1-12 all) due Friday 10-6

Also X,Y graphing handout is due on Wednesday titled “Graphiti”

Friendship Soup due on Friday morning (see above)

Spelling Test and Vocab Test is on Friday

Xylem and Phloem Get Things Moving due Thursday

Weekly Vocab page 31 due on Wednesday and page 32 due on Thursday

Monday, November 3, 2014

Happy Monday!!

We’ll start off with the important stuff, this begins the student led conference week.  Therefore the students will be departing school everyday at 2:00 p.m.  

A reminder these are student led conferences.  It is always a great idea to ask your son/daughter before leaving for the conference if they need to bring anything with them.  Sometimes kids bring their goal work and their grades home with them to look at them and prepare for their meeting and then they leave the paperwork at home.  

A significant portion of this week (45 to 60 minutes per day) and next week will be spent allowing students to review their work and create realistic and non generic goals.  

“If you’re going to make an omelette you will have to break a few eggs.”  I’m not sure who said that however it sure seems true in our case here in the C-Wing.  I eagerly look forward to Dublin Elementary expanding and having a brand new 3rd/4th grade wing.  Yet our building expansion is in full bloom which brings with it constant noises and equipment distractions.   I have no witty commentary and I fully understand that it is a necessary nuisance that must exist in order for us to expand our school.   I guess I’m just using this forum to express myself.  Your kids have been troopers, they understand about the no windows or doors opened on many days and they put up with their noise challenged recesses.  

Math:

We took an end of the trimester 1 test last Thursday.  Many students really struggled with the geometry section of the test.  We reviewed concepts regarding triangles, parallelograms and solving to find a missing angle.  So we reviewed that and students will be working on practicing and taking notes again on these concepts.  

Today’s lesson is also a further lesson on parallelograms.  

Here are two videos that we watched on them:

1. Really a catchy mind numbing rap about the type of parallelograms.
2. A really great visual lesson regarding how to best break down the parallelogram hierarchy.   

If your student jumps right to 8:04 in the video, they should be able to successfully answer any of tonight’s math homework.  

We had the last of our presentations.  As a general consensus many of the 24 students that presented struggled to pull out specific quotes and details from the book that they read.  Often inferences were made without citing specific parts of the story that led to that observation, critique or made “it cool.”  I do not know how many times I heard it was a “great book” without a “because” or any mention to specific parts of the story that would lead someone to believe the book was great.   The nice thing students can refurbish their original project and resubmit for a higher grade.  

Kind regards,

Mr. Hubbard

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

• Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Homework for the week:

Math:

354-355 1-17 all 15-5 due Tuesday

376-377 1-11 all 16-5 due Wednesday

264-265 1-18 all 11-5 due Thursday

212-213 1-28 all 9-5 due Friday

Vocab:

page 27 due Tuesday

page 28 due Wednesday

page 29 due Thursday

Non fiction reading comprehension is due on Thursday.  “Plants are producers”

Click here for this week’s reading and all year’s weekly reading.

Free-Write due this Friday:

I have these dice with tons of different things that you can write about.  I rolled five of the dice and this is what the “writing gods” said we were to write about this week:
1. drama

2. A happy face
3. cell phone
4. a castle
5. an insect

There will be some extra homework related to goals and writing related to setting goals.