5th Grade News...

We started our new novel this week... "Jim Ugly" by Sid Fleischman. We are taking a break from Holocaust novels. We will read our last Holocaust novel, "Boy in the Striped Pajamas" after FCAT. We are reading a shorter novel so we can spend time using our Blast-Off FCAT Material to help us in our final preparation for the FCAT.

We are doing this novel either partner reading or doing guided reading with Mr. G or Mrs. P.This novel lends itself very well to our strategy of "Questioning". We are a third of the way into the novel and still have many questions about Jake's father, Whilhelmina. and Mr. Cornelius. We'll just have to keep reading to see if they can be answered.

I know you are looking forward to your field trip to UNF. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go with you because I need to be with my 4th graders for their final preparation for the FCAT Writing Assessment. I will miss you...

Love you... Mrs. P

P.S. Mr. G... I can't one up you and the Ballerina Pickle... I concede...

Guided Reading & Partner Reading


Mr. G with his Guided Reading group...


Mrs. P with her Guided Reading group...


Partner Reading our new novel...

Is that Rolando reading our new novel????

Working on our Math...

Is it Area or Perimeter????

Thank you Mrs. Gaspard for all your help...

4th Grade News...

We have had a busy week once again. In reading we finished our activities that go with our story "A Very Important Day". Learning about becoming an American citizen was really interesting. We even looked at the book that petitioners have to study to take the Citizenship Test. We discovered that the skill of classifying and categorizing can be challenging. We also realized that this skill is also important in Science.

In writing, we are continuing with our mixed prompts. Is it Narrative or Expository. We need to be prepared for both. Mrs. Kornblum has been coming in to "conference" with us. Thank you Mrs. Kornblum. On Friday we looked at actual samples of 4th grade writing tests. We tried to "guess" what their score was and what the writer could do to improve their piece.

Science was especially fun this week as we continue to work on our "Electricity" Unit. Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Ross really make learning Science "FUN"!!!!

Have a restful weekend and come back Monday for our "Final" countdown to the FCAT Writing Assessment. We just need to "tweak" our writing and we are sooooo ready.

Love you... Mrs. P

Did you ever think studying "Electricity could
be soooo much fun???


Meet the "Atom" Family...

Mrs. Ross/Electron, Ceaser Electron,
Mekhi Proton, Mrs. Gaspard Proton,
Azy Neutron, & Mario Neutron...

Mrs. Ross demonstrating how "Electrons"
bounce around in the dryer... Are you sure
that's not some kind of "exotic" dancing???

Is Mrs. Ross having a "Bad Hair" Day or is
she demonstrating "Static Electricity"????

5th Grade News...

This has been a week of "mixed" emotions for both our novel characters and us. This week in Milkweed we saw our main characters have to face the reality of the liquidation of the Ghetto and the train ride to the Nazi death camps. We certainly used our reading strategy of "Questioning", before, during and after reading. Although some of our questions were finally answered... many others were not. Nevertheless, as difficult as the reality of this novel is... what better way to end it than to have Misha's granddaughter take Janina's name. Yes, Mr. G, this "IS" my favorite novel.

On the "light" side... Mr. G kicked our Pickle Theme up a notch... He actually found a recipe for Kool Aid Pickles... and you don't have to go to Alabama to get them. Room 71 has a new air freshener scent..."PICKLES"! I wonder if Uri would have liked them???

Isn't it "picklerific" to be an APE!

Love you... Mrs. P

Questioning...


Can anyone use the "Questioning" strategy...


I have a question....

Oh NO...
We're almost finished with "Milkweed"


I can't believe the ending...



We're finished!!! "Sniff...Sniff"

What do you do when you finish a great novel????


Well of course...
Celebrate with Kool Aid Pickles...


What goes with Kool Aid Pickles.... some of
Mr. G's Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread


Let's eat some "PICKLES"

Finger lickin' good...


I'll take two, please...


Nothing like sharing a good ole Kool Aid
Pickle with a friend...


Savoring every bite...


This is my first time eating a pickle...

Not everyone likes Kool Aid Pickles...


"It's the smell..."


"Thanks for the clothes pin Mrs. P..."

You mean even "Teachers" eat
"Kool Aid Pickles"???


I thought you didn't like pickles Mr. G...


Of course Mrs. Pickle had to have more
than "one"!!!


Let me see... how can I teach math and
science using "Kool Aid Pickles!!!!

4th Grade News...

Once again we have had a phenomenal week! We are so proud of our progress in writing. We are practicing every day just like we will write on the day of the FCAT Writes... February 10th will be a "breeze". We are now into "Mixed" prompts... where we have to figure out which kind of writing the prompt is asking us to do. We are READY no matter which kind we get!

In reading, we are working on the skill of categorizing and classifying. We read a very interesting story about many families from other countries who are preparing to become citizens of the USA. It was very interesting to find out that some of us in Rm #4 have parents who are not citizens of the US.

In math, we are working hard on Calendar Math and Fractions. We know all about numerators, denominators, improper, and equivalent fractions.

It's been a busy week... we're ready for a well deserved weekend.

Love you... Mrs. P

Step 1


Red Light... Plan...


"What do think of my 5-box plan???"


"Now let me see...what comes next?"
"I think I'll look at my plan..."

Step 2


Yellow light... Write


"I have some great ideas!"


"I think I'll use a simile..."

Step 3


Green Light... Close and Revise...


"Let me see... how can I make this writing better?"
"I think I'll look in my notebook!"


Jennifer takes time to make her writing better..


Tylik knows "REREADING" is the key...


Alanya takes time to reread...