Pier 20 Press Mrs. Jenkins’ Fifth Grade Newsletter

Volume 4 Issue 15 December 8, 2014

From the teacher’s desk…. In reaction to the troubling news in Ferguson and Staten Island, I reached to my bookshelf for Love: What Life is All About by Leo Buscaglia. Dr. Buscaglia, also known as “Dr. Love,” was an author, motivational speaker, and a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California. The book opens with an adaptation of a magnificent lecture titled “Forward to Love”, and how the laziness of stereotypes stifles its spirit and labels limit its transcendent power. Dr. Buscaglia begins with the education system: “Education should be the process of helping everyone to discover his uniqueness, to teach him how to develop that uniqueness, and then to show him how to share it because that’s the only reason for having anything.” This particular statement hit home with me as I contemplated my eclectic group of 10 and 11 year-olds. I think this group of youngsters is the most diverse group I’ve had. While they’re all pretty much the same color, their thinking processes, behaviors, and personalities are so distinctive. As a teacher, this can be a challenge. As one who savors the the individuality of each child, this is a dream class. Thank you for sharing them with me.

Happy December !

Language Arts Our budding authors will continue work on their “Glowing Pumpkins” book. Some have progressed to entering the text of their book to the online site of Student Treasures, while others are still finishing up their word edition. This is something that students can work on at home as well. Ever wonder what the world looks like from an ant’s point of view? Students will investigate just that this week with a literary lesson on point of view using Chris Van Allsburg’s book, “Two Bad Ants”.

Math I’m so very pleased with the progress that your children have shown in discovering the concepts of dividing decimals. I need to get on my soapbox for a moment and express my support for the Common Core. I understand that many have mixed reactions to our newly adopted core. However, as an educator, I have found it rich and rigorous. This last week I’ve watched with amazement as students demonstrated their deep understanding of place value. Without batting an eye, they can tell me just how many hundredths are in 3.45 (345 hundredths) and then use this knowledge when dividing by another decimal!!

Stocking Stuffers Ideas Dry Erase Markers

Post-It Notes Protractor

This Week’s Spelling Words

Important Contact Information Email: mjenkins@canyonrimacademy.org Website: http://jenkins5th.wordpress.com Cell: 203.640.3375

This Week’s Vocabulary Words Word of the Week: passage chemical change physical change matter solid liquid gas

Upcoming Events Dec. 9 Book Buzz / 8 AM Dec. 11 Band & Orchestra Assembly /2:30 Dec. 11 Math Test Dec. 12 Shakespeare Auditions Dec. 13 Happy Birthday, Benj!

Science and Social Studies Last week we investigated with both ice and salt water to show that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. This week students will explore the three main physical states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and investigate what happens when matter changes from one state to another. Marco Polo, Leif Erikson, and Magellan are just a few of the explorers that will be highlighted by students in a presentation called Prezi. Students used their researching skills to discover important facts about the explorers, then took that information an created a Prezi about them. Ask your student who they chose!

Remember….easy ways to enhance the budget at Canyon Rim Academy! Smith’s: Ask Customer Service to add CRA to your account using this bar code. Every time you swipe your card your children get more advantages! Amazon: Shopping through Amazon? Sign in to Amazon through smile.amazon and choose CRA as your selected charity. Boxtops: We will continue to collect box tops. The winner at the end of the year will earn a fabulous reward!

BLUE collect collection express expression protect discuss protection subtraction select construct connect oppress selection possess subtract confession connection construction oppression impress possession discussion confess impression

GREEN shock chicken magic relax quick pocket attic nickel traffic complex topic stomach pickle picnic attack metric buckle index fabric frantic ticket hammock plastic perplex

YELLOW couldn’t who’s could’ve they’ll wouldn’t there’s would’ve that’ll aren’t here’s should’ve this’ll weren’t where’s might’ve she’ll doesn’t he’ll hasn’t you’ll don’t what’s who’ll