Mr. Gann's 5th Grade Class

New Blog Site

cgann — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:49:33 +0000

In an effort to add more features in the future, I have moved our blog site to http://www.mrgann.com/

If you have subscribed to our blog using email, you will need to click on the link to go to our new blog. If you prefer, there is a link located in the upper-right corner of the blog where you may subscribe using email.

Just click on the link and complete the instructions as directed.

Please remember to check our new blog. Thank you for your support of our classroom and the Red Team!

Friday News – 1/22

cgann — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:16:46 +0000

Students did very well on our Multiplication of Decimals test! I was very pleased with the scores as a whole. Good job, Red Team!

We will now continue our look at division. We have been brushing up on our long division skills. This has been a slow process, but I think it is coming back to them now. We will continue working on long division using 1-digit divisors and will soon move to 2-digit divisors. As mentioned before, mastery of the basic multiplication facts will make this process easier.

Upcoming Events

February 5th – WIS Hat Day (donations go to the Humane Society)
February 8th – Mid-Quarter Grades Issued
February 15th – School IS in session (snow make-up date)

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 4 T – Day 1 W – Day 2 R – Day 3 F – Day 4

Homeroom Notes

The two remaining snow make-up dates are now official. School WILL be in session on Monday, February 15th and Monday, April 5th.

Friday News – 01/15

cgann — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:54:26 +0000

We will begin the next week with a visit to the computer lab. We will use Monday and Tuesday to continue to review for our test on Wednesday. A study guide went home on Friday. Students are reminded that if they return the study guide with a parent signature by test day they can receive 2 bonus points. This, along with the 5 pt. coupon I gave each student at Christmas, could lead to your child receiving 7 extra points!

After our test, we will begin working with division. This will be made much easier if your child knows their basic multiplication facts. Please continue to encourage your child and keep working on these facts.

Upcoming Events

January 18th – Make-Up Day (school is in session)
January 20th – Math Test (multiplying decimals)
February 5th – WIS Hat Day (donations go to the Humane Society)

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 3 T – Day 4 W – Day 1 R – Day 2 F – Day 3

Homeroom Notes

Grade cards were issued last week. The top portion should be signed and returned by Monday, January 18th.

Congratulations to Jordan B. (Gann) who was the top stamp earner for the Red Team during 2nd Quarter. Jordan will be attending the Silver Dollar City trip in the spring. Congratulations also go out to Jonathan H. (Huffman) who was a top 5 earner and was the Red Team representative on the bowling trip.

Snow Update

cgann — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:33:52 +0000

Due to the Snow Day on Monday, there have been a few changes since the last post.

Grade cards will now be issued on Friday, January 8th.
Timed multiplication tests will resume tomorrow. However, we will not begin graphing the results again until next week due to the potential for more days lost this week. Keep studying those facts!
Special class schedule is now off by one day. Today (Tuesday) was Day 4. When days are missed due to weather, the special class schedule will resume where we left off when they return.

Math 2010

cgann — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:27:23 +0000

2010. It seems unreal that we are already in a new decade! As the new year arrives, I hope that you and your family have enjoyed some time together and have had time to relax and rejuvenate.

We will begin the new year by working with multiplication of decimals. This will include the creation of models to illustrate the concepts along with understanding the patterns in decimal factors and products. We will also continue our timed multiplication tests and will begin a new line graph as we graph our progress over the next two weeks.

Upcoming Events

January 4th – Classes Resume
January 6th – 2nd Quarter Grades Issued
January 8th – iChoose Store
January 8th – WIS Hat Day
January 18th – NO SCHOOL (snow make-up day as needed)

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 4 T – Day 1 W – Day 2 R – Day 3 F – Day 4

Homeroom Notes

As we start the second semester, now may be a good time to check in with your child and see if they are in need of additional supplies (pencils, paper, ruler, colored pencils, etc.).

A new quarter is an opportunity for a fresh start. Encourage your child to approach this new quarter in a positive way – be organized, responsible, and put forth their best effort in all that they do.

Happy New Year!

Friday News – 12/11

cgann — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:02:37 +0000

This week we began our timed multiplication tests. While these tests are not for a grade at this time, we have been completing individual line graphs to help track our progress as “changes over time” (thus, the need to create a line graph). I am happy to report that the trend on most student graphs is that they are steadily improving! Hopefully this trend will continue. Please continue to encourage your child to practice these important facts. I have seen several students with homemade flashcards – GREAT! However, practicing these facts can also be as easy as counting by 7s in the car on the way to basketball practice. As many students have realized, mastery of these basic facts will make solving multi-digit multiplication problems easier.

We will begin the week by reviewing multiplication by 3-digit numbers. Most students have the process down but may occasionally make minor mistakes usually related to the multiplication fact or their organization of the problem. We should be ready for a test around Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Look for a study guide to go home toward the beginning of the week. As always, students will receive 2 bonus points if they return their study guide with a parent signature by test day.

Upcoming Events

December 14th – 17th – Student Council Holiday Grams and Store
December 16th – Math Test (tentative)
December 18th – 2nd Quarter iChoose Assembly
December 18th – 2nd Quarter Ends
December 18th – Class Party (TBA)
December 19th – January 3rd – Christmas Break

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 3 T – Day 4 W – Day 1 R – Day 2 F – Day 3

Homeroom Notes

WIS is collecting warm hats and gloves. If you and your family would like to donate these needed items, please send them to school with your child. Thank you for your generosity.

As we approach the end of the first semester, now may be a good time to check in with your child and see if they are in need of additional supplies (pencils, paper, ruler, colored pencils, etc.).

Have a GREAT weekend!

Playground Weather

cgann — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:15:27 +0000

This is just a friendly reminder to encourage your child to dress for the weather on the playground. We will have outdoor recess if the temperature is above 30°F and the wind-chill is above 25°F. If your child is in need of a winter coat or gloves, please do not hesitate to let one of us know.

Friday News – 12/04/09

cgann — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:01:37 +0000

Well, it was good to see everyone back after the Thanksgiving holiday. Hopefully you and your family had a chance to enjoy some time together, along with some good food (anything would have been better than the bugs Mr. Davis ate at our assembly today – yuck!).

We wrapped up our unit on graphing earlier this week. Students completed their final graphs and have turned in their graphing projects. The projects will be in place of a test at this time, but we will continue to reinforce these concepts as the year progresses.

We have also begun our look at multiplication. Students took a timed multiplication test this week and many discovered that they need to spend more time working on these important facts. While many of the students are able to find the answers to these important facts, they may lack the fluency they need to “own” the fact. We will begin taking these tests daily starting next week and creating line graphs with our results. Look for the week’s tests and line graphs to come home weekly. While these are not for grades at this time, it is our hope to see continued growth as we progress through the year. Please work on these facts with your child. You may find online resources for use in practicing these basic facts in the “Math Links” section above. Knowing these facts will help as we begin multiplying by 2-digit numbers next week.

Upcoming Events

December 12th – Jingle Bell Run (Running Club)
December 14th – 17th – Student Council Holiday Grams and Store
December 18th – 2nd Quarter iChoose Assembly
December 18th – 2nd Quarter Ends
December 18th – Class Party (TBA)
December 19th – January 3rd – Christmas Break

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 2 T – Day 3 W – Day 4 R – Day 1 F – Day 2

Homeroom Notes

WIS is collecting warm hats and gloves. If you and your family would like to donate these needed items, please send them to school with your child. Thank you for your generosity.

Reminder: Thursday Notes go home with students every Thursday and are due the next day.

As we approach the end of the first semester, now may be a good time to check in with your child and see if they are in need of additional supplies (pencils, paper, ruler, colored pencils, etc.).

Have a GREAT weekend!

Friday News – 11/20

cgann — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:55 +0000

During this short week, will be conducting a Tootsie Pop experiment. We will write probability ratios and turn them into percentages using calculators. We will then create a line graph using the data collected. It should be a fun math activity as students learn about probability, ratios, percentages, and line graphs.

After the Thanksgiving Break, we will wrap up our study of data and graphing and will begin our study of multiplication. Students will continue taking timed multiplication tests during iTime. You may find online resources for use in practicing these basic facts in the “Math Links” section above.

Upcoming Events

November 25th – 29th – Thanksgiving Break
November 30th – Classes Resume
December 4th – WIS Hat Day (donations go to the Salvation Army)
December 18th – 2nd Quarter iChoose Assembly
December 18th – 2nd Quarter Ends
December 19th – January 3rd – Christmas Break

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 3 T – Day 4 W – OFF R – OFF F – OFF

Homeroom Notes

Mid-Term grade report slips are due on Tuesday.

There are a few students who do owe library fines. Please check with your child to see if they have any overdue books. Students are charged 5¢ per day for any overdue books.

Have a GREAT Thanksgiving Break!

Friday News – 11/13

cgann — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Next week, we will continue our unit on analyzing data and graphs. We will begin a graphing project that should take us through to the Thanksgiving Break. Students will work with bar graphs, double-bar graphs, line plots, circle graphs, line graphs, double-line graphs, and stem-and-leaf plots.

Following our unit on graphing, students will begin a larger study of multiplication and division. Please continue to work on the basic multiplication facts with your child. Mastery of these basic facts will help improve success. Students will be taking a timed multiplication test during iTime this week. This will not be for a grade but is instead meant to get an idea of what facts your child should study. You may find online resources for use in practicing these basic facts in the “Math Links” section above.

Upcoming Events

November 17th – Picture Retakes
November 19th – Mid-Terms Sent Home
November 25th – 29th – Thanksgiving Break

Special Class Days for Next Week

M – Day 2 T – Day 3 W – Day 4 R – Day 1 F – Day 2

Homeroom Notes

Please note that WIS will have Picture Retakes on Tuesday. If you wish to have your child’s picture retaken, please have money here on that day.

Mid-Term grade reports will be sent home on Thursday. Please return signed slips promptly.

Have a GREAT week!