Content Infomation - Snider/Miller

Below we have shared specific information about what is happening in each content area.
Over the course of the year we will look back and forward to help provide some context for what your student is doing.
You are encourage to look at their assignment notebook to better understand their homework responsibilities too!

Click here to access the academic document that highlights what student learning will be this year for 5th or 6th grade math as well as reading and writing for all of our students.

Big ideas Math - 6th 

Thanks for sending in all of the Battleship games! We had just enough for Friday.

Students will begin Chapter 5 on Monday - Rates and Ratios. I've planned it out so that if everything goes as planned, students will wrap up Chapter 5 just before winter break. 

Students will receive their weekly calendar, Guided Study packet, and the Parent/Guardian Newsletter on Monday. This chapter starts out quite simply, asking students to write ratios (x:y). It finishes asking students to find the percents of numbers. Based on previous experience, I know this can be a challenge for students. You should too!

Reading

Our students are expected to read their own self-selected independent reading book for 30 minutes each evening - 6-days a week. 

Last week we started a new read aloud, The Genius Under the Table: Growing up behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin. It's a memoir (something we haven't read yet) and filled with humor and an opportunity to experience just how important the setting can be.

Book clubs that are biographies, autobiographies or memoirs will begin later this week, after we've reviewed the structures, supports and expectations.

SOcial studies || Science

Students wrapped up last week with an exploration into Native Land, an interactive tool that maps out Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages to learn more about the Indigenous land they live and go to school on. Then they investigated two Indigenous people featured in Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes written by Wab Kinew, illustrated by Joe Morse to learn more about Indigenous culture and identity. This week students will teach others about the culture region they researched by creating an illustrated map. 

​

Everyday Mathematics - 5th

Last week Thursday and Friday, students in Everyday Math reviewed strategies to rename fractions, add and subtract fractions, and solve fraction-of problems in order to prepare for the Unit 3 Assessment. They will take the Unit 3 Assessment this week Monday, December 6th. When your student receives their graded assessment and feedback early this week, they will be asked to share it with you and collect your signature at the bottom of the coversheet. 

Next up... Chapter 4 - Decimal Concepts and Coordinate Grids! During this unit, students will extend their understanding of the base-10 place value system to include decimals. They will practice reading, writing, comparing, adding, and subtracting decimals to the thousandths place. Your student will take home the Unit 4 Family Letter that provides information and activities related to the Unit 4 content later on this week. 

Writing

To end last week, writers selected three main ideas from their culture region research and filled in a graphic organizer to plan out their next writing piece. This week writers will use this graphic organizer as a guide as they draft a 5-paragraph essay about the Native American Culture Region they researched. They will apply strategies in organization, elaboration, and craft to produce writing that is clear, accurate, and engaging.

Crew

We will continue to discuss and plan for specific habits that help lead to excellence, across the curricula. 

Second Step / SEL

We began Unit 2 - Emotion Management (there are a total of 4 units) of Second Step last week. Mrs. Gahl-Sweeney will join us weekly, on Wednesdays to help implement some of the teaching around recognizing and navigating big emotions. 

This week's learning target is: I can recognize signs of stress and what causes me to feel stress.

Here is the website for our Lake Bluff newspaper, The Beagle Times. We encourage you to check out!

From the 2020-2021 school year - The Tournament of Words has concluded! Our students on the North/Miller side voted in the first round - and KAYAK won over ghost. AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY! KAYAK is the 2021 Tournament of Words winner!

---

Just a few photos

Lined up on the first day of school, ready to come into school.

Members of the north group during snack time outside.