5th Grade

What We're Learning: January 2023

Reading & Writing: This month we will delve deep into short stories. Readers will take a closer look at how authors use craft elements such as figurative language, foreshadowing, and building tension to create a compelling story. In writing, students will write about their reading, telling their insights and giving evidence to support their ideas.   

Math: This month we will focus finish on deepening and extending students’ understanding of fractions and equivalent fractions and representing fractions using an area model (rectangles). They will use these understandings to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.

Social Studies: This month we are moving away from South and Central America, and learning more about North America. As we refresh and move into the New Year, we will also continue to grow our community and team-building skills.

  • Students participating in a student-led lesson
  • Students coding on tablets
  • Students coding at the Microsoft Experience Center
  • Students playing video games at the Microsoft Experience Center field trip
  • Students outside the Microsoft Experience Center field trip
  • Students posing with characters at the Microsoft Experience Center field trip

Home Connection

  • Equivalent Fractions: In 5th grade we learn how to add unlike fractions. This procedure involves converting the fractions to equivalent fractions with a common denominator. So, the concept of equivalent fractions is an important prerequisite to fraction addition and subtraction.
     Diagram of equivalent fractions 

  • What is perspective? Two people can have the same experience but feel differently about it. Look at this comic and think about the difference in perspective.
     Comic showing perspective about roses- thorns or flowers 

  • Reading assessments are happening this month. Make sure your student is reading independently for 40 minutes every day. They should stop to jot their ideas every 3ish pages. They should use literary terms (e.g. foreshadowing, theme, symbolism, suspense, etc.) when talking/jotting/writing about their reading.

Important Dates

Tuesday, January 3rd: Return from Winter Break

Friday, January 6th: Parent Association Meeting and Family Game Night 6:00pm

Monday, January 16th: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Schools Closed)

Thursday, January 26th: Picture Day

Friday, January 27th: Field Trip to NY Botanical Garden

Monday, 1/30 - Friday, 2/3:  Career Week

Contact Your Teacher

Ms. Aucapina maucapina@ps343.org Text Ms. Aucapina

Mr. Wallace mwallace11@schools.nyc.gov

Ms. Strohm astrohm@ps343.org Text Ms. Strohm

Ms. Verde everde@ps343.org Text Ms. Verde

Ms.  Ramirez jramirez@ps343.org Text Ms. Ramirez

B-302 Mr. Grover's Class