Hey Mr. Gray: Recent Episodes
Mr. Gray
Need to Know
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
- Student Information Form (Students: Please Fill This Out)
- Thu Aug 31 Dismissal 1:05
- Back To School Night- Thu Aug 31. Time: 6:40-7:20p
Reading
We will start off the year with a short unit reading realistic fiction books and learning the routines and practices of reading in this class. The kids will explore our class library and reflect on themselves as readers. They will choose their own books to read for this week and next. I will use the book Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting to review making strong predictions and noticing small details. They will also take the district test: STAR reading.
Read Aloud
The Wild Robot by: Peter Brown
Writing
We will start off the year with a short unit writing a realistic narrative based on a random picture and learning the routines and practices of writing in this class. The kids will reflect on themselves as writers, begin their story by storytelling to plan, and try to bring the character to life by highlighting small details and bringing out the character’s quirks.
Maths
We will spend class time this week exploring what it means to be a mathematician in this class. The kids will solve big problems individually and in groups. We will celebrate precision over speed, visualizing thinking, clearly communicating ideas, creative problem-solving, and working together. The kids will also take a district math test: STAR math.
Social Studies
We will start our first social studies unit of the year: Pre-Columbian America. We will start the week exploring Native American culture and what the Americas may have been like before 1492. We will finish the week discussing what it means to be a historian and making the connection between Native Americans in Pre-Columbus America and today.
Science
Science Lab with Ms. DeMarco
Language
Nothing this week.
Leadership
This Week’s Habit: Be Proactive: Take Initiative, You’re in Charge
This Week’s Hero: Virginia Apgar
August 24-25, 2023
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Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
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Student Information Form (Students: Please Fill This Out)
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Dessert Social and Spirit Wear Sales Wed Aug 23 3:00-5:00
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First Day of School Thu Aug 24
*Bring Supplies Friday, Not Thursday
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Thu Aug 24 Breakfast and Coffee for Parents after you drop students off (around the lunch area at the front of the school)Bring supplies on Friday, not Thursday
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Thu Aug 24 and Fri Aug 25 School Ends at 1:05
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Flag Deck → Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
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Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
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Back To School Night- Thursday, Aug 31. Time: TBA
May 29 - June 2, 2023
- No School Monday, May 29
- Tues-Fri School Ends at 1:44
- 5th Grade Pool Party Fri Jun 2 Information, Permission Slip
- PG Movie Permission Slip for Tuesday, May 30
- Flag Deck Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Young Philosophers lessons
- Jeopardy Tournament
- Year in Pictures
Thank you for a wonderful year!
Have a great summer!
May 22-26, 2023
Need to Know
- The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
- 5th Grade Pool Party Fri Jun 2 Information, Permission Slip
- PG Movie Permission Slip for Tuesday, May 30
- Flag Deck Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Young Philosophers lessons
- Jeopardy Tournament
- Business Day Thursday
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books unit. The kids will make a final project where they make a Book Review geared towards parents with the template of the Common Sense Media website. The project will be due on Friday.
Read Aloud
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will keep working on their Fantasy Stories. The kids will publish their stories, review them with their writing partner and with me, will use Open AI’s DALL-E 2 to make a cover for their fantasy novel.
Maths
We will take a short quiz on shapes on the coordinate plane.
Social Studies
We will continue to work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately where the students are writing a book with a partner recapping the important parts of the American Revolution following the structure of the book Fortunately by Remy Charlip.
Read Aloud
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud by Brad Meltzer
Science
The kids will, of course, see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
A message from Ms. DeMarco:
- Science Fair Submission Information
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
May 15-19, 2023
Important Links
Video Announcements
Class Podcast
Class Website
Weekly Schedule
Work Page
Stocks Game
Parent Portal
School Calendar
Bell Schedule
PTA
Volunteer
Need to Know
- The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
- District Honors Art Show May 19-20 at Portola HS
- 5th Grade Pool Party Fri Jun 2 Information, Permission Slip
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Final Chit Chat Speeches of the Year will Take Place the Week of May 15
- Talent Show May 18 5:30p
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books unit. The kids will continue reading their fantasy novels. I am not sure yet what I’ll be teaching. It will be based on how much state testing we still have to do. We may discuss the complicated nature of fantasy characters and/or symbols in fantasy novels.
Read Aloud
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis serving to connect with our study of Fantasy novels.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will keep working on their Fantasy Stories. The kids will publish their stories, review them with their writing partner and with me, will use Open AI’s DALL-E 2 to make a cover for their fantasy novel.
Maths
We will move onto our next unit Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule. We will explore and review the coordinate grid and plot points and shapes.
Social Studies
We will continue to work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately where the students are writing a book with a partner recapping the important parts of the American Revolution following the structure of the book Fortunately by Remy Charlip.
Read Aloud
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud by Brad Meltzer
Science
The kids will, of course, see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
May 8-12 2023
Need to Know
The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
State Testing: May 1-4, and May 9- No Devices. Bring colored pencils, books to read.
District Honors Art Show May 19-20 at Portola HS
5th Grade Pool Party Fri Jun 2 9:00-pickup from pool at 1:44
Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
Final Chit Chat Speeches of the Year will Take Place the Week of May 15
Talent Show May 18 5:30p
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books unit. The kids will continue reading their fantasy novels. I am not sure yet what I’ll be teaching. It will be based on how much state testing we still have to do. We may discuss the complicated nature of fantasy characters and/or symbols in fantasy novels.
Read Aloud
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis serving to connect with our study of Fantasy novels.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will keep working on their Fantasy Stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be twists and turns leading up the final showdown with the villain and the second will be the climax and conclusion where the protagonist faces off against the villain in a final battle and the story concludes.
Maths
We may do some decimal review or move onto our next unit: Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule.
Social Studies
We will continue to work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately where the students are writing a book with a partner recapping the important parts of the American Revolution following the structure of the book Fortunately by Remy Charlip. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.
Read Aloud
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud by Brad Meltzer
Science
The kids will review forces, watch a demonstration about Earth's gravity, complete a close reading, write a scientific argument and observe a video and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
May 1-5 2023
Need to Know
- The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
- State Testing: May 1-4, and May 9- No Devices. Bring colored pencils, books to read.
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Final Chit Chat Speeches of the Year will Take Place the Week of May 15
- Talent Show May 18 5:30p
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books. Next week the kids will learn about readers learning real life lessons from fantastical characters, how quests can be internal as well as external, and comparing themes in fantasy and history. I am reading out loud the book: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to help connect our learning with a real example.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be rising action where the protagonist faces yet more obstacles and the second will be the turning point where the main character fully steps into the role of hero and the final showdown is just over the horizon.
Maths
We may do some decimal review or move onto our next unit: Shapes on the Coordinate Plane depending on our testing schedule.
Social Studies
We will continue our unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study Yorktown and the end of the war. They will turn in their digital battle map and also work on a project called, Fortunately, Unfortunately. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud
Science
The kids will start continue the unit: “Galactic Guidebook” by studying an interactive of constellations as they appear in the sky at different times, then reading an article about how stars have helped farmers. Students review what they've learned about why stars seem to move and how people can use stars to track time and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
April 24-28, 2023
Need to Know
- AWISH- Friday April 28: 5:00-8:00p- Wear clothes from your culture
- The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
- State Testing: May 1-4, and May 9- No Devices, Food, Snacks, Books, Coloring Pages
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Final Chit Chat Speeches of the Year will Take Place the Week of May 15
- Talent Show May 18
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit on Fantasy Books. Next week the kids will learn about characters and places not always being what they seem, and how to think metaphorically as we ready fantasy books. On Thursday, the kids will turn in a short reflection piece on their learning for a grade. I am reading out loud the book: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to help connect our learning with a real example.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. The kids will add to their fantasy story by writing 2 more sections. The first will be where the reader learns about the new world and the villain. The second will be where the protagonist reluctant accepts their calling and faces obstacles.
Maths
The kids will study division of decimals in the context of area and volume. They will also take a short decimals quiz on Thursday.
Social Studies
We will begin our next Unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test on Friday, May 12.
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud
Science
The kids will start our final unit of the year, “Galactic Guidebook” by reviewing their prior knowledge about the solar system and looking at patterns in the solar system and their own life and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
April 17-21, 2023
Need to Know
- The kids will be working on their All-APAAS project (Project Convention open to parents Tuesday May 23rd)
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
Reader’s
Workshop
The kids will finish their Theme Park Project related to “When You Trap a Tiger”. Then, we will start our last full unit of the year: Fantasy Books. We will spend the week getting oriented to Fantasy Books by book shopping, learning alongside the character, and keeping track of problems.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will start our last unit of the year writing Fantasy stories. We will start off by getting oriented to fantasy writing by brainstorming ideas and discussing the elements of fantasy stories: normal worlds vs. fantastic worlds, characters, hardships, problems, and introducing the new world and the problem.
Maths
The kids will study decimals on a number line and take a quiz on adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals and the number line on Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, the kids will take the end of year 5th grade math assessment given to all 5th graders in the district. At the end of the week we will start dividing decimals.
Social Studies
We will begin our next Unit on the important battles of the Revolutionary War. The kids will study the capitals and take the capitals test in a few weeks.
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Young Reader’s Edition Read Aloud
Science
The kids will start our final unit of the year, “Galactic Guidebook” by reviewing their prior knowledge about the solar system and looking at patterns in the solar system and their own life and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
Nothing this week.
March 27-31, 2023
- Open House Thursday, March 30
(At School 11:00a-12:00p and 6:00-7:00p)
- If you are coming from 11-12, make sure to check in at the office.
- Mar 27-31 all minimum days- school ends at 1:44p
- Mile Run on Tuesday.
- Talent Show Information
Open House Comparing Characters Project
Information Book and Podcast
Volume Humanoid Robot
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Read Aloud
Students watch a video about water shortages in California and define their marketing campaign problem. They discuss criteria for their design solutions, plan their designs, then discuss ideas for marketing the campaign and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Nothing this week.
March 20-24, 2023
Open House Thursday, March 30
(At School 11:00a-12:00p and 6:00-7:00p)
Mar 27-31 all minimum days
Yearbooks are on sale and must be ordered in advance.
Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697
Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
Mar 23- Guys Stuff- 5:30p in MPR
Irvine Junior Games Sign-Up!
Author Katherine Applegate visiting Tustin Library on Saturday, April 1
Our learners will focus their attention on a character project. The kids will choose characters from different books and spend their time making a poster comparing and contrasting the characters.
The students will publish and turn in their information books about the American Revolution. Next, the kids will record a podcast related to their information book. They will have to adapt their writing to a more script-based form. They will plan out the show and eventually record it.
The mathematicians will do some CML practice and then take their last CML test of the year on Thursday. Throughout the week the kids will be painting, assembling and working on their volume robots.
No Social Studies this week. The students are listening to me read a book about a secret conspiracy to kill George Washington during the Revolutionary War!
Students watch a video about water shortages in California and define their marketing campaign problem. They discuss criteria for their design solutions, plan their designs, then discuss ideas for marketing the campaign and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
The kids will take a Wordly Wise test on Lessons 3 and 4 on Tuesday.
March 13-17, 2023
- Physical Fitness Testing This Month Tues 14 and 21 (Mile Run Timing), Fri 17 and 24 for other physical tests
- Yearbooks are on sale and must be ordered in advance.
Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697
- Open House Thursday, March 30th time TBA
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Mar 23- Guys Stuff- 5:30p in MPR
- Irvine Junior Games Sign-Up!
Our readers will spend this week to choosing books from our American Revolution book club collection and choose projects to demonstrate their knowledge.
We will continue our new unit: Bringing History to Life! Our writers will take a day for peer editing and focused revision. They will spend the rest of the week publishing. They will add interesting and informative text features, and use an editing tool, Paper, to get feedback on their piece before finally turning it in.
The mathematicians will review some of the work we have studied regarding volume and look at real-world problems. On Tuesday, the kids will take their second volume quiz focusing on finding volume with fractional edge lengths and finding missing edge lengths. On Thursday, the students will temporarily assemble their humanoid robot using materials from home. This will help them plan their next steps.
Our historians will continue studying the Declaration of Independence. Their analysis will help them plan their own personal declaration of independence. They will plan and write their personal declaration and publish it. On Friday the kids will stand up and read their work, declaring their independence.
The kids will research and write about why the Mojave Desert is so dry and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
We will turn our attention to Wordly Wise finishing up lesson 3 and starting lesson 4.
March 6-10, 2023
- Sign-Up for Spring Conferences
- Physical Fitness Testing This Month Tues 7 (Mile Run Practice), Fri 17
- Yearbooks are on sale and must be ordered in advance.
Go to treering.com and use the code: 1015857553713697
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
- Mar 23- Guys Stuff- 5:30p in MPR
We will spend this last week reading about the American Revolution. The students will read with a partner. They will choose from a variety of American Revolution books. They will have this week to finish another book and create an individual project for the book and a partner project. They will turn this in at the end of their reading time. At the end of the week they will finish up with their partner and choose books as an individual.
We will continue our new unit: Bringing History to Life! The kids will bring history to life writing informational pieces about the American Revolution. They add an essay to their information book and continue drafting sections.
The students will begin our next unit on Volume. We will spend our math time checkin in on the stock market, finding the missing side length of a rectangular prism given the volume, and begin an exciting volume project!
This students have completed the study of the events leading up the revolution. The war has started. We will spend the next couple of weeks studying the Declaration of Independence. Next week the kids will look at some of the important figures that were positioned to make a large impact on the beginning of the country and carefully study the structure of the declaration.
The kids will consider why there is so little rain in the Mojave Desert. They will review and discuss data cards and are introduced to the geosphere. Using their knowledge of rain and sphere interactions, they investigate the conditions of the Mojave Desert and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
We will finish Classical Roots Lesson 4 and take their 2nd Classical Roots Quiz on Tuesday. They will also have to turn in their choice activity on Tuesday. All students will give their chit chat speeches next week where they teach the class something.
February 20-24, 2023
- Bring Photography Device each Tuesday
- No School Mon Feb 20
- Read Across America Day + Book Donation Event- Thu Mar 2
- Jog-a-thon March 3
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
- Mar 23- Guys Stuff- 5:30p in MPR
We will spend the next several weeks reading about the American Revolution. The students will read with a partner. They will choose from a variety of American Revolution books. They will have 2 weeks to ready one or two books and create an individual project for the book and a partner project. They will turn this in at the end of their reading time.
We will take a day to celebrate the student’s 3rd argument essay. The kids will get to share their topics and writing and give positive comments to others during a gallery walk. We will start our next unit where the kids will bring history to life writing informational pieces about the American Revolution. They will just being that work next week but eventually the students will write an informational piece and then record a podcast.
The students will take a mid-year basic skills test on Wednesday which will be their final grade for trimester 2 in math. On Thursday, the students will take their next CML test and on Tuesday, we will give an introduction and start this year’s stock market game!
This students will continue our Social Studies unit exploring the events leading up to the revolution. We will focus first continental congress and the first battles of the Revolutionary War (Lexington and Concord). The students will be continue a digital timeline to help them keep track of all the acts and events. We will also take a quiz on the location of the 50 states on Wednesday. The students who have already tested out of the 50 states will move on to studying state capitals and state flags. Finally, the kids will finish their great state project. They need to bring their posters to class on Thursday. We will put all the posters up in the MPR and the students do a scavenger hunt of the different states.
The kids will begin to research the ways in which communities protect Earth's limited water resources and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
We will start Classical Roots Lesson 3 and the kids will continue to work on their Chit Chat Speech #3.
Feb 13-17, 2023
- Bring Photography Device each Tuesday
- Valentine’s Day Class Party- Tue Feb 14
- No School Fri Feb 17 and Mon Feb 20
- Read Across America Day + Book Donation Event- Thu Mar 2
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
We will spend the next several weeks reading about the American Revolution. This will match closely with our study of the American Revolution in Social Studies. Next week we will read “I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776”. In anticipation of our upcoming Revolution Book Club Unit, the kids will make a reading plan for their group which will include of timeline for their reading, independent and group work, and a rubric for grading.
We will continue our unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. The kids will publish their third Argument Essay. For this essay the students will choose their topic of research. They will work throughout the week with independence and refer back to the work we have already done in our first two essays.
We will wrap up a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students work on a project highlighting some of the trickier elements of order of operations and written expressions, work to solve difficult problems, and do some CML practice.
This students will continue our Social Studies unit exploring the events leading up to the revolution. We will focus on the intolerable acts next week that pushed the colonists to war. The students will be continue a digital timeline to help them keep track of all the acts and events. The will turn in the first half of their timeline on Thursday. We will also take a quiz on the location of the 50 states on Wednesday. Finally, we will introduce the Great State Project which will be due on Thursday, Feb 23.
The kids will read a text and answer questions about water on Earth based on what they learned from the previous reading. They will share their work and discuss the availability of freshwater on Earth. Then students observe a demo that represents freshwater on Earth and graph the results. Students draw and label a model of fresh and saltwater on Earth to demonstrate understanding and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
No vocabulary study this week. The kids will continue planning for their next Chit Chat speech.
February 6-10, 2023
Valentine’s Day Candy Grams- Due Tue Feb 7
- Valentine’s Day Class Party- Tue Feb 14
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Read Across America Day + Book Donation Event- Thu Mar 2
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
We will spend the next several weeks reading about the American Revolution. This will match closely with our study of the American Revolution in Social Studies. Next week we will read “Alexander Hamilton” The Outsider”. The kids will have work to keep track of their thinking as they read, work on a project, and discuss with partners and groups each day.
We will continue our unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. The kids will publish their second Argument Essay. For this essay they will argue whether to support or boycott zoos. They will peer edit their paper and turn in their final piece on Thursday. Later in the week the kids will come up with their own topic for their third and final Argument Essay.
We will continue a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students will review the entire unit and take a test on Wednesday. In addition, the kids will review their last CML test and do more CML practice and reflection.
This students will continue our Social Studies unit exploring the events leading up to the revolution. We will study the famous “acts” that pushed the colonists to war. The students will be making a digital timeline to help them keep track of all the acts from the Sugar Acts to the Boston Tea Party.
The kids will Students watch a video that shows the ways humans and other animals use water. Then, they will do a close reading of a text to identify where freshwater is found on Earth, what animals are found in those regions, and how they interact with each other and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
No vocabulary study this week. The kids will begin planning for their next Chit Chat speech.
January 30- Feb 3, 2023
- Board Game Presentations Tue Jan 31
- Global School Play Day- Web Feb 1 (Play all day!)
- Valentine’s Day Candy Grams- Due Tue Feb 7
- Valentine’s Day Class Party- Tue Feb 14
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- Read Across America Day + Book Donation Event- Thu Mar 2
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
We will continue our new unit called “Argument and Advocacy”. The kids will prepare for their final debate. In groups of 5 or 6 they will formally debate topics. The students will spend the week preparing. They have to organize evidence, prepare opening and closing statements, rebuttals and even cross-examination questions. These debates will occur on Thursday. The students will get grades from me for their participation in the debate and contribution to the group. Audience members will also watch and score the debates. Groups and individuals will be given awards on Friday for their work in the debates.
We will continue our unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. The kids will continue working on their second of three essays. We will work on lifting the level of the essays by analyzing the evidence used and appealing to the audience while trying to provide a thorough argument.
We will continue a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students will review and practice Prime Factorization and take a quiz on Thursday on Prime Factorization and Order of Operations.
This students will start our next unit in Social Studies. We have been discussing the road the revolution: colonial life in the 1740s-1770s. The revolution has finally reached our doorstep. Next week will examine the meaning of the word “revolution” and its implications for the American Revolution. We will also take a sneak peek and important figures of the revolution and continue to study states and capitals.
The kids will begin the next Unit of Science and explore the question “How much freshwater is on Earth?” and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
The kids will finish up studying the words in lesson 2 of Wordly Wise and review Lessons 1 and 2 before a quiz on Friday.
January 23-27, 2023
Colonial Day- Fri Jan 27
- Link For Volunteers
- Link for Donations
- Class Spelling Bee- Wed Jan 25
- Global School Play Day- Web Feb 1
- Read Across America Day + Book Donation Event- Thu Mar 2
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
We will continue our new unit called “Argument and Advocacy”. The kids will prepare for their second debate. In groups, they will build their background knowledge, collect and organize evidence, and outline the debate with an opening statement and main points. They will also prepare their rebuttals. The kids will also take a quiz related to reading informational texts on Thursday.
We will continue our unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. The kids will begin building their background knowledge for their second essay. The will collect and rank evidence and begin drafting. We will pay close attention to adding counterarguments and rebuttals.
We will continue a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students will engage in some order of operations error analysis and we will study the language of expressions where we will convert expressions to english sentences and vice versa.
This week our big event will be colonial day on Friday. The kids will make several craft projects related to life in colonial america. Early in the week we will begin building our knowledge of states, capitals, and other american geography. We will also take a day to read about and discuss slavery in the colonies. The kids will do some background reading for this on Monday and then we will have a class discussion on Tuesday.
The kids will take a quiz on the effect changes to a food web on Wednesday and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
The kids will finish up studying the words in lesson 1 of Wordly Wise and move on to the lesson 2 words..
January 16-20, 2023
- No School Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday)
- Chinese New Year Class Cultural Day (Wed, Jan 18)
- Colonial Day (January 27)- Volunteers Needed
- March 9- Girls Talk (Pizza, Pajamas, Presentation, Pals)
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
- A Thank You From Mrs. DeMarco:
Hello Mr. Gray's 5th Grade Parents and Happy New Year!
I would like to thank you all for the generous gift card. How kind of you to think of me this holiday season! I am grateful to be your child's science teacher!
Thank you again,
Ms. De Marco 🙂
- A Thank You From Miss Muncy
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our new unit called “Argument and Advocacy” The kids will prepare for debates throughout the week with a partner and then have multiple debates on Thursday. We will discuss rules for arguments/debates and how to mine for relevant information.
Writer’s
Workshop
We will continue our unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. The kids will continue their drafts focusing on the structure of arguments, using evidence and transition words, and clearly stating how the evidence supports their position. They will publish their first argument this week all about whether or not chocolate milk should be banned from schools.
Maths
We will continue a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students will review and practice using order of operations (PEMDAS) and engage in some error analysis.
Social Studies
As we study the English colonies in the middle of the 18th century, the students will study how the colonies began to gain an american identity. Specifically, representative governments started to pop up in the form of town halls and meetings. The students will prepare for and engage in a “town hall meeting” this week.
Science
The kids will build upon their understanding of the relationship between organisms in an ecosystem. Using an interactive, they simulate making changes to an ecosystem and record how the changes affect other organisms within the ecosystem. Students watch a video and of course see Ms. DeMarco for Science Lab.
Vocabulary
The students will take their first Classical Roots Quiz on Tuesday. We will pause Classical Roots and study vocabulary from a program called Wordly Wise. We will switch back and forth because Classical Roots and Wordly Wise for vocabulary study.
January 7-13, 2023
We will start a new unit called “Argument and Advocacy” will focus on students gathering information and taking a side on issues relevant to kids. The students will read articles and study other sources of information to organize an argument and prepare for a debate. We will discuss rules for arguments/debates and how to mine for relevant information. The students will take a quiz on Thursday.
We will start a new unit called “Research Based Argument Essay”. We will start off by analyzing arguments (reflecting our work in reader’s workshop), then flash-draft arguments. At the end of the week we will begin to build argument with evidence using quotes.
We will start a unit called “Whole Number Expressions and Operations”. The students will spend the week analyzing and practicing different strategies for the multiplication and division of whole numbers. We will spend time attending to precision to make sure we do not make careless mistakes. The students will take a quiz on Friday.
As we study the English colonies in the middle of the 18th century, the students will study how different colonies were set up and they will make their own colony with rules and expectations. Then we will take a day to study the First Great Awakening which was a religious and societal change in the colonies that directly affected the idea of being an “American”.
The kids will study Energy in Food Chains they will explore ideas about energy and matter flow, watch a video about food chains, make connections from what they have learned so far. The goal is to strengthen knowledge of how energy moves through a food chain and of course have Science Lab with Ms. DeMarco.
The students will start our next section of Classical Roots looking at Lesson 2 which has the roots “sub” and “torqueo, torquere” and “verso, versare”
Need to Know
- Happy New Year!
- No School Monday, January 2
- Ask the kids about “Mystery City” after school on Friday.
- Flag Deck (Parents can watch) Every Friday at 8:10 on the blacktop
Reader’s
Workshop
We will spend a few days this week taking a close look at the vocabulary and characters in the short story “The Gift of the Magi”. The kids will also spend time discussing the story with the whole class and in small groups. The students will turn in some of their week at the end of the week. They will also create a list of fiction books they would like to read for their upcoming homework when we start our next unit. That unit called “Argument and Advocacy” will focus on students gathering information and taking a side on issues relevant to kids.
Writer’s
Workshop
We will spend the week discussing the examples and definitions of the word “honor”. We will use that discussion to make New Year’s Resolutions about how kids can honor their teachers, school, family, classmates, friends, and themselves. In order to facilitate this thinking I’d like kids to bring in a baby picture of themselves on Thursday. It can be digital saved in their Google Drive. They will not be sharing these with the group, they just have to be able to see their own picture. The students will write about this and turn in work at the end of the week.
Maths
We have a short math schedule this week. We have time for a mathematical review scavenger hunt and Continental Mathematics League test on Thursday.
Social Studies
We will jump right back into the colonies and start studying the important founders of the 13 English colonies. The kids will also study some of the characteristics of the colonies and take a colonies geography quiz on Friday.
Science
We will read an informational text, then complete a graphic organizer explaining the relationships between Antarctic organisms. Students explain the cause and effect relationship between individual organisms and the food chain itself and of course have Science Lab with Ms. DeMarco.
Vocabulary
The students will start our first section of Classical Roots looking at Lesson 1 which has the roots “per” and “fer, ferre, tuli, latum.”
October 3-7, 2022
Video Announcements Class Podcast Class Website Weekly Schedule
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA Volunteer
- No School Tuesday, October 4. All other days are minimum days (finish at 1:44p).
- Picture Day Wednesday 10/5 (Before Recess)
- Sub and Last Day
The students will close wrapping up thinking about theme and do a little preparation for our first novel study coming up the week of October 10.
The kids will continue to draft and work on their second narrative story. We will study adding past and future scenes to add to the meaning and practice endings. Finally the students will publish their final draft of their second narrative.
The kids will be spend a short week doing some speed math and mental math practice as well as some work preparing for our first test for Continental Mathematics League.
No Social Studies this week.
The kids will be reading about and reflecting identifying how a material's properties are used in determining its suitability for meeting a specific purpose.
September 19-23, 2022
Important Links
Video Announcements Class Podcast Class Website Weekly Schedule
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA Volunteer
Need to Know
- Art on Wednesday 9/21
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
Reader’s
Workshop
This week, the kids will continue reading fiction books. The goal over the next few weeks is to read with meaning and interpretation in mind to have more tools to understand theme. They will have a partner to share their thoughts and work with and keep their thinking in their reader’s notebook.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will publish their first narrative and turn it in. We will a short time for kids to share out their finished work. As we move on to drafting more small moment true stories, we will focus on bringing out meaning in stories, elaborating on important scenes and adding scenes from the past or future.
Maths
We will continue our dividing fractions unit. This week the students will explore the relationship between visual methods of dividing fractions and the “keep it, change it, flip it” method. We will review our division work and take a quiz.
Social Studies
During this week, the kids will study the government and economy of native american tribes. They will also make a study guide for a test coming up next week. Finally, in honor of “Constitution Day” which is Saturday, the 17th, the kids will have to memorize and recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to a partner.
Science
The kids will read about the new Artemis series of missions NASA is embarking on and look carefully at the kinds of materials used for space-faring missions.
September 12-16, 2022
Important Links
Video Announcements Class Podcast Class Website Weekly Schedule
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA
Need to Know
- Thursday Folders
- September 16th- PTA Outdoor Movie Night
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will finish the first section of our Interpretation Unit. The kids have been learning and practicing ways to develop ideas about reading. At the beginning of the week they will turn in a few reader’s notebook work pages based on this. Later in the week we will continue our work by joining a partnership and thinking about theme as how a character responds to a and learns from a problem.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will continue drafting their small moment personal narratives. We will revise by letting other authors’ words awaken and inspire our own, telling the story from the inside out, and taking stock an setting goals. Finally, the kids will turn in their first published narrative.
Maths
Groups will work on the “Should I Get a New iPhone?” project. They will turn in a paper and present on their findings (including interviewing a family member). Then we will transition into a unit about dividing fractions.
History
The kids will continue learning about Native Americans in the pre-columbian era. We will focus on the culture, government, and economy. We will also take a brief turn towards the US government in honor of Constitution Day (September 17th). The kids will learn and recite the preamble to the US Constitution.
Science
The kids will start our first science unit: Matter Mysteries Hotline. We will explore the properties of different materials both in class and with Ms. Demarco in Science Lab.
Important Links
Video Announcements Class Podcast Class Website Weekly Schedule
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA
Need to Know
- No School Monday September 5th (Labor Day)
- September 16th- PTA Outdoor Movie Night
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
Reader’s
Workshop
We continue our first Reader’s Workshop Unit: Interpretation (Analyzing Themes). I will be reading aloud the book Home of the Brave. The kids will be reading their own books practicing reading more complex novels and thinking in more complex ways. We will considering perspectives and their effects, learn to think analytically, and revise our writing about reading.
Writer’s
Workshop
We will begin our first writer’s workshop unit: Narrative Craft. The kids will begin by generating ideas for personal narratives, then as we draft stories we will study dreaming the dream of the story, letting other author’s words awaken our own, and telling the story from the inside out.
Maths
We will continue working with fractions to solve problems. The kids will share strategies about multiplying fractions, take a quiz on fraction operations, and work on a special problem involving iPhones.
History
We will start our first history unit: The First Americans. Specifically, the unit will focus on how geography affects how people live.
Science
The kids will start our first science unit: Matter Mysteries Hotline. We will explore the properties of different materials.
August 29- Sep 2, 2022
Important Links
Video Announcements Class Podcast Class Website Weekly Schedule
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA
Need to Know
- Back To School Night Thursday, September 1st. Time: 6:45-7:20p
- No School Monday September 5th (Labor Day)
- September 16th- PTA Outdoor Movie Night
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
Student Information Form (Students: Please Fill This Out)
Reader’s
Workshop
We will wrap up our workshop prep week and get into our first Reader’s Workshop Unit: Interpretation (Analyzing Themes). I will be reading aloud the book Home of the Brave. The kids will be reading their own books practicing reading more complex novels and thinking in more complex ways. The students will be writing about their reading in their reader’s notebooks and turning in work related to their own reading.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will wrap our mini-unit on responding to questions about a text. We are reading 2 short stories, answering questions and analyzing the strength of different responses. They will have a quiz on Wednesday on a new short story.
Maths
We will continue working with fractions to solve problems. The kids will take an assessment that all 5th graders in Irvine are taking as a pre assessment for the year. Finally, the kids will work in teams to solve problems called “placemat math”.
History
The class will discuss our theme this year: Power and we may do an activity introducing the students to this year’s history topics.
Science
In preparation for science lab, the students will do an activity studying different kinds of graphs and practicing measuring with rulers.
August 22-26, 2022
Important Links
Video Announcements Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast Class Website
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA
Need to Know
- The first two days of school are Minimum Days: School Ends at 1:44.
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
- Student Information Form (Students: Please Fill This Out)
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Back To School Night- (Tentative) Thursday, September 1st. Time: TBA
- PE will be Tuesday/Thursday/Friday
Reader’s
Workshop
We will spend the week getting ready for our first reader’s workshop unit: Interpretation. I will be reading Year of the Dog to the kids as they get to know our library system, make a reading log, reflect on their own reading, and reflect on Year of the Dog.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will do a short writing project based on a random picture. Then we will finish the week review the proper technique for responding to questions about text and video.
Maths
We will spend the week working on a project where kids will put together a proposal for furnishing a hotel. We will consult with an expert designer and research the costs and different layout possibilities.
History
The kids will work on a project calls “Who’s Coming to Dinner?” where they will pretend to host a dinner for important people. They will make a poster, put together an invitation, menu, seating arrangements, and lists of costs. They will also present to a small group.
Science
The students will begin Science Lab with Mrs. DiMarco on Thursday. They will have science lab Thursday and Friday at the very end of the day.
August 18-19, 2022
Important Links
Video Announcements Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast Class Website
Work Page Parent Portal School Calendar Bell Schedule PTA
Need to Know
- Wednesday, August 17th from 3-5pm Ice Cream Social
- Thursday, August 18th Breakfast and Coffee for Parents after you drop students off (around the lunch area at the front of the school)
- The first two days of school are Minimum Days: School Ends at 1:44.
- Child Information Form (Parents: Please Fill This Out)
- Student Information Form (Students: Please Fill This Out)
- Visit the PTA Website to register or update your information, and buy school spirit wear!
- Back To School Night- (Tentative) Thursday, September 1st. Time: TBA
Reader’s
Workshop
- Taking Care of the Library
- Shopping Lists for Books
Writer’s
Workshop
Maths
- Spirolaterals (Prime, Composite, and Highly Composite Numbers)
History
Science
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Walk to Northwood Memorial and Castle Park Field Trip- Friday, May 27th
- Monday, May 30th is the Memorial Day Holiday (no school)
- IPSF Summer Classes and Camps Registration This is a class taught by a good friend of mine
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament! And our Class Chess Tournament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will continue their mystery book report. It is due on Friday.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids continue on our Writer’s Workshop Unit: Changing the World (Persuasive Speeches). The kids will publish their speeches this week.
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will take a closer look at volume and do some review of Area and Perimeter.
Social
Studies
The kids will create a folder for an American Hero. They have resources to do research and create an in-depth look at an important American.
Science
The kids will create a poster about a severe weather event and design a product that can protect someone from that severe weather event.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- AWISH- May 6th, 5-8pm
- Monday, May 30th is the Memorial Day Holiday (no school)
- IPSF Summer Classes and Camps Registration- This is a class taught by a good friend of mine
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament! And our Class Chess Tournament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will continue the Reader’s Workshop Unit: Mystery (Foundational Skills in Disguise). We will spend the week working together to see common characteristics of mysteries, studying red herrings, and finding hidden clues.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids continue on our Writer’s Workshop Unit: Changing the World (Persuasive Speeches). The kids will raise the level of their writing by paragraphing and considering the audience when they discard information and choose words that evoke emotions.
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will start our final unit of the year (we will be doing more review later): Mass and Volume. We will start by orienting ourselves to the vocabulary and real world examples of “mass”.
Social
Studies
The kids will study both American and California Heroes after we establish as a class “What makes a hero?”.
Science
Nothing this week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Decades Dress Up Day- Wednesday April 27th
- AWISH- ~~April 22nd~~ May 6th, 5-8pm
- Monday, May 30th is the Memorial Day Holiday (no school)
- IPSF Summer Classes and Camps Registration- This is a class taught by a good friend of mine
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament! And our Class Chess Tournament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will continue the Reader’s Workshop Unit: Mystery (Foundational Skills in Disguise). We will spend the week understanding the mystery by collaborating with partners (like real crime solvers), keeping hold of the mystery even when the book is long and tricky, and understanding common patterns and characteristics of mysteries.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids continue on our Writer’s Workshop Unit: Changing the World (Persuasive Speeches). The kids will raise the level of their writing by gathering more information about their opinion, organizing and categorizing their supporting information, and proving their point by giving evidence using transitions like “For example”.
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will spend the week on our next unit: Representing Data with Graphs. The kids will learn about line plots and compare and contrast picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. We will finish up the unit with an assessment on Friday.
Social
Studies
Nothing this week.
Science
The kids will start on the next part of our weather unit. For a few weeks we will study severe weather (lightning, floods, wildfires, and more). Next week we will build up our background knowledge about these kinds of severe weather.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- AWISH- April 22nd 5-8pm
- Monday, May 30th is the Memorial Day Holiday (no school)
- IPSF Summer Classes and Camps Registration
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament! And our Class Chess Tournament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will start our next Reader’s Workshop Unit: Mystery (Foundational Skills in Disguise). We will spend the week learning about the characteristics of mystery stories like: trying to solve the mystery before the crime solver does, doing special predicting about suspects, opportunities, and motives, and using strategies when reading gets tough.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids continue on our next Writer’s Workshop Unit: Changing the World (Persuasive Speeches). The kids will gather brave, bold opinions, practice writing with independence, and consider the audience to say more by asking questions that a reader might ask.
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will spend the week on our nex unit: Representing Data with Graphs. The kids will learn about picture graphs and bar graphs. They will also make their own survey, collect data and represent that data with picture graphs and bar graphs.
Social
Studies
The kids will spend the week continuing to build out a class understanding of what the responsibilities are of good citizens.
Science
The kids will start on the next part of our weather unit. For a few weeks we will study severe weather (lightning, floods, wildfires, and more). Next week we will build up our background knowledge about these kinds of severe weather.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Open House Thursday, March 31st 6-7pm
- Reminder: The Week of March 28th-April 1st is full of minimum days. Every day next week school will end at 1:40.
- Talent Show Information (Fill out form and send back by April 1st)
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will spend the week reading for fun and working on a character project.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will be finishing their poetry project and making their own board game!
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will spend the week reviewing math concepts from earlier this year and playing math games.
Social
Studies
Nothing this week.
Science
The kids will continue their weather diaries.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Spring Conferences: For those of you with spring conferences, they are currently scheduled to take place Zoom. If you’d like to change that to in-person, please let me know.
- Talent Show Information (Fill out form and send back by April 1st)
- Reminder: The Week of March 28th-April 2nd is full of minimum days. Every day next week school will end at 1:40.
- Update: Jog-A-Thon Friday March 25th (Turn in Pledge Envelopes to Mr. Gray by April 1st)
- Our run time is first thing in the morning (8:25-8:55) so students should come dressed to run.
- Open House Thursday, March 31st 6-7pm
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will spend the week reading for fun and working on a character project.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will finish publishing their animal information books and work on a short poetry project.
Math
What happened to math class?
We start a new mini-unit on mass and volume. We will start by studying the meaning of mass and then compare objects that measure in grams and objects that measure in kilograms.
Social
Studies
The kids will investigate rules, rights, and laws. We will begin our study of “citizenship” and what it means to be a good citizen.
Science
We will continue our weather unit by what it means to be a meteorologist. We will also study the tools of weather data collection by exploring thermometers and start a weather diary.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Starting Monday, March 14th, students are not required (but still strongly encouraged) to wear masks indoors anymore. Some students will continue to wear masks and others will choose not to wear them. I will continue to wear a mask indoors at least through spring break.
- Update: Jog-A-Thon Friday March 25th (Turn in Pledge Envelopes to Mr. Gray by April 1st)
- Our run time is first thing in the morning (8:25-8:55) so students should come dressed to run.
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The students will spend the week researching an animal of their choice. They will study how to build up vocabulary and talk with the lingo of experts and how to discuss our topic with zeal for a new animal or animals of their choice both in class and with library books.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will wrap up our writing about research unit going along with our reading unit. They will draft and write all about an animal or multiple animals.
Math
What happened to math class?
We start a finish unit on telling time intervals (ex. PE started at 10:45 and ended at 11:19, how many minutes was PE). We practice solving problems using t-charts and then students will choose strategies that work the best for them. We will also ask students to make up their own problems and have other students solve them.
Social
Studies
The kids will investigate rules, rights, and laws. We will begin our study of “citizenship” and what it means to be a good citizen.
Science
We will continue our weather unit by what it means to be a meteorologist. We will also study the tools of weather data collection by exploring thermometers.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- Update: Jog-A-Thon Friday March 25th (Turn in Pledge Envelopes to Mr. Gray by April 1st)
- Our run time is first thing in the morning (8:25-8:55) so students should come dressed to run.
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
We are continuing our researching animals unit. We are practicing different ways to research and gather information about a topic. This week we will study how to build up vocabulary and talk with the lingo of experts and how to discuss our topic with zeal for a new animal.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will continue our writing about research unit going along with our reading unit. This week the kids will teach others about their animal as a way to get ready to write, discuss table of contents and chapter organization and reread their drafts to add more for a new animal.
Math
What happened to math class?
We start a new unit on telling time intervals (ex. PE started at 10:45 and ended at 11:19, how many minutes was PE). We will start by exploring time on a stopwatch and move on to reviewing time to the minute, then look at problems with time and solving those problems with number lines and t-charts.
Social
Studies
No Social Studies this week.
Science
We will continue our weather unit by studying wind and precipitation. We will look at local data for patterns.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Wear PJs, Bring blankets and/or stuffed animals. We will read almost all day!
- Jog-A-Thon Friday March 4th (Turn in Pledge Envelopes to Mr. Gray by March 18th)
- Our run time is first thing in the morning (8:25-8:55) so students should come dressed to run.
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
We are continuing our researching animals unit. We are practicing different ways to research and gather information about a topic. This week we will study how to build up vocabulary and talk with the lingo of experts and how to discuss our topic with zeal for a new animal.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will continue our writing about research unit going along with our reading unit. This week the kids will teach others about their animal as a way to get ready to write, discuss table of contents and chapter organization and reread their drafts to add more.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will wrap up our unit on fractions by studying fractions greater than 1, fraction word problems, reviewing fractions and finally taking a fractions assessment at the end of the week.
Social
Studies
The kids will take their knowledge of the important symbols and documents of the United States and make documents and symbols that represent our classroom.
Science
We will start a new unit on weather. We will start the unit by discussing what weather is, sorting weather related vocabulary words, and learning about different kinds of clouds.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Valentine’s Day Exchange Monday, February 14th
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The kids will work together to create posters comparing and contrasting characters from different books to wrap up our Character Studies unit.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will publish their last essay for the baby literary essay unit. They will take all the evidence they’ve gathered from across their book to support a claim about a charter.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue our fractions unit by studying how to compare fractions and looking at fractions greater than 1.
Social
Studies
We will wrap up the current chapter by studying some of the documents and symbols that bring us together as Americans.
Science
No science this week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Global School Play Day (Play all day)- Wednesday February 2nd
- Valentine’s Day Exchange
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- Running Club Registration
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
The kids will continue to study the character’s journey. We will learn to pay close attention to the climax of the story, noticing how the main character is tested and we’ll discuss how characters resolve big trouble.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will work on their next literary essay. This time, students will grow an idea from their own story, find evidence, and then write an essay. Among other things, we will use mentor texts to improve our writing and really discuss how to use paragraphs (and make sure we are using paragraphs).
Math
What happened to math class?
We will wrap up our study of division (for the moment) and celebrate the 100th day of school (Tuesday) with a math game!
Social
Studies
We will shift our focus from the federal government to the government of the state of California.
Science
The kids will continue to watch the caterpillars change and keep track of that change.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Global School Play Day (Play all day)- Wednesday February 2nd
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Running Club Registration
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our character studies unit. The kids will follow a character’s journey by:
Noticing that stories are shaped like mountains and we can watch characters go up and down, expecting characters to face and react to trouble, noticing the roles of secondary characters and noticing the role of illustrations in stories.
Writer’s
Workshop
The students will publish their first literary essay about the story, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson.
Math
What happened to math class?
The students will continue our exploration of division specifically looking at how division and multiplication are related through fact families and properties.
Social
Studies
We’ll review the structure of the federal government looking at the three branches of government and the role of each branch.
Science
The kids will continue keeping track of the changes that the caterpillars are undergoing and we will continue to study the life cycle of butterflies.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- No School January 17th and 18th
- Global School Play Day (Play all day)- Wednesday February 2nd
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Running Club Registration
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
- Follow along with our Wordament!
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our character studies unit. The kids will start to grow ideas about characters and notice patterns with characters.
Writer’s
Workshop
We will continue our Baby Literary Essay Unit. The kids will write 2 more drafts about the book Each Kindness and we will try to study and add transitional phrases to help frame evidence.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will move on to our next unit: Division. We will study division as fair sharing/equal groups and we will go outside and practice division as jumps on a number line.
Social
Studies
We will look at the basic structure of the federal government.
Science
Our shipment is on hold so we will study the life cycle of plants. Later we will study the life cycle of animals and then compare their life cycles.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- GATE/APAAS Update
- No School January 17th and 18th
- Winterbowl Registration (Flag Football) - Represent Santiago Hills- Tournament is January 29th
- Global School Play Day (Play all day)- Wednesday February 2nd
- Open House Thursday, March 31st
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
Reader’s
Workshop
We will start our next Reading Unit: Character Studies. Over the coming weeks the kids will get to know the character like a friend, read in book clubs, follow the character’s journey, and compare and contrast characters across books. Next week we will start by noticing how a new character talks and acts and asking ourselves “What is my character like?”
Writer’s
Workshop
We will finish publishing our piece of creative writing and start our next unit: Baby Literary Essay. The Literary Essay is something that will be revisited later in elementary school, middle school, and you might remember it from high school. This is an introductory version of that where students will grow ideas about characters and use evidence from the book to defend their position. We will start next week by coming up with some ideas about characters (and possibly lesson or themes).
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue our study of Area and Perimeter by spending time inside and outside our classroom measuring quadrilaterals and finding the area and perimeter of them. We may wrap up this unit with a quiz.
Social
Studies
The kids will start our next unit learning about government. We will start by discussing what jobs exist in local government and next week get into the basic structure of the federal government.
Science
This is yet to be determined depending on a shipment. We will soon be studying some creatures up close and personal!
Happy New Year!
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- GATE/APAAS Update
- No School January 17th and 18th
- Winterbowl Registration (Flag Football) - Represent Santiago Hills- Tournament is January 29th
- Global School Play Day (Play all day)- Wednesday February 2nd
- Open House (Minimum Day)- February 17th 6-7pm
- No School February 18th and 21st (Teacher Work Day and President’s Day)
- Read Across America Day (Read all day)- Wednesday March 2nd
- Running Club Registration
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- Spelling Words - The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
Reader’s
Workshop
We are getting back into routines for Reader’s Workshop. The kids will be reading fiction books of their choosing. We will review and practice: choosing “just right” books (and lifting the level of the books we read), improving reading stamina, best practices of individual conferences, and group work time.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will take time to organize and write about their experiences over the break. We will spend the next week on a creative writing mini-unit learning about the elements of stories (characters, setting, problem, and solution).
We will also do our first spelling unit (link to spelling words for practice). The kids will receive the words Tuesday, practice during the week, and take the quiz on Friday.
We will also start cursive. The kids will work in a practice book at school once a week.
Math
We will review multiplication and spend the next two weeks learning about area and perimeter as well as the similarities and differences between them.
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- GATE/APAAS Update
- Friday READ All Day
- Back at School January 3rd, 2022
- No School January 17th and 18th, 2022
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
Reader’s
Workshop
We will work on some reading strategies for fiction books. We will discuss growing ideas about characters and books and backing those ideas up with evidence as well as understanding characters by putting ourselves in their shoes.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will publish their 3rd information book.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will review some of the multiplication work we have done over the last several weeks.
Social
Studies
No Social Studies this week.
Science
No Science this week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- Don’t forget to sign up for PTA!
Reader’s
Workshop
We will work on some reading strategies for fiction books. We will discuss Character’s feelings and how those feelings change, back up ideas about characters with evidence and empathize to understand characters (putting myself in the character’s shoes). Students will keep post-its of their thinking in their Reader’s Notebook that include evidence from the text.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will continue work on their 3rd information book. Not only will students type the book on a google doc but we will work on ways to add text features to make their books more exciting.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will take a quiz on Wednesday about using multiplication in multiplication tables, finding the missing number, the distributive property, and multiplying single digit numbers by multiples of 10. We will review on Tuesday and kids can bring home their review to study.
Social
Studies
The students will continue studying the history of California looking at how California has changed over time and by studying the cultural history of California.
Science
No Science this week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Families of Room F1,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- Meet the Masters Artwork from Wednesday, November 10, 2021
- It is getting colder and the grass is very wet in the morning. We do PE monday morning. Please have kids wear shoes that can get wet on Monday.
- Nov 16- Our Book Fair Visit
- Nov 16- Chick-Fil-A Restaurant Night
- Nov 19- Report Cards Online after 2:00pm
- Nov 23- Minimum Day
- Nov 24-26 No School (Thanksgiving)
- Don’t forget to sign up for PTA!
Reader’s
Workshop
We will direct our attention for the week on narrative nonfiction and how it compares and contrasts with both nonfiction and fiction. We will visit the book fair on Tuesday!
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will publish their 2nd information book and we may get to host an information fair to celebrate our work!
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue studying multiplication facts and patterns. We have gotten through all the math facts 1-10 as far as instruction goes. Please keep practicing with the Multiplication and Division Facts Practice. We will begin to look at the connection between Multiplication and Division and start thinking about division as equal groups or equal sharing.
Social
Studies
The students will continue studying the history of early settlement in California and the southwest United States as well as the relationships both good and bad between early settlers and Native Americans.
Science
The kids will keep looking at forces. We will read about the forces involved in tug-of-war.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your student’s progress report)
- It is getting colder and the grass is very wet in the morning. We do PE monday morning. Please have kids wear shoes that can get wet on Monday.
- Nov 11- No School (Veteran’s Day)
- Nov 15-19 Book Fair
- Nov 16- Chick-Fil-A Restaurant Night
- Nov 19- Report Cards Online after 2:00pm
- Nov 23- Minimum Day
- Nov 24-26 No School (Thanksgiving)
- Don’t forget to sign up for PTA!
Reader’s
Workshop
The kids will work on pulling information out of nonfiction texts. They will jot post-its in their notebook as they read about fascinating facts, questions they have, growing ideas, and making connections. We will also try to lift the level of conversations about books. Finally, we will transition to narrative nonfiction books for the last couple weeks of our nonfiction unit.
Writer’s
Workshop
As we continue our information books the students will be drafting sections and revise by researching facts and ensuring text accuracy, creating introductions through research mentor authors, and putting themselves in the shoes of readers to clear up confusion.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue studying multiplication facts and patterns. Specifically we will look at 3s and 6s. Keep practicing math facts with your students. Ask them what patterns exist for each set of numbers. 5-10 minutes a day will really help!
Social
Studies
The students will continue studying the history of early California. We will study early settlers in California and the effect of those settlers on American Indians.
Science
The kids will keep looking at forces. We will read about the forces involved in soccer and tug-of-war.
Thank you,
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- The kids gave me some suggestions for my Halloween Costume this year. Check out their ideas here!
- Multiplication and Division Facts Practice (Check your email for your student’s progress report)
- Nov 11- No School (Veteran’s Day)
- Nov 19- Report Cards Online after 2:00pm
- Nov 23- Minimum Day
- Nov 24-26 No School (Thanksgiving)
- Don’t forget to sign up for PTA!
Reader’s
Workshop
This week students will work on a few elements of being a great nonfiction reader: getting better by setting clear goals with a learning progression, approaching nonfiction as a learner, and distinguishing the reader’s opinion from the author. There will also be a short quiz to help me pinpoint areas of need.
Writer’s
Workshop
This week students will use a checklist to assess their own writing in their first attempt at information writing this year. As the kids write their next information book, they will try to make connections across chapters and create introductions. We will continue to use mentor texts (nonfiction chapter books) as examples for great pieces of writing.
Math
What happened to math class?
Students will continue to practice their multiplication facts. At this point, students should be spending a few minutes at home each day working with you practicing math facts. They can bring home their blue notebooks which not only have the math facts to practice but also examples of patterns and strategies students can use to practice.
Social
Studies
The kids will wrap up our current chapter: American Indians of California and move on to our next chapter: Changes in California over time. We will look at early exploration and early settlement of California and study some map skills looking at timelines.
Science
The students will continue studying the forces of pushing and pulling as well as designing a rollercoaster that uses gravity.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
October 25-29th is Red Ribbon Week!
- Don’t forget to sign up for PTA!
Reader’s
Workshop
Starting Tuesday, the kids will go to the library to check out Nonfiction books, and then we will start a new unit on Nonfiction called “Reading to Learn”. Next week we will discuss prepping our mind for learning something when reading. The kids will learn to ask questions like “What will this mostly be about?” and “What sort of text is this?”. We will also discuss recalling prior knowledge before reading.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will continue our writing unit “The Art of Information Writing”. We will start off learning and writing different text structures: boxes and bullets, causes and effects, problems and solutions, pros and cons, and compare and contrast.
Math
What happened to math class?
We review strategies for learning and understanding math facts. We will start with Goal 1: 10s and 5s. Next week I’ll send out information on how we will manage keeping track of how students are meeting math fact goals and how parents can help at home.
Social
Studies
We will continue our next chapter in social studies: American Indians in California.
Science
The kids will continue studying forces, motion, gravity, friction, push, pull, and more.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- No School Monday October 11th!
- Friday October 15th is stuffed animal and movie day. We will watch a movie at the end of the day to celebrate all the hard work we’ve completed so far this year. Yes, students can bring a stuffed animal to sit with during the movie!
- October 25-29th is Red Ribbon Week!
Reader’s
Workshop
The kids will go to the library on Tuesday and then work on a book report for the rest of the week. The instructions will come home on Tuesday. They should be able to finish using class time. The book report will be due on Monday, October 18th.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will work on their 3rd and final (for now) published narrative. This week we were trying to revise leads, dialogue, small details, and ending so I will look for those things in their final published piece. On Friday we will celebrate their writing.
Math
What happened to math class?
We review the foundations of multiplication we have looked at so far (repeated addition, skip counting on number lines, equal groups, and arrays) and introduce factor trees. The students will have a quiz on these on Thursday.
Social
Studies
We will start our next chapter in social studies: American Indians in California.
Science
The kids will begin our next unit in science. This unit is all about studying forces. We will start by observing the forces at work on the playground.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- I look forward to chatting with you on Zoom for our fall conference. If you have something specific you’d like to talk about that you didn’t write on your original sign-up please email me ahead of time. I hope to see parents and students on the zoom call.
- Zoom link for conferences: tinyurl.com/grayzoom6
- Passcode: gray
- Zoom link for conferences: tinyurl.com/grayzoom6
- October 4th-8th all minimum days except Tuesday where there is no school.
- October 6th is picture day!
- Friday October 15th is stuffed animal and movie day. We will watch a movie at the end of the day to celebrate all the hard work we’ve completed so far this year. Yes, students can bring a stuffed animal to sit with during the movie!
Reader’s
Workshop
We are almost finished with our first fiction reading unit. We will wrap up looking at strategies for tackling hard words and then start a Book Report!
Writer’s
Workshop
The students will celebrate their 2 published works and then we will move on to the last part of our first writing unit. The challenge as they write their last few drafts and last published piece of this unit will be to try to focus in on a moment that was a real problem and show how the problem was overcome. We will also work on punctuating dialogue, revising, and revising endings by learning from published writing. The kids will publish their 3rd narrative and over the next couple of weeks we will transition to narrative writing.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue our introduction to multiplication. We will study how groups of items can be shown as arrays and factor trees. This will lead us into multiplication facts and area of rectangles over the next few weeks.
Social
Studies
TBD (because it’s such a short week).
Science
The kids will finish presenting their pet umbrellas and we may get to moving onto studying forces.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- I look forward to chatting with you on Zoom for our fall conference. If you have something specific you’d like to talk about that you didn’t write on your original sign-up please email me ahead of time. I hope to see parents and students on the zoom call.
- Zoom link for conferences: tinyurl.com/grayzoom6
- Passcode: gray
- Zoom link for conferences: tinyurl.com/grayzoom6
- IPD Safety Video (We watched this in class on Friday, September 24)
- October 4th-8th all minimum days except Tuesday where there is no school. October 6th is picture day!
- Chipotle Fundraiser September 28 4-8pm
- A note from our PTA president about the Book Vending Machine (the kids are ecstatic about this!)
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our first reading unit. We are almost finished with our first fiction reading unit. First the kids will take a reading assessment on Monday using a short story to check their progress. Then, as we continue through the week, the kids will climb the hurdle of hard words by learning some strategies for figuring out their meaning: chunking the words, using context clues, and going over some figurative language phrases. They will continue the things we have been working on including making mental movies, predicting, and retelling.
Writer’s
Workshop
The students will celebrate their 2 published works and then we will move on to the last part of our first writing unit. The challenge as they write their last few drafts and last published piece of this unit will be to try to focus in on a moment that was a real problem and show how the problem was overcome. Also, the kids are going to be more in charge of their writing. They will have to figure out what they need to do to improve and actually do it.
Math
What happened to math class?
The kids will start a unit on multiplication. We will start by thinking about groups of things. We will count by 10s and 5s and discuss subitizing.
Social
Studies
The kids will go over our last lesson of Chapter 1 which is about ecosystems and the resources California uses. After that we will review what we’ve learned and make something that represents the geographical features, regions and ecosystems of California.
Science
The kids will continue working on their pet umbrella with their group. They might present their project if we have time.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Support our classroom and school by joining PTA!
- PTA Pledge Drive
- Purchase a Yearbook
- Outdoor Movie Night September 10 7pm
- Chipotle Fundraiser September 28 4-8pm
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our first reading unit. Next week we will continue practicing predictions and discuss making higher-level predictions. The kids will practice retelling stories by focusing on the BIG parts and even including their own thinking. They will also use their partners to support lifting the level of their reading.
Writer’s
Workshop
Through Writer’s Workshop the students will craft true stories that center around a problem they have faced in their lives. Next week the kids will choose one of their stories to edit and publish. We will then use their ideas from before to try to choose a story with a problem and focus on writing techniques to become storytellers.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue to study subtraction strategies next week up to 1000 and have a subtraction quiz. We will use the number line strategy, the counting up strategy, the place value strategy, and the standard algorithm. On Tuesday, the students will bring home their addition strategies quiz. On the quiz will be a link and a QR code. Use either one to watch a video explaining the quiz.
Social
Studies
We will continue our social studies curriculum by reading and studying California and its geography.
Science
The kids will continue working on their pet umbrella.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
No School Monday September 6th (Labor Day)
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Support our classroom and school by joining PTA!
- PTA Pledge Drive
- Purchase a Yearbook
- September 6- No School (Labor Day)
- September 10- Outdoor Movie Night
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our first reading unit. Next week we will study reading in the company of others and practice discussing books, practice how the kids can check themselves for understanding and comprehension, and predicting.
Writer’s
Workshop
Through Writer’s Workshop the students will craft true stories that center around a problem they have faced in their lives. Next week we continue to come up with ideas by thinking about places that matter and the kids will actually start writing their problem stories.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will continue studying addition strategies and take a quiz on Friday. We will be looking at the decomposing (break apart or expanded form), number line, place value regrouping, and standard algorithm strategies. We want students to be flexible in their thinking and able to see problems in more than one way and be able to choose which strategy works best for the situation.
Social
Studies
We will begin our social studies curriculum by studying ways to read nonfiction text before reading and studying California and its geography.
Science
We will begin our science with students studying different materials and coming up with their own way to make a pet umbrella.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Support our classroom and school by joining PTA!
- PTA Pledge Drive
- Purchase a Yearbook
- I will occasionally post to a class instagram account. You can find me @mrgray_iusd and I will accept your follow request.
- Back to school night will be Thursday, September 2 and will be held virtually from 6:45-7:20 pm.
- September 6- No School (Labor Day)
- September 10- Outdoor Movie Night
Reader’s
Workshop
We will continue our first reading unit. The kids are choosing fiction books and their at home reading should also focus on fiction books. Next week we are learning how to build a reading life. We’ll discuss talking about books, choosing books that are the right fit, studying reading patterns and setting up systems for finding and sharing books.
Writer’s
Workshop
We will begin our writing curriculum next week. Through Writer’s Workshop the students will craft true stories that center around a problem they have faced in their lives. Next week we will begin by thinking of people and places that matter to us to brainstorm ideas for our stories.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will begin our math curriculum reviewing addition and subtraction. We will round numbers, practice estimating, and review addition strategies.
Social
Studies
Science
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch These Announcements on Video Here
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Class Website
- Please fill out this getting to know you form!
- Thursday Aug 19th and Friday Aug 20th are minimum days: 8:10 am -1:40 pm. The Bell Schedule is here.
- As we return to school the district is continually monitoring the guidelines outlined by the state. We will start the year as follows: students are expected to wear masks at all times indoors. Outside, students can take their masks off (if they want to keep them on, that’s fine too). We will provide opportunities for hand washing/sanitizing as well.
- I will occasionally post to a class instagram account. You can find me @mrgray_iusd and I will accept your follow request.
- As always, I am available to answer any questions you may have throughout the year. Feel free to say hello and stop by the classroom after school, send me an email, or schedule a zoom call. I will talk more about classroom communication on back to school night which will be Thursday, September 2nd and will be held virtually at TBD o’ clock.
Reader’s
Workshop
This week, the kids will listen to me reading some short books out loud. We will also spend time getting to know the classroom library.
Writer’s
Workshop
The kids will write a letter of introduction and work on some projects to share more about themselves.
Math
What happened to math class?
We will explore and share the numbers that make up our lives as we play a “Figure Me Out!” game.
Social
Studies
Science
We’ll play a game with cups and gummy worms to try to Save Fred!
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Walk to the Jeffrey Trail Picnic Tuesday, June 1
- Promotion = Wednesday, June 2 at 9:15am (bring your own blankets for the soccer field)
- End of Year Information
- Extra Minimum Days: Thu Jun 3, Fri Jun 4
- The Stock Market Game
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Walk Through the Ancient World Monday, May 24
- Virtual Open House = Thursday, May 27
- Extra Minimum Days: Thu, May 27, Fri May 28, Thu Jun 3, Fri Jun 4
- Pizza and Movie Lunch Friday, May 28- Please let me know if you would like an alternative to pizza due to food allergies
- End of Year Information
- Promotion = Wednesday, June 2 at 9:15am (bring your own blankets for the soccer field)
- Movie Permission Slip
- Walk to the Jeffrey Trail Picnic Tuesday, June 1 Permission Slip
Reader’s Workshop
This week the kids will have a chance to do open reading. They may bring books from home or choose books from my classroom. Please have students start bringing back books from home that are either from our school library or from my classroom library.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids are working on some end of year projects.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will begin working on the stock market game. They will be choosing companies and watching live to see if their money grows (or shrinks☹️).
History
On Monday May 24th, we have a virtual assembly called Walk Through the Ancient World. Students will be given a character or characters and do a very small performance. Students are also encouraged to dress up. Please have students dressed for the performance first thing Monday morning. They can bring a change of clothes for recess/lunch after. Please have students bring headphones if they have them.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful Moms of Room 36!
- Walk Through the Ancient World Monday, May 24th
Reader’s Workshop
This week the kids will have a chance to do open reading. They may bring books from home or choose books from my classroom. Please have students start bringing back books from home that are either from our school library or from my classroom library.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish working on their research-based information essay about teen activism. Then, they will choose a new topic to focus on in writing.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue working on the end of our final unit: Area and Surface Area. Next week, we will begin studying surface area.
History
We will study Ancient Rome. On Monday May 24th, we have a virtual assembly called Walk Through the Ancient World. Students will be given a character or characters and do a very small performance. Students are also encouraged to dress up. More information will be sent out at the end of next week and students will find out their character on Monday, May 17th.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Reader’s Workshop
This week we will start a unit on Dystopian Books. This week kids will be reading their own Dystopian books and finishing a Dystopian project. I have some Dystopian Books in my classroom. Our library Mrs. Rusmisel is trying to curate Dystopian Books for our school library. Here is a list of books that would be great to read during our Dystopian Unit for the next few weeks. The students tend to really enjoy this genre.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish working on their research-based information essay about teen activism. Then, they will choose a new topic to focus on in writing.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We have completed all our end of year testing for 6th grade. The kids will have an opportunity to earn some extra points with an optional statistics review test. Then, we will finish the second half of our Area and Surface Area unit which we never finished earlier this year.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Greece. Students will continue a study of Greek Gods and Mythology. The kids will make their own Greek God and write an origin story for that God. We may also start studying Ancient Rome.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Yearbooks Order Here
- Student Newspapers
Reader’s Workshop
This week we will start a unit on Dystopian Books. This week kids will be reading their own Dystopian books and have an opportunity to read in book clubs. I have some Dystopian Books in my classroom. Our library Mrs. Rusmisel is trying to curate Dystopian Books for our school library. Here is a list of books that would be great to read during our Dystopian Unit for the next few weeks. The students tend to really enjoy this genre.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue working on a research-based information essay about teen activism. The kids will turn their original research into a multi-faceted information book focusing on a teen activist, their cause and more research into a topic.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
This is a big week for math. Monday will be our End of Unit Assessment on Data Sets and Distributions (Statistics).Students can use one page of notes on the test. On Wednesday and Thursday we will take tests given out by the district. Wednesday will be the basic skills test and Thursday will be the End of Course Assessment.
Here is a schedule of April Math Tests.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Greece. Students will continue a study of Greek Gods and Mythology. The kids will make their own Greek God and write an origin story for that God.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Yearbooks Order Here
- Student Newspapers
- 6th Grade Behavioral Guidelines
Reader’s Workshop
This week we will start a unit on Dystopian Books. The kids will takes quiz on Among the Hidden on Monday. They can use their notes and work from last week. This week kids will be reading their own Dystopian books and have an opportunity to read in book clubs. I have some Dystopian Books in my classroom. Our library Mrs. Rusmisel is trying to curate Dystopian Books for our school library. Here is a list of books that would be great to read during our Dystopian Unit for the next few weeks. The students tend to really enjoy this genre.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue working on a research-based information essay about teen activism. Students will prepare and write their essays.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our Data Sets and Distributions Unit. This week we will focus on calculating measures of spread using a 5-number summary and making box and whisker plots. Tuesday will be a mid-unit assessment covering lessons 1-14.
Here is a schedule of April Math Tests.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Greece. The kids will debate the question: Was Alexander the Great really “great”? Students will also begin a study of Greek Gods and Mythology.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Monday April 12th is a Minimum Day
Reader’s Workshop
This week we will start a unit on Dystopian Books. We will read Among the Hidden all together this week. Next week after kids will be reading their own Dystopian books and have an opportunity to read in book clubs. I have some Dystopian Books in my classroom. Our library Mrs. Rusmisel is trying to curate Dystopian Books for our school library. Here is a list of books that would be great to read during our Dystopian Unit for the next few weeks. The students tend to really enjoy this genre.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will start a new unit on writing research-based information writing.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our Data Sets and Distributions Unit. This week we will focus on calculation measures of center like mean and median. We will also calculate the M.A.D. (Mean Absolute Deviation).
Here is a schedule of April Math Tests.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Greece. The kids will research, answer, and debate the question: Was Alexander the Great really “great”?
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Friday, March 26 is a minimum day.
- Virtual Book Fair March 15-28
- Read-a-Thon is March 22-29- Register Here!
- Spring Break is March 29- April 2
- Make Up Picture Day is April 7
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will review motifs, themes, and symbolism and we will have a quiz. They will also make a one-pager about motifs, themes, or symbolism in the books they are reading.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish our journalism unit by making their own, personal digital newspaper. The kids will work with drawings, documents, and a website to put all their articles together. Their newspaper and articles will be published and available for you to see!
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will work on the first half of our Area and Surface Area (Geometry Unit). We will work on finding the area of parallelograms and triangles and take a homework quiz on Thursday.
History
We will start studying our next Ancient Civilization: Greece.The kids will have a check of their work on Monday and then read articles about Ancient Greece.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Virtual Guys Night Friday March 19 7:00-8:15pm RSVP Here
- Virtual Book Fair March 15-28
- Read-a-Thon is March 22-29- Register Here!
- Spring Break is March 29- April 2
- Make Up Picture Day is April 7
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue our unit on Deep Study of Character. Next week we will look at how troubles in stories turn into motifs, which turn into themes. We may also start looking for symbolism in our books.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue in our new journalism unit.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will work on the first half of our Area and Surface Area (Geometry Unit). We will work on Area and Surface Area up until spring break, then after spring break we will switch to statistics.
History
We will start studying our next Ancient Civilization: Greece.The kids will compare and contrast Athens and Sparta and study the wars between Greece and Persia.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Report Cards Live on Aeries Friday, March 5th
- Spring Conferences (by request only)
- As I say in the video, spring conference week is next week. Spring Conferences are by parent request only. If you would like to have a conference simply send me an email telling me what you’d like to meet about (goals, 7th grade, grades, etc.). At that time I will schedule a conference with you.
- Minimum days Tuesday-Friday next week.
- Virtual Guys Night Friday March 19th 7:00-8:15pm RSVP Here
- Make Up Picture Day is April 7th
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue our unit on Deep Study of Character. Next week we will look at how troubles in stories turn into motifs, which turn into themes. We may also start looking for symbolism in our books.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue in our new journalism unit.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our unit on Rational Numbers. We will study common factors and common multiples. We will have a review day and an end of unit test on Friday.
History
We will start studying our next Ancient Civilization: Greece.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Report Cards Live on Aeries Friday, March 5th
- Spring Conferences (by request only)
- As I say in the video, spring conference week is coming up in a few weeks. Spring Conferences are by parent request only. If you would like to have a conference simply send me an email telling me what you’d like to meet about (goals, 7th grade, grades, etc.). At that time I will schedule a conference with you. You may want to wait until grades are finalized around March 1st (or after report cards are available March 5th). As soon as you are ready we can schedule a conference, we don’t have to wait until the official conference week.
- Read Across America Day March 2nd
- Picture Day Thursday March 4th
- Virtual Guys Night Friday March 19th 7:00-8:15pm
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue our unit on Deep Study of Character. Next week we will look at how troubles in stories turn into motifs, which turn into themes. We may also start looking for symbolism in our books.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will spend the week rehearsing and recording their podcasts. We may also start our next unit, journalism.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our unit on Rational Numbers. We will study the coordinate plane the whole week and the kids will have their first homework quiz of this unit on Wednesday. The homework quiz takes questions directly from their homework. This quiz will go on trimester 3 grades.
History
The kids will finish studying Ancient China! We will study the ancient silk road, the Great Wall, and Terra Cotta Warriors.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab and research endangered species in our class.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Trimester Ends February 26th, Grades on Aeries Friday, March 5th
- Read Across America Day March 2nd
- Picture Day Thursday March 4th
- Spring Conferences (by request only)
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue our unit on Deep Study of Character. Next week we will look at how the setting affects characters and vice versa.We will have a quiz on Thursday which will be the last grade of trimester 2.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will spend the week preparing for and eventually recording a podcast based on their literary essays and studies of character.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our unit on Rational Numbers. We will work on graphing, writing, and solving inequalities and the kids will have their first homework quiz of this unit on Tuesday. The homework quiz takes questions directly from their homework. This quiz will go on trimester 3 grades.
History
The kids will continue studying Ancient China! We will study the ancient silk road, the Great Wall, and Terra Cotta Warriors.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- No School Monday, February 15th
- Read Across America Day March 2nd
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue our unit on Deep Study of Character. Next week we will look at how the setting affects characters and vice versa.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will work on and publish their third of 3 literary essays. If you haven’t yet discussed their literary essays with them, please do. There is some great analysis happening in our class.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will begin our next unit on Rational Numbers. We will start next week by looking at both positive and negative numbers on a number line. We will also study the absolute value of numbers.
History
The kids will continue studying Ancient China!
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Read Across America Day March 2nd
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue deeply studying a character of they chose last week. We will work on a project all week where the kids will make resources for studying their character including a website dedicated to the character. They will turn in their project on Thursday.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will work on and publish their second of 3 literary essays. If you haven’t yet discussed their literary essays with them, please do. There is some great analysis happening in our class.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our expressions and equations unit. We will study the exponents using algebraic expressions and exponents. We will have an End of Unit Test on Friday. It will cover everything from this unit. We will have a dedicated review day on Thursday.
History
The kids will continue studying Ancient China!
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Valentine’s Day → no food even individually wrapped food
- Bring gifts on Thursday February 4th
- If you bring gifts/cards/trinkets you must bring something for every student in our class
- I can give out the class list for purpose. Simply have your child come ask me for one.
- Gifts will sit in class until Friday, February 12th and then kids will take them home.
- Global School Play Day Wednesday, February 3rd
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue deeply studying a character of their choosing this week. We will work on a project all week where the kids will make resources for studying their character including a website dedicated to the character.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish and publish their first of 3 literary essays. Then they will start thinking about and crafting their second literary essay. If you haven’t yet discussed their literary essay with them, please do. There is some great analysis happening in our class.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our expressions and equations unit. We will study the distributive property using algebraic expressions and exponents. We will have a Mid-Unit Test on Wednesday. It will cover everything we’ve done in this unit so far: solving equations, evaluating expressions, writing expressions using percentages, and the distributive property.
History
The kids will begin a study of Ancient China!
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Picture Day Moved to the first week of March
Reader’s Workshop
We continue our deep study of character unit. We will consider the pressures exerted on characters and take a quiz on what we’ve studied so far on Thursday.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will begin our 6th grade writing unit: The Literary Essay. The kids will use the planning documents from last week to begin to write an essay related to the texts they are reading.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our expressions and equations unit. We study algebraic expressions and how to interpret them.
Also, the kids will take a test that all 6th graders in the district take on Wednesday. This will be a review of many of the concepts we have studied so far this year. The results will not be a part of our gradebook.
History
The kids will continue the study of Ancient India, specifically, society and the caste system in Ancient India.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- No School on Monday, January 18th and no school on Tuesday, January 19th.
- Picture Day is January 27th
Reader’s Workshop
We continue our deep study of character unit. We will look at out how some traits matter more than others and consider the pressures exerted on characters and ourselves.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue to prepare boxes and bullets outlines in anticipation of our next writing unit: The Literary Essay. Next week we will make outlines comparing characters from different stories or comparing themes or ideas from different stories or series.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
We will continue our expressions and equations unit. We will continue studying solving one-step equations algebraically and take a homework quiz on Friday.
History
The kids will continue the study of Ancient India, specifically, society and the caste system in Ancient India.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
ear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Irvine Parent Education Program Presents: Cyberbullying and Digital Drama January 12th at 5:30pm on Zoom
- Mustang Milers Registration (Registration closes January 8th)
- Picture Day is January 27th
Reader’s Workshop
We start a new unit on a Deep Study of Character. The kids can continue reading fantasy books or can choose fiction books to do the work for this unit.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will review each type of writing we have gone over so far this year: narrative, opinion, and information. The kids will choose one piece from last week to develop more thoroughly.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
This week we will be starting a new unit: Expressions and Equations. We will start off by using our knowledge of tape diagrams to think about how equations stay in balance. On Friday, the kids will be joining all other 6th graders in Irvine who are taking a mid-year basic skills test. The test is for district information and will not go in the gradebook.
History
The kids will continue the study of Ancient India, specifically, the development of Hinduism and Buddhism in Ancient India.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- What Happened to Math Class? Understanding Why Math Looks Different and How to Help Your Child?
- Checking Grades
- PTA Event Cancelled
- Mustang Milers Registration (Registration Open Now and closes January 8th)
- Fantasy Reading Unit Information
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Do you shop at Amazon, Ralphs, and Irvine Marketplace? Fundraise for our school at no extra cost to you.
- https://www.woodburypta.org/fundraising
Reader’s Workshop
Information on Fantasy unit here.
We will continue our Unit on Fantasy books that will take us through January. Next week, the kids will grow and become more sophisticated readers of fantasy by using elements from the real world to understand the fantasy genre.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue our unit on Narrative Craft. The kids will be looking at narrative writing in a whole new way.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
What happened to math class?
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Unit rates and Percentages. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will be finishing our study of percentages. On Wednesday, we will have a big review day in anticipation of the end of unit test on Thursday.
History
We will continue studying the civilization of the Ancient Israelites.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- What Happened to Math Class? Understanding Why Math Looks Different and How to Help Your Child?
- Mustang Milers Registration (Registration Opens December 7th and closes January 8th)
- Families Forward Teen Holiday Gift Drive
- Fantasy Reading Unit Information
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Do you shop at Amazon, Ralphs, and Irvine Marketplace? Fundraise for our school at no extra cost to you.
- https://www.woodburypta.org/fundraising
Reader’s Workshop
Information on Fantasy unit here.
We will begin our Unit on Fantasy books that will take us through January. Next week, the kids will grow and become more sophisticated readers of fantasy by thinking about how the quest of characters can be both internal as well as external. Also, we will compare themes in fantasy and history. Finally, students will self-assess using reading progressions.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue our unit on Narrative Craft. The kids will be revising endings to their small moment stories and publishing a small moment story at the end of the week.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Unit rates and Percentages. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will be beginning our study of percentages. We will discuss what percentages are and how to display them on double number lines and tape diagrams.
History
We will continue studying the civilization of the Ancient Israelites.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Thanksgiving Break Message from Mr. Battenfield
Mustang Milers Registration (Registration Opens December 7th and closes January 8th)
Families Forward Teen Holiday Gift Drive
Fantasy Reading Unit Information
IUSD Face Coverings Guide
Do you shop at Amazon, Ralphs, and Irvine Marketplace? Fundraise for our school at no extra cost to you.
https://www.woodburypta.org/fundraising
The 6th Grade Hoodie Shop is now open!
https://woodbury6thgrade.itemorder.com/sale
Every year, a custom sweatshirt is made for the 6th Grade Class and students look forward to this beloved Woodbury tradition. Congratulations to this year's contest winner, Liv Kong, whose artwork is featured on the front!
Hoodie prices range from $32-$34 each and come with custom embroidery on the side of the hood.
The last day to order is Wednesday, November 25th. Once the Shop closes, we will not be accepting any more orders.
All funds raised from this sale will benefit our 6th Grade Fundraising efforts.
Thank you for your support!
Reader’s Workshop
Information on Fantasy unit here.
We will begin our Unit on Fantasy books that will take us through January. Next week, the kids will suspend judgements about characters because they are not always what they seem, think metaphorically in their books and learn real-life lessons from their stories.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue our unit on Narrative Craft and make strides to improve our writing process. We will take stock of our work and make goals on how to improve, redraft to bring out the true meaning of a story, put forth the story arc, and elaborate on important parts.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Unit rates and Percentages. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will be looking at how equivalent ratios have the same unit rate, looking at constant speed, reviewing for a quiz and taking it on Friday.
History
We will begin studying the civilization of the Ancient Israelites.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Thanksgiving Week: Minimum Day Tuesday, No School Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
Thanksgiving Break Message from Mr. Battenfield
Mustang Milers Registration (Registration Opens December 7th and closes January 8th)
Families Forward Teen Holiday Gift Drive
Fantasy Reading Unit Information
IUSD Face Coverings Guide
The 6th Grade Hoodie Shop is now open!
https://woodbury6thgrade.itemorder.com/sale
Every year, a custom sweatshirt is made for the 6th Grade Class and students look forward to this beloved Woodbury tradition. Congratulations to this year's contest winner, Liv Kong, whose artwork is featured on the front!
Hoodie prices range from $32-$34 each and come with custom embroidery on the side of the hood.
The last day to order is Wednesday, November 25th. Once the Shop closes, we will not be accepting any more orders.
All funds raised from this sale will benefit our 6th Grade Fundraising efforts.
Thank you for your support!
Reader’s Workshop
We will begin our Unit on Fantasy books that will take us through January. I have written down several thoughts about this unit that I hope you can check in with your kids about the magical journeys and far flung adventure they are experiencing in their books. More information about Fantasy books here.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will start a new unit: Narrative Craft. We will start off next week planning out ideas for personal narrative stories and then learning strategies to write better stories.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Unit rates and Percentages. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will be interpreting rates.
History
The kids will continue our study of Ancient Egypt.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- Grades available on Parent Portal Friday the 20th After School
- Fantasy Reading Unit Information
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
We will begin our Unit on Fantasy books that will take us through January. I have written down several thoughts about this unit that I hope you can ready through with your children here.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will start a new unit: Narrative Craft. We will start off next week planning out ideas for personal narrative stories and then learning strategies to write better stories.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Unit rates and Percentages. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will anchor our ideas about measurement and use our knowledge of solving ratio problems to convert measurements.
History
The kids will continue our study of Ancient Egypt. The kids will write opinion essays on who was the best pharoah.
Science
The kids will work with Miss Stevens in science lab. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- No School Wednesday November 11th (Veteran’s Day)
- The Trimester ends Friday, November 13th
- Join PTA by November 15th!
- Just for Fun: Forget Everything You Know About Your Dog Freakonomics Podcast
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
We will finish our nonfiction unit and get back into regular reading habits. The students will reflect on their good reading habits and where they can improve. Students will be reading fiction books, recording their reading in their reading log and showing their thinking in their reader’s notebooks.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue drafting, revising, and eventually publishing their nonfiction chapter book. We will share our work with partners and classmates and even publish a version that looks like a real book.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We finished our Introduction to Ratios Unit! The students will get their tests back on Monday. Look over the test with your children and discuss how much they learned! Next week, we will review basic skills and specifically study dividing fractions. The next week (the beginning of Trimester 2) we will begin our next Unit on Unit Rates and Percentages.
History
The kids will continue our study of Ancient Egypt. The kids will build background knowledge and study vocabulary. They will study how Ancient Egyptian society was organized and learn about influential pharaohs.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab. It is Mr. Nelson’s last week. He will be retiring on November 13th. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
They will continue to read nonfiction books and we will take the week to figure out main ideas. The kids will be getting nonfiction books from the library to support their reading for the week. At home, they will continue reading fiction books they choose appropriately. As a reminder, students will get a grade in reading for filling out their reading log regularly.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue a unit on writing information books. The kids will start on a new chapter book that teaches.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Introduction of Ratios. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will finish our unit, complete a review packet and take an end of unit test on Thursday.
History
The kids will continue our study of Ancient Egypt. The kids will build background knowledge and study vocabulary. They will study how Ancient Egyptian society was organized. They will grade themselves on how well they have completed their work so far.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab. We will use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- Friday is Fall Dress Up Day
- Mighty’s Haunt- Friday October 30th- 6pm
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will begin a unit on nonfiction reading. They will continue to read nonfiction books and we will take the week to figure out main ideas. The kids will be getting nonfiction books from the library to support their reading for the week. At home, they will continue reading fiction books they choose appropriately.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue a unit on writing information books. The kids will finish revising and editing one of their current information books they are writing and then start on a new chapter book that teaches.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Introduction of Ratios. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will take a quiz on Monday on comparing ratios and using ratio tables (Ratios Work #8-12). Then we will be studying part-whole ratio relationships.
History
The kids will continue our study of Ancient Egypt. The kids will build background knowledge and study vocabulary. They will make and study hieroglyphics and look at how Ancient Egyptian society was organized. They will grade themselves on how well they have completed their work so far.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab. We will use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems. Optional Science Fair Information.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- Order Woodbury Spirit Wear Here by October 19th
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will begin a unit on nonfiction reading. They will choose to be fascinated by their books, notice details and ask questions, and take action to clear up confusion. The kids will be getting nonfiction books from the library to support their reading for the week. At home, they will continue reading fiction books they choose appropriately.
Writer’s Workshop
We will start a new unit on writing information books. We will discuss the qualities that make for great information writing and the kids will write an information book on a topic of their choice.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Introduction of Ratios. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will focus on modeling with ratio tables as opposed to double number lines. We will also begin to compare ratios and discuss what it means to find a unit price.
History
The kids will begin our study of Ancient Egypt. The kids will build background knowledge and study vocabulary. They will study the geography of Ancient Egypt and the Nile River and look at hieroglyphics.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab. We will use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- Next week is Parent Conference Week. School ends at 1:17 each day next week, except Wednesday the 14th, where there is no school.
- Parent Conference Sign-Up
- Order Woodbury Spirit Wear Here by October 16th
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
Next week the kids will study their own reading habits as well as studying more details about characters and growing ideas about their books. They will make goals for how to be a better reader and learn to grow ideas about their characters.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish revising and publishing their persuasive speech. They will also present their speech in front of the class on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Introduction of Ratios. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying. Next week we will focus on modeling Ratios in double number lines. The kids will have a homework quiz on modeling double number lines on Thursday.
History
The kids will continue studying Ancient Mesopotamia and specifically focus patterns of how empires rise and fall as we look into the Ancient Assyrian and Chaledean Empires.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and learn about expectations for in-person science lab learning. We will use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems. We will look at the respiratory system.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- If you couldn’t come to Back-To-School-Night you can see the presentation here.
- Parent Conference Sign-Up
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
Reader’s Workshop
Next week the kids will study their own reading habits as well as studying more details about characters and growing ideas about their books.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will move on from their review and use everything they’ve learned to start to put together persuasive speeches.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will move on from basic skills to our first 6th grade unit. The next few weeks will be dedicated to in Introduction of Ratios. Here is a quick rundown of what we will be studying.
History
The kids will continue studying Ancient Mesopotamia and specifically focus on the rules societies enact starting with Hammurabi’s Code. We will also study patterns of how empires rise and fall as we look into the Ancient Assyrian and Chaledean Empires.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and learn about expectations for in-person science lab learning. We will use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- We have a normal week next week in terms of timing. We will be at school from 8:00-2:32 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday’s schedule is 8:00-1:17. Here is the most updated school calendar.
- Back To School Night (Virtual) Wednesday September 30th- More Information to Come
- IUSD Face Coverings Guide
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
- We will be starting the DARE program soon with Officer D’Alena. She needs you to approve your child’s participation in the DARE program. Click here to fill out the permission slip.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue our unit “Bring Characters and Stories to Life”. The kids will practice and learn to make higher-level predictions and pay attention to details that signal character change.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue to improve their opinion writing as we practice writing reviews. We will revise the writing by practice hooks, providing more convincing reasons, and add quotes.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will continue finish reviewing fractions operations.We will review our last decimal unit and take a basic skills test covering what we’ve done over the last month.
History
We will start studying our first civilization (Ancient Mesopotamia).
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and learn about expectations for in-person science lab learning. We may use our science workbook to start a unit on human body systems.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- Monday and Tuesday there will be no school for students. Wednesday will be online. Students will be coming to Woodbury in-person on Thursday and Friday.
- Updated Return to School Plan
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
- We will be starting the DARE program soon with Officer D’Alena. She needs you to approve your child’s participation in the DARE program. Click here to fill out the permission slip.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue our unit “Bring Characters and Stories to Life”. The kids will practice acting out scenes and bringing vivid mental movies to life.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will continue to improve their opinion writing as we practice writing reviews.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will continue reviewing fractions operations.
History
No History this week. Much of the extra time this week will be spent discussing expectations and practicing routines for in-person learning.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and learn about expectations for in-person science lab learning.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- Updated Return to School Plan
- Read These Books! (make a goodreads.com account with your child to help find books)
- We will be starting the DARE program soon with Officer D’Alena. She needs you to approve your child’s participation in the DARE program. Click here to fill out the permission slip.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue our unit called “Making Reading a 10 out of 10”. We are reviewing and establishing systems to support reading and learning some basic strategies for thinking while reading fiction books.
Writer’s Workshop
Be sure to check in with your child about their small moment story. For an extra challenge ask your child to open up the rubric and together you can check and see if the writing met all the requirements. We will move on from small moments to Opinion writing next week and start by giving awards to items in a collection.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will continue reviewing decimals, get feedback on their decimals quiz, and move on to studying fraction operations.
History
We will continue our study of early humans in particular, hunter gatherer societies and the students will work on their early human timelines. We will review for a short quiz on hunter gatherers on Friday. (We didn’t get to the quiz this week).
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and we may start our first unit from our science textbook.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast
Online Permission Slips
- No School on Monday (Labor Day Holiday). We will still be online next week. The new back to school in-person date will be not until at least September 22nd.
- We will be starting the DARE program soon with Officer D’Alena. She needs you to approve your child’s participation in the DARE program. Click here to fill out the permission slip.
- Back to School Night is officially pushed back to a day TBD however I’d like to hold a form on Back to School Night for just our class. I will send a video with lots of information about what I’d normally present at Back to School Night and then I will have an opportunity to join a video call for you to say hello and/or ask questions. Please follow this link between 4:30 and 5:30 on Wednesday September 9th to participate. The passcode is: gray
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will start their first full unit of reading fiction books. We’ll discuss choosing books, summarizing, and getting to know characters like a friend. Yesterday we finished A Long Walk to Water. It is a wonderful book with a great twist at the end. Be sure to ask your child about their thoughts on the book and the final small project they worked on for the book
Writer’s Workshop
This week the kids will be revising one of their stories by using a checklist, learning from the pros, and editing with some extra help on ways to use commas. We will have a small celebration of their writing on Thursday.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
This week students will finish up the first part of the unit we are working on. Currently we are studying the area and perimeter of rectangles while reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals. We will have some review on Wednesday this week before a quiz on Thursday.
History
We will continue our study of early humans in particular, hunter gatherer societies and the students will work on their early human flipbooks. We will review for a short quiz on hunter gatherers on Friday.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and we may start our first unit from our science textbook.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
- This week we will be reading the novel A Long Walk to Water. There will be an electronic copy available for students. However, it would be great to have the book on your own. The book is about $6 and should arrive before Monday if you order by Friday evening. Here is the link.
- PTA Event Camp Dukoe (6th grade there from 6:15-7:00)
- Online Permission Slips
Reader’s Workshop
We will be reading a novel all together: A Long Walk to Water. It is a wonderful book. I highly recommend it for students and parents. If you can read it alongside your it will be a fantastic experience.
Writer’s Workshop
This week the kids will be learning some new ways to revise their stories. We will use the moments they brainstormed over the last week to come up with story ideas. Today (August 28th) the kids will complete their first story. It is typed in google classroom.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
This week students will begin our first unit. We will use geometric principles of perimeter and area to review some skills from 5th grade like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers and fractions.
History
We will continue our study of early humans in particular, hunter gatherer societies and the students will work on their early human flipbooks.
Science
The kids will work with Mr. Nelson in science lab and we may start our first unit from our science textbook.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
August 24-28
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Watch these announcements on video here.
Mr. Gray’s Podcast
- Online Permission Slips
- 8/27- 3pm- Teachers College at Columbia Webinar for parents: How you can best support reading and writing at home
- How Can Parents Help with Distance Learning?
Reader’s Workshop
We will begin learning reader’s workshop systems and begin a unit on building and maintaining an independent reading life.
Writer’s Workshop
We will begin learning writer’s workshop systems and begin a unit on building and maintaining an independent writing life.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
This week students will continue with the week of inspirational math. They will be creating different art projects centered around mathematical thinking and completing a project using Four 4s.
History
We will begin our study of ancient humans by looking at hunter gatherer societies. What was their culture? What technology did they use? How did they survive?
Science
The kids will start working with Mr. Nelson in Science Lab and learn about Rube Goldberg machines.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Minimum Days Tuesday-Friday next week
- Panoramic Picture Day is Tuesday, March 17th.
- Jog-a-Thon Wednesday April 8th- Get those pledges in!
- Our class theme is blue/superman/supergirl. We’d like to all dress in blue that day!
- Tuesday April 7th the math department from IUSD is coming to Woodbury to discuss the transition to middle school and high school math classes. They will give information on accelerated math timelines as well as the placement process. If you’d like more information visit this website and/or come to the meeting.
Reader’s Workshop
We will be wrapping up our unit on the Deep Study of Character by studying motifs and themes and how those show up in stories and affect characters.
Writer’s Workshop
The writers will be finishing up their final literary essay. It will be due on Wednesday.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will finish our unit on rational numbers by studying shapes on the coordinate plane, common factors, and common multiples. We will have an end of unit test on Thursday.
History
We will finish our study of ancient India by studying for the assessment on Wednesday. The kids (if we have time) will make an Indian-inspired art piece.
Science
We will study for our weather assessment in class on Monday before the weather test on Tuesday.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Jog-a-Thon Wednesday March 11th- Get those pledges in!
- Our class theme is blue/superman/supergirl. We’d like to all dress in blue that day!
- Panoramic Picture Day is Tuesday, March 17th.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue studying how setting influences characters in our deep study of character unit. The kids will continue to read their own books each night and do work in their reader’s notebook. I will check their reader’s notebook on Thursday and there will be an assessment on what we have been studying on Friday.
Writer’s Workshop
The students will work on their second literary essay which will focus on writing a theme about a story. Each student will have one of two stories to pick out themes from. Their partner will have the other one and they will work together to pick out themes before they write.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will continue our unit on rational numbers. The kids will learn about writing, solving, and graphing inequalities, and will begin studying all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. There will be a homework quiz on Friday.
History
We will continue studying India and learn a little about Buddhism and a lot about some of the aesthetic and intellectual traditions that began in Ancient India. Later in the week the kids will make a study guide to prepare for next week’s assessment.
Science
We will study more on weather and complete our weather unit. The kids will make a study guide in preparation for next week’s assessment.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Jog-a-Thon Wednesday March 11th- Get those pledges in!
- Our class theme is blue/superman/supergirl. We’d like to all dress in blue that day!
- Panoramic Picture Day is Tuesday, March 17th.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue with our deep study of character unit. We will shift our focus toward how setting shapes characters. We will look at the precise language authors use to describe the setting, how characters are torn by the pressures of places, and how settings change both physically and psychologically over time. The kids will continue reading each night and working in their reader’s notebooks.
Writer’s Workshop
The students will finish their first full literary essay and turn it in on Wednesday. They will be using mentor texts and their argument writing checklist to revise. By the end of the week we will start on our next literary essay where we will try to lift the level of complexity in the writing.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will start a new unit on Monday (Rational Numbers- See Family Preview). This unit will focus on negative numbers, inequalities, absolute value, the coordinate plane, and common factors and multiples. We will also continue to review basic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division or whole numbers, fractions, and decimals and order of operations). In addition, I will be working on a new layout for the gradebook in math. I will out line this new system in a video I will send out as soon as possible so please look out for that.
History
We will start a new unit: Ancient India. In this unit, we will study the major beliefs and practices of Brahmanism (and how that evolved into early Hinduism) and the important aesthetic and intellectual traditions of Ancient India.
Science
We will continue looking at weather this week specifically the factors that influence weather and the characteristics of cold fronts and warm fronts.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Walk to Jeffrey Trail Permission Slip (April 6th)
- Spring Conference Week- Early Out (1:17p) on Tuesday-Friday
- Jog-a-Thon Wednesday March 11th- Get those pledges in!
- Panoramic Picture Day is Tuesday, March 17th.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue our deep study of character unit. The kids will be interpreting which character traits matter the most to our characters, trying to lift the level of the way we write about reading, and consider the myriad pressures that are affecting characters. I’ll check their notebooks at the end of next week to see what work they have done.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will use their claims from this week to draft and finish their first literary essay.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will wrap up our unit on expressions and equations by learning about exponents in expressions. We will review on Thursday before the end of unit assessment on Friday which will cover exponents, the distributive property, writing expressions, and writing and solving equations.
History
We have a light week for history and will do a tiny project regarding the gods of Greek mythology.
Science
We will start a new unit on weather.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- No School Monday!
- Spring Conference Week is February 24th-28th. I will send information home with your student if I’d like to schedule a conference. If you don’t get one and would like to schedule a conference please let me know.
Reader’s Workshop
We will begin our Deep Study of Character Unit. This is an in-depth 6th grade level unit on analyzing characters, setting, and theme. Students will be reading fiction books throughout the unit and should be working each day in their reader’s notebooks as well as logging their reading.
Writer’s Workshop
We will begin our Literary Essay Unit. This unit will tie in closely with the Deep Study of Character Unit as students will be growing ideas about characters and themes to write about. I am hoping to have a celebration for this unit just before spring break.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will continue our expressions and equations unit (algebra) with the study of the distributive property and have a mid-unit assessment on Thursday. We will also continue to review basic skills.
History
The kids will write their argument on whether or not Alexander the Great was really “great” and we will study Greek mythology.
Science
We will continue working on the water cycle unit. We will have our last lesson together this week on the water cycle. I will give out a study guide and probably take a quiz on the water cycle on Friday.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Pictures from Outdoor Ed
- Global School Play Day will be Wednesday, February 12th. It’s a full day of play with no screens and no structure. Kids can bring games, cards, blankets, and anything for making or playing fun games.
More information on GSPD.
- Wednesday is Disney School Spirit Day
- Father/Daughter Dance Friday February 21st
- Irvine Junior Games Registration Information
- Hoops Classic Registration Information
- Spring Conference Week is February 24th-28th. I will send information home with your student if I’d like to schedule a conference. If you don’t get one and would like to schedule a conference please let me know.
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will reflect on their identity (what makes them who they are) and think about the characteristics that make up their lives as a way to study how we can do that same kind of thinking for characters. This will lead up to our 6th Grade Deep Study of Character Unit which will take us to spring break. In this unit we will analyze characters in depth and how characters interact with setting and theme.
Writer’s Workshop
We will do some reflection on the identity of characters we will study in reader’s workshop and then we will begin our 6th grade unit on Literary Essay. Much of this work will hinge on the work being done each and every day in reader’s workshop. Students who are doing 6th grade level work in reading will benefit in writing.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will continue our expressions and equations (algebra) unit this week. We will begin to solve equations that contain a variable.
History
We will do a short unit (just this week) on Alexander the Great and ask the question, “Was Alexander the Great really great?”. We will look at documents and argue a side.
Science
We will continue working on the water cycle unit.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information
- Packing List: tinyurl.com/wopackoss
Tuesday Morning:
- Students should arrive at about 7:45 to drop off luggage in the luggage area (the 2nd parking lot near the field). NO luggage will come to the classroom except what your child is going to carry on the bus.
- Students will line up as usual.
- At 8:00 a.m., we will bring students inside for temperature checks, attendance, etc. You are welcome to wait by the buses to wave goodbye to students.
-
If your child is sick on Tuesday morning, please do not send them to Outdoor Science School. You may drive them up once they are feeling better, but we do not want to spread sickness as in years past.
- In the event that your child has a fever while at camp, we will call and ask you to come pick them up so that sickness does not spread.
- If your child takes prescription medication, it MUST be in its original container in a ziplock bag with the medical release form signed by the doctor. If this is not done, we cannot allow your child on the bus.
Other Important Information:
- Remember, students may not bring electronic devices of any kind, to Outdoor Science School
- We arrive back at Woodbury around 12:15 on Friday; students should be picked up and taken home. The school will send updates regarding our arrival time.
- Make sure to follow @wo_mrgray on Instagram if you haven’t already. If you don’t think I’ll recognize your name, please send me an email so that I accept your request to follow.
Your children LOVE receiving letters from you! The address to send them to is:
Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School
PO Box 3288
Crestline, CA 92325
c/of Woodbury and write your child’s name on the letter.
- If you haven’t already mailed letters, but would like to write one to be delivered to your child, please send it in a sealed envelope to me by this Friday, January 31st. Putting it in my box in the office is also fine. It needs to have your child’s name on the envelope.
If you have any other questions, please let me know as soon as possible. It’s going to be a great week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
NO SCHOOL MONDAY AND TUESDAY
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information (Balance due)
- Packing List: tinyurl.com/wopackoss
- Irvine Junior Games Registration Information
- Hoops Classic Registration Information
Reader’s Workshop
In reading, we will continue to practice strategies to grow ideas about characters. The kids will prepare for a discussion on wednesday and turn in their preparation notes. They will also have a quiz on growing ideas about characters at some point in the week (maybe Wednesday or Thursday).
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will review and celebrate the literary essays they wrote on Friday and then begin their next literary essay more independently which they will finish by Friday the 31st.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
The kids will make it through the gauntlet of winter testing with an end of unit assessment for our arithmetic in base ten unit on Tuesday. We will begin the next unit (expressions and equations) later in the week.
History
We will wrap up our initial study of Ancient Greece. On Thursday we will review important figures in the arts and sciences of Ancient Greece as well as a review of the entire unit. There will be an assessment on Friday.
Science
We will start working on the water cycle unit.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
NO SCHOOL MONDAY AND TUESDAY
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information (Balance due)
- Packing List: tinyurl.com/wopackoss
- Irvine Junior Games Registration Information
Reader’s Workshop
We will be continuing a unit in fiction books on getting to know and understand characters. This will lead us to a Deep Study of Character Unit which we will study in February and March.
Writer’s Workshop
We will be continuing a short unit tying in with our Reading Unit. This Unit will begin our study of literary essays where we will explore theme or characters.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will continue with division of decimals. Also, we will be taking 2 test for the district (all 6th graders take these). A mid-year basic skills test on Thursday and a mid-year standards test on Thursday.
History
We will continue learning about Ancient Greece. The kids will be contrasting the direct democracy found in Ancient Athens with a representative democracy more like that of the United States today. We also will start looking at significant figures in the arts and sciences of Ancient Greece.
Science
It’s a short week but we will try to start a unit on the Water Cycle which will continue into the last week of January.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information SIGN UP!
- Thousand Pines Registration Form Due Fri, Jan 17
- Balance (TBD) Due Fri, Jan 17
- Irvine Junior Games Registration Information
Reader’s Workshop
We will be starting a unit in fiction books on getting to know and understand characters. This will lead us to a Deep Study of Character Unit which we will study in February and March.
Writer’s Workshop
We will be doing a short unit tying in with our Reading Unit. This Unit will begin our study of literary essays where we will explore theme or characters.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will continue our unit on Arithmetic in Base 10. Our focus this week and next will be on multiplying and dividing decimals.
*Note- There are several tests coming up in math (some in our class and some for the district). More information on these tests is on the podcast. There should not be extra stress associated with these tests. There are just a lot because of the district’s timing with their
History
We will be starting a unit on Ancient Greece!
Science
No science this week.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information SIGN UP!
- Initial Donation of $100 due Thurs, Dec 12
- Thousand Pines Registration Form Due Fri, Jan 17
- Balance Due Fri, Jan 17
- Secret Pal Week
- Secret Pal Week is Dec 16-20 with special lunch on Fri, Dec 20
- Bring gifts each day starting Monday. Refer to the 2nd page of this document for ideas on what to bring each day. Each gift should be wrapped with a tag that says To: ____ From: Your secret pal.
Reader’s Workshop
We will finish up The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on Monday and have a narrative nonfiction assessment on Tuesday.
Writer’s Workshop
They will continue a new powerful personal narrative that will be due on Thurs, Dec 19.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will be just getting into a new unit on Arithmetic in Base Ten (aka Decimal operations)
History
We will continue the study of the ancient Israelites and we will work on our chicken mummies. We will have a test on the Israelites on Thurs, Dec 18.
Science
Information on new textbook
We will finish up our study of the different body systems in anticipation of a final assessment on Wed, Dec 17.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information SIGN UP!
- Woodbury Permission Slip Due Thurs, Dec 12
- Initial Donation of $100 due Thurs, Dec 12
- Thousand Pines Registration Form Due Fri, Jan 17
- Balance Due Fri, Jan 17
- Secret Pal Permission Slip (Sign by Wed, Dec 11)
- Secret Pal Week is Dec 16-20 with special lunch on Fri, Dec 20
- Science Textbook Phase 2 Parent Survey
Reader’s Workshop
We will shift our focus to narrative nonfiction (biographies) next week. We will visit the library again and study the ways nonfiction teaches us about characters.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish up the powerful personal narrative they have been working on turn it in. They will start a new powerful personal narrative that will be due on Thurs, Dec 19.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will be finishing up our unit on Dividing Fractions with fractions in geometric situations. We will review this unit on Thursday and have an end of unit test on Fri, Dec 13.
History
We will continue the study of the ancient Israelites that started yesterday and we will work on our chicken mummies. We will have a test on the Israelites on Thurs, Dec 18.
Science
Information on new textbook
We will finish up our study of the different body systems in anticipation of a final assessment on Wed, Dec 17.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
No School on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
- Thousand Pines Outdoor Science School Information
- Walk Through The Ancient World- December 2nd, 12:00-2:30 pm (Parents are invited)
- Try to send a lunch with your student on this day (and costume). We will eat lunch early.
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will learn about reading different for different purposes while reading nonfiction texts.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will be assessing their own powerful personal narratives and making goals on how to improve.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We will continue our study of dividing fractions using diagrams to help build our understanding of what division really is.
History
The kids will continue working on their pyramid project. They are building websites, making videos, and/or constructing social media campaigns. They can bring phones/tablets to school on Monday to work on their project.
Science
Information on new textbook
We will continue studying body systems in our next textbook, Twig.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
The kids gave amazing persuasive speeches to the class on Friday, November 14th!
Here are the recordings:
Connor 0:00
Caleb 2:03
Kyara 3:23
Duncan 5:00
Jeffrey 6:18
Wriley 9:02
Joden 11:12
Cate 12:50
Kaelani 17:00
Eliza 18:42
Jason 21:08
Majed 22:55
Olivia 24:02
Rykyn 25:56
Yuki 28:21
Tiago 30:45
Mazen 33:03
Blake 34:55
Julian 37:02
Ayla 39:44
Noemi 42:55
Chloe 44:05
Taylor 46:00
Aurad 48:15
Tessa 51:00
Tyler 53:10
Yashika 54:35
Holden 57:23
Braden 58:57
Sofia 59:19
Gracie 1:01:35
Preston 1:04:35
Emily 1:06:34
November 15th
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Popcornopolis Fundraising
- Each One, Teach One RSVP Here
- Walk Through The Ancient World- December 2nd, 12:00-2:30 pm (Parents are invited)
Reader’s Workshop
Our introduction to nonfiction continues where the kids will be studying text features, main ideas, responding to what you are learning, and writing about reading. There will be a short nonfiction quiz sometime next week. Also, this week or next there will be a grade added based on the work students are doing at home in their reader’s notebooks for their fiction reading.
Writer’s Workshop
We wrapped up our opinion unit and spend from now until Winter Break on our first 6th grade unit of the year: Powerful Personal Narrative. We will get started next week by writing furiously and thinking of moments that really matter.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
We wrapped up our unit on Unit Rates and Percentages (though they will still see problems like this throughout the year) and we will move on to a unit on the division of fractions. Students will be modeling the division of fractions. Expect to hear words like “tape diagram, dividend, divisor, and quotient” throughout the next few weeks.
History
The kids will continue working on their pyramid project. Next week students are writing a persuasive speech to convince me to build their pyramid and deciding how to present their idea (website, social media campaign, video).
Science
Information on new textbook
We will continue studying body systems in our next textbook, Twig.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
November 8th
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- No School Monday (Veteran’s Day)
- Popcornopolis Fundraising
- Each One, Teach One RSVP Here
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue our study of nonfiction books. This is a deep dive into how to read nonfiction books since they are different from fiction books mostly because they are trying to teach something, rather than entertain or affect you. The kids will make predictions, then confirm or revise their predictions, take action to clear up confusion, and set reading goals. The will continue reading their fiction books at home and I will check the work they’ve done of their fiction books in their reader’s notebooks.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will take up a cause of their own interest to give a speech. During the week they will craft their persuasive speech using all the tools we have learned during our opinion writing unit and finally give the speech on Friday.
Math
Math Answers and Help Here
Tuesday will be a review day before the end of Unit Assessment on Wednesday. The end of unit assessment will cover Unit Rates and Percentages. This will be all the work we’ve done since Fall Break. Be sure to go over the coursework quizzes to study. Have students meet with me on Tuesday if they have questions.
History
For week 4 of our pyramid projects the kids will set out the task of turning their drawings into small models. I will ask students to bring in some materials to build (cardboard from amazon boxes, paper, etc.).
Science
Information on new textbook
The students will begin learning science from our new science textbook, Twig. We will start by studying human body systems.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- November 7th- Great Shakeout
- Science Pilot Survey
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will move to a focus on nonfiction texts. We will be visiting the Woodbury library to get a handle on where to find nonfiction texts and then the week will be spent on learning about how to read nonfiction because it is different that reading fiction books. The kids will still be reading fiction books at home and now we have added an expectation of doing some work each day related to their fiction book and the following tasks:
Understanding Characters as friends, seeing different sides to characters, making strong predictions, growing ideas about characters, asking questions and answering them in deep ways, and supporting thinking with evidence from the book.
Writer’s Workshop
Next week, the kids will move on from review writing and onto writing (and eventually giving) persuasive speeches. We’ll discuss important causes and what we can do to get people on our side.
Math
We will continue working percentages all next week and get ready for our end of unit assessment next Wednesday November 13th.
History
The students will continue their pyramid projects. This week they made inspiration boards to define their plans. Next week, they will make drawings of their planned pyramid.
Science
Students will continue working on their science fair projects and we will begin our next Science textbook.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- DARE Graduation Monday October 28th, 1:30-2:30p in the MPR
- eSports and IPSF Ace Classes
- Science Pilot Survey
Reader’s Workshop
We will finish up the trimester continuing with our unit on seeing more in ourselves and in our books. This week will be all about taking all the practice we’ve been doing and producing work in reader’s notebooks that makes that work thinking visible. In addition, students will be conferencing with me and their reading partner on their thinking.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue the work of Opinion writing by constructing more thorough reviews. We also start the next section of our opinion by crafting persuasive speeches.
Math
We will continue learning about Unit Rates and Percentages. The kids will wrap up our focus on unit speed and price (and comparing those) and move on to percentages. Tuesday will be a day of review with a quiz to follow later on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Math Answers and Help Here.
History
The kids will continue their pyramid projects. At this point they are still working individually and having finished their background research will begin the design process by defining their plan using an inspiration board. We will look at inspiration boards created by my sister who is an interior designer in Brooklyn for inspiration “from the pros”.
Science
Students will continue working on their science fair projects.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Harvest Cup 2019
- Register Here by Monday October 21st (Tryouts to Follow TBA)
- Interested in Coaching? Email Mr. Gray - jaredgray@iusd.org
- Internet Safety Presented by Irvine PD- Tuesday, October 22nd from 2:35-3:35 RSVP Here
- DARE Graduation Monday October 28th, 1:30-2:30p in the MPR
Reader’s Workshop
Next week we will be working on a unit practicing reflecting on the process of becoming a better reader.
Writer’s Workshop
The kids will finish up their award nominations for their collections and then move on to writing reviews.
Math
We will continue with the work of ratios exploring real world applications of ratio thinking. Next week, we will focus on converting units, and comparing speeds, prices, and rates. Finally we will discover the relationship between equivalent ratios and unit rates.
History
The kids will begin working on their pyramid projects We will tie in the study of pyramids with the Nile River, Pharaohs, and the religion of Ancient Egypt. Eventually the students will be presenting a proposal to build a new, better pyramid for a modern-day Pharaoh.
Science
The students will have time to research their science fair projects.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
- Harvest Cup 2019
- Tournament Dates December 6th-8th, 2019
- Register Here by Monday October 21st (Tryouts to Follow TBA)
- Interested in Coaching? Email Mr. Gray - jaredgray@iusd.org
- 6th Grade Sweatshirt Order Form
- 6th Grade Guys Night- Thurs Oct 17, 6-8pm in MPR- RSVP Here
- Internet Safety Presented by Irvine PD- Tuesday, October 22nd from 2:35-3:35 RSVP Here
- DARE Graduation Monday October 28th, 1:30-2:30p in the MPR
Reader’s Workshop
The kids will continue exploring their characters as well as the characters in our read aloud: The Year of the Dog.We will close out the trimester finishing up our beginning of the year fiction unit by seeing more in ourselves and in our books.
Writer’s Workshop
We will begin a new unit on Opinion Writing in preparation for a later 6th grade unit on Argument Writing.. For this Unit students will begin by evaluating and ranking collections of their own that they bring to school. Then, we will write reviews, and finally write persuasive speeches.
Math
We will begin our next unit on Unit Rates and Percentages. This unit builds on what we were learning in the previous Ratios unit. See more about what we will learn here.
Math Answers and Help Here.
History
We will begin our unit on Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt is so rich for study but we will focus on the GRAPES of Egypt looking at the Nile River and how it supported the Egyptian civilization and the relationship between religion and the social and political order. We will look at pyramids and mummies as well.
Science
The students will have time to research their science fair projects and will learn how to create a works cited list.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
September 13th
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
We are nearly ¼ of the way through 6th grade. Our class had read 85,000 pages and 6th grade has read nearly 300,000 pages since the beginning of the year! Wow!
- Sweatshirt Order Form
-
Talent Show Sign-Ups (Auditions September 19th 5:30p):
- Grade 4-6 Audition Link Opening Number Link Stage Crew Link 6th Grade Dance MC Link
- Sign Up for Mustang Milers
- DARE Graduation Monday October 28th, 1:30-2:30p in the MPR
Reader’s Workshop
We are shifting gears to a new part of our Setting Up a Powerful Reading Life Unit where the focus is on envisioning and prediction, two essential reading skills that undergird comprehension. The students will continue setting goals with a partner and working on predicting and getting an introduction to studying characters.
Writer’s Workshop
We will write our final Information book for this unit and turn it in on Friday. We are going to celebrate by having an information fair on Friday that other students will be invited to.
Math
We will continue our Introduction to Ratios unit. This week we studied double number lines, triple number lines, and ratio tables. We will put these ideas together next week to solve ratio problems with ratio tables. The kids will have their end of Unit Assessment on Thursday. Math Answers and Help Here.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Mesopotamia for Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 (still working on this. We will review Lesson 2 and study for a Mesopotamia test which we will take on Friday.
Science
In preparation for the upcoming science fair we will be studying about research skills.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
I recorded a special podcast as a follow up to parent conferences. If you haven’t heard it yet be sure to check it out. As always, if you can listen to it with your child present that’s even better.
- Make Up Picture Day is Monday, September 9th
- Navigating Woodbury: Parent Portal, Canvas, and more- Tue Sep 10 2:35-3:35pm RSVP Here
- Science Fair Information Night Thursday September 12th 5:30-6:15pm in the MPR.
- Talent Show Sign-Ups (Auditions September 19th 5:30p):
- Grade 4-6 Audition LinkOpening Number LinkStage Crew Link6th Grade DanceMC Link
- Sign Up for Mustang Milers
Reader’s Workshop
We are shifting gears to a new part of our Setting Up a Powerful Reading Life Unit where the focus is on envisioning and prediction, two essential reading skills that undergird comprehension. The students will have a reading log check at the end of the week for a grade.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue writing information books. They have turned in one information book and recorded a short TED Talk style video discussing it. Next week we will write books with chapters.
Math
We will continue our Introduction to Ratios unit. This week we studied ratios with double number lines as well as unit price and speed. We will put these ideas together next week to solve ratio problems with ratio tables. The kids will have a quiz on ratio tables on Thursday. Math Answers and Help Here.
History
We will continue our study of Ancient Mesopotamia for Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 (still working on this.
Science
In preparation for the upcoming science fair we will be studying about research skills.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
What did you do as a reader today?
What did you do as a writer today?
What is your plan for math?
August 30th
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Thank you for a very enjoyable round of conferences. I genuinely enjoyed meeting with all of you. A special thanks to those of you who hosted me at your house.
- There is no school on Monday due to the Labor Day Holiday.
- Student Council Information Meeting Wed Sep 4- Lunchtime in Mrs. Gray’s room
- Science Fair Information Night Thursday September 12th 5:30-6:15pm in the MPR.
- Navigating Woodbury: Parent Portal, Canvas, and more- Tue Sep 10 2:35-3:35pm RSVP Here
Reader’s Workshop
We will start a new unit on Setting Up a Powerful Reading Life. This will take us up to Fall Break (and just after Fall Break) and will help reinforce many of the skills we’ve been working on so students are taking charge of their reading lives.
Writer’s Workshop
We will continue writing information books that teach. They’ll write their third information book.
Math
We will continue our unit on Ratios by creating double number lines. We will begin looking at unit price (the cost for one thing based on knowing the price for many).
History
We will begin studying our first civilization: Mesopotamia!
Science
The kids will begin working to get ready for their science fair projects.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
August 23rd
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Due to parent conferences, there is no school for students on Monday and Tuesday-Friday are all minimum days. School will end at 1:17 each day.
DARE Projects are due Thursday, August 29th.
Reader’s Workshop
We will finish our unit on Notice and Note signposts. The kids will be assessed on finding signposts in their books and analyzing them based on what we have practice. They are practicing these skills this week in their Notice and Note Signpost Log on google classroom.
Writer’s Workshop
Thank you for celebrating your child’s true story. Even if you could not attend on Friday take some time to read their story with them. They have been working so hard.
Next week we will begin our next unit on Informational Writing to learn how to write to teach.
Math
We have finished our Unit on Area and Surface Area (though we will review it throughout the year) and will begin the first of two units on Ratios. The first unit is called Introduction to Ratios and will take us up to Fall Break.
History
We will start a new unit on the first civilization of study: Mesopotamia.
Science
We will review what we have studies about how our bodies our organized (cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems), and have a short quiz on this information on Wednesday.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Parent Conference Sign-Up:
There are two options for Fall Conferences
- Click Here for Conference times at SCHOOL
- Parents and Student should attend
- Click Here for Conference times at YOUR HOUSE
- Parents and student should attend
- A computer connected to the internet is necessary for the conference.
Friday August 23rd Writing Celebration- YOU ARE INVITED
You’re Invited! To a Writing Celebration. You- the parents- are invited to come to school on Friday, August 23rd, from 10:45-11:20 to celebrate your children publishing their true stories. Come to school and hear kids read their stories that they have worked so hard on and celebrate their excellent stories. Don’t forget to give yourself a little time to check in at the office on your way in. If you are attending please RSVP here.
Did you know we play board games on Tuesday in class? It’s a fun way to play without screens or electronics and get to know classmates. We play games like UNO, Jenga, Spaceteam, cards and more!
Reader’s Workshop
We just began a new short unit on Notice and Note Signposts. These are places where readers should stop and ask themselves a question about what the author is trying to tell the reader.
Writer’s Workshop
We will finish our full Unit on Narrative Writing with a celebration on Friday, August 23rd. You are invited! See above.
Math
We will finish the Unit on Area and Surface Area with an End of Unit Assessment on Wednesday. This will cover the second half of the Unit (Lessons 12-18). We will also begin the next unit: Introduction to Ratios
History
We will finish up learning about Early Humans and specifically looking at the Agricultural Revolution. We may start on our first civilization: Mesopotamia. We will continue watching CNN 10 each day.
Science
We will begin looking at the next section for science: Body Systems.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
August 9th
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Please click here to fill out information for fall conferences. After I review this information I will send out conference times.
Join the Woodbury PTA!
Here is the fundraising information for 6th grade.
Reader’s Workshop
We will finish up our unit on How to Outgrow Yourself as a Reader. The kids will review their reading log and make plans for growing as a reader. We may start another unit next week.
Writer’s Workshop
The students will shift to information writing and celebration the publication of their realistic fiction series.
Math
We will continue learning about surface area in the second half of our current math unit.
History
The kids will keep working on their Early Humans Flipbook as we learn about early humans, the agricultural revolution, and how humans adapt to their environment.
Science
The students will work on a project about cells and cell structures. They will review the information about cell structure and take a short quiz on tuesday.
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Students should wear their DARE shirts to school on Mondays and Thursdays.
There are a couple more permission slips that were sent home last week that I need returned (that should be it for a while). 1. Coral Health Condition Information form and 2. Mr. Gray’s Technology and Device Responsible Use Agreement
Join the Woodbury PTA!
Here is the fundraising information for 6th grade.
Reader’s Workshop
We will continue on How to Outgrow Yourself as a reader.
Writer’s Workshop
We will finish the realistic fiction book series the kids are writing. The will develop characters across their series and get ready to publish the series.
Math
We’ll continue our unit on Area and Surface Area by wrapping up the first half on area and taking a mid-unit assessment on Thursday. Then we will begin second half looking at surface area of 3 dimensional shapes. Your kids are making great strides manipulating and analyzing the area of parallelograms and triangles.
History
We will start our first chapter on Early Humans and the Agricultural Revolution.
Science
We will continue our science curriculum exploring the parts of a cell (their structures and functions).
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Monday is Picture Day!
Thank you for coming to Back to School Night! It was wonderful to meet you and have you check out our classroom. Here is the fundraising information for 6th grade.
There are a couple more permission slips that were sent home in the Thursday folder that I need returned (that should be it for a while). 1. Coral Health Condition Information form and 2. Mr. Gray’s Technology and Device Responsible Use Agreement
Woodbury PTA
Reader’s Workshop
We will start a new unit on How to Outgrow Yourself as a reader. Students will continue with their independent reading books at home but we will read A Long Walk to Water together during school.
Writer’s Workshop
We will celebrate the true stories your kids have written (they are great!). We will then move on to writing short fiction stories.
Math
We’ll continue our unit on Area and Surface Area studying the area of parallelograms and triangles. We may have our first quiz at the end of the week.
History
We will continue an introductory unit on Why is History Important? This will lead into all of our work this year on Ancient Civilizations.
Science
We will continue our science curriculum exploring characteristics of life and different types of cells.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Dear Parents,
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Back to School Night is Wednesday, July 24th from 6:00-7:00pm. I will see you there!
I asked your students to go to my class’s work page and ask you (the parents) to fill out several online permission slips. Please fill those out by Monday. In addition, there is a paper permission slip for our DARE program (which will start on Monday) that I sent home yesterday. Thank you for your help with all of this information.
Listen for more information and announcements!
Dear Parents,
Listen to my announcements in podcast form here: anchor.fm/gray6thgrade or on Apple Podcasts here.
Get notified when I send a new podcast by following these instructions.
It was so wonderful to see you and your children at Open House last night to celebrate all their hard work in sixth grade. As promised, all of the photos and videos I’ve taken throughout the year can be found and downloaded here. Look for the down-pointing arrow to download. The video from last night is at the very bottom.
Mr. Battenfield just sent out this letter with important information about all the end of year activities coming up. It has the schedule and important information especially about promotion. The letter also explains:
The cost for these school-sponsored sixth grade end-of-the-year activities which include Soak City Waterpark, tile painting, and the Mediterranean luncheon is a $35.00 donation. This amount is actually much less than the actual cost of the events due to the fundraising efforts of the 6th Grade Parent Committee to defray the expense. Please note, that while it is permissible under state law for Woodbury to collect fees for field trips and activities, contributions are voluntary and all students will be allowed to participate regardless of whether a donation is made. Please make your check payable to Woodbury Elementary School and return it to your child’s teacher by Wednesday, May 29th. You may also pay through MySchoolBucks account clicking here.
We are going to Soak City for a field trip on Tuesday June 4th. In order to attend please sign the permission slip here.
Congratulations to softball teams 4, 6, 7, and 8 who made the playoffs of our lunchtime softball league. They will be playing in the playoffs next Tuesday and Thursday at Lunch.
Dear Parents,
Open House is this coming Thursday, May 23 at 6pm. We can’t wait to see you there.
Dare Talk
There are minimum days Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week and Monday, the 27th there is no school due to the Memorial Day Holiday.
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Week of
May 20-24
Reader’s Workshop
Reviewing our favorite books of the year.
Writer’s Workshop
TBD
Math
Area and Surface Area unit.
History
Rome
Science
TBD
Kid of the week
Our kid of the week was Elise and Max.
Our kid of the week podcast can be found here: Kid of the Week Podcast
Important Links
The Homework Page
Important Announcements
Grades are being added. Here’s How to Log In to Parent Portal
Are you buying books from Scholastic? Use my class code: P9Z4D
Other
We will continue reading aloud Greek Myths.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Amazon Wish List (Books)
Dear Parents,
Listen to my announcements in podcast form here: anchor.fm/gray6thgrade or on Apple Podcasts here. Get notified when I send a new podcast by following these instructions.
We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:
Week of
May 13-17
Reader’s Workshop
Reviewing our favorite books of the year.
Writer’s Workshop
TBA
Math
Area and Surface Area unit.
History
Athens vs. Sparta
Science
TBD
Kid of the week
Our kid of the week was Andrew and Ismail.
Our kid of the week podcast can be found here: Kid of the Week Podcast
Important Links
The Homework Page
Important Announcements
Grades are being added. Here’s How to Log In to Parent Portal
Are you buying books from Scholastic? Use my class code: P9Z4D
Other
We will continue reading aloud Greek Myths.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Amazon Wish List (Books)
I just gave out the letters from the IUSD math department to your children regarding next year’s math placement. I also wanted to send out a couple clarifying pieces of information.
- All the info you need is on that letter.
- There are only 2 options for math next year (Math 7 and Enhanced Math 7/8)
- Math 7 is exactly where you are supposed to be
- Many students who are placed in Enhanced Math 7/8 often choose not to take that course and opt for Math 7
- The scores for the 2 tests don’t tell you a lot of information.
- The district average for the basic skills test is 80%
- The district average for the End of Course assessments is 56%
- Should you have any questions about your child’s scores or next year’s placement don’t hesitate to email me or stop by.
Thank you,
Mr. Gray
Walk Through the Ancient World
Today the students will be given parts for our annual Walk Through The Ancient World game. We will be playing next Monday (May 13th) from 11:30-2:00. We will be eating lunch early that day so if your students normally buy lunch, that day is a good day to send a lunch.
The students can come dressed up in costume (many parts ask students to wear costumes or bring props.) That is all optional but it’s a lot of fun when all the students dress up I recommended to your children today that they come home and start planning their costume.
Parents are also welcome to attend and watch. We will be in the MPR.
Thanks,
Mr. Gray