Mrs. Tiffany Schiff » Posts

Posts

Feb. 6, 2023 to Feb. 8, 2023 Week at a Glance

Math : Chapter 8 on Fractions and Decimals (one lesson per day) - we will be skipping around in this chapter to go in a better flow
  • Lesson 5 - Least Common Multiple (use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions)
  • Lesson 7 - Use Models to Write Fractions as Decimals (apply and extend previous understanding of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions)
  • Lesson 8 - Write Fractions as Decimals (students will use fraction equivalence to write fractions as decimals)
  • Key points....apply and extend previous understanding of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions AND use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions

Science: Growth & Survival (one lesson per week)

  • We will be creating our own study guide as we get ready for Chapter 3 Test
  • We will be working on answering specific questions in the book that relate to our Chapter 3 test
  • Chapter 3 Test will be on 2-15-23, but I will students overly ready for it

Social Studies: Chapter 5 - The American Revolution continued...

  • We will continue working on our countries project with our partners. This will all be worked on in class only on Tuesday's. This might be the last week working on these and we will start presenting the following week. 
  • Since it is a shortened week, we are ending the American Revolution unit with a great Disney movie that I watched with my dad when I was younger. I think it was made back in the 1950's and it is called Johnny Tremain. Basically, Johnny Tremain is drawn into the Revolutionary War, and becomes a patriot fighting to free the colonies from England. Along the way he learns about life and about himself. We will be watching on Monday and Wednesday.
*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about we specifically did in class that day.*

Friday, February 3, 2023 Homework

Notes:
Link to virtual open house on Feb. 9, 2023 is open. Please schedule a conference if you have any questions or would like to know the most recent iReady math scores. Thank you!
 
We celebrated the students with donuts this morning and then a Pep Rally this afternoon full of games per grade. Since we had the Pep Rally, classes were about 28 minutes per period. It felt like speed teaching...hahah! The students had such a special day! Thank you to SJCS for all they did!
 
Math - None (In Math today, we learned how to compare fractions (greater than, less than or equal to). I taught them all a trick on how to do this quick and easy. Please give them any random fractions to compare to each other and let them show you the trick they learned. We also worked on the homework page in class and turned it in, since we don't have homework on Friday's.)
 
Science - None (Today we read leveled readers on Google Classroom on the Life Cycle section we are learning this week. I did not have the students answer the questions, as the time was shortened today in class. I focused on reading the information.)
 
Social Studies - None (Today we worked on our "Key People" in the American Revolution packet. Due to timing, I had the students pick 4 to 5 people they wanted to read about and answer questions on. They did a great job! Ask them who they decided to read about.)
 

Thursday, February 2, 2023 Homework

Notes:
Link to virtual open house on Feb. 9, 2023 is open. Please schedule a conference if you have any questions or would like to know the most recent iReady math scores. Thank you!
 
Math - book pgs 567 & 568 and WS received in groups if not finished (In Math today, we learned how to take fractions and bring them to their simplest form. Give your child a few examples at home and let them show you what they learned today.)
 
Science - None (Today we worked on our Words To Know Lesson Check 4 in class. They worked alone and were allowed to use their books..pgs 127 to 131 for answers. Then they watched two life cycle videos I assigned to them on Google Classroom Science on amphibians and insects.)
 
Social Studies - finish Chapter 5 Review guide if not finished in class...use your book to find answers (Today we worked on an open book and open note short test on the I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 book we finished reading. This shows me how well they comprehended the book. After that, I had them work in partners to fill out a Chapter 5 study guide from our text book. We will NOT be having a Chapter 5 test or quiz. I just want to get them used to using their books to look up information and fill out their own study guides. These will be graded for points.)
 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 Homework

Math - pgs 561 & 562 and extra WS we worked on in groups (Today, we learned about common factors of numbers and the Greatest Common Factor between a couple numbers. The students got the hang of it as we had a lot of practice during class today. Also, I want to address homework pages from the text book....I assign everything on the workbook pages to be done, including the "brain builders". The previous teacher had them cross out this section and not do it. That's not happening with me. This is a challenge section and I want their brains to think ahead. We will one day get to those lessons, but for now it is completely ok to not understand or know how to do them. Just encourage them to try and help them if needed. Today, we spent time and went over yesterdays homework and all the correct answers. I wanted to make sure that they all understood yesterdays lesson before I moved on to today's lesson. My goal is to make each of them feel successful.)
 
Science - None (Bubis homeroom did the work we missed on Monday due to be being at Feed My Starving Children. We started lesson 4 on Life Cycles of amphibians, mammals and insects. They read pages 127 - 131 and answered all the questions. Schiff homeroom went over all our answers from the questions answered on pages 127 - 131 and went over important vocabulary and questions that I asked.)
 
Social Studies - finish key vocabulary and definitions on Google Classroom and share it back with me for credit if not finished in class today (Today we worked on 30 key vocabulary terms used during the American Revolution. The kids had to look up the definitions and write them in their own words. Once done, they share the document back with me as a graded assignment.)
 
Notes:
Link to virtual open house on Feb. 9, 2023 is open. Please schedule a conference if you have any questions or would like to know the most recent iReady math scores. Thank you!

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Homework

Math - pgs 555 & 556 and extra WS given within our math groups (Today was a shortened period due to the Mass schedule, but we entered the first lesson on Fractions and Division in our books. This was pretty basic and simple for all. The lessons will get a bit more challenging,  but I have helpful math hacks for fractions to make them easier.)
 
Social Studies - None (Today we continued working on our Country Google Slides and gathering information for them, I also collected and graded the I Survived the American Revolution packets from each student. Thursday, we will have a small test on the book we read. They can use their books and packets to help with test. This helps me gauge comprehension and also how they are using the packets to be a good source of a study guide for the test.)
 
Science - None ( we did not have Science due to the Mass schedule)
 
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share

This letter was sent last Friday with your child's work. We are entering Chapter 8 in Math about Fractions & Decimals. This is a preview of words they'll be hearing throughout lessons.

Monday, January 30, 2023 Homework

It was lovely seeing so many of you yesterday during our Open House. Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and being so lovely. Please sign up for virtual conferences if you'd like to find out about most recent iReady scores for Math. I believe portal opens up tomorrow to sign up.
 
Today, we went to Feed My Starving Children and packed so much food for children in Honduras. Ask your child how many boxes we packed in total and how many lives we saved this year? Also, a huge THANK YOU to all the parent volunteers. We truly appreciate your presence and your help.
 
Math - None ( We were at Feed my Starving Children during both math classes today)
 
Social Studies - None (Finish reading chapters 17 & 18 in their I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 today and answered page 9 in their packets....We learned words like doomed & launched in these chapters. Why did Nate return back to Norwalk? Why did most Americans survive the Battle of Brooklyn even though the British were more powerful?)
 
Science - None (Bubis homeroom did not have Science with me today because we were at Feed My Starving Children. We will catch up on Wednesday. No worries! Schiff classroom please finish pages 127 - 131 in book along with all the questions if you didn't finish in class)
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 

Week at a Glance for Jan. 30, 2023 - Feb. 3, 2023

Math: Chapter 8 on Fractions and Decimals (one lesson per day) - we will be skipping around in this chapter to go in a better sequence
  • Lesson 1 - Fractions and Division ( solve word problems by interpreting a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator)
  • Lesson 2 - Greatest Common Factor (determine the common factors and the greatest common factor of a set of numbers)
  • Lesson 3 - Simplest Form (generate equivalent fractions by writing a fraction in simplest form)
  • Lesson 6 - Compare Fractions (compare fractions by using the least common denominator)
  • Key points....apply and extend previous understanding of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions AND use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions

Science: Growth & Survival (one lesson per week)

  • What are the life cycles of some animals?
  • Students will model the life cycles of some animals and will investigate how some animals go through metamorphosis.
  • Key words this week - metamorphosis, molt, and life cycle

Social Studies: Chapter 5 - The American Revolution continued...

  • We will continue working on our countries project with our partners. This will all be worked on in class only on Tuesday's.
  • We will finish reading our "I Survived The American Revolution, 1776" book on Monday
  • Finish pages 9 of the Comprehension packets and turn them in
  • Key Vocabulary - words are provided on google doc and they need to look up their definitions as a Quiz grade on Wednesday
  • Taking an open book test on our "I Survived the American Revolution, 1776" book on Thursday
  • Learning about all the "Key People" on Friday with packets of text and questions
*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about we specifically did in class that day.*

Friday, January 27, 2023 Homework

Math - None (Today we took our Chapter 7 Math test and I was very pleased with everyone's hard work and results! Tests are graded and going home today with all their other work from the week.)
 
Social Studies - None (We focused our learning on another key person during the American Revolution, Abigail Adams. We did a packet all about her and had two think of two questions that we would want to still ask her. She was fascinating. Ask your child to tell you three things about her and what their two questions were for her.)
 
Science - None (Today, we did a packet escape room about Animal Adaptations. It was very tricky and challenging, but the students were so excited about it. They were truly up for the challenge. )
 
 
I'm beyond grateful for all the donations coming in for our classroom...I feel so blessed....Thank You!!
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for within a week :
 
Sunday, January 29, 2023 is our Catholic School's Week Open House - 9am Mass and classrooms are open from 10am to 12:30pm for all to visit. This is a great opportunity to visit the middle school classrooms and teachers as well for next year. Looking forward to seeing you all!
 
Monday, January 30, 2023 we have a field trip to Feed My Starving Children. We are walking over there and it is going to be very cold that day. Please make sure your child has a coat, hat and gloves. Girls should wear leggings under their uniform skirts. It would break my heart watching anyone freezing as we walk over. Also, girls need to have all jewelry off. Thank you. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thursday, January 26, 2023 Homework

 
Math - differentiated practice tests went home today as homework AGAIN, as well as an optional Extra Credit Math Challenge worth 4 points. Each page is worth 2 points and you only earn the extra credit points if it is correct. (Today we focused on iReady for 20 minutes. Then, we graded our homework in our math groups, so they have correct answers to re-work on homework tonight. We will be extra ready for math test tomorrow.)
 
***Chapter 7 Math Test tomorrow***
 
Social Studies - None (Bubis homeroom read chapters 15 & 16 in their I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 today and answered questions on page 8 of packet. In chapters 15 & 16 we learned words like; vicious and crater. What did Paul fear more than death? Schiff homeroom had a visit from Mrs. Hanrahan today. I apologize because I thought the topic was on friendships, but it was even better....Time Management at this age. Please ask your child some tips they learned today from Mrs. Hanrahan.)
 
Science - None (Today, we did our weekly Words to Know lesson Check 3 check and then I assigned two informative videos about animal adaptations for the students to watch. Ask them what instincts mean, or even what a physical or structural adaptation is for an animal.)
 
TOMORROW - Dress Down Day for such a successful food pantry collection today. Thank you!
 
I'm beyond grateful for all the donations coming in for our classroom...I feel so blessed....Thank You!!
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for within a week :
 
Sunday, January 29, 2023 is our Catholic School's Week Open House - 9am Mass and classrooms are open from 10am to 12:30pm for all to visit. This is a great opportunity to visit the middle school classrooms and teachers as well for next year. Looking forward to seeing you all!
 
Monday, January 30, 2023 we have a field trip to Feed My Starving Children. We are walking over there and it is going to be very cold that day. Please make sure your child has a coat, hat and gloves. Girls should wear leggings under their uniform skirts. It would break my heart watching anyone freezing as we walk over. Also, girls need to have all jewelry off. Thank you. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Homework

 
Math - differentiated practice tests went home today as homework (Today we focused on iReady for 20 minutes. Then, we worked on our practice test assigned to each student. The same practice test is assigned for homework. We will grade them in our math groups tomorrow. Then it will be assigned again tomorrow as homework and some choice math challenge worksheets for extra credit. We will do the practice test 4 times in total, so we are beyond ready for the test on Friday.)
 
Social Studies - None (Bubis homeroom read chapters 13 & 14 in their I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 today and answered page 7 in their packets....We learned words like gleaming & knapsack in these chapters. Summarize the story of the song Yankee Doodle.  Schiff homeroom read chapters 15 & 16 in book. We are ahead because we don't have Social Studies tomorrow because Mrs. Hanrahan is coming to talk to us about friendship. In chapters 15 & 16 we learned words like; vicious and crater. What did Paul fear more than death?)
 
Science - None (Today, we went over all of our answers from pages 121 -125 in the textbook and discussed our "Key Words" for the week along with some extra questions on animal adaptations.)
 
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for this week :
 
We have food pantry collection tomorrow, Thursday, January 26, 2023. Fifth Grade is in charge of bringing in crackers. Please donate if at all possible.
 
Sunday, January 29, 2023 is our Catholic School's Week Open House - 9am Mass and classrooms are open from 10am to 12:30pm for all to visit. This is a great opportunity to visit the middle school classrooms and teachers as well for next year. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 Homework

Math - pgs 538 & 539 and extra Standardized WS (it is NOT a test) given to everyone (Today was a shortened period due to the Mass schedule, so we focused on iReady only..I assigned the homework above as it is review of the entire chapter 7.)
 
Social Studies - None (Today we continued working on our Country Google Slides and gathering information for them)
 
Science - None ( we did not have Science due to the Mass schedule)
 
Library - Mrs. Hoglund is sadly out this week and we have the students in our classroom for library/media time. Today for my homeroom, I had assigned them to read Chapters 13 &14 in their I Survived the American Revolution books to catch up to the fact that we will not be having Social Studies just for my classroom on Thursday as Mrs. Hanrahan is visiting us for a talk about friendships.
 
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for this week :
 
We have food pantry collection this Thursday, January 26, 2023. Fifth Grade is in charge of bringing in crackers. Please donate if at all possible.
 
Sunday, January 29, 2023 is our Catholic School's Week Open House - 9am Mass and classrooms are open from 10am to 12:30pm for all to visit. This is a great opportunity to visit the middle school classrooms and teachers as well for next year. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Monday, January 23, 2023 Homework

Math - pgs 535 & 536 and extra enrichment WS given to each math group (Today we started iReady and I had sighs of relief with the 20 minutes increments. I could already see in their faces how tired they were getting looking at the screen. I'm hoping that this new method will help improve scores. Crossing fingers and praying over here. We also continued our lesson on plotting points on coordinate planes/graphs. I went around and every student feels very comfortable with the lessons in this entire chapter.)
 
Social Studies - Finish reading chapters 11 & 12 of I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 if not done in class AND answer all questions on page 6 in packet (As we continue reading we learned words like meager and rasped in these chapters? What did the soldiers do each day? Also, what happened to James?)
 
Science - finish reading pages 121 - 125 and answer all the questions if not done in class (Today, we started reading about animal adaptations and their habitats....for example; how does a skunk protect itself from a predator? Also, is a tigers natural habitat to be in a zoo or circus...where do they really belong?)
 
Media - Mrs. Hoglund is sadly out this week and we have the students in our classroom for library/media time. Today for my homeroom, I had assigned 4 short audio picture books for them to listen to. It was something fun for them to do and they were excited about them.
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for this week :
 
Please send in Field Trip form signed to Feed My Starving Children by tomorrow, please
 
We have food pantry collection this Thursday, January 26, 2023. Fifth Grade is in charge of bringing in crackers. Please donate if at all possible.
 
Sunday, January 29, 2023 is our Catholic School's Week Open House - 9am Mass and classrooms are open from 10am to 12:30pm for all to visit. This is a great opportunity to visit the middle school classrooms and teachers as well for next year. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Week at a Glance 1/23/23 thru 1/27/23

Math: Operations & Algebraic Thinking (one lesson per day) - lessons 9 and then we will start practicing for our differentiated Chapter 7 Math test on Friday
  • Graph Patterns - graph points on the coordinate planes
  • Chapter 7 Review in book
  • Practicing for test on Wednesday and Thursday
  • Chapter 7 test on Friday, January 27,2023
  • Please note that we will start iReady on Monday, January 23, 2023 and only work about 15 minutes a day on it until we are done.

Science: Growth & Survival (one lesson per week)

  • How do adaptations help animals?
  • How do plants and animals grow and change?
  • Students will also construct an argument based on evidence that animals can survive in different environments because of adaptations
  • Key words this week - structural adaptations, extinct species, and instincts

Social Studies: Chapter 5 - The American Revolution (will take about 3 to 4 weeks to finish unit)

  • We will continue working on our countries project with our partners. This will all be worked on in class only on Tuesday's.
  • Read chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16 of the "I Survived The American Revolution, 1776" books on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
  • Finish pages 6, 7, & 8 of the Comprehension packets 
  • Taking notes on important vocabulary and their meaning
  • Learning about Abigail Adams on Friday with packets of text and questions
*Please note that The Week at a Glance is very broad. Please check my nightly Edlio posts to read about we specifically did in class that day.*

Friday, January 20, 2023 Homework

Hello Dearest Parent's! I just wanted to say thank you to all the parents that joined me via Google Meet last night. It was great to see all your love and support for our classroom. The recorded link was sent out earlier today. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. Many Blessings!
 
Math - None (We did homework pages 529 & 530 in class today. It was a continuation of our lesson of ordered pairs and coordinate planes.)
 
Science - None (We did our Plant Adaptations Escape Room today in class. The kids had a blast with this and it really tested their knowledge from the information learned in our textbooks.)
 
Social Studies - None (Today we learned about a key player in the American Revolution...Paul Revere. We read a text about him and then answered questions. This tested their comprehension of what they read. Please ask your child to tell you at least 3 facts that they learned about him. I think they were pretty blown away with the fact that he had 16 children.)
 
* I have created an Amazon wish list of items I would love help purchasing for our classroom. I plan on using these items for study skills, for our state capitals practicing, reading in our classroom and for research on different topics we will be learning. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if possible. Link is below....and THANK YOU!!!
 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RS691H76HBK0?ref_=wl_share
 
Reminders for next week :
 
Please send in Field Trip form signed to Feed My Starving Children by January 24, 2023, please
 
We have food pantry collection on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Fifth Grade is in charge of bringing in crackers. Please donate if at all possible.