New Year - New Site!

Hello!  I am excited to announce that this school year I will be teaching 6th grade math at Capital Pre!  This is a great opportunity and I am excited to teach something (mostly) new.  This summer, I will be leading a STEM camp for grades 3-5.  With these changes, I have decided that it is time for new websites.  You may still access all the posts, links, and resources below, but they will not longer be updated.  I invite you to follow my new Google Plus account (cprepmath6@gmail.com), Blogs (cprep223.blogspot.com), and/or my classroom Twitter and Instagram accounts (@MissHalleck223).  I am looking forward to a great school year!

Student Government Voting

https://goo.gl/forms/F2gZW689P7HFwKvM2

Grays to Blues

All pictures have been uploaded into the Google Drive folders below:

Grays to Blues Ceremony and Reception

Grays to Blues Slideshow Pictures

Grays to Blues Slideshow

Grays to Blues Parking

Good Morning!

As you know, parking at the school can be challenging.  I recommend giving yourself plenty of extra time in the morning.

We have permission to park in the  Rensselaer "Surface Lot", which is a flat parking lot next to the building and in front of a parking garage.  The entrance to the garage is on Windsor Street (across from the Travelers lot).  After parking, you will walk up the stairs attached to the garage, up the hill, across the street, and enter at the back of the school.  I have attached a picture of the map I was given and I will sending home a copy.

If you can find parking on Ely Street or other (legal) street parking, you are more than welcome to take it.  I know that they will ticket on Main Street since it is a state road.

Please share this information with other family members attending.

Reminder, I am asking that students arrive by 7:20.

See you Friday!

5th Grade - Coordinates

Use this lesson to practice plotting coordinates.  When you are done, see Ms. Halleck for the written practice

SBAC Testing

As you most likely know, it is that time of year where the kids showcase what they know and can do.  Students are wrapping up MAP testing (Math and Reading & Science for 6th), taking benchmark assessments, and preparing for the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC). The upcoming testing schedule can be found below.  If you have questions about the SBAC, please visit this site for some answers or reach out to me.  SBAC does not have a time limit, but testing sessions are no longer than an hour at a time.  If students do not finish within the given time period that day, they will continue either the next day or within the week.

In class, we discuss these assessments and how students can prepare at home.  One way has been through the homework assignments (paper-pencil and online) that have been given through out the year.  Another way is to make sure students are at their best as they approach the test.  Being well-rested, both physically and mentally, is very important.  We do not want the kids to be too stressed as they approach the test.  That being said, during the week of the SBAC, students will not receive math homework.

As always, we encourage students to access their iReady and Zearn (5th) or Khan Academy (6th) accounts at home.  In addition, the SBAC practice site is a great resource for students and families.  

I have complete confidence that the students in Room 223 will give the SBAC 150% of their efforts and do their best.  They have grown and learned so much this year, it's time for them to show it off!

5th Grade Schedule
(all testing will be between 8:45 & 10:00)
Monday, 4/24: ELA Test (Part One)
Tuesday, 4/25: ELA Test (Part Two)
Wednesday, 4/26: Math Test (Part One)
Thursday, 4/27: Math Test (Part Two)
Monday, 5/1: Math Performance Task

6th Grade Schedule
(all testing will be between 1:30 & 2:50)
Monday, 5/1: ELA Test (Part One)
Tuesday, 5/2: ELA Test (Part Two)
Wednesday, 5/3: Math Test (Part One)
Thursday, 5/4: Math Test (Part Two)

Monday, 5/8: Math Performance Task

End of Year Trips

This week, advisors sent home permission slips for two school-wide field trips.  

Wednesday, May 10 - Yard Goats Education Day

$10 (cash only) ~ Includes ticket and lunch

10:00 - 2:00

Money and Permission Slips Due by Friday, April 28

No Refunds after April 28

Monday, May 22 - High Meadows

$25 (cash only) ~ Includes admission, activities, and food

Transportation provided by Prep

8:00 - 2:00

Money and Permission Slips Due by Tuesday, April 25

No Refunds after April 25

Attendance on each trip is subject to approval on a student-by-student basis.  Student must be in good academic and behavioral standing.  Privilege can be lost at any time.

STEM Expo Update

Data Analysis is due tomorrow.  By this point, if your child has not conducted their experiment or built and tested their inventions, they are behind in the process and have a significant amount of work to do in the next week.  Please check their STEM Fair Journals (blue or green).

All students started typing up their projects in Google Drive.  They will have time in class to type and I am able to print in black and white upon request.  All printing requests must be made before March 31.  I will not print anything out the day the projects are due.  
Tomorrow I will send home rubrics.  Rubrics can also be found here.

Final presentations are due on Monday, April 3.  The STEM Expo is Thursday, April 6.  Please contact me with questions.  Thanks!

Practice CMT & SBAC

Use this site to access practice the CMT and SBAC so you can get used to the types of questions and how to use the online tools.  We will do this in class, but you are more than welcome to try it at home.

-Click on the MIDDLE Box "Take the Practice and Training Test"
-Sign in as guest for everything 
-Select your grade
-Click "YES"
-Choose the Practice Test you want to take

Academic Center

No Academic Center for the next few weeks due to Lower School Conferences.

Science CMT

On Tuesday, March 28 the 5th graders will take the Science Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT).  The CMT is given to students in grades 5 and 8 to assess their learning in science.  We have been doing review work in class by watching videos, taking notes, quizzing ourselves, and talking about the topics.  You can find information about the CMT here.

The CMT will take place the morning of March 28 (around 9:00am).  Please help set your child up to be successful by ensuring they eat a proper breakfast (at home or at school) and get to school on time.  Of course, if you child is ill, we ask that they stay home, but if your child has an appointment that can be moved, please try to make arrangements.  It is tradition in my class that I provide the students with gum to chew during the test and a snack to energize them beforehand.  If you want to send in a healthy snack for your child, you are more than welcome.

5th CMT Review

On March, 28, all 5th grade students will take a Science CMT (Connecticut Mastery Test).  The CMT assesses student learning in science on content from grades 3 through 5.  

We have started reviewing the content in class this week.  This website http://www.mansfieldct.org/Schools/MMS/staff/dickinson/QUIAConnecticutMasteryTestReview.htm has great review activities and games for all the different topics on the CMT.

As we get closer to the test day, students will take a brief practice CMT to get a feel for the types of questions.  The practice test will go home with students so you can also see some sample questions.  

In class, we are using videos and discussion to review these topics.  Study Jams, a Scholastic site, is a great (free) resource.  We will be using this site during class to review independently and as a whole class.

5th Grade Update

Hello Families!

As we started our spring break with this surprise snow day, I was unable to send home some information with the kids.

Friday, May 19 will be our annual Grays to Blues (5th Grade promotion)!  This is a great celebration.  It takes place during All School (7:30am) and there will be a reception after.  More details will follow!

Over break, the homework is to conduct experiments and collect data OR build, test, and modify inventions.  All students should come to school after break with collected data and observations (technically it’s due Tuesday, 3/21, but it’s best if they’re done with it by the end of break).  Please feel free to contact me with questions over the break - I will be checking email at least once each day, so I can answer questions.  I also suggest that the kids start to type up parts for the final presentation (either a trifold board or a digital presentation - guidelines are at the end of the journal).

Also over break, please have your child work on iReady or Zearn lessons.  There is no written homework for math.  

Please check out the blog for practice games, videos, and other resources!

If you have not yet signed up for a conference, please do so here.

Important Dates:

-March 28: Science CMT

-April 3: STEM Expo Projects Due

-April 6: STEM Expo at CPrep

-April 12: Family STEM Night @ 5:00 pm

-April 14: No School (Good Friday)

-May 22: High Meadows Trip

-May 19: Grays to Blues!

-May 26: High School Graduation

Have a great break - we will see you Monday, March 20 for the home-stretch of the school year!

Family STEM Night

Save the Date!

Capital Prep Invites to you Family STEM Night.

April 12 - 5:00-6:15 pm

PreK-8th Grade

RSVP HERE!

5th Grade Conferences

It’s that time of year – Student Conferences!  This is an exciting time that students get to showcase their learning and progress for their best audience – You!  Conferences for Lower School will again be with the classroom teacher(s) and will take place at the end of March.

        

We want to work with your schedule to find a good time to meet.  Below are the days and times for conferences.  Please select three of the best times for you and rank them (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd).  To accommodate your busy schedules, we are offering conference times in the afternoon and evening.  We will try to best honor your preferences, but scheduling is done on a first come, first serve.  You will receive a written confirmation of the date and time of your Student Conference. 

Please sign up no later than Thursday, March 9, 2017, so all conferences can be scheduled prior to the start of Spring Break.  A paper copy will be sent home with report cards.

Letter & Paper Sign Up OR Sign Up Online

Coordinate Practice

Alien Game
Stock the Shelves
Khan Academy

STEM Expo - Rubrics (5th)

Traditional Science Fair Rubric

Invention Fair Rubric

STEM Expo - Due Dates & Journals

Below are the dues dates for the STEM Expo.  These dates are specifically for 5th grade.  There will be different due dates for 6th grade (from Mr. Hemme).  

Please work to make sure all parts are completed by each date so that I can conference with students, provide feedback, and help with revisions.  

You can follow the links for digital copies of the journals - please do not edit the documents!  You can make a copy in Google Drive or download it to your personal computer.  Rubrics and judging guides will be posted by the end of the week.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE STEM EXPO: THURSDAY, APRIL 6! 

Families are invited from 9:00-10:00am

Traditional Science Fair

Assignment	Due Date
Proposal	Fri. 2/17
Research Question	Th. 2/23
Variables	Th. 2/23
Hypothesis	Th. 2/23
Materials List	T. 2/28
Procedure	T. 2/28
Observation Notes & Data	T. 3/21
Data Analysis	Th. 3/23
Conclusion	Th. 3/30
Final Project	M. 4/3

Invention Fair

Assignment	Due Date
Problem	Fri. 2/17
Solution Brainstorm	Th. 2/23
Solution Plan	Th. 2/23
Materials List	T. 2/28
Procedure	T. 2/28
Observation Notes & Data	T. 3/21
Data Analysis	Th. 3/23
Conclusion	Th. 3/30
Final Project	M. 4/3

Student Survey!

SURVEY

STEM Expo - Plans

Invention Plan

Traditional Science Fair Plan

5th Grade: Plans are due Friday, February 17

**Save the Date: STEM Expo will be held on Thursday, April 6!