Ms. Renkert's Weekly Updates!

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Welcome to a brand-new school year! I’m so excited to kick off our first week together and begin building our classroom community.

This Week in Math

• We’ll start by learning classroom expectations and routines.

• Then we’ll jump right into our first unit on Area and Volume.

• No homework will be assigned this week so students can settle into our new schedule.

If you have any questions or important information to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to hear from you.

Stay awesome,
Ms. Sierra Renkert
[email protected]

Hello 5th Grade Families,

This year is off to a great start, and I’m excited about the progress we’re making in math!

This Week in Math

• We’re continuing our work with area and beginning to introduce volume.

• Homework will go home on Tuesday.

• We’ll move fully into volume next week—this unit moves quickly, and students are doing a wonderful job keeping up.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Stay amazing,
Ms. Sierra Renkert
[email protected]

Hello 5th Grade Families,

The first few weeks have flown by, and I’m so proud of the progress your students are making!

This Week in Math

• We’re beginning our unit on volume, learning how to find it using side lengths.

• Students will first explore abstract units to build understanding, then apply those skills to real-world measurements and spaces.

• Homework will be handed out on Tuesday and is due Wednesday.

I’m excited to see their curiosity and problem-solving skills grow as we dive into this new topic.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Be incredible,
Ms. Sierra Renkert
[email protected]

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening in math this week:

Unit 1 Review and Retest Opportunity
We’re beginning the week by reviewing key concepts from Unit 1. Students will have the opportunity to retest on the full Unit 1 assessment if they’d like to improve their score. Retests will be offered during class on Thursday and Friday.

Starting Unit 2: Whole Number Place Value and Operations
Next, we’re launching Unit 2, where we will:

• Explore the value of digits in multi-digit numbers

• Compare and order whole numbers

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit numbers

Homework

• Tuesday: Homework will be sent home and is due Wednesday.

• Additional assignments may be given later in the week depending on how quickly classes move through lessons.

How You Can Help at Home

• Practice basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts for fluency.

• Ask your child to explain the value of digits (e.g., “The 5 in 5,432 is worth five thousand”).

Thank you for your continued support as we build strong math foundations!

Best regards,

Ms. Sierra Renkert

[email protected]

Week 7 - October 13, 2025

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening in math this week:

Traditional Multiplication and Division
We’re continuing our work with the U.S. traditional algorithms for multiplication and division. Students are practicing multi-digit problems, focusing on accuracy, organization, and showing their thinking clearly. We’re also connecting these methods to the strategies they’ve already learned to strengthen overall understanding.

Homework

• No homework this week.
  Additional assignments may be given later in the week depending on class progress.

Looking Ahead
Parent-teacher conferences are just a couple of weeks away! More information about scheduling will be shared soon. I look forward to meeting with families and discussing student progress.

How You Can Help at Home

• Review basic multiplication and division facts for fluency.

• Ask your child to explain how they check their work when multiplying or dividing.

• Encourage them to solve everyday problems using estimation.

Thank you for your continued support as we build strong math foundations!

Best regards,
Ms. Sierra Renkert
[email protected]

Week 8 – October 20, 2025

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening in math this week:

Finishing Unit 2: Division Strategies
We’re wrapping up Unit 2 by practicing division strategies, including:

• Using partial quotients to divide

• Choosing effective partial quotients

• Interpreting remainders in context

• Solving real-world number stories

These lessons will help students strengthen their understanding of division and prepare for our upcoming unit assessment.

Homework

• Tuesday: Homework will be sent home and is due Wednesday.
  Additional assignments may be given later in the week depending on class progress.

Looking Ahead
The Book Fair and Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up the following week, along with Spirit Day on Friday!
Students may dress as a superhero or animal, or enjoy a general free dress day.

How You Can Help at Home

• Review division facts for fluency.

• Ask your child to explain how they use partial quotients to solve a problem.

• Encourage them to think about how remainders can affect real-world answers.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Best regards,
Ms. Sierra Renkert
[email protected]

Week 9 - October 27, 2025

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening this week in math:

Math:
This week we are reviewing Unit 2 and preparing for our Unit 2 Test. A study guide will be sent home on Tuesday and is due Wednesday to help students review key skills. After testing, we will begin Unit 3 and start exploring new concepts together. On Halloween, students will complete a fun Math Mystery activity to celebrate the day while practicing problem-solving skills.

Reminders:

• The Book Fair is happening all week!

• Bingo for Books is Tuesday evening.

• Conferences will be open house style on Wednesday and Thursday.

It’s a busy week with lots of exciting things going on! Thank you for your continued support and involvement.

Warmly,
Sierra Renkert

Week 10 - November 3, 2025

Hello 5th Grade Families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening this week in math:

Math:
We are excited to begin Unit 3 this week, where we’ll be diving into fractions. Our focus will be on understanding how fractions and division are related and how to interpret remainders in different types of problems.

• • Unit 2 Tests were returned on Monday (for those who completed them).

  • Students wishing to retake the test must turn in test corrections by Thursday.

    • Corrections can earn back 50% of the points lost if answers are correct.

    • Retakes will take place in class.

Homework:

• Homework will be sent home on Tuesday and is expected back on Wednesday.

Special Event:

• We are excited to welcome a visit from our school sponsors on Thursday!

How to Support Your Student at Home:

• Ask your child to explain how they solved a fraction problem—teaching someone else helps deepen understanding.

• Encourage them to review their Unit 2 Test and complete corrections thoughtfully (even if they’re not retaking).

• Practice simple real-life fraction problems together, like dividing snacks or sharing items equally.

• Keep an eye on returned work and discuss where they feel confident and where they might need more practice.

Thank you for your continued support as we head into this new unit. I’m excited to see the growth in students as we dive into fractions!

Warmly,
Sierra Renkert

Week 11 - November 10, 2025

Hello families,

We had a great week as we continued building our understanding of fraction concepts. Students explored how fractions represent parts of a whole, how to compare them, and how to use benchmark fractions to reason about size. They worked hard, and I’m proud of their progress!

Math This Week

• Understanding fractions as numbers

• Using visual models to compare fractions

• Practicing benchmark comparisons (0, ½, 1)

• Connecting fraction concepts to division

Homework

• Homework was assigned on Tuesday.
  Thank you for encouraging your child to stay on top of their practice!

How Families Can Support

• Ask your child to explain how they know one fraction is larger than another.

• Review simple fraction word problems together.

Thank you for your continued support!

Week 12 - November 17, 2025

Hello families,

We are wrapping up the end of the trimester, and students have been working hard! This week we focused on adding and subtracting fractions, as well as generating equivalent fractions to help solve and simplify expressions.

Math This Week

• Creating and identifying equivalent fractions

• Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators

• Using visual models and number lines to justify thinking

Homework

• Homework was assigned on Tuesday.

End of Trimester Notes

Thank you for all the support at home. Students are showing strong growth as they prepare for the next phase of our math curriculum!

Week 13 - November 24, 2025

Hello families,

This week marked the start of Trimester 2, and although it was a short week with Thanksgiving Break, students still made meaningful progress. We focused on solving fraction-of problems and reviewing key ideas from Unit 3.

Math This Week

• Solving “fraction of” problems (e.g., finding ⅓ of 12)

• Reviewing Unit 3 concepts: fraction models, addition/subtraction, equivalence

• Strengthening fraction reasoning in real-world problems

Homework

• No homework this week due to the short schedule.

Wishing all families a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break!

Week 14 - December 1, 2025

Hello families,

We are heading into an important week in math as we wrap up Unit 3 and prepare for our Unit 3 assessment. Students will review key fraction concepts and begin building the foundation for our next unit on decimals.

Math This Week

• Reviewing Unit 3 concepts

  • Fraction models

  • Equivalent fractions

  • Adding and subtracting fractions

  • Solving “fraction of” problems

• Completing the Unit 3 assessment

• Introducing decimals (tenths and hundredths) and connecting them to fractions

Homework

• Homework will go home on Monday this week.
  This will serve as a study guide to help students prepare for the Unit 3 test.

Looking Ahead

After the assessment, we will move into our decimal unit, exploring how decimals relate to fractions and place value.

Thank you for your continued support — we’re excited for a great week of learning!