Everyday Math

This year promises to be very exciting and rewarding for your fifth grader!  Fifth grade is an important time in your child’s educational journey, as they begin to develop into independent and self-directed learners.  We have put together some guidelines to familiarize you with our classroom procedures for the year.  These guidelines will ensure a well-run classroom where learning can take place and where your child will benefit from the activities planned.

Attendance-

• Students should be in their classroom before 7:55. 
• School begins at this time, and if they come after this time, they are tardy. 
• They really need to be settled in their seats at this time to allow them enough time to get ready for their day.
• All of our specials are first thing in the morning at 8:05.
• They are required to make-up their class-work and homework.
• Their missed assignments will be put inside their mailbox.

Procedures-

• Can use pencil, blue or black ink only (the pens should be erasable)
• Their corrections are done in dark green pen.  They were given one by me on the first day of school and I will give out another in December.  If they lose this they are expected to replace it.  They should be keeping this in their zipper pouch. 
• Math is done in pencil only.
• All papers that are passed in should have their first and last name and date on the top margin.  Their “number” should be in the upper right corner of their paper.
• Papers that are “messy” or not up to their quality of work will be asked to be done over.  This includes crumbled, ripped up, doodled upon, in general sloppy, obviously done quickly or incomplete work.

Behavior

ü      Check system- for inappropriate classroom behavior

o       Whole Class

§         First check is a warning

§         Second check is five minutes of recess

§         Third check is ten minutes of recess

§         Etc.

 

o       Individual

§         First check is a warning

§         Second check is five minutes of recess

§         Third check is ten minutes of recess

§         More than that is a call home

o       All can earn a check back by demonstrating appropriate classroom behavior.

ü      Positive behavior that is above “what is expected” demonstrated by the class earns “cubes.” When the class as a whole earns thirty cubes, they earn a bonus of their choice.  The pizza party has been the most popular.

 

Homework-

Please make homework a top priority by scheduling approximately 45-60 minutes each day for your child to complete their assignments.  Try to have your child work in a neat, clutter free, and quiet environment.  Remember- structure and routine are important when scheduling “homework time.”  Homework is reinforcement or continuation of what is being done in class and helps prepare students for upcoming lessons and tests.  It will not be “busy work.” Homework is also important because it teaches your child responsibility and helps develop good study habits. 

 

• Agenda-
• Each student is responsible for writing in their agendas on a daily basis, copying EXACTLY what we have written on the board.
• Students should be striving to organize themselves in order to prepare themselves for middle school by writing everything that is on the board.
• Writing in his/her agenda is not an option.  Agendas are checked daily and we would greatly appreciate you doing the same at home.

• Monday – Thursday –only weekends if they are making up work that they have not completed or if they are working on a long-term project
• 20 minutes of reading every night (this may make it a little over 60 minutes some nights).
• Let them try it on their own, but they may have help.
• Please do not do it for them.
• Should try it for at least that hour.
• If your child has a lot of trouble, send a note and we will make time to help him/her with it.
• Or he/she may understand it when we go over it in class and can finish it later.
• The assignments are written on the white board each day and they are given ample time to write the assignments.  We will always go over each assignment and remind students of what they need to bring home.  We also give opportunities to ask questions.
• Often unfinished in-class work will be sent home to complete.
• Assignments may be collected and graded. 
• When homework is not collected, it will be checked and reviewed during class. 
• If the student does not have an assignment on the day it is due, he/she can pass in the assignment by the end of the next school day to earn half credit for the assignment.
• No credit will be given after this time has passed. 
• If this occurs more than once a week, we will call you to work out a plan.
•  If a student is absent, he/she has the number of days absent to make up the work.  If a student is absent for an extended amount of time, other arrangements may be made.  At the end of the term, all checked homework assignments will be added up and a test grade will be given for homework.

 

MCAS-

• Reading/Language Arts end of March/April
• Math, science and social studies will be given for two weeks during May.

 

CURRICULUM

 

Reading

** New Literacy Program- “Literacy by Design”

·         We will use the 5-Step Plan for 90 minutes

o       Build Reading Skills

§         Oral language, vocabulary, phonemic awareness and phonics, high-frequency words, word study and fluency

o       Read and Comprehend

§         Comprehension, genre, nonfiction features, literary response, critical thinking, and listening skills

o       Support Reading Independence-small group and independent reading with review learning with whole group

o       Build Writing Skills

§         Writing process, traits, forms and organizational patterns

·         The Source Book reading material is related to science and social studies.

·         It is 90 minute block of uninterrupted time which includes whole and small group instruction.

·         Small group time is supported by teacher and paraprofessional.

 

• Will continue to use novels when we can to support skills  introduced for small group.
• Many of the novels are historical fiction, they compliment the social studies curriculum
• Martin Luther King, Jr. in January
• Book Projects
• Independent reading through genres
• Will have a choice of activities at their level
• In some cases it will be modified based on the student’s needs
• Most novels that they choose should be at their level.
  

Writing - Mrs. Johnson teaches all classes

• Writer’s Workshop Approach
• Brainstorm
• First Draft
• Revising
• Editing
• Publishing
• Reference- Writer’s Express
• P.A.W.-Paragraph A Week- due most Fridays (Detailed information is included in this packet.)
• Students will be assigned a paragraph on Monday and it will be due on Friday.
• Parents can work with their children on their editing.
• It will be worth a quiz grade for writing.
• Handed in with assignment given on top with the parent signature, first draft and final copy.

Math

• Everyday Mathematics-students who used Fourth Grade Everyday Mathematics will be familiar with the following routines.
• Math Message-warm up
• Mental Math and Reflexes-warm up
• Lessons
• Study Links (homework)
• Games-reinforce skills
• Math Boxes-skill review
• Fact Triangles-learn facts and increase speed of recall
• Fifth graders are expected to already know their facts through 10
• One Minute Math Review

 

Social Studies - Ms. Stem for all three classes

• Early American civilizations-Aztecs, Incas and Mayans
• Explorers
• Early Settlements-Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth
• Colonial Life
• Revolution
• Constitution
• Government
• Westward Expansion
• Geography/Map Skills

 

Science - Mrs. Norton

• Matter
• Microworlds
• Water Cycle
• Weather
• Scientific Method
• Ecosystems
• Simple Machines
• Magnets