Blanche Sims Elementary
Fifth Grade
2014-2015
M R S . D AW
MRS. KAST
Reader’s Workshop
 Reader’s Workshop consists of daily minilessons, conferences,
and self-selected reading time.
 Students will write responses to reflect upon their reading.
 We also practice fluency two days each week.
 Units covered in fifth grade:
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Building a Reading Life
Navigating Nonfiction in Expository Text
Navigating Nonfiction in Narrative and Hybrid Text
Following Characters into Meaning
Tackling Complex Texts (Historical Fiction)
Fantasy
Writer’s Workshop
 Writing is taught daily through minilessons, conferences
and independent writing time.
 The writing process steps include: brainstorming, drafting,
conferencing, revising, editing, publishing.
 Units covered in fifth grade:
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Narrative Craft
The Lens of History: Research Reports
Shaping Texts
The Research-Based Argument Essay
Words Their Way
 Students are assessed at the beginning of the school year
and grouped based upon knowledge of spelling patterns
and current spelling stage.
 New pattern lists will be distributed on Mondays.
 Different sorting activities and assignments are given
throughout two weeks to help the students focus on
word structure and spelling patterns, rather than
memorization of words.
 Every other Friday, students will be assessed on spelling
pattern lists.
Mathematics
 The district adopted the Math Expressions program last
school year.
 Students have a Student Activity workbook and a
Homework and Remembering book.
 Students have access at home to Think Central.
 Scholastic Study Jams has many free videos that teach
concepts step by step. Learnzillion is another
recommended website for teaching and reviewing
mathematical concepts.
Mathematics
 Fifth grade mathematics units:
 Addition and Subtraction with Fractions
 Addition and Subtraction with Decimals
 Multiplication and Division with Fractions
 Multiplication with Whole Numbers and Decimals
 Division with Whole Numbers and Decimals
 Operations and Word Problems
 Algebra, Patterns, and Coordinate Graphs
 Measurement and Geometry
Social Studies
 Student will use the Social Studies Alive program and
weekly atlas skill practice.
 We will study the first Americans through the
Constitution.
 Topics:
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Geography of the United States
American Indians and Cultural Regions
European Exploration
Colonies
Slavery
American Revolution
Science
 Students will learn science concepts through experiments,
simulations, projects, textbooks and Science Studies
Weekly newspapers.
 Units to be covered in fifth grade:
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Forces, Motion and Energy
Adaptation and Survival
Measurement
Heredity
Ecosystems
Human Impact on our Environment
Intervention
• Students are grouped for Intervention, or I-Time, four days a
week.
• Groups are fluid and change based on students’ needs.
• The purpose of I-Time is to assist those who need extra help in
an area, and to challenge those who are strong academically.
• Students will be taking the AIMSweb Fluency assessment and
Math MCOMP assessment this week.
• When results are complete, we will conduct grade level data
team meetings with the school psychologist, Mrs. Knapp, Mrs.
Goethals and other support staff to create an I-Time plan for the
first marking period.
Homework
 Homework will be a combination of:
class work not completed during the school day
 weekly homework fluency sheets which are due on Fridays
 occasional specific subject area assignments (math, science,
social studies activities)
 20 minutes of reading each night
• Some nights there may be slightly more or slightly less
depending on the amount of work completed during class.
• Students may ALWAYS access Think Central at home for
additional practice.
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Grading Scale
94-100% = A
90-93% = A87-89% = B+
83-86% = B
80-82% = B77-79% = C+
73-76% = C
70-72% = C67-69% = D+
63-66% = D
60-62% = D0-59% = E
Graded papers will be sent home in the green Teacher/Parent
Communication folder each Friday.
School Wide Discipline Policy
• All students receive daily minilessons on behavior expectations.
• Class meetings take place daily in every classroom.
• Also, students are expected to use the Kind Reminder Process
when faced with a peer issue.
• Discipline procedures:
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Step 1—Warning
Step 2—Self-monitoring spot for five minutes
Step 3—Move to buddy classroom to complete
“think sheet.” Parents are asked to sign the sheet and return it to school.
Step 4—Removal from classroom and immediate lesson on the behavior.
Lessons repeated for three days by team member and teacher.
Students will receive a notification note which requires a parent signature if
they reach Steps 2-4.
Classroom Economy Program
 We have created a classroom economy system in all students have
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jobs and receive pay each week.
Each month, there will be a “Sale Day” in which students may
purchase from a list of items.
Students may also earn additional pay for good behavior choices.
Students may also be assigned fines when poor decisions are made.
We are asking for parent donations to help support this program.
Examples are:
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$5 gift card (restaurant, movie theater, etc.)
Box of snacks (Rice Krispie Treats, cookies, etc.)
Help supervise during “game day” if chosen
Prizes for the “prize box”
Donation of items if party is chosen (plates, cups, beverages, ice cream toppings,
spoons)
Book Orders
 Book orders are sent home monthly.
 Books are sold at a discount price through Scholastic.
 Each time you order books our classroom earns points
which are used to order additional books for our
classroom library.
 Online ordering codes:
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Daw GNMBP
Birthdays and Snacks
 Please feel free to send a peanut-free, wrapped treat or
non-food item to school for your child’s birthday (we
send them home with students).
 Students have recess and lunch at 11:55 A.M. They may
bring one healthy snack to have in the morning, when
needed, as well as water bottles. Snack examples: fruit,
crackers, cheese, popcorn, etc.
Specials Schedule
 Monday: Music (Mrs. Henry)
 Tuesday: Media Center (Mrs. Manganello)
 Wednesday: Art (Mrs. Campione)
 Thursday: Physical Education (Mr. Luhmann)
 Friday: Physical Education (Mr. Luhmann)
Communication
 Teachers will send out a weekly newsletter each Friday
which includes important dates and curriculum
information.
 Teachers check student logs on a daily basis; you may see
a message written in your child’s log, or you may write
one to your child’s teacher.
 School phone number: (248) 693-5460.
 Email is checked throughout the day.
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kkast1@lakeorion.k12.mi.us
ddaw@lakeorion.k12.mi.us