Curriculum Night
CTA-Liberty
5th grade
2014-2015
2 Academic Blocks
Block 1-A.M. : 8:10-11:15 (specials during block 1)
Block 2-P.M. : 12:00-2:40
Math, Science, Social Studies – Mrs. Gonzalez & Ms.
Rinne
Language Arts – Ms. Battani & Mrs. Smedstad
Questions should be addressed with your child’s
specific subject area teacher.
Reading (ELA)
Accelerated Reader
Individual point goals per quarter
Reading comprehension scores
Students must read 30 minutes daily at home
Check AR Home Connect to monitor progress
with AR
AR has changed this year
• It will no longer be on the report card as percent of goal, and
percent correct
• Not meeting personal AR goals will result in students having
lower marks on their behavior grades
 makes good use of time
 completes classwork as assigned
Reading (ELA)
Literature Studies that may be used (district
approved)
Hatchet
My Brother Sam is Dead
Where the Red Fern Grows
Elijah of Buxton
Freak the Mighty
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Common Core Required)
Journeys Textbook
This is new the reading program that replaced
Open Court
Phonograms (ELA)
Phonogram practice will be spaced out to
promote long-term memorization
Weekly
• 20-30 phonograms orally
• 12 phonogram written quiz
Monthly
• We will assess all 70 phonograms
Oral Presentations (ELA)
Quarterly Poem Recitations
2 per quarter
Focus on eye contact, volume, memorization,
and fluency
All major reports have an oral presentation
component
Writing (ELA class)
Q1- How-To and Narratives
Q2- President Report
Q3- Expository and Persuasive
Q4- State Reports
All year long: narrative, informative, informativenarrative, business letters, friendly letters, journal writing,
persuasive essays.
Students will be taught and assessed using the “Six Traits of
Writing” and “Write from the Beginning”
Thinking Maps
Spelling (ELA Class)
Spelling words are taken from the Extended Ayres
word list. We are starting in section “T”
We input 30 words per week. Please check their
spelling notebooks each night.
We test a week behind every Thursday.
Spelling activities will be assigned on Monday
and are due on Friday.
Spelling City will be used later in the year
http://www.spellingcity.com/MissMcGhan/
Grammar (ELA Class)
Main three sources in teaching grammar:
The Writing Road to Reading-Spalding
Easy Grammar
All grammar is reinforced during the
writing lesson.
Math
Saxon Math (6th grade) & Common Core (5th
grade)
Number and Operations
Algebra
Geometry & Measurement
Data Analysis and Probability
Problem Solving
Cumulative practice and assessment after 5
lessons
Math Facts: 100 problems in 2 ½ minutes – assessed
monthly (appear in Infinite Campus, but not factored in
overall Math grade)
Students must show work
Science
The Scientific Method
Science Fair – 2nd & 3rd quarters
Matter, Atoms, & Molecules
Forces and Motion
Roller Coasters
Human Body Systems
Skeletal and Nervous Systems
Human Growth and Development
Earth and Space Science
Social Studies
Time Line project (due August
Geography/Regions
States and Capitals – 3rd Quarter
American History (Exploration-Civil War)
All year
Major reports correspond with writing
Classroom Business
Tuesday Folders
To be signed each Tuesday and returned each Wednesday
Behavior/Homework Logs (Friday section of agendas)
No/incomplete homework
Behavior infractions
Tuesday folder not signed/returned
3 or more marks – student misses TDA
Weekly Assessment Sheet
Filled out on Friday and sent home in following Tuesday folder (1st one
will come home August 5th)
TDA
Art/indoor games, outdoor games/varying activity, study hall
Homework
Student’s responsibility to check over their
work for accuracy - Parents check for
completion
Homework is NOT given ahead of time
Work can be picked up at the end of the day of
absence. Teacher must be emailed prior to
pick-up; work will be sent to the office at 2:40
Per CTA policy, students have one day per
day’s absence to complete and turn in work
Technology
Check class websites to stay updated on
what’s going on –
http://www.cusd80.com/register
Checking Infinite Campus to keep track of
child’s grades – Register for Infinite
Campus:
http://www.cusd80.com/Page/41972
Teacher messenger: all email from
campus@smtp2.cusd80.com is a non-reply
address to reply, please contact the teacher
utilizing the teacher’s school email address.
Technology (cont.)
BYOT – bring your own technology:
Kindles
Nooks
iPads / tablets
NO iPods or cell phones
To be used for AR reading & any specific
teacher directed activities ONLY
Must complete and return BYOT form (sent
home in this week’s Tuesday folder)
Abuse & lose 