5th Grade
Curriculum Night
Mrs. Vallory Darting, Mrs. Kim Fognani,
and Ms. Gail Thompson
“Together We S.O.A.R.”
Teachers/Staff To Know:
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Homerooms
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Ms. Thompson (and all writing)
Mrs. Fognani (and all of science) and Ms. Cain (student teacher)
Mrs. Darting (and all social studies)
Resource- Jennifer Rule & Sandy King
ESL- Janet Fichter
Band/Orchestra- Mark Miller & Wiley Cruse
Music- Jenine Marnocha
P.E.- Andrew Schilling
Art- Diana Garren
Library- Lin Wareham-Morris
Counselor/Psycholoigist- Lisa George
Principal- Joe Turnage
Learning as a 5th Grader
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Dependence
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Interdependence
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The attitude of “you
take care of me”
The attitude of “we can
do it together as a
team”
Independence
Interdependence
Independence
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The attitude of “I can
do it!”
Dependence
School and Classroom Respect Plan
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S.O.A.R./ Our Signed Posters
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S- Show Integrity
O- Own Your Learning
A- Accept Responsibility
R- Respect Others and Self
Behaviors need to be observed in hallway,
cafeteria, classroom, restroom, playground,
bus/field trip, and assemblies
 Ladder of Success
Respect Plan (continued)
 S.O.A.R.
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Rewards:
S.O.A.R. Tickets
• Meaning rewards and motivators
• S.O.A.R. club once a month
• Individual and group positive rewards
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Prizes from S.O.A.R. tickets can be redeemed
for events such as lunch with a teacher or
playing a game with a friend
 S.O.A.R.
Compliments
Attendance
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Misconception: My child can make up all the learning missed.
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Misconception: My child can get homework before a trip, and we’ll schedule
time during the trip to complete the assignments.
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Work is not always available before an absence; the student is responsible for
getting missed assignments after he/she returns. Students have 2 days to make
up work for each excused day missed.
Misconception: It won’t hurt if my child returns from vacation a day or two
late or leaves for vacation early. They won’t be doing anything important
anyway.
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While written assignments can and must be made up, learning takes place both
verbally and in hands-on activities that can not always be recreated.
Learning is significant EVERYDAY! Often times we are wrapping up units and
assessments are given before breaks. Illness and doctor appointments should be
the main reason why a child is absent.
Misconception: Attendance during CSAP testing is not important to our
family.
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When a child misses a CSAP test, he/she receives a zero score which impacts
Blue Heron’s overall rating and can be significantly reduce the school score,
which is directly related to our federal funding.
Class Schedule
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8:55 Opening
9:00 Tardy Bell/Attendance
 9:15 Math
 10:05 Specials
 10:50 Math Small Group Work
 11:15 Reading
 12:40 Lunch/Recess
 1:20 Science (D)/ Social Studies (T)/ Writing (F)
 2:00 Science (T)/ Social Studies (F)/ Writing (D)
 2:40 Science (F)/ Social Studies (D)/ Writing (T)
 3:20 Planners and Clean Up
 3:30 Dismissal
Reading Curriculum
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Word of the Week
Read Aloud- read to whole class to model and focus on the many
other elements of reading
Fluid Guided Reading Groups (based on class test scores, body of
evidence, and CSAP)- small groups to teach specific
comprehension strategies
Shared Reading Groups- lit circles, practice reading strategies in
groups of similar interest and level
Independent Reading- silent, individual reading to develop stamina,
practice reading strategies, and learn about a variety of genres
Curriculum aligned with writing and other subjects
Reading Logs (150 minutes/week)
Library
2nd Grade Buddies and Buddy Assistants
(Please see the reading and writing literacy statements in the school handbook.)
Science Curriculum
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5th Grade Curriculum Units:
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Human Systems
Heat and Change
Weather
Growing and Changing
Objectives: To learn to make observations, gather data,
collect specimens, state hypotheses, investigate,
construct explanations and models, identify features, ask
questions, make predictions, compare properties, and
conduct research to formulate conclusions
Jefferson County Science Curriculum Online
Writing Curriculum
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Rebecca Sitton Spelling
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Learn about 6 Traits + 1 as we compose stories, poems, and research on
both paper and computers
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Implement with fidelity/research-based (may look a little different)
Individualized spelling lists
Research has shown that if spelling is studied exclusively in isolation (weekly
tests, memorizing lists), it is not as effective as spelling studied with a context.
Spelling HW (new sheets on class website) for reading centers
5th grade “No Excuse” words: First 150 core words from previous grades plus
new core words from our weekly spelling lists
Craft Studies of 6 Traits + 1
Writing Workshops- review of writing process and traits
Multiple Forms (including): journals, poetry, explanations in math and reading,
observations in science, recipes, letters
Functional/Procedural Texts: instructions, brochures, how-to essays
Persuasive (including): opinion, book review, or essay
Reflection Memoirs
Handwriting on final copies: 50% cursive and 50% typed
Social Studies Curriculum
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Study of Economics, Geography, History, and Civics
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World in 1492 (Ancient Civilizations)
Exploration fo the Western Hemisphere
Colonial America
American Revolution
5th graders attend Young AmeriTowne in March (need
volunteers for interviews and to attend YAT with us)
Jeffco Social Studies Curriculum Online
Math Curriculum
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Investigations (2nd Edition)
5th grade curriculum focus: Develop a repertoire of
problem solving strategies and ability to communicate
mathematical knowledge orally and in writing
• Units: Factors, Multiples, Multiplication, Division, 2-D and 3-D
Geometry, Algebra, Decimals, Fractions, Percents, Data
Analysis, and Probability
• Students have text booklets for each unit
• Differentiated Instruction (including Inside Math)
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Visit the Jeffco Math page for more information,
the Investigations curriculum site, or the
information page for Parents for more info.
Blue Heron Homework Philosophy
 5th
graders should have 30-60 minutes of
homework a night (including 30 minutes of
independent reading 5 times a week)
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What if students are not done in that time?
 Extension/completion
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Typically there will be homework in math and
spelling
 Log
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of classroom work
(class work takes first priority)
Reading Log (150 min./week)
Importance of
Independent Reading
"The amount of free reading done outside of school has
consistently been found to relate to growth in vocabulary,
reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general
information," explains Bernice Cullinan of New York
University in an article on independent reading and
school achievement in 2000 (Anderson, Wilson, and
Fielding 1998; Greaney 1980; Guthrie & Greaney 1991;
Taylor, Frye, & Maruyama 1990).
She continues by explaining that research shows the
more students read outside of school, the higher they
score on reading achievement and standardized
assessments (Anderson, Fielding, & Wilson 1998).
Homework, cont.
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Students are responsible for asking teachers
about homework missed in class.
 Set aside a quiet place to study at home
 Our hope is that you make it a priority and make
it the student’s responsibility
 Planners:
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Please check and initial planners every night.
Homework is not due until the next day, so they need
to show you.
A tool to build study skills and independence
Grades/Report Cards
4’s: Advanced/Above Grade Level Expectations
(similar to an “A+”)
 3’s: Proficient/Meeting the Standard, where we
strive for all students to be at or above (similar to
an “A”)
 2’s: Partially Proficient/Making Progress Toward
the Standard, student’s work is not quite
satisfactory (similar to a “C” or “D”)
 1’s: Unsatisfactory/Lacking Adequate Progress,
student needs to redo (similar to an “F”)
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Look at our Jeffco Report Cards online
CSAP Data
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Catch Up Growth- growth needed to get proficient over
three years (a child can only be in this group if they are
unsatisfactory or partially proficient- NEVER with a child
proficient or above)
Keeping Up- for proficient or above to maintain their level
Move Up- going from proficient to advanced
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Growth Index
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High Growth- At or above 66th percentile
Typical Growth- At or between the 36th and 65th percentile
Low Growth- Up to an including the 35th percentile
*Growth Percentile- write what percentile means
Special Dates
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Flex Days:
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Conferences:
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Fall- October 13th and 15th
Spring- February 9th and 11th
Report Cards Home:
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Fall- August 20th and 21st
Spring- April 30th and May 14th
Trimester 1- November 20th
Trimester 2- March 5th
Trimester 3- May 28th
Trip to Denver Museum of Nature and Science on October 29th
CSAP: March 1st through March 12th (please plan for students to be
in class, all day, every day)
Young AmeriTowne: March 23rd
Curriculum Alignment Project
(CAP)
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Jeffco Blackboard
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Teachers have grade level discussions with other
teachers in their professional learning community
(PLC) blogs
View district wide pacing guide (we are all teaching
the same curriculum at the same time)
Sign up for trainings
Link to other school resources such as United
Streaming, Infinite Campus, and SOARS
Available for teachers only (for now)
5th Grade Web Site
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Please visit www.dartingteacher.com for
classroom newsletters, homework, and links that
support our classroom work.
 Also links to Blue Heron, the new math
curriculum, the Student Internet Use Policy, and
Jeffco’s Connections page
 Students are required to look at homework page
every night, along with filling out planners
 Student updated nightly
How to Contact Us
 Send
a quick note with your child to school
in his or her planner, send us an e-mail, or
arrange for a short meeting for after school
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Ms. Gail Thompson- gthompso@jeffco...
Mrs. Kim Fognani- kfognani@jeffco...
Mrs. Vallory Darting- www.dartingteacher.com
 Please
don’t forget to leave us your e-mail
on the sign in sheet before you leave!
I Dreamed
I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child's mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher;
The tools she used were books and music and art.
One was a parent with a guiding hand
And a gentle, loving heart.
And when at last their work was done
They were proud of what they had wrought.
For the things they had worked into the child
Could never be sold or bought.
And each agreed she would have failed
If she had worked alone,
For behind the parent stood the school,
And behind the teacher stood the home.
-Ray A. Lingenfelter
Thanks for coming!
To
review anything from this
presentation again, please log onto
our class website and go to “Extras”.