Welcome to Fifth Grade
2015-2016
Comments and Questions
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free to ask anything along the way.
 I’d love to meet you after the PP. That
would be a good time to share with me,
anything you think will help make your
child’s year the best it can be.
Communication needs to be open and
honest in the best interest of your child.
Communication
 The
best way to reach me is via email.
You may use: brenda.bollman@lz95.org
 Feel free to leave a VM at 847.540.5270.
You may try my direct line and I will likely
pick up but may not be able to talk at that
time. Direct line is: 847.540.3461.
 If you need immediate attention, please
call the school office. 847.438.2351
Classroom Management
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Our overall goal is for your child to feel safe at school.
We have created classroom rules together. We strive to
inspire all student to be passionate, continuous learners
and prepare them to be responsible, caring citizens in a
global community.
As noted in an earlier letter home, 5th grade will be using
Fix it Plans on a need-be basis. Students have a chance
to fix their behavior during the day and the note may
never even go home. If the behavior is not remedied
during the day, the Fix it Plan will go home for you to
sign. Two Fix it Plans in one week will warrant a phone
call or an email home.
Classroom Information
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Students may bring a healthy snack. Students
are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school
every day.
 You will likely receive a newsletter via my
webpage every bimonthly.
 “See Me” papers: If your child has a see me on
their paper, I need to go over something with
them. You will know if they saw me, because
there will be a “BB” stamp over the see me.
 All D and U quizzes need to be signed by
parents. Students have a chance to make
corrections to that test after it’s been signed.
Homework
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All homework will be recorded in the assignment book.
Everyone is to be writing in their planner every day.
Please review this and sign every evening. Please do
not sign blank pages. Even if your child finishes his/her
work, they are encouraged to write it down and check it
off. Materials needed will be placed in the expandable
folder. This will go home and return the following day.
 A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each day
when all assignments are turned in along with the signed
planner and the expandable folder.
 Homework is included in your child’s participation grade
and is still a requirement.
Homework Expectations
–read at least 20 minutes every
night-on your honor-no logs.
 Math – nightly assignments & study math
facts as needed
 Occasional word work, science, social
studies, and writing assignments
 Reading
Expnadable Folder
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The students will bring their expandable folder home
each night. This folder will contain any notes from the
office or me, and your child’s homework. The folder will
also contain any work your child completed over that day
as well as any tests or quizzes.
Take a few minutes each night to go over the contents of
your child’s expandable Folder. Please do not empty the
folder UNLESS your child approves. This may result in
your child having to redo the assignment.
Your child will bring this expandable folder back and
forth to school each day.
Literacy
During this morning block, we will follow the workshop model for
literacy instruction. Components of a workshop model include read
alouds, direct instruction mini-lessons, small group instruction, time for
independent practice, writing about reading, conferring with the
teacher and time for collaborative conversations. Students will read
and work with a wide variety of authentic literature and trade books.
Reading Fundamentals is the series K-5 classrooms will use to guide
reading instruction. Each Unit of Study includes mentor texts, a variety
of leveled books for guided reading and independent reading, and a
selection of digital shared teaching resources that systematically
integrate reading skill/strategy instruction with the study of genre. For
more information visit www.schoolwide.com.
Reading
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Reader’s Workshop Model - Components include
guided small group reading, interactive read aloud,
shared reading, and independent reading. Schoolwide is
the district 95 curriculum we will be utilizing during our
reading/literacy block.
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5th Grade Genre Units - fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Math
The implementation of the Illinois Common Core State Standards
brought shifts to math instruction.
 Greater focus on fewer topics
 Coherence: Linking topics and thinking across grades
 Rigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and
fluency, and application with equal intensity
For more information about the shifts to the Common Core, please visit:
http://www.corestandards.org/other-resources/key-shifts-inmathematics/
Math Continued
We will be using Stepping Stones by Origo to guide our math
instruction. Stepping Stones is an online teaching resource that is fully
aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students have print
journals, but there will not be a printed mathematics textbook. The
focus of the Stepping Stones series is an emphasis on conceptual
development of mathematics. You can expect your student to have
many hands-on experiences with manipulatives and visual
representations in addition to traditional computation. Number sense
and fact fluency will continue to be emphasized.
For more information visit www.origoeducation.com/steppingstones
Please note this is a new program/series this year. It’s new to me and
it’s new to the kids as well. There is only a workbook/journal. There is
no text book for the class.
Writing
The writing curriculum emphasizes the three writing genres
mentioned in the standards, informative/explanatory,
narrative, and opinion, as well as poetry and creative
writing. Write Source is the textbook series used to support
the writing curriculum in our elementary schools.
Resources for parents and guardians:
 For more information about the Common Core State Standards visit:
http://www.corestandards.org/
 To see resources compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education
visit: http://isbe.net/common_core
 To view resource guides created by the Illinois PTA for parents visit:
http://isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources
Word Study/Phonics/ Spelling
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We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is
developmentally appropriate for our students and in the
context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on
learning word patterns rather than memorizing words.
We will be learning and implementing the program,
Words Their Way to support a developmental approach
to word study. Full implementation of Words Their Way
will begin during the 2015-2016 school year.
For more information visit
http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WTW_WordStud
y.pdf
Science
In Fifth grade we will study units on earth,
life, and physical science topics over the
course of the school year. The current text
resource for science instruction is National
Geographic Science. The series offers a
broad range of print and digital resources as
students engage in science study and
inquiry.
Social Studies
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Fifth grade students learn about the building of our
nation. A variety of textbook resources are used. We
begin at the French and Indian War in the mid 1700’s
and end with the Civil War and Reconstruction in the late
1800’s.
It will be integrated with reading and writing.
Students will practice research skills and note taking.
ASSESSMENTS
PARCC
MAP
COGAT
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness
for College and Careers (PARCC)
Aligned to measure whether students are on
track to be successful in college and their
careers
Computer-based K–12 assessments in
Mathematics and English Language
Arts/Literacy
Allows teachers and parents access to tools to
help customize students learning
http://www.parcconline.org/
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP)
http://www.wea.org
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Assessment Dates:
 Map:
Fall Sept 8-23/Spring May 15-27
 Fountas and Pinnell: Fall- Oct 13-Nov 13
Spring- April 2016
 Cogat: Dec 7-11
 Parcc: April 4-May 3
Taft
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Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado
Taft Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU
owned campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning
fun-filled extravaganza that is one of the
highlights of your child’s 5th grade year.
 Dates this year are Feb 22-24 M-W!!
 There will be in informative parent meeting in the
upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00.
We will be fundraising to offset that cost if
interested.
Human Growth and Reproduction
the spring of 5th grade, the science
curriculum includes a two week study on
human growth and reproduction.
 More on that as the time approaches.
 You may want to consider having “The
Talk” sometime before May, 2016.
 In
Check it out!
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Before you leave you need to see the following:
Passwords codes for your child to log on at home/curriculum
Math and Reading goal sheet
(classroom)
T-shirt hung up
T-shirt order forms/Bollman Bosses
Self portrait
Recipes for Success
Binder/journal on desk with 2 or more writing samples in it.
Thumbs Up!
Your child’s job
(hallway pics)
Your child’s locker (feel free to peek inside)
Star Student
Respond to your child’s note in their literacy notebook
Sentence strip: “I’m the kind of reader who…..”
Hallway Duties
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If you did not sign up for a fall conference in the
hall, please do so before you leave, and take a
reminder slip.
 Room Parent volunteer sign up is now on line.
Please take a blue slip if interested. Please
consider helping out.
 Please take a minute to fill out the Tshirt order
form for your child. Feel free to retun now or in
their expandable folder. Orders are due Sept.
9th.
 MINDSET VIDEO BY CAROL DEWECK
Please watch the 5 minute video on fixed
mindset vs growth mindset.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoR
Y