What happens in
Riker Hill’s
Fifth Grade?
The Fifth Grade Team
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Mrs. Anna-Maria Corino – Social Studies and Science
Mrs. Gail Kelly – Mathematics and Science
Mr. David Arensburg – Science and Social Studies
Miss Janene DePalo – Mathematics and Social Studies
Mrs. Michele Jacobsen – Special Education
Mrs. Vanessa Belford – BSI/Support
Mrs. Summersgill– Special Education
Mr. Matthew Brill – Aide
Mrs. Allison Tevlin - Aide
***Note: All 5th grade homerooms teach ELA
 Daily Team Meetings
Collaborative Planning
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Balanced Literacy:
 Reader’s Workshop
 Read-Aloud
 Independent Reading
 Guided Reading Instruction
 Reading Strategies
 Reading Units
-Launching Reading Workshop
with Experienced Readers
- Following Characters: From
Inference to Interpretation
- Non-Fiction Reading: Exploring
and Researching Complex
Informational Text Across
Content Area
- Fantasy Book Clubs
- Critical Reading Across Texts
for Interpretation
- Test Prep
- Informational Reading and
Research in the Content Area
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Words Their Way
Writer’s Workshop
Memoir
Interpretive Essay
Structured Information Writing about
Topics Content
Fantasy Writing
Essay Writing
Test Prep
Informational Research for Digital
Presentation
Structure of Reading/Writing Workshop:
 Mini-Lesson
 Independent Reading/Writing
 Conferencing
 Partner Work
 Book Clubs
 Guided Reading Instruction
Goal of Workshop:
 Build stamina
 Work with students on individual levels
 The Scientific Method
 Solar System and Space
Exploration
 Changing Earth
 Volcanoes
 Earthquakes
 Earth History
 Pangaea
 Dinosaurs and Fossils
 Life Science
 Ecosystems
 Physical Science
 Simple and Complex
Machines
 Hands on/Inquiry
Based Learning
 Assessment
 Experimental Labs
 Unit Tests
 Homework
 Projects
 The Age of Exploration
 The Era of Settlement
Age and Colonization
 The Revolutionary War
 The Government and
Constitution
 Westward Expansion
and the Civil War
 Tests/ Quizzes
 Open Book Quizzes
 Informal written
assignments
 Projects
• Units of Study
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Data Analysis
Number Sense
Patterns and Algebra
Multiplication
Division
Fractions
Decimals
• Calendar Math
• Measurement
• Geometry
Pre-Assessments
Quizzes
Post-Tests
Notebook Quizzes
Flex Grouping
Projects/Activities
• Partner Games
• Chess
• Extension Activities
 Essential Questions
 Example: How are the risk
taking characteristics of
early colonists similar to
the explorers from the Age
of Exploration?
 Reading Strategies
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Making Connections
Visualizing
Questioning
Making inferences
Determining Importance
Monitoring For Meaning
Synthesizing
Homework Agenda
 Homework is copied daily.
 Students should be reading 30 minutes
each night and writing a reflection about
what he or she read.
 Students will use reading log to record
their daily reading. They will be assigned
to complete three “write longs” per week.
Riker Hill Take-home
Folder
 Transports homework
to and from school as
well as any notices
 Folder placed in
backpack immediately
upon completion of
homework
 Parent/Guardian sign
agenda every night
Study Area
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proper lighting
quiet
spacious
contains all necessary
tools
Study guides are given for
tests at least one week
before test date.
Policy for Absences
 It is the student’s responsibility to see the teacher for
work missed when not in class. This includes an
absence or leaving for band, GT, forensics, etc.
 Check teacher websites for homework assignments
 Homework requests cannot be filled until 2:45pm
 If your child is absent, you must send in a handwritten
note, not just an email indicating reason for absence.
 5th Grade Handbook
Available on the
District website
Policies and
Procedures
Birthdays
Contact Information
Teacher Availability
Individual Classroom
Incentives
 Availability
 after school:
2:40-3:00 p.m.
 Math Help:
Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and
Thursdays
2:40-3:00 p.m.
Please contact us to
schedule a time.
Thank you for taking
time out of your
busy schedule to
come and meet your
child’s teachers.
We look forward to a
very productive and
successful year with
your child!