2013-2014
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Lisa Castecka: Reading/LA
Yvette Foster: Science
Donna Kalman: Social Studies
Nancy Mecklenburg: Math
Joy Moore: Science
Janelle Steves: Social Studies
Melissa Wright: Math
Erin Zimmerman: Reading/LA
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Spiral- Notes/examples, daily warm-ups,
Quizzes every week to 7 days- based on homework
Major tests- review sheet will come home 2 days
before. Complete at home, go over in class.
Homework every night!!! SHOW ALL WORK!!!
Fast facts every Friday- Students making less than
90 will be rewarded Monday for doing the FF
homework/practice over the weekend.
Mountain Math- will start 2nd semester
Cumulative review short quiz- 1 per week- review
of any skill covered to that point.
ALL WORK MUST BE SHOWN! Answers only
will NOT be accepted!
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Reading Log will begin the week of September 9;
no parent signature is required; students must
read 20+ minutes per day
Reader’s Workshop with an interactive student
notebook (BINDER)
Comprehension tests: not given weekly but may
go along with a book or poem we are studying in
class
Reading strategies- strategies are part of the
grade
Major research project (in the last nine weeks)
Spelling is not a grade on the report card
Parent resources are on the katyisd website
Writing and Language Arts will be integrated through Reading
and is not a separate block!
 Library every other week on Friday
 Quizzes- unannounced
 Grammar teach/review
 Writing in different genres
 Major Research Project
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Note taking skills
Hands on investigations
Workbooks assignments (classwork)
Daily Science Review
STAAR Science Practice
Study Guides
Vocabulary Development
Science Projects
Tests and Quizzes will be given about every
other week
Geography Review- graded weekly
 Curriculum covers 400+ years.
 All work is kept in an interactive notebook
 Quizzes- may use notebook
 Periodic memorizing (done in class)
 Historical plays
 Please do not take any papers out
of the social studies section of
the organizer
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PE – 2 days- wear tennis shoes!!
Art- 1 day
Music- 1 day
Friday- rotation day
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Goes home every day
Graded work and flyers go home every
Tuesday- please take them out!!
6 - 9 pockets preferred
Pockets:
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tracker
homework
math
reading
social studies
science
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Required! Must have every day
Students copy assignments in every subject
from each teachers homework boardteachers will put a
or their initials to show
the students wrote it down correctly.
Please review assignments written in tracker
with your child** if they say, “I finished that”,
PLEASE ask to see it!
Teacher will put time on tracker for RR break
If you still need to purchase a tracker, they
are $3.00
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They need to talk to each teacher regarding
what they missed and when/how they can
make it up.
If your child will be out for more than 1 day,
you can call the front office by 9:00 am to ask
for make up work. You may pick it up by
3:00, or have it sent home with another child.
We can not send home work for an absence
ahead of time.
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Student council – campaign begins September 23
Safety patrol- must be car rider or walker/YMCA
and have passing grades and good conduct
Recycling
Kindergarten helpers on field day
5th grade end of year parties
Shark Jam activities
Field trip
 Math
Night October 17th
 Picture
 Game
Day: October 16th
Day: October 25th
 STAAR
Math: April 1st
 STAAR Reading: April 2nd
 STAAR Science: April 23rd
 Students
will always be:
Safe
Respectful
Responsible
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Will come home every Tuesday for a parent
signature (no initials please)
Students will earn a “shark smile” for getting
card signed and returned Wednesday
If you have questions about the card, please
write a separate note or email the teacher
An office referral will be recorded as an “N” in
self discipline
Shark jam sessions based on homework
marks
Loss of card is a U in organization
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A summary of your child’s
strengths/weaknesses in each subject and
behavior will come after the 1st nine weeks.
Please review the comments made with your
child. If you feel you need to discuss your
child in a personal or phone conference after
reviewing the information, you may return the
form to set up a time.
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Our conference time is 2:30-3:20. If you contact
us, please realize we are teaching until 2:30 and
may not get your email before then.
Email is the best and quickest way to get in touch
with us:
lisaacastecka
donnakalman
joylmoore
melissawright
yvetterfoster
nancykmecklenburg
janellersteves
erinezimmerman
@katyisd.org