Dear Parents,
August 20, 2013
This week begins a brand new school year for all of us! I would like to
welcome you to 5th grade and to an exciting year at Fox Creek. As always, the
start of a year holds the promise of discovery and learning, as well as the prospect
of personal growth in all areas.
I have enjoyed meeting many of you already, and l am looking forward to
working with all of you. I’d like to share a bit about myself so you can get to know
me. I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and get back home frequently. My husband and I
just celebrated our eight anniversary. We have a son, Roman, who just turned
three.
I attended Illinois Wesleyan for undergrad, so I have been in the
Bloomington/Normal area for a while. In 2004, I completed my Masters in Reading
from Illinois State. This is my thirteenth year teaching fifth grade. I began
teaching with Unit 5 right after college at Northpoint Elementary, and then I
moved to Fox when the school opened. When I’m not busy teaching I enjoy
spending time with family, scrapbooking, traveling, riding my bike, and reading.
We have put together this “survival guide” of information to help you and
your child become familiar with our expectations for the year. Please take a day or
two to read through this information and contact me with any questions or
concerns. Then you may want to keep the information in a special place so that you
may refer to it throughout the year. If you need to contact me, email is usually
the best and quickest way. My email address is felixs@unit5.org. If you don’t have
email or don’t feel comfortable communicating in this way, then please feel free to
reach me at Fox Creek at 557-4416. I usually get to school by 7:45 a.m., so the
morning is a good time to reach me.
I’m looking forward to a great year with your children. Thank you for your
cooperation in getting this year off to a great start!
Sincerely,
Susan Felix
5F’s Behavior Management

Fox Creek Expectations—Fox Creek has 3 main expectations for our students.
The behavioral expectations are:
o Be Respectful
o Be Responsible
o Be Ready
The students will learn specific examples of what this type of behavior looks like in
different settings. Students will receive a check if these expectations are not
met. For continued poor choices, the following consequences may occur:
Thinking Spot: A Thinking Spot referral is given when students receive 4
checks in a given day for minor violations. The students will complete a
Thinking Spot sheet in a predetermined classroom that must be signed by
parents and returned to school the following day and will miss one recess.
Lunch recess will be lost until the signed form is returned.
Office Referrals: An office referral is given for major violations. Certain
behaviors are serious enough to bypass steps. These include, but are not
limited to, swearing, fighting, or other physical violence. The principal will
investigate the incident and determine appropriate action to resolve the
issue.
In addition to the check system we use school-wide at Fox Creek, there are
several management strategies I will be using in my classroom.

Behavior Charts—These daily charts go along with our check system. Each
student will earn a stamp every day he/she has all homework completed and no
behavior checks. At the end of the month we will have a special reward! Here
are the requirements to participate:



0-2 days with no stamp — activity + treat 
3-5 days with no stamp — activity 
6+ days with no stamp -- study hall 
Please initial the behavior chart DAILY. This chart can be a great communication
tool between home and school.

Fox Rocks—Students will have the opportunity to earn Fox Rocks awards for
following the school expectations. The students will buy items and privileges
from our school store with Fox Rocks, as well as a chance to win a reward at
assemblies. It will be up to each student to be responsible for his/her Fox
Rocks.

Tickets-- Each day a student brings back a signed and correctly filled out
assignment notebook, he/she will receive a ticket. At the end of each trimester
if the student has met the goal, he/she will earn extra credit points. This is my
way to encourage organizational skills. Being organized and prepared really
makes a BIG difference in school success. This little reward goes a long way
come report card time!! 

TIMBERWOLF – This strategy rewards the class as a whole. The students will
discuss and vote for the reward they would like to work toward. In the past,
students have chosen a variety of different rewards, such as a movie, extra
recess, pajama party, picnic, and all sorts of other fun things. Once the reward
is chosen, the class works to add a letter to spell Timberwolf. The class can
earn letters by using work time wisely, walking quietly in the hallway, listening
carefully during instruction, and by making other good choices. Once
Timberwolf is spelled, we start again!
Communication
In addition to Friday Folders, which is explained on the following page, there are
several other ways that you and I can keep in communication.
 Newsletter – Each full week of school, I will send home a newsletter that
describes life in 5F. In each letter, you will find a run down of each subject
area. This is an excellent way to question your child about the lessons and
activities we learn each week. Tired of getting the answer “NOTHING” when
asking about what was done that day in school? Use the newsletter as a tool!
Also in the letter will be important dates and information on events and tests
that are coming up. I offer the newsletter in print form or by email.
 Website – My class has its very own website. Here you will find links to sites
that relate to our curriculum, project information, and most importantly, an
online assignment notebook. Use this to double check daily assignments.
Simply go to: www.unit5.org//Domain/1413
 Email – As I mentioned in my introduction letter, email is a great way for us to
have quick, frequent communication. Please email me at: felixs@unit5.org
FRIDAY FOLDERS
Every Friday, your child will bring home a Friday Folder. In
the folder will be graded papers/tests for that week, any late
assignment notices, informational flyers, and any other
comments we have regarding your student.
Please look through the folders each week, read over any comments and papers,
sign the folder and return it with your child on Monday. It is our hope that the
Friday Folders will help keep you informed on your child’s progress and the
activities we are doing in the classroom. You may also send any notes or questions
back to school in the folder. When we work together, this weekly system is
extremely effective.
HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK & ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS
Fifth grade is a stepping-stone into middle school. More responsibility
and independence is placed on your student. We believe that homework
is necessary for practicing skills that have been learned or for
enriching the classroom experience. Efforts are made to provide time
in class to begin assignments, if not complete them entirely. However,
your child will have some homework if the work is not finished in class.
An appropriate amount of time for a 5th grader to spend on homework
each night is around 45-60 minutes.
We strongly encourage the children to use their class time wisely so that they are
not overwhelmed with excess homework. Each child will be held responsible for
missing work. We expect work to be completed on time. If late assignments are
never completed, they will become a zero. Students with late assignments and
missing work will participate in study hall during our reward days.
Sometimes there will be projects that your child must also work on at home, but
he/she will have plenty of notification and time for these projects. We also
expect students to study at home for tests, as well as participate in our class
review and use the study guides we will provide.
In order to keep track of assignments and tests, each fifth grader will record
classroom activities and homework in their assignment notebooks. These may be
purchased in the office. Please check and sign your student’s notebook each night.
This will keep you informed of upcoming due dates.
PROGRESS REPORTS
We will send home progress reports half way through each trimester. This will tell
your student’s current grades and any area of concern or achievement that we feel
you would want to be informed of. Please be looking for these around mid-terms.
You may also always check your child’s grades using Skyward.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are sent home at the end of each trimester. These report cards
should be reviewed by you and your child. The signature card should be signed and
returned. You may keep the report card for each trimester.
The Unit 5 grading scale is as follows:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F
LANGUAGE ARTS
Our district literacy and language arts curriculum
focuses on several areas: writing, independent
reading, self-selected reading, whole class instruction, spelling, and grammar.
In the writing component, the students will improve their writing styles/skills
through mini-lessons. We introduce the students to a wide variety of writing
genres—scripts, fictional stories, biographies and many, many more. We will also
begin the day by writing in personal journals. Grammar skills will be integrated into
the writing curriculum. Students will focus on spelling patterns with Words Their
Way.
In reading we will cover a wide range of genres. Students will work in small guided
reading groups on a daily basis, as well as participate in whole group reading
activities. During Reading Workshop, students will have the opportunity for selfselected reading, during which they will choose their own novels to read silently.
We will conference individually with your child to monitor their reading progress
and discuss reading strategies. During RTI time, the students will be placed in
groups to focus on improving reading skills appropriate to his/her level.
SCIENCE
Our science series has an emphasis on vocabulary development, how to read
science, and hands-on experiments. The four themes are: Life Science, Earth
Science, Physical Science, and Space & Technology.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The series called History Alive brings history to life for the students.
In fifth grade the curriculum focuses on American history. Some of
the units include: First Americans, Explorers, 13 Colonies,
Revolutionary War, the Creating of Our Constitution and Government,
and the Civil War. The students will participate in several simulations,
as well as create various projects.
EVERYDAY MATH
Since your child most likely used Everyday Math in fourth grade,
he/she is probably familiar with the routine and the math
terminology. At the beginning of each unit, you will receive a letter
describing the content in that unit.
Your child will have a Student Reference Book that includes explanations of
concepts, descriptions of the games, and a data bank. This tool will really assist
your child when he/she is doing independent work at home or school. It will also
help you when you would like to read more about a topic in more detail. In fifth
grade, the topics we will be learning about are number theory, estimation and
computation, geometry, division, fractions/decimals/percents, using data,
exponents, negative numbers, coordinates and area, and probability.
Quick recall of basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) is
an important part of math success. If your child still struggles with math facts,
please begin/keep practicing at home. Please contact us if you need to check out
flashcards.
BOOK ORDERS
About once a month, we allow students to order books from Scholastic Book Clubs.
This is an opportunity to encourage reading as well as help our own classroom
library. However, this is entirely optional and the decision to order books is yours
to make.
ATTENDANCE
It is very important that your child is in school everyday that he/she is healthy
and able. While there will be circumstances that arise, please make every effort
to get your student to school on time each morning.
Much of what we learn and experience in fifth grade occurs in the classroom.
While we can provide make-up work, please keep in mind that it is impossible to
reproduce a day in the classroom. Much of what we do is not worksheet/textbook
type material that can be easily sent home. The explanations, discussions, and
group work we do at school is hard to make up. Please make attendance a top
priority this year.
GADGETS & GIZSMOS
No toys are allowed in the classroom unless permission is given
by the teacher. This includes trading cards, game boys, etc.
If it is not part of the school supply list or not specifically for a school
project/assignment, then please keep it at home. Thanks! The fifth grade
teachers reserve the right to confiscate any items that are deemed inappropriate.
The items will be returned at a later date.
BIRTHDAYS
Fox Creek has a NO BIRTHDAY TREATS policy. This is due to concerns
with allergies, heathful eating, and cost issues. Your child will still be
recognized on his/her birthday on the announcements and given a
birthday pencil from Mr. Robinson. If birthday treats are brought to
school, they will be sent home with the student. Thank you for
supporting this schoolwide policy.
Fifth Grade
Parent Packet
Mrs. Felix
2013-2014