Welcome
to
Mrs. Bonebrake’s
th
5 Grade Class
Thanks for joining us!
• Read the letter from your
student
• Look through the folder of
information found at their seat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utGytd7_VcQ
I Appreciate You!
• Helping your student to become
– Independent
– Questioning
– Resourceful
– Problem-solving
• Asking questions – of me AND your student
• “Loaning” your child to me every day 
Philosophy of Education
• Education seems to be a cycle of constant change
• As educators, we see both the need for consistency
and also the mandate to change
• The idea that students can learn all they need to know
if they get enough education is no longer true.
• Today’s children exist in a knowledge-rich environment
• Therefore, the task of education has become to give
our students
– critical-thinking skills
– problem-solving skills
– move toward independent, productive citizens.
Grading Procedures
• Daily work
–  = I have seen the work and it is satisfactory
– Ratio – Ex. 9/12 = Number correct / Number possible
– “See Me” = there is something I want to discuss – could be
great work or room for improvement
• Report Card
4 = exceeds grade level expectations
3 = meets grade level expectations
2 = not yet achieving grade level expectations
1 = far below grade level expectations
• Homework Folders
Power School
If you do not have a Power School account, we
encourage you to take the time to set one up. If
you have one and have forgotten the password
please let us know and we can reset your
password for you.
You will receive a letter tonight showing you how
you will be able to access your child's future test
scores through Power Schools. Test score will no
longer be sent home by the teacher or by mail.
Language Arts
We use Standards-based grading
for all Language Arts. We will
be grading every subject in 5th
grade using this numeric
system.
Reading
5th grade students will use the Harcourt
Reading textbook along with other
supplemental reading materials.
There will be an increased emphasis on reading
non-fiction and informational grade-level text.
Students have received information concerning
the “40-Book Challenge”!
We will have a literature-rich environment.
Vocabulary
5th grade uses 2 different instructional programs to
build our students’ working vocabulary.
• Wordly Wise – Students will have a lesson in this
book every two weeks.
• Root Words – Students will have a root word
(Greek or Latin) every week.
• Example –
– Wordly Wise Lesson 2 – begun on 9/9 – Test on 9/19
– Root Word “spec” – begun on 9/16 – Test on 9/20
Spelling
We will be using a program called
Words Their Way
• Teaches spelling patterns
• Integrates assessment into students’ daily
usage. there will be weekly spelling quizzes used as informative assessments
• The assessment for the report card will come
from students spelling in everyday writing.
Writing
• Students will be asked to write more this year
than perhaps they have ever written before. The
emphasis in 5th grade is:
– produce clear and coherent writing
– demonstrates development of an idea
– organization with support.
• This will extend across all curricular areas.
• “Complete, telling sentences” = sentences that
begin with a capital, end with an end mark, and
restate the question
• T-R-E-E paragraphs
Mathematics
Math in 5th grade is all about developing a
strong number sense and using multiple ways
to represent how we work with numbers.
• There are three “Big Ideas” that are the focus
of 5th grade.
• Things you will see this year that may be new
to you are multiple ways to model and
different problem-solving strategies.
• Fact mastery is vital to future success
Unit 1
• Addition and subtraction of multi-digit whole
numbers to mastery
• Addition and subtraction of fractions, mixed
numbers, and decimal numbers to the
thousandths place
• Deeper understanding of the number system
• An introduction to algebraic thinking using
these operations.
Unit 2
• Multiplication and division of multi-digit
whole numbers to mastery
• Multiplication and division of fractions, mixed
numbers, and decimal numbers to the
thousandths place
• Deeper understanding of the number system
• An introduction to algebraic thinking using
these operations.
Unit 3
•
•
•
•
Geometric figures
Measurement
Area and perimeter
More beginning algebraic concepts
Math/Science Connection
• Topics such as:
o data collection
o Data representation
o Data analysis
will be included with some activities as crosscurricular.
Science
There are three units in our Science study in 5th
grade. They are:
• Unit 1 – Matter
• Unit 2 – Living Systems
• Unit 3 – Earth’s Systems
• The Scientific Method will be used throughout
each unit of study.
Social Studies
The 5th grade year is characterized by:
• exploration of the New World
• settlement and creation of the United States
• creation of our government
• responsibilities of citizenship.
• Geography skills are also built and expanded
• Students will be expected to learn the regions of
the U.S. and their natural resources.
• We will study in depth the formation of our
nation through the Civil War and Reconstruction
Era.
PACE
• PACE is also an important part of 5th grade.
• This is a Westada District-wide research /
writing / speaking project
• We begin this project in December - January
and our final presentation date is usually in
late February.
• This is a project completed almost exclusively
at school and more information will be
coming.
Homework Expectations
A general guideline for homework is to expect
about 45 – 60 minutes. This might include (but
are not limited to):
• Reading –
– 20 – 25 minutes per night – students keep track on
their own
• Word Study –
– Wordly Wise, Root Word, Spelling – study words,
practice spelling, word hunts – 15 minutes
• Work Completion – Work not completed during class time – 10 – 20
minutes
• Skills Practice – Math facts, memorization practice, etc.
Things that could / should come home:
• Assignment log with daily work written on it
• Spelling words & patterns
• Vocabulary words (Wordly Wise book, root
word paper)
• Math practice pages
• Social Studies – maps, writing prompts,
memorizations, study materials, discussion
topics
• Science – vocabulary words and concept
papers, possibly experiment ideas to try at
home
Meeting Needs / Challenging All
Students
• In the 4th and 5th grade teams, we will be offering
instruction and intervention for every level of learner
in Reading and Math.
• Students will be grouped according to skill
development and each 5th grade teacher will instruct a
different skill.
• These will change and rotate throughout the year, so
your student may have Mrs. Kalinski, Mrs. Haycock,
Mrs. Bonebrake, Mrs. Spenner, Mr. Partin, Ms. Geis,
Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Critser, or Mrs. Busak during this
time.
• Our goal is to establish, enhance, and extend primary
skills for every student.
Extras
• Website – District site, then school http://www.westada.org/Domain/1676
• Box Tops
• Birthdays/Celebrations – one at the end of
each trimester
• Book Orders – online / hard copy
• Volunteers
• Classroom Volunteers
• Volunteering at Home
A Parting Thought . . .