th

• It’s your turn to use the technology!
• Turn on your child’s Expressions
• Answer the questions that appear on the screen

• Helping your student to become
– Independent
– Questioning
– Resourceful
– Problem-solving
• Asking questions – of me AND your student
• “Loaning” your child to me every day 

• 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.

• 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
• 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

We use Standards-based grading for all
Language Arts. We will be grading every subject in 5 th grade using this numeric system.
• Grading Criteria
– 4 – Advanced – exceeds grade level
– 3 – Proficient – at grade level
– 2 – Basic – not yet meeting grade level
– 1 – Far below grade level

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.

5 th 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

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.

• Students will be asked to write more this year than perhaps they have ever written before.
The emphasis in 5 th grade is:
– produce clear and coherent writing
– demonstrates development of an idea
– organization with support.
• This will extend across all curricular areas.

Math in 5 th 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 5 th grade.
• Things you will see this year that may be new to you are multiple ways to model and different problem-solving strategies.

• 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.

• Multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals under the same guidelines as Unit 1.

• Geometric figures
• Measurement
• Area and perimeter
• More beginning algebraic concepts

• Topics such as: o data collection o Data representation o Data analysis will be included with some activities as crosscurricular.

There are three units in our Science study in 5 th 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.

The 5 th 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 is also an important part of 5 th grade.
• At Discovery, students choose an historical figure from Revolutionary through Reconstruction time to study, write a research paper on, and give on oral presentation to a panel.
• We begin this project in December - January and our final presentation date is in late February.
• This is a project completed almost exclusively at school and more information will be coming.

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.

• 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

• In the 5 th grade team, 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 5 th grade teacher will instruct a different skill.
• These will change and rotate throughout the year, so your student may have Mrs. Wright, Mr.
Spenner,, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Critser, or Mrs.
Busak during this time.
• Our goal is to establish, enhance, and extend primary skills for every student.

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