Welcome to Fifth GradeWelcome to Fifth Grade2015-20162015-2016

Questions and Comments Questions and Comments

Feel free to ask anything along the way. Feel free to ask anything along the way. I’d love to meet you after the PP. That I’d love to meet you after the PP. That

would be a good time to share with me, would be a good time to share with me, anything you think will help make your anything you think will help make your child’s year the best it can be. child’s year the best it can be. Communication needs to be open and Communication needs to be open and honest in the best interest of your child.honest in the best interest of your child.

CommunicationCommunication The easiest way to reach me is via email. The easiest way to reach me is via email. Jen.Mathieson@lz95.orgJen.Mathieson@lz95.org You may email me during school hours, but I You may email me during school hours, but I

may not have the opportunity to read your email may not have the opportunity to read your email and/or respond right awayand/or respond right away

The best times to reach me are before or after The best times to reach me are before or after school : 847-540-3465, Voice Mail : 847-540-school : 847-540-3465, Voice Mail : 847-540-5286. 5286. If you need immediate attention, please call the If you need immediate attention, please call the

school office. 847-438-2351school office. 847-438-2351

Classroom InformationClassroom Information Students may bring a Students may bring a healthyhealthy snack and a snack and a

waterwater bottle to school each day. bottle to school each day. Birthdays will be recognized over the loud Birthdays will be recognized over the loud

speaker and in the classroom. speaker and in the classroom. Brain Gym -Brain Gym -We as a class will be doing Brain We as a class will be doing Brain

Gym exercises as a way to get our brain in Gym exercises as a way to get our brain in focus. focus.

I will be sending a newsletter bi-monthly via my I will be sending a newsletter bi-monthly via my webpage or electronically if you so wish. webpage or electronically if you so wish.

D’s and U’s need to be signed by a parent when D’s and U’s need to be signed by a parent when it comes home. it comes home.

Classroom ManagementClassroom Management

Our overall goal is for the children to be Our overall goal is for the children to be responsible, respectful and safe.responsible, respectful and safe.

We as a fifth grade team have created a We as a fifth grade team have created a management system “Fix It Plan”. management system “Fix It Plan”.

Students will be given 2 warnings, teachers will Students will be given 2 warnings, teachers will give students every effort to “fix it”. give students every effort to “fix it”.

Fix it plan, and evaluation in school. If their Fix it plan, and evaluation in school. If their behavior continues the “fix it” goes home to signbehavior continues the “fix it” goes home to sign

Two “fix-it” sheets in one week will warrant an Two “fix-it” sheets in one week will warrant an email or phone call home. email or phone call home.

HomeworkHomework All homework will be recorded in the assignment All homework will be recorded in the assignment

book. Materials needed will be placed in the book. Materials needed will be placed in the expandable folder. This will go home daily and expandable folder. This will go home daily and return the following day.return the following day.

A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each day A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each day when all assignments are turned in, along with their when all assignments are turned in, along with their expandable folder and assignment notebook on their expandable folder and assignment notebook on their desks. desks.

Please check your student’s assignment notebook Please check your student’s assignment notebook and sign it daily. and sign it daily.

Homework will be included in their participation Homework will be included in their participation grade and is still a requirement. grade and is still a requirement.

Homework ExpectationsHomework Expectations

Reading –read at least 20 minutes every Reading –read at least 20 minutes every night.night.

Math – nightly assignments & study math Math – nightly assignments & study math facts as neededfacts as needed

Occasional word work, science, social Occasional word work, science, social studies, and writing assignmentsstudies, and writing assignments

Expandable FolderExpandable Folder The students will bring an expandable folder home each night. The students will bring an expandable folder home each night.

This folder will contain any notes from the office or me, and your This folder will contain any notes from the office or me, and your child’s homework. child’s homework.

The The front tab front tab of the folder will contain all homework for that night. of the folder will contain all homework for that night. The The second tab second tab will contain everything that your child needed to will contain everything that your child needed to

bring home from school, including school notes and your child’s bring home from school, including school notes and your child’s homework. This is where you will place any other school related homework. This is where you will place any other school related papers that you need to return. This is also the pocket where papers that you need to return. This is also the pocket where notes to me or the office may be placed (or their assignment notes to me or the office may be placed (or their assignment books). books).

The other tabs are for school (notes, current work, etc). The other tabs are for school (notes, current work, etc). Please Please do not take anything out of their folder, your do not take anything out of their folder, your student will be responsible for doing that. These student will be responsible for doing that. These papers are ongoing assignments. papers are ongoing assignments.

Literacy

During this morning block, we will follow the workshop model for literacy instruction. Components of a workshop model include read alouds, direct instruction mini-lessons, small group instruction, time for independent practice, writing about reading, conferring with the teacher and time for collaborative conversations. Students will read and work with a wide variety of authentic literature and trade books. Reading Fundamentals is the series K-5 classrooms will use to guide reading instruction. Each Unit of Study includes mentor texts, a variety of leveled books for guided reading and independent reading, and a selection of digital shared teaching resources that systematically integrate reading skill/strategy instruction with the study of genre. For more information visit www.schoolwide.com. 

ReadingReading SchoolwideSchoolwide is the district 95 curriculum we will be using is the district 95 curriculum we will be using

during our reading literacy block. during our reading literacy block. Reader’s Workshop ModelReader’s Workshop Model - Components include - Components include

guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, shared reading, and independent reading.shared reading, and independent reading.

55thth Grade Genre Units – Grade Genre Units – Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

MathMathThe implementation of the Illinois Common Core State Standards brought shifts to math instruction. Greater focus on fewer topicsCoherence: Linking topics and thinking across gradesRigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application with equal intensity

For more information about the shifts to the Common Core, please visit:

http://www.corestandards.org/other-resources/key-shifts-in-mathematics/

 

Math ContinuedMath Continued

We will be using Stepping Stones by Origo to guide our math instruction. Stepping Stones is an online teaching resource that is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students have print journals, but there will not be a printed mathematics textbook. The focus of the Stepping Stones series is an emphasis on conceptual development of mathematics. You can expect your student to have many hands-on experiences with manipulatives and visual representations in addition to traditional computation. Number sense and fact fluency will continue to be emphasized.

For more information visit www.origoeducation.com/steppingstones

WritingWriting

The writing curriculum emphasizes the three writing genres mentioned in the standards, informative/explanatory, narrative, and opinion, as well as poetry and creative writing. Write Source is the textbook series used to support the writing curriculum in our elementary schools.

Resources for parents and guardians:For more information about the Common Core State Standards visit: http://www.corestandards.org/To see resources compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education visit: http://isbe.net/common_coreTo view resource guides created by the Illinois PTA for parents visit: http://isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources

 

 

Word Study/Phonics/ SpellingWord Study/Phonics/ Spelling

We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is developmentally appropriate for our students and in the developmentally appropriate for our students and in the context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. We will be learning and implementing the program, We will be learning and implementing the program, Words Their Way to support a developmental approach Words Their Way to support a developmental approach to word study. to word study.

Full implementation of Words Their Way will begin this Full implementation of Words Their Way will begin this school year. school year.

For more information visit For more information visit http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WTW_WordStudhttp://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WTW_WordStudy.pdf y.pdf

ScienceScience

In Fifth grade we will study units on earth, life, and physical science topics over the course of the school year. The current text resource for science instruction is National Geographic Science. The series offers a broad range of print and digital resources as students engage in science study and inquiry.

 

Social StudiesSocial Studies

Fifth grade students learn about the building of our nation. A variety of textbook resources are used.

It will be integrated with reading and writing.It will be integrated with reading and writing. Students will practice research skills and note taking.Students will practice research skills and note taking.

ASSESSMENTSASSESSMENTShttp://www.parcconline.org/

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)College and Careers (PARCC) Computer-based K–12 assessments in Mathematics Computer-based K–12 assessments in Mathematics

and English Language Arts/Literacy and English Language Arts/Literacy April 4April 4thth – May 3 – May 3rdrd

MAP Testing: MAP Testing: Fall: September 8Fall: September 8thth-September 23-September 23rdrd Spring: May 15Spring: May 15thth-May 27-May 27thth

Fountas and Pinnell:Fountas and Pinnell: October 13October 13thth-November 13-November 13thth and in April and in April

Cogat:Cogat: December 7December 7thth – December 11th – December 11th

TAFTTAFT

Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado Taft Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado Taft Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU owned Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU owned campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning fun-filled campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning fun-filled extravaganza that is one of the highlights of your extravaganza that is one of the highlights of your child’s 5child’s 5thth grade year. grade year.

Dates this year are February 22Dates this year are February 22ndnd-24-24thth (Mon-Wed) (Mon-Wed) There will be in informative There will be in informative parentparent meeting in the meeting in the

upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00. upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00. We will be fundraising to offset that cost if We will be fundraising to offset that cost if interested.interested.

Human Growth and Human Growth and ReproductionReproduction

In the spring of 5In the spring of 5thth grade, the science grade, the science curriculum includes a two week study on curriculum includes a two week study on human growth and reproduction. human growth and reproduction.

More on that as the time approaches.More on that as the time approaches. You may want to consider having “the talk” You may want to consider having “the talk”

sometime before May, 2016.sometime before May, 2016.

Hallway Duties Hallway Duties

If you did not sign up for a fall conference If you did not sign up for a fall conference in the hall, please do so before you leave.in the hall, please do so before you leave.

Room Parent volunteer sign up is now Room Parent volunteer sign up is now online, please take a blue slip for the online, please take a blue slip for the website. Please consider helping out.website. Please consider helping out.

Please take a minute to fill out the T-shirt Please take a minute to fill out the T-shirt order form for your child, return tonight or order form for your child, return tonight or in their expandable folder. Due September in their expandable folder. Due September 99thth. .

Check It Out Check It Out Before you leave you feel free to check out Before you leave you feel free to check out

the following:the following: ClassroomClassroom Math pie chartMath pie chart Your child’s jobYour child’s job HallwayHallway Your child’s locker (feel free to peek inside)Your child’s locker (feel free to peek inside)

Carol Dweck- Growth Carol Dweck- Growth Mindset Mindset

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRYv=NWv1VdDeoRY