Welcome to 5th Grade!

Classroom Management

In 5th grade we use our Wolford Rocks program to encourage positive behaviors throughout the school and in class.

The management chart up here at the front has 4 ticket colors. ~Green is at the start of each day for everyone-all is well and smooth sailing.~Yellow is a warning that better choices for improving behavior needs to occur.~Blue is a partial consequence of losing some recess and that I am sad better choices haven’t occurred yet.

~Red is the loss of a full recess and an email home. The PBIS program using tickets will continue this year. Students can earn a ticket

by staying green all day, using their planners daily, and other individual efforts. Students can be recognized at assemblies by demonstrating leadership type

qualities designated for the month. Everyone will not achieve this.

Technology in the Classroom Regular technology use will continue as it prepares your student to be ready

for middle school, high school and beyond. We will continue the Personalized Learning Project with iPads for each students and laptops regularly. If you do not want to use our iPad, let me know.

Your students are used to using iPads and I expect them to be using them appropriately and where I have asked or there will be consequences.

Apps for education will allow us to collaborate easily. I will be using the document camera for interactive lessons online, and for

student use along with other educational sites, videos, etc. I will also utilize the smartboard for student engagement with interactive

lessons for all subjects. The students will blog on Seesaw, create Google docs/slides, and use a

variety of digital resources this year to enhance project based learning. Please have your child bring their own headphones to use.

Math Curriculum

Math Curriculum = GO MATH All Basic math facts must be mastered and should be practiced regularly at home

to make sure this goal is met. Hard work this year will pay off and give you a great start in 6th grade.

Place Value – whole numbers and decimals Long multiplication (4-digit by 3-digit) and long division (4-digit divided by 2-digit) Real World Problem Solving – (single and multi-step) Decimals Fractions Measurement Graphing Money

Math Curriculum Continued

Collecting and Analyzing Data

Patterns and Relationships

Estimating

Area, Perimeter, Volume

Rations and Probability

Reading Curriculum

Balanced Literacy Approach Whole Group Instruction: text structures, summary &

main idea, analyzing text, implied meaning (inferences)

Differentiated Guided Reading Groups

Wonders Reading Program

Real-World Text

Reading Skills (will follow the CCSS/Colorado State Standards)

Writing/Language Arts Curriculum

Writer’s Workshop Model – Planning strategies, Organization (traffic light), Purpose & Audience, Style, and Conventions (grammar)

Spelling – patterns, Friday Assessments (or day 5 of unit), application of spelling patterns in writing (graded periodically)

Information Literacy – Gathering and evaluating information

Critical Thinking – Reasoning, Questioning, Finding Evidence

Presentation & Collaboration – Discussions/groups, active listening, multimedia presentations

Vocabulary – Understanding unknown words, enhancing vocabulary, word relationships

Social Studies Curriculum-History Alive

Map and Globe Skills

Geography

Economics

Government

American History

Explorers

Colonial Times

Revolutionary War

Constitution

Science Curriculum

Scientific Method

Plant and Animal Adaptations Mixtures and Solutions Weather on Earth

Human Body Land and Water

Homework Policy

No more than 50 minutes of homework per night (usually M-Th.)

25-30 minutes of reading each night (can combine to read longer one night and less on another based on individual schedules and can include family and real world reading as well as novels/graphic novels included).

Homework is due the next day unless stated differently. Use the planner daily. I recommend parents checking them as well. This will help prepare for 6th grade.)

If homework is not completed, students will be required to complete it during recess time or a time designated by the teacher.

As a previous 6th grade teacher, I know where your student needs to be at the end of the year in order to be successful next year. Take turning homework in on time seriously and you will be ready. Homework determines grades too!

A missed homework slip will be sent home to be signed and returned the next day with a parent signature.

Birthday Treats and Snacks

We love birthday treats! Please email me in advance to schedule a time to drop them off.

We will have a working morning snack. Please keep these snacks healthy and easy to eat (No candy or soda).

We are peanut free.

Volunteers

I appreciate classroom volunteers! I will need help with Friday Folders, our annual field trip, someone to be in charge of class parties (with other parents pitching in), etc. I envision a different lead party planner for each party in order to spread things around and please sign up at the back table. If you are interested in volunteering, please see Karla or Joan in the office for a volunteer packet. Thanks so much for your time and efforts on behalf of our classroom.

Communication

Notes sent in with your child or emails are fine.

These can serve as a communication tool between home and school.

Friday Folders-

There is a dual purpose for 5th grade folders. On the left side you will find

your student’s classwork, quizzes, tests etc. completed that week. In

addition, you will find a signature sheet – please examine the work with

your child, sign/date, and return the folder (keep work at home). On the

right side, you will find notices/forms/information from the office and district.