READING
Our reading block consists of a whole group and smaller guided reading groups. This year in 5th grade we are using the Daily 5 and CAFE to make our reading more fun and meaningful. Our Daily 5 is made up of 5 activities: Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading,Word Work, and Working on Writing. Each of these components are very important to becoming better readers and writers. We also look at our Comprehension, Accuracy of reading the words, Fluency in how we read the text and Expanding our vocabulary(CAFE). At this time, we are learning this routine. The students are doing wonderfully! We use the Scott Foresman reading series, which focuses on comprehension and reading skills. We will also use small novels for something different.
GRAMMAR
Because writing is so very vital in 5th grade, we will be working on grammar and sentence structure. We write a lot in 5th grade (Journals, writing contests, essays, and many other writing projects), and knowing how to set up our sentences is KEY! Grammar is not taught during the writing block. It has its own small chunk of our week.
SPELLING
Spelling tests will be given every Friday. During short weeks (2 or 3 days), we will just have more time to practice, as tests will not be given until the following week. By 5th grade, spelling rules have been taught and we are focusing more on prefixes, suffixes and root words. If our children learn those very important prefixes and suffixes, they can learn to figure out the meaning of words that they may not know.
MATH
For math instruction, we utilize both whole group and small group concepts. While in whole group, we take notes over the concept, we go through step by step of the process to solve the problem. In small group, students rotate through 4 groups: Practicing multiplication or division facts, review of a previous skill, practice of the current skill, and working with me. We also use manipulatives to get hands-on learning. Tests will be given on Fridays. Most assignments will be done in class, however, there are some assignments that may be taken home to be finished and turned in by 9:20 am the next morning. Monday through Thursday students will have math homework. This homework is for practice and should not take too long.
SPECIAL CLASSES
Students will go to either PE or Music each day. PE is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On these days, students should wear tennis shoes. On Tuesday and Thursday, they will participate in a music class. 5th grade has computer lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. During our time in computer lab, we will practice skills through Study Island and other school approved sites. As stated above, fifth grade will do a lot of writing. Some of these projects will allow students to type them in Microsoft Word. Some projects will require research on the internet as well. Students will also contribute and add to our class website.
SCIENCE
Fifth grade is so fortunate to be able to participate in the StarBase Program. This is a 5 week program. We will be going in October and November, one day each week. This is going to be awesome! More to come on that, as this will be my first year going as well.
Our science textbooks are from the Scott Foresman series. We will be learning science through reading these and other non-fiction selections. In addition, the class will participate in research projects and practice the scientific method through science experiments. All fifth grade students will be expected to participate in the spring semester Washington Elementary Science Fair.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Fifth grade will be studying US History from the first settlements in the New World to the Revolutionary War to Westward Expansion. We will be using our Scott Foresman series. We will be keeping a History notebook for notes and foldables.
HOMEWORK
Each night, Monday through Thursday, students will have homework. For reading, students will be expected to read for 30 minutes and complete a one paragraph summary. This summary should be a minimum of 5 sentences and no more than 10 sentences. This gives students practice in both reading and writing. In addition to reading, students will have a short math assignment. This assignment will either be over our skill that we are working on or a review of past skills. I do not grade each individual homework assignment, however, students are given 25 points for turning in each one. That grade is added to their weekly math and reading grades. The only way to improve in anything is practice.
PLANNER
Being organized, planning ahead and setting goals can help good students to become great students. Planners are a good tool to use for this. Students have been supplied planners by Title 1. We have discussed how to use these. Students are expected to write what we have done in class, homework assignments, upcoming events, etc. in their planners. I give them time at the end of the day for this. We have also talked about students putting their personality into their planners by decorating them. We have a class treat basket full of planner goodies like colored post-it notes, stickers, cool looking paper clips, and washi tape that students can earn.
Our reading block consists of a whole group and smaller guided reading groups. This year in 5th grade we are using the Daily 5 and CAFE to make our reading more fun and meaningful. Our Daily 5 is made up of 5 activities: Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading,Word Work, and Working on Writing. Each of these components are very important to becoming better readers and writers. We also look at our Comprehension, Accuracy of reading the words, Fluency in how we read the text and Expanding our vocabulary(CAFE). At this time, we are learning this routine. The students are doing wonderfully! We use the Scott Foresman reading series, which focuses on comprehension and reading skills. We will also use small novels for something different.
GRAMMAR
Because writing is so very vital in 5th grade, we will be working on grammar and sentence structure. We write a lot in 5th grade (Journals, writing contests, essays, and many other writing projects), and knowing how to set up our sentences is KEY! Grammar is not taught during the writing block. It has its own small chunk of our week.
SPELLING
Spelling tests will be given every Friday. During short weeks (2 or 3 days), we will just have more time to practice, as tests will not be given until the following week. By 5th grade, spelling rules have been taught and we are focusing more on prefixes, suffixes and root words. If our children learn those very important prefixes and suffixes, they can learn to figure out the meaning of words that they may not know.
MATH
For math instruction, we utilize both whole group and small group concepts. While in whole group, we take notes over the concept, we go through step by step of the process to solve the problem. In small group, students rotate through 4 groups: Practicing multiplication or division facts, review of a previous skill, practice of the current skill, and working with me. We also use manipulatives to get hands-on learning. Tests will be given on Fridays. Most assignments will be done in class, however, there are some assignments that may be taken home to be finished and turned in by 9:20 am the next morning. Monday through Thursday students will have math homework. This homework is for practice and should not take too long.
SPECIAL CLASSES
Students will go to either PE or Music each day. PE is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On these days, students should wear tennis shoes. On Tuesday and Thursday, they will participate in a music class. 5th grade has computer lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. During our time in computer lab, we will practice skills through Study Island and other school approved sites. As stated above, fifth grade will do a lot of writing. Some of these projects will allow students to type them in Microsoft Word. Some projects will require research on the internet as well. Students will also contribute and add to our class website.
SCIENCE
Fifth grade is so fortunate to be able to participate in the StarBase Program. This is a 5 week program. We will be going in October and November, one day each week. This is going to be awesome! More to come on that, as this will be my first year going as well.
Our science textbooks are from the Scott Foresman series. We will be learning science through reading these and other non-fiction selections. In addition, the class will participate in research projects and practice the scientific method through science experiments. All fifth grade students will be expected to participate in the spring semester Washington Elementary Science Fair.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Fifth grade will be studying US History from the first settlements in the New World to the Revolutionary War to Westward Expansion. We will be using our Scott Foresman series. We will be keeping a History notebook for notes and foldables.
HOMEWORK
Each night, Monday through Thursday, students will have homework. For reading, students will be expected to read for 30 minutes and complete a one paragraph summary. This summary should be a minimum of 5 sentences and no more than 10 sentences. This gives students practice in both reading and writing. In addition to reading, students will have a short math assignment. This assignment will either be over our skill that we are working on or a review of past skills. I do not grade each individual homework assignment, however, students are given 25 points for turning in each one. That grade is added to their weekly math and reading grades. The only way to improve in anything is practice.
PLANNER
Being organized, planning ahead and setting goals can help good students to become great students. Planners are a good tool to use for this. Students have been supplied planners by Title 1. We have discussed how to use these. Students are expected to write what we have done in class, homework assignments, upcoming events, etc. in their planners. I give them time at the end of the day for this. We have also talked about students putting their personality into their planners by decorating them. We have a class treat basket full of planner goodies like colored post-it notes, stickers, cool looking paper clips, and washi tape that students can earn.