Fifth Grade Curriculum Outline Policies 2015-2016
Curriculum Outline:
Religion:Curriculum for Religion is based on the newly created adopted Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) standards for Religion. Students will gain an understanding of the Sacraments how the Church celebrates Christ’s saving action in our lives. Themes in the fifth grade curriculum include: Creation, God, Jesus is a Sacrament; The Church is a Sacrament, Christian Morality, The Eucharist Salvation History. Stewardship projects are incorporated in our religion curriculum. A major component of the education at OLG is the focus on Catholic Social Teachings. The fifth grade service project consists of hosting the Over 65 Luncheon (formerly the Over 65 Dinner) two times a year to the senior members of our parish surrounding community. The fifth graders their parents prepare, host, serve the meal. This year, our first luncheon will be on Sunday, November 8th. Our second luncheon will be in the spring, on Sunday, March 6th.
ELA: Reading/ Literature:Curriculum for ELA Reading Literature is based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts (ELA). Students will be reading from a variety of genres, including but not limited to, fiction, non-fiction, poetry current events. Reader’s Workshop literature circles will both be used throughout the year, as will magazines, online resources ties into other areas of curriculum. Students will describe connect the essential ideas, arguments, perspectives of text, recognize use new vocabulary, monitor comprehension through the use of connecting, questioning, summarizing, inferring, visualizing predicting. Students will critique text using personal reflections written responses.
ELA: Writing/Grammar/ Vocabulary Spelling:Curriculum for ELA Writing is based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts (ELA). Students will write multi-paragraph expository, persuasive, personal narrative essays that include an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion. Students will apply prewriting strategies to choose a topic generate ideas, compose well-organized writing, focus on a central idea for a specific purpose audience. Students will use effective voice, word choice a variety of sentence structures lengths. Students will write effective introductions, conclusions, add details to support ideas enhance writing. They will edit writing for clarity correct grammar, proofread for spelling, capitalization, punctuation. In fifth grade, students will actively research and write reports based on current events and historical time periods depending on the subject area. Students will also be using Daybook of Critical Reading Writing, as well as Spelling Workout Vocabulary for Achievement. Spelling Workout & Vocabulary for Achievement are taught on alternate weeks due to their similar style.
Math:Curriculum for Mathematics is based on the CCSS for Math. This year, we will be entering in to our second year, phasing in our new series, Math in Focus (grades K-5). In addition to Math in Focus, fifth grade students will be introduced to an online math supplemental enrichment program, TenMarks (grades 5-8). Students will master whole numbers up to 10,000,000, whole number multi-digit multiplication division. They will study addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, estimation rounding of
fractions mixed numbers, as well as expressing them as decimals. Fifth graders will study master patterns numbers with symbols through Algebra, will learn how to recognize, write evaluate simple algebraic expressions, will be able to apply their knowledge to real world situations problems. Students will learn about area, how to find area within rectangles, triangles, will also learn about surface area volume, the properties of triangles four-sided figures. Students will learn, be evaluated master decimals, understanding them through thousandths, will be able to convert them into mixed numbers fractions. Students will master multiplication division of decimals will be able to provide logical reasoning when solving real world problems. Fifth graders will be converting metric units will have a cross-curricular tie to science. In addition, students will study be assessed on graphs probability will be able to apply their knowledge to real world problem solving.
Science:Students learn about Earth, Life Physical science through hands on approach, using Full Option Science System (FOSS). Students will be investigating Food Nutrition, Landforms, Living Systems Variables. The best way for students to learn important scientific concepts develop the ability to think is to actively construct ideas through their own inquiries, investigations, analysis. Much of our science curriculum is incorporated into other areas of curriculum, including a tie in to Food and Nutrition in PE. and Spanish class.
History/ Social Studies:Students will learn about American history, early exploration, the 13 original colonies, the American Revolution, establishing a new government, the Constitution, the basic structure of our present government.Students will gain a better understanding of the American Revolution by using a problem-solving approach called Storypath. Storypath offers a structure that is grounded in a belief that children learn best when they are active participants in their learning. The American Revolution is taught through a narrative story to help students develop understanding of the topic apply the literacy skills of reading, writing, listening & speaking. A great deal of our Language Arts/ Reading standards are cross-curricularly tied to history, and a few of our novels are based on the time periods we cover in history. Students also complete a Colonial America Research Report and Presentation that covers multiple ELA standards including research, writing and speaking.
Homework: Fifth graders should expect approximately one hour of homework a night, however it will vary from week to week from student to student. Please keep in mind that the pace children finish work varies from child to child; encourage your child to use their time wisely productively. Homework will consist of specific nightly assignments, long-term projects, reading and/or reviewing for tests. Additionally, students are expected to complete any unfinished academic class work as well as their assigned homework. Homework is to be done on time to the best of one’s ability. All homework is written NIGHTLY in their student planners, will be signed by parents Ms. Hobbs if homework begins to not get turned in. Homework will rarely be assigned over the weekend (projects assigned in advance are an exception).
It is our goal to teach students to be responsible & independent. Students may not call home if they forget their assignments, must be willing to accept any consequences or point deductions that may occur due to ill preparation for the day.
Planners: Planners are new for 5th graders. They are the same planners that the middle school students use, and it does take time for students to adjust to having to write down all of their homework. To help with the process, here is how it works in 5th grade. Homework is written daily on the board, after the completion of each subject. The homework is written in the same place everyday, and is not erased/ added to until the following day, or until the assignment is due. While homework packets are great, it will not help to prepare 5th graders for middle school. This is one easy way to help them to learn responsibility and to hold themselves more accountable.
September: Students will spend the last 15 minutes of class copying the assignments on the board into their identical planners. I will be copying it into my identical planner on the document camera.
October: Students will be expected to copy the homework from the homework board, without modeling on the document camera.
September- October: Students must have the teacher sign their planners every afternoon before they may go home. Parents, check to see that your children have had their planners signed.
November- June: Students no longer have their planners signed, and are expected to have their homework written down. If an assignment is late/ not turned in, planners must be signed again, and this time must also be signed by the parents. Length of time depends on student’s response and rate of reliability and responsibility.
5thGrade Band: Fifth graders are eligible to participate in beginning band. Band is on Wednesdays (12:30 – 1:15) Fridays (10:30 – 11:15). Please help remind your student to bring his/her instrument on these days. Band is a graded class. **STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALOUD TO CALL HOME IF THEY FORGET THEIR INSTRUMENTS.
Safety Patrol: Students will have a detailed schedule that will be for a week at a time. The schedule will also be posted on the website. For the safety of our students at OLG, it is very important that students are at their post by 8:15 A.M. An adult must supervise students on patrol.
Fourth/Fifth Grade Chorus: Students have the opportunity to participate in 4th/5th Chorus. Chorus is optional for fifth graders, is held on Wednesdays from 11:15- Noon. Students who participate in Chorus will miss 15 minutes of class, will eat lunch with the fourth grade class. They may go to recess as soon as they finish eating.
Fifth Grade Specialists: Specialists have their own curriculum, included in this packet. Specialists include: Spanish, PE, Art, Music, Second Step, Technology/Library (incorporated into Technology class). Optional specialists include Band & chorus.
Communication: It is essential that parents the teacher work as a team, communicate often. If you have questions or concerns, contact the teacher first. Please check the website weekly for newsletters, information information regarding projects deadlines. Homework will not be posted on the website, as I believe it is the student’s responsibility to write it down in his/her planner or phone a peer in the event that the assignment failed to make it into the planner on its own. Tests and quizzes will be on the website, as well as a schedule for reoccurring assignments such as spelling and
vocabulary. However, if your son or daughter has projects, projects often require parent participation, those dates will be posted ahead of time. The best way to contact me is via email. Please feel free to contact me at anytime, I will respond as quickly as possible. A weekly newsletter will be sent home weekly (typically on Mondays), outlining the events of the week.
Behavior Management: Together as a team, the fifth grade class establishes rules (based on Ms. Hobbs’ four rules of Compassion, Honesty, Justice and Respect) & a Classroom Covenant. Both outline what they feel are the most important things our class stands for, desire would like to work towards. As these rules were created by the students, for the students (with liberty justice for all), each will in be held to these standards.
Classroom behavioral management is broken down into two categories: Individual Team/Group. Both categories are incentive based, although consequences are enforced when necessary. Students are rewarded for their positive choices encouraged to make better or alternate choices when the choices are not beneficial to the individual, group or whole class.
All students are given leadership roles, are expected to be active participants in our classroom democracy. They are expected for follow, uphold, abide encourage others to honor our four main rules: Honesty, Compassion, Respect Justice.
When necessary, consequences will be enforced for anyone failing to uphold our classroom rules, our Classroom Covenant. They will be enforced in the following ways:
Team, Group Whole Class Consequences:
1st: Verbal warning/ Encouragement to make a more positive choice.
2nd: Verbal warning, move seats, line positions, loss of recess minutes.
3rd: Same as above contact parents to discuss behavior.
* If necessary, students may be sent to the office if behavior exhibited is considered unsafe (emotionally and/or physically) to one-self or to others, or breaks major school wide conduct rule and expectations.
Individual: Same consequences apply from above. However the second verbal warning will also include an email or note home to be signed returned the following day. In addition, the student may need to meet with the principal, Mrs. Ramos, or Ms. Heidi, our school counselor and recess monitor, depending on the situation. A meeting may be scheduled with parents, the teacher and/or principal and counselor if deemed necessary.
Behavior In Lines In the Hallway:
Students are expected to walk quietly to the right side of the walkway/ hallway when they are moving from location to location. When outside classrooms, students are expected to walk silently, as to not disrupt other classes.
If students cannot follow these rules as a class, we will spend recess time working to perfect our lines level of respect of our fellow learners.
Talking Unnecessary Classroom Disruption: Students are expected to be respectful of the learning environment of their peers. Each student learns differently, many
cannot focus when excessive disruption is occurring. Out of respect for our classroom rules Classroom Covenant, our desire to respect one another to grow in maturity, I will not talk over students, will wait if necessary until students are quiet prepared to advance in their learning. As explained to students in class, for every minute I wait for them, they will wait also. This may mean that they miss a few minutes of recess or will dismiss late (no more than 5 minutes) at the end of the day. This also means that there is an increased chance for more homework, as whatever is not completed during class time, especially if due to talking or disturbance, becomes homework. Remind your child that in a democracy, freedom respect are not given automatically, but something that we work together to achieve. We can only do this if we work as a team. By reminding your students to keep conversations to a minimum & appropriate during class time, we can achieve a much better, stronger & beneficial classroom democracy.
Keeping the End in Sight:
By the end of the year, the goal is that students are prepared academically, behaviorally spiritually for middle school. Students will be expected to work hard, will be expected to be responsible.
They are encouraged to be independent to the best of their ability, take responsibility for their own educations. Students are expected to be examples of Christian Service, are expected to be leaders, and are expected to always work to the best of their ability. Most importantly, students are asked and expected to be able to see Christ in themselves, and Christ in others (especially their peers), by year’s end. With a strong foundation in academics, faith leadership, your child will be prepared for middle school.
Important 5th Grade Dates: