Routines: The Fifth Grade Way

Welcome to fifth grade: 5 A with Mrs. Talevich and 5B with Mr. Fuerte! We hope that you and your children are as excited and energized as we are to be beginning a great year at St. Louise School in brand new rooms. Mr. Fuerte will teach Science (in ourbeautiful lab) and Mrs. T. will teach Social Studies(in the beautiful 5A room)to all fifth graders. Mrs. Bannick, our math specialist, will have one-third of the combined fifth grade for math each trimesterin her math room in the north wing. This ensures smaller class instruction for math. Other subjects will be taught within our homerooms, but we will plan many activities together, culminating with our combined overnight to Pioneer Farm in May. We pray that God will guide all of us--students, parents and teachers-- as we work, play, pray and grow together this year.

During these first weeks of school we will be setting routines for the year and getting to know each other. We’d like to share some of these classroom routines so that you can reinforce them at home, not only this week, but throughout the year.

Communication

Honest, direct communication is imperative to our partnerships in educating these precious children. Please contact us at any time to schedule a conference. You may leave a message on our voice mail or send an e-mail (preferred): MaryT or MikeFor 425.746.4220ext.5424(Mr. F.), ext.5425 (Mrs. T.), and ext. 5413 (Mrs. B). We do not check emails after lunch, however, because we are teaching, so after 12:00 noon any message should go through the office.

Behavior Plan

In order to form a more perfect classroom community, wedrafted classroom constitutions. These sets of rights and rules were signed by each student as a promise to honor the principles contained in the important documents. Thanks for reinforcing our classes’ covenants.

Consequences for breaking a rule and disrupting learning:

  • First infraction: “Let’s Talk” (orange slip) slip to the disrupting child. The child writes a reflection in the Religion journal and completes a class chore or task.
  • Second: Same as above.
  • Third: Same as above.
  • Fourth: Let’s Talk” slip and results in a Time Out Think Sheet
  • (Each trimester constitutes a fresh start)

Classroom Rewards and Incentives

As a class, students will work together to earn classroom rewards, incentives, or celebrations. We will transfer marbles into a “Marble Reward” jar as we thank (reward) the children for outstanding behavior. When the Marble Jar is full, we will share a class-selected reward. It might be a night off of homework, an extra recess, a free art period, a free choice time inside the classroom, or even an extra playtime with our 2nd grade buddies. We would like the students to take responsibility for their own behavior and work towards self-improvement with out a reward system, but in reality a little incentive can go a long way. Since the marbles can only be added and not taken away, we hope each student will value the important role they play in earning classroom rewards and in doing so, learn and achieve individually. If your child should ever feel unfairly punished, please encourage her/him to schedule an appointment to discuss the matter with the teacher privately.

The Planner, Binder & Folders

Using the planner correctly is an integral part of our studies skills. Students will copy assignments from the smart board using the homework board as a back-up. They must copy the assignment exactly as it was written on the smart board to avoid confusion at home. A star is placed by each subject that needs a book or journal. As you did so diligently last year, please continue to initial your child’s planner nightly, for the first couple of weeks. In addition, please have your child record the amount of time required for each subject. You or your child can jot notes in the plannerindicating questions about workand the amount of time spent on each subject. Please encourage your child to show us any parent notes in the planner throughout the year. Let’s keep the communication strong!

Corrected work is passed out to students’ mailboxes throughout the week. It is your child’s responsibility to keep up with filing. A newsletter will be emailed to the parents every other weekend, with a short reflection for the student to fill out and for the parents to sign. This is a great opportunity to look through your child’s corrected work, making sure that assignments are filed and noting the quality. These reflections are due each week by Tuesday and are graded as a religion participation assignment. You make a huge contribution to your child’s academic success by demonstrating your interest in his/her schoolwork. All work: in-progress, complete and corrected, is to be kept in the appropriate folder or the binder as taught the first week of school.

“We Missed You” Folder

If your child is absent, a neighboring student will collect all of their classwork/homework and write the assignments on a “We Missed You” sheet and place it in a folder. If there is a sibling, please have the sib come by at the end of the day to collect the work. It is best if the sibling or parent stops by as a lot is going on at the day’s end with the class.If your child has a question s/he should call a reliable friend for clarification, then check with teacher at school the next day. The work must be completed and returned to school in the folder with the list checked off and signed by the parent. Following school policy, your child has the amount of days that s/he was absent to make up work. If you request assignments before a vacation, work isdue upon the student’s return and parents are responsible for teaching the child the lessons missed, again signing the list of assignments and having your child show you her/his completed work.

Homework

Children are expected to complete homework each night.All work should be completed in erasable pen or word processed in a 14pt, business-like font, printed in black ink; we will print for your child in an emergency or they may come in before school to print. We do not have color ink. Math should be completed in pencil only. In addition, students should be reading each evening. Tack on a study of math facts, spelling words and review for tests and that doesn’t leave much time for TV/video games. As to homework assistance, use your wonderful parent judgment. But remember that it is your child’screative work, not yours. Help with editing and quizzing for tests are great ways to support, but please let us know if the homework is requiring too much parent involvement or is consistently taking an excess of an hour or so. During the first trimester, homework that is not complete on the due date will receive a 50% reduction and the student will attend Homework Detention. After the second day, the work will receive a “0”.During the second and third trimesters there is no leniency for day late homework, unless the child has been absent.

Birthdays

Fifth graders still love to celebrate birthdays with friends at school. You may, but don’t HAVE to, send in a treat (finger-food is best) on your child’s birthday or in the case of a summer birthday, on the half birthday. You don’t need to prearrange. Just send it in that morning with your child. We will usually enjoy the treat for morning snack and share a birthday blessing. Except for personal lunches, we have a nut-free classroom.

Buddies

We have 2nd Grade buddy classes. Sharing gifts has become a tearful moment for many of the young ones, so the policy is that there is NO individual gift sharing. Instead our classes will make cards and small gifts to share with our buddies. Families will occasionally be asked to send in small items for the gifts. Forexample, we made hollow Santas and the students brought in candy and small gifts to stuff them.

Flavorful Friday Treats Sale

Our first “Flavorful Friday Treats” sale will be October17th.(5A).Sales are held about once a month throughout the year. We would like all families to contribute a case (24 cans) of pop or water to begin our sale, we then purchase beverages or ice cream for the subsequent sales. The proceeds raised will be used to subsidize our Pioneer Farm Overnight.

NPH: Year Long Service Project

Our classes each sponsor a child from Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, Our Little Brothers and Sisters orphanage. 5B sponsors Xtitali in Mexico, while 5A’s godson is Kerryfrom Nicaragua. We send a monthly contribution of $60 for the children’s living expenses. We also periodically send cards and sponsor special projects. We are also asked to participate in any parish activities that support NPH and Friends.

Pioneer Farm

May 21-May22, 2015 Thursday and Friday. Parent volunteers are needed to come and help chaperone, spend the night, and have a wonderful (maybe wet) time, sleeping on the ground with no lights or heat, in the true Pioneer Spirit. A permission slip and lots more information will be sent home in the spring.

Field Trips, Parties, and Activities:

  • Halloween Party
  • Buddy Christmas Houses
  • Advent Angels, gift exchange December 19th
  • Valentine Party
  • Safety Patrol(Swimming Samena, TBD)
  • Living Voices
  • Star of the Week
  • Mercer Slough Ecology Experience
  • Flavorful Friday Treat Sales

Fifth Grade Curriculum

Subject:Religion

Text:Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, Blest Are We

Focus:Basic Catholic beliefs, sacraments, liturgical year, scripture, prayer.

Text:Benziger, Family Life

Focus: God’s gifts of family, self, life, love, and community.

Subject:Reading/Language Arts

Text:Houghton Mifflin, Reading- student anthology; Expedition.

Novels: Sounder; The Sign of the Beaver; Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes; presented in a literature circle format.

Focus:Comprehension strategies, fluency building, word analysis, higher level phonics skills, vocabulary development, grammar usage and mechanics, integration of literature and writing, the 6+1 traits and five-step writing process, writing for a purpose, information and study skills, test-taking strategies, recreational reading.

Subject:Math

Text:Scott Foresman, Addison Wesley, enVision

Focus:Review and reinforce multiplication, division, addition and subtraction of whole numbers, decimals and fractions, geometry, metric and customary measurement, problem solving, logical thinking skills, number sense, and graphing.

Subject:Science

Text:Scott Foresman, Science. Delta Education, Foss Kit: Diversity of Life and Mixtures and Solutions.

Focus:Life science, earth science, physical science, taught through an inquiry approach.

Subject:Spelling

Text:Houghton Mifflin, Reading

Focus:Correct spelling in writing, frequently written words, spelling patterns and structural analysis.

Subject:Social Studies

Text:McGraw Hill, A Young Nation

Focus:U. S. history, geography, and politics from early civilizations of the western hemisphere through the westward movement.

StoryPath, Struggle for Independence in Colonial Boston

Additional Subjects:

Physical Education, Computers, Library, Art, and Music

Standards for All Written Work: Make it Great!!

It’s a picture of you 

  1. Use this heading on all schoolwork.

First and Last Name #

Date

Subject, Assignment and Page Number

  1. Skip one line and begin assignment.
  1. Use blue or black erasable pen except for math, which must be completed in pencil. Papers must be corrected in red ink.
  1. Write in complete sentences unless specified otherwise by the teacher.
  1. Do not begin sentences with Because nor with unidentified pronouns (he, she, they, it, etc.). See the next example.
  1. Please restate when responding to questions, using a portion of the question in the beginning of your answer. Example: What are lines of longitude? Lines of longitude are… NOT They are…
  1. Please make sure your papers are in top form when handed in, no rips, spills or other unprofessional markings.
  1. Please complete your work in neat cursive. We encourage you to type assignments, especially if handwriting is difficult, but be sure to have the work ready to edit or turn in according to the directions. Please use 14 point professional font, and black ink. Extra points are given for typed homework!

There is a deduction in score when you do not follow these standards.

Ouch!

Social Studies Expectations

We will celebrate the incredibly interesting birth and growth of our country!

  1. Students must bring the following to class: textbook, completed homework, notebook paper, blue or black pen, red pen, homework notebook, and three-ring binder. Late or unfinished homework will receive a lower grade and must be completed at recess.
  2. Grades will be calculated from homework, class assignments, projects, quizzes and tests.

Assignments: 30%

Projects:20%

Journals/Participation10%

Tests:40%

  1. Projects will be assigned periodically. Information will be sent home in writing with very specific step-by-step instructions. Class time is usually set aside for work on these projects, but home time will be needed as well.
  2. Journals are used daily for vocabulary, notes and outlines of the chapter. These, as in all subjects,usually have the key information noted and are very helpful for test review.
  3. Tests will be given at the end of each chapter. We will review material in class and I will announce tests ahead of time so that the children can review at home over a few nights. All tests must be corrected, signed and returned. Absent students must take the test the day they return unless other arrangements have been made.
  4. Papers will follow the fifth grade format for written work.
  5. Students must keep all corrected assignments in the SS section of the binder until I ask the children to recycle them or to take them home. This will occur at the trimester.
  6. StoryPath will have its own folder.
  7. I am available to help struggling students at recess, before or after school by appointment. (Your child needs to schedule a time with me at least one day ahead of our study time.)

Most 5th graders love SS and Science in 5th grade. I am thrilled to “travel back in time” with the students to see how we got to be the Americans we are today.

Thank you!

Mrs. Mary Talevich Ext. 5425

Science Expectations

  1. Students must bring the following to class: textbook (as needed), completed homework, blue or black pen, red pen, colored pencils, daily planner, and science composition/lab book.
  2. Grades are calculated as follows.

15%Test/Quiz

50%Participation/Labs

5%Homework

30%Projects

Late or unfinished homework/projects will receive a lower grade and must be completed at recess.

  1. Projects will be assigned periodically. Information will be sent home in writing with very specific step-by-step instructions. Class time is usually set aside for work on these projects, but home time will be needed as well.
  2. Assessments will be given at the end of each chapter, section. We will review material in class and I will announce ahead of time so the students can review at home over a few nights. All tests must be signed and returned within two days. Absent students must take the test the day they return unless other arrangements have been made. Children who fail tests should correct them. Half credit will be given up to 75%.
  3. There will be some “extra credit”; the majority of the student’s grade is based on their participation during class with groups and labs.
  4. Remember, I am always available to help students at recess, before or after school by appointment.

I am very excited to be teaching both sections of Science this year. We are fortunate to have the use of the microscopes throughout the year with exciting “hands on” science. We will conduct a variety of laboratory investigations, create cell models, and as an end of year assessment; students will conduct their own inquiry and present their investigations during the Science Showcase. The Science Showcase will be held on, Thursday, May 28, 2015 in the Parish Hall.

Your student will be bringing home a science “Safety in the Science Classroom” handout for you to sign in the next few days.

Thank you!

Mr. Mike Fuerte (425) 746-4220 ext 5424

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5th Grade Volunteer Opportunities

Please review the list of volunteer possibilities listed below and check any areas in which you would be willing to lend a helping hand.

Name______Phone Number______

Email : ______

(Please print clearly)

Helpers begin in October. We will be sending home a tentative schedule. We will also need substitute Science Helpers. Please indicate below if you would like to be a substitute.

Copying/Bulletin Boards Day/Time Available ______

Cutting and other preparation work at home.

Writing Editor/Reading, working with a group of students editing their work, or reading with them (Usually Thursday but days may vary: 2:00-2:45).

Math Group Facilitator: Work with a small group of children on problem solving, reviewing for tests or some related math concept. TBD 1:00-2:00 (can be flexible)

 Science Helper, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (8:30-10:30) please circle preferable day.

Guest Speaker to our classroom to share any hobby, interest, and passion that you enjoy with the children, especially if it relates to the curriculum.

Topic: ______When: ______

Flavorful Friday Treats coordinator

Flavorful Friday Treats helper, the more helpers the less often you will need to help. 11:40 – 1:30. Classes sell treats only once every other month!

Other:______

Thank You!! Thank You!! Thank You!! Thanks!!