Welcome to 5th Grade!

Mrs. Shauna De Vos2010-11

I’m so glad you’re here! We’re going to have a great year!

• I promise to be a good listener when you have something to share.

Will you be a good listener, too?

• I promise to work hard to challenge you, push you, and respect you.

Will you work hard, push yourself, and respect yourself and others?

The road has been paved for you by many wonderful teachers …

…so are you ready to be a part of the 5th Grade Team?

Responsibilities of 5th Grade

• Role Models: setting an example for younger students (hallways, assemblies, cafeteria, recess, etc.)

• Primary Tutors and Reading Buddies

• Increased homework and independent projects to prepare you for middle school

Privileges of 5th Grade• Opportunities for volunteering: Peer Tutors,

Conflict Managers, Book Fair, Field Day, Watt Watchers, Recycling, etc.

• Extra-curricular activities: Band, Choir, Orchestra, ROOT BEER Reading, Lunchtime Book Clubs, etc.

• Staff vs. 5th Grade Survivor

• Outdoor School!!!

Daily Schedule

• 9:00 – 9:30 Greetings and Morning Work• 9:30 – 10:15 Specialists• 10:20 – 11:15 Word Work and Writer’s Workshop• 11:15 – 12:30 Reader’s Workshop• 12:30 – 1:15 Lunch / Recess• 1:20 – 2:30 Math• 2:30 – 3:15 Science or Social Studies• 3:15 – 3:30 Planners, Jobs

Specials

• P. E.: Tuesday and Friday• Music: Monday and Thursday• Media: Wednesday

5th Grade Curriculum

• What should you expect?

Reader’s Workshop

• Building stamina to increase independent reading time of own choice, just right books

• Reading a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, song lyrics, short stories

• Book talks, buddy reading, book clubs

Writer’s Workshop

• Units of study; including poetry, fiction, persuasive, letter writing with interviews, informational report, and inquiry projects

Word Work

• No spelling tests on Fridays• Curriculum is Words Their Way, a small group,

more individual-need based word study program

Math

• The “Dirty Dozen” multiplication review challenge

• Investigations 2, with supplemental materials• Units include division, geometry, fractions

1 ½ 2 % 3 $ 4 = 5 x 6 # 7 + 8 - (9)

Science

• Hands on, high interest units including; food webs and food chains, plants, properties of matter, water systems, volcanoes, rocks, electricity and magnets

• Outdoor Ed. curriculum to prepare for Outdoor School

Social Studies

• Units of study include Native Americans, map skills, family tree and heritage stories, Colonial times, Revolutionary War

• Historical Fiction book clubs to deepen understanding of time periods

Homework??

Homework is different in 5th grade!

• No more packets due on Friday

• Homework is intended to prepare you for middle school and teach you about managing your time well

What does it look like?

• Work that is not completed in class is due the next day, along with mandatory at-home reading, and, at times, ongoing projects

• Study Halls are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during recess for students not prepared for class, or who have missing work

School / Home Communication

• Students will bring home daily planners, where they record what they did in class, and highlight any work due

• Monday Cougar Folders (will include corrected / reviewed work from the past week, and a report from teacher on the past week’s work, effort, and behavior of student)

Also check out:

• Mrs. De Vos’ classroom blog, which will be updated regularly with classroom news, curriculum, ways to support and extend learning at home, and suggested websites

I value and appreciate volunteers!

• Look for the sign up sheet at the back of the room to see how you can help support your child’s classroom experience!

• There’s a job for everyone!

For more information….

• Please attend the Classroom Routines /Curriculum Night for parents, next Thursday, September 16th at 6:30 p.m.

Working together, I know it’s going to be a fabulous year!