Mrs. Stover’s Class Welcome to 5th Grade and welcome to your classroom!

Come in and take a look around

A Little Bit About Me

• I grew up in a rural town close to Baltimore Md.

• I went to Slippery Rock University in PA, where I received my B.S in Elementary Education.

• I am working on my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction k-12 (One More class to go!!).

• I taught for 5 years at Monocacy Elementary School and this is my 4th year at Valley!

• I am so excited to be at Valley and teaching 5th grade.

Contact Information

• Annette.Stover@fcps.org

• 240-236-3000 Ex: 63018

• Website: Go to the Valley Elementary

website and click on my name via the drop

down menu located under staff or go to

• http://education.fcps.org/ves/annettestover

Parent/Teacher Relationship *I firmly believe that a solid parent/teacher

relationship is vital to your child’s success

*Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or

write me a note at anytime through-

out the year (Note: I call for good

reasons too so don’t be scared if you see my

number.)

*If you’d like a conference please let me know and

we can set a date and time

*There are volunteer opportunities

NEW!!! BIRTHDAY TREATS

POLICY

Current Regulation states: For health and safety reasons,

parents/visitors are only permitted to bring in food that is

intended for consumption by their individual student.

Students are only permitted to bring in food for personal

consumption.

We will still be able to have 2 school-related celebrations this

year where these guidelines may not apply.

****More to come on this***

KIDS CAN BRING A SNACK TO EAT BEFORE LUNCH

Schedule • Students will receive a daily schedule on the first day of

school. You can also view our schedule online at our classroom website.

• Specials Schedule: – Monday: Music – Tuesday: PE – Wednesday: Art & Music – Thursday: PE & Media – Friday: Art

Our Daily Schedule 2011-2012 Monday/Tuesday/Friday Wednesday

8:30-9:05 Homeroom/Warm up 8:30-9:05 Homeroom/Warm up

9:05-10:25 Mathematics 9:05-9:45 Specials

10:30-11:10 Specials 9:50-10:25 Specials

11:15-12:20 Reading/LA 10:30-11:10 Math Problem Solving

12:20-1:10 Recess/Lunch 11:15-12:20 Reading/LA

1:10-2:00 Reading 12:20-1:10 Recess and lunch

2:00-2:40 Writing 1:10 -2:00 Reading

2:40-3:15 Science/SS 2:00 – 2:40 Writing

3:15-3:25 Agendas/Pack up 2:40 – 3:15 Science/SS

3:15 -3:25 Agendas/Pack up

Thursday

8:30-9:05 Homeroom/Warm up

9:05-10:25 Mathematics

10:30-11:10 Specials

11:15-12:20 Reading/LA

12:20-1:10 Recess/Lunch

1:10-2:00 Media

2:00-2:40 Writing

2:40-3:15 Science/SS

3:15-3:25 Agendas/Pack up

Grading Policy A student’s work is evaluated for accuracy, completeness, and quality in relationship to criteria of any assignment or project. Grades are sent home in a Bi-Weekly Wrap-up, which you and your child should look over and discuss. These Bi-Weekly reports are part of the school-home communication.

Grades are comprised of the following: tests, quizzes, class work, homework, participation, preparation, and teacher observation.

Students receive grades based on the following scale:

A 90-100% Excellent

B 80-89% Above Satisfactory

C 70-79% Satisfactory

D 60-69% Below Satisfactory

F 59% or below Unsatisfactory

Science and Social Studies Unit grades are composed of accumulated points that will reflect this same scale.

Interims may be issued at any time that the student’s work begins to reflect our concern that the child’s performance may result in a poor grade and may be the result of poor performance or incomplete assignments in a subject area.

If you have any questions, please contact me via a note on the Bi-Weekly Wrap-up, email, or phone call. Thanks again for your continued support.

Name _________________________________ Today’s Date_____________________

Bi-Weekly Progress Report

Work has been…

_____Outstanding _____Satisfactory _____Needs Improvement

_____Unsatisfactory

Behavior has been…

_____Outstanding _____Satisfactory _____Needs Improvement

_____Unsatisfactory

Areas that need improvement:

_____Completing class work/homework _____Working Cooperatively

_____Completing neat and careful work _____Class Participation

_____Working Independently _____Showing good character

_____Other: _________________________________________________________

Recommended:

_____Keep up the hard work!

_____Continue to focus on improving in the areas listed above

_____Parent-Student conversation

_____Parent-Teacher Conference

Current Grades:

_____Reading

_____Writing/Spelling

_____Mathematics

_____Social Studies

_____Science

Classroom Rules

• Focus on effort more so than the end result

• We will adhere to the 3 R’s (Respect,

Responsibility, Right to Learn) – Students will work together to come up with our classroom rules

• Viking Cards: Students will receive cards

when they are spotted fallowing rules

and/or exceeding expectations. These cards

will buy them special privileges within the

classroom.

Agenda Books

Reading Logs • Each student will receive an Agenda Book during the

first day of school.

• Homework and announcements will be copied down into the Agenda daily.

• Parent/Guardian initials are required in the agenda each night.

• Signing the agenda indicates that your child read for 15 minutes.

• A circled assignment means a student is missing or did not turn in the assignment.

• Parents can communicate to me via the agenda.

Homework Policy *Students will receive homework Monday through

Thursday.

-Homework can take up to 50 minutes each night (10 min x grade level)

*Reading Log / Agenda

-Students are required to read a minimum of 15 minutes (any book or magazine of their choice)

*Spelling- Students must complete spelling homework 3 nights a week. They are required to compete it Monday and Thursday. The student can choose which night (Tuesday or Wednesday) to compete spelling.

Thursday Folders

*SOME Thursdays the Valley PTA will compile a folder for each child with important school information

*Any school news, as well as, graded work will come home via “Thursday Folder”

*Students will need to return empty folders back to school the next day

Reflection Journals

*Most Fridays your child will write a letter to

you detailing about their week.

*At minimum a parent signature is required,

though families have the option of writing a

letter back (the option is yours whether or

not you correct their writing mistakes).

Students love reading the responses in their

journals.

School Supplies

*It is imperative that your child comes to class ready with the requested supplies.

*A binder is required. We will set these up during our first week

*Please let me know if you are unable to get any of the supplies listed.

Reading

5th grade has a new Reading & Writing curriculum aligned with the Common Core standards (Reading, Listening, Writing, & Word Study)

*Students will delve into both Informational and Literary texts (50/50)

*Students will supplement textbooks with magazines, novels, newspapers, poetry, as well as Science and Social Studies texts.

*We will continue to practice and be assessed on fluency

WRITING

*Many forms including narrative, opinion/argument (i.e. persuasive), memoir, research, letter writing and more.

*Student writing is graded on content/craft and mechanics (i.e. grammar); the writing expectations are very rigorous *Additionally writing will be integrated into other subject areas like Math, Science and Social Studies.

*Each student will have a Pen Pal from Brunswick Elementary School

*Everyone will write and publish their very own book in the spring…stay tuned!

Mathematics

* We will once again follow the Common Core Curriculum (the shift is more “depth than width”).

* Students will explore the following concepts: number sense, place value, patterns, graphing, measurement, geometry, multiplication/division, fractions, decimals, probability, as well as algebraic concepts…wow, we’ve got a lot to learn!

* Students will also be evaluated on their Problem Solving skills

* Don’t forget to practice those Math Facts: +,-,X,/ (there will be weekly and quarterly facts tests; students are expected to be fluent with facts 0-12)

Social Studies

*Early Civilizations (Native Americans,

regions, artifacts, adaptations)

*Colonization (Explorers, early settlements)

*Rising Conflict/Revolutionary War

*Government

SCIENCE

1. Geology-Minerals, Rocks, Layers of

the Earth, Erosion & Deposition

2. Electricity and

Magnetism-Types of circuits, types of

magnets

3. Terrariums-Environments, Food

Chains & Webs, Parts of a Cell

4. Drug and Alcohol Unit

***Family Life & Disease Prevention will also

be taught. Students may opt out of these

units; dates TBD***

Technology in the Classroom

• Students will become more proficient and

confident in utilizing technology to

research, communicate, and share ideas. – STEM Projects

– COW Cart, Tablets, and I-Pads

– Class website (Under construction at the moment)

– Both individual and group research projects

– And so much more…stay tuned!

WISH LIST

These items are always appreciated:

• Tissues

• Books- used or new

• Games for indoor recess

• Dry Erase markers

• Clorox wipes

IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT

YEAR!

5th grade is sure to be an exciting year! I look forward to working with all of you.

Before you leave, please check your child’s bus information and correct any mistakes