Curriculum NightThursday, August 16, 2012

Offer an idea of the organization of the class Give expectations of behavior Establish lines of communication Present a brief overview of the fifth grade

curriculum

Purpose of the Evening

Have taught in the District 27 years Cielo 26 years Experience in grades 2, 4, and 5 Degree—B.A. elementary education; minor

in music performance; graduate work in counseling and school psychology

Highly qualified under NCLB; fully SEI endorsed

Introduction

Hours—Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conferences by appointment School phone—480-541-2400 Class phone—480-541-2526 (not for personal

communication with students or emergency changes in plans)

E-mail: bzsore@kyrene.org Access to website: www.kyrene.org

Communication

Behavioral Expectations

• Students will behave in a safe manner throughout the school campus.

• Students will respect the rights and properties of others.

• Students will show respect and proper manners towards adult workers on campus.

Behavioral Expectations

Students will use school equipment in the proper manner and will be responsible for taking care of equipment in the classrooms and around campus.

Students will complete all work to the best of their abilities.

Expectations, continued

Intrinsic feeling of success Class recognition/Firebird Pride tickets Certificates/Notes home Character Cafe Presidential Award of Academic

Achievement (TBD) Presidential Award of Academic

Improvement (TBD)

Positive Outcomes

Tailored to each child and situation Reminders Time outs—pod/another classroom Notes/e-mails or calls home Note on weekly agenda Conferences with parents/students Conferences with parents/students/administration Office referral

Consequences

Students complete a weekly evaluation critiquing their behavior and work completion.

It is signed by me—may or may not have comments. It is stapled into the agenda.

Parents need to review their child’s evaluation and sign the form. It stays in the agenda

Signed evaluation should be returned by Monday

Weekly Evaluation

Study Skills

Student arrival-no earlier than 7:15 a.m. Math uninterrupted time is from 9:25 until

10:25 M,T, W, Th, Fri Language Arts uninterrupted time is from

12:30 until 2:30 everyday except Wednesday

Please try to avoid uninterrupted times for scheduling appointments.

Schedule

Students write down assignments on the day they are due.

Work that is not completed on the due date will receive a checkmark from me.

Late class work may be turned in by Friday for full credit.

Work not completed by the end of the week will receive an “F” grade.

Long term projects will be penalized 10% for each day they are late, and will not be accepted after five days.

Weekly evaluations will be stapled into the agendas each Friday. The evaluations need to be signed by parents each week.

Agenda/Calendar

Purpose is to enhance skills, extend classroom learning and build organizational skills

District guidelines used to suggest approximately 50 minutes per night (at fifth grade), three to four times per week; new guidelines are less specific, but the expectation for homework is still inherent.

Homework does not include the completion of classroom assignments.

Homework

Homework will come home approximately three to four times per week.

Study guides for tests will be given, and will be part of the homework for the week.

Project work will also be considered as homework.

Reading—minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, nightly.

Homework Logistics

Classroom assignments may need to be done in addition to homework assignments.

Homework assignments will be evaluated for general effort, following directions, thoroughness, and neatness. They may also be evaluated as a grade in core subject areas.

My website will be updated daily for directions and suggestions for homework.

Homework--Logistics

Provide a quiet place for your child to work on homework with all necessary materials easily available.

Help organize materials. Help organize time management Help with any directions Give suggestions when needed Do not complete homework or projects Do not type for students Parents can check my web page for specific

directions and suggestions

Suggestions for Parents

Work is expected to be made up Number of days out is equal to amount of

time given for make-up work Absent work is collected daily at the end of

the day for students. Call the office or my number (or e-mail) if

you would like assignments and I will do my best to have them for you by the end of the day

Illness/Make-up

Some material missed during class time is difficult to make up.

Please notify me at least one week in advance of your child’s being gone.

Some work may need to be modified or may need to wait until student’s return.

Homework or projects should be turned in prior to leaving on a trip, if possible.

Trips--Makeup

Grading

A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% Below 60% = F

Letter Grades

Proficiency Indicators

Proficient = Student consistently demonstrates mastery of the subject.P means 85% to 100%

Developing = Student is progressing towards mastery.D means 70% to 84%

Area of Concern = Student demonstrates minimal progress towards mastery.AC = 69% or less

Curriculum

Alignment with the English Language Arts Standards (Common Core)

Three domains: language, reading, writing Adoption-Harcourt Trophies Trade books

Reading

Reading Components

Independent reading—This component reinforces ideas about the reading process, including how to choose books, how to sustain silent reading, how to respond to literature, both orally and in written form.

Guided reading—This component is where skills of reading comprehension are taught. This will be accomplished mainly through the Harcourt reading program.

Word Study—This component incorporates word study, and vocabulary building.

Literature study—This component incorporates using trade books in reading instruction.

Focus on the writing process including prewriting, drafting, revising and editing, publishing and presenting.

Narrative forms: realistic fiction; fables, personal experience

Expository forms: summaries, newspaper articles; journals; research

Functional text: directions; procedures; posters, etc.

Persuasive text Grammar instruction Spelling Handwriting

Writing

Newly aligned with the recently adopted Core Standards

Core strands: Operations and Algebraic Thinking; Numbers and Operations in Base 10; Numbers and Operations-Fractions; Measurement and Data; Geometry

Math

Investigations in Data and Space◦ Logical reasoning approach◦ Encourages flexibility in student thinking and also

the development of multiple strategies for problem solving.

◦ Addison Wesley—traditional approach

Math—cont.

American history: Native American cultures to the Civil War

Strands:◦ American history◦ World history◦ Civics and Government◦ Economics◦ Biz Town

Social Studies

Implementing the State standards Main strands include:

◦ inquiry process; ◦ history and nature; ◦ personal and social perspectives; ◦ life science;◦ physical science and earth

Science

Inquiry process—being able to formulate questions, make predictions and hypotheses; planning and conducting investigations and recording and interpreting data

History and Social Perspectives—Identifying individual and cultural contributions

Topics: living things, basics of matter and energy and concepts of Earth and Space, forces of motion

Science Strands

Personal/social perspectives: interactions between human populations and the environment

Life Science—structures in plants and animals serve functions; human skeletal/muscular systems

Physical Science—basic properties of matter, mixtures and compounds, simple machines

Science Strands

Earth science—structure of earth’s atmosphere; understand the lunar cycle; study of outer space, the planets, celestial bodies, etc.

Science Strands

Have recently adopted new curriculum and resources.

Focus on 9 strands: Promotion of healthy habits and disease

prevention Accessing of accurate health information

(consumer health and media influences) Practicing of healthy behaviors—reducing

risky behaviors;

Health

Goal setting—decision making Working on interpersonal skills; conflict

resolution HIV-AIDS and Growth and Development

Health

Parent Volunteers

PTO Office Classroom

◦ Academic help (as needed)◦ Office-type help—copying, etc◦ Parties◦ Chaperones

Volunteer Opportunities

I am looking forward to a busy, productive year.

Please don’t hesitate to e-mail or call me with questions or concerns.

Thank you for taking the time to come out to my presentation this evening!

Conclusion