Westwood 5 th Grade Academic Information I. CONTACT INFORMATION: Fifth Grade Website: Please mark this as one of your favorites for easy access Email Address: Dan.Reich@westg.org Jackie.Coletta@westg.org Jileen.Urbanek@westg.org School phone number: 729-5990 - It is important to keep us informed of any health or family problems that could affect your child's performance in school. Please call or email us with such concerns or issues. II. ATTENDANCE - School begins promptly at 8:40 am. Students must be in the classroom by this time, or they will be counted tardy. - Call to report an absence or tardiness at 729-5990. - If you are planning a vacation during the school year, please try to give us as much notice as possible for make up work. III. TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE 8:30-8:50 Morning check in and bell work 8:50-9:35 Special 9:40-10:55 Switch 1 11:00 12:15 Switch 2 12:15 1:15 Lunch / Recess 1:20 2:35 Switch 3 2:40 3:10 Activity Period 3:10 3:15 Clean-up and write assignments Dismissal Begins (If you plan to pick your child up from school, a note needs to be given to the office)
IV. SUBJECT AREAS 1. Reading This year we will be starting to implement parts of the Daily Five, which is a framework for structuring literacy time so students can develop lifelong habits of reading, writing, and working independently. We are still in the first stages of learning the expected behaviors of each rotation and are learning about the basic roles of reading. Students will be in a five-day rotation; having three days focusing on literature, one day focusing on vocabulary, and a day focusing on current events. During this time, students will be using several online programs and resources. All logins and class codes can be found in the front of their assignment notebooks. *Nightly Reading Homework: Students are expected to read a total of at least 70 minutes a week or more. Along with the nightly reading, students will be expected to complete the Reading Tic Tac Toe activities. Students will need to choose three activities in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and must complete the activity in the middle box of the table. Attached you will find a sample copy of both the fiction and nonfiction Tic Tac Toe boards. I have also included an example of how to complete each activity that your child can use as guide to help when answering the questions in each of the activities. New Reading Tic Tac Toe activity boards will be given out the first day of the new week and are due the following week Monday (or the first day back). I feel that it is very important for students to be exposed to the different reading genres, so each month students will choose a book according to the genre of the month. I encourage students to check out books at our Westwood Library, the Geauga County Public Library, and as well as my own classroom library. Please let me know if I can further assist when choosing books. 2. Writing a. Research Reports, Friendly Letters, Descriptive, Expository, Biographies, Response Journal, Writer s Notebooks, Book Reports b. Grammar (Simple Solutions) 3. Spelling / Vocabulary a. Weekly Spelling List is located on the 5 th Grade Website b. Weekly Schedule: 1. Homework (Wednesdays) 2. Final test (Fridays)
4. Math: 5. Science: a. Daily Math b. Common Core Math c. Moby Math, Ten Marks, Study Island d. Time Tests (practice facts at home) e. Homework a. Pearson Textbook series ebook and online activities available b. Study guides posted on my website (about a week prior to test) no answers, just know what to study c. Topics this year: scientific method/inquiry, earth/sun/moon, ecosystems, energy (light, sound) d. Binocular Program 6. Social Studies (Project Based) 7. Critical Computer Skills (user names and passwords) a. Google Classroom and Docs b. Science Text c. Moby Max, Ten Marks, Study Island d. Newsela, Storia, Story Works, Scholastic News 8. 5th Grade Testing a. Date: May 2016 b. SUBJECTS: Reading, Math, and Science 9. Special Schedule Fifth Grade Special Schedule 8:50-9:35 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Group #1 Gym Band Art Band Music Group #2 Study Hall Gym Music Library Art Group #3 Art Music Study Hall Gym Library
10. COMMUNICATION / ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS 11. GRADES: Each student will receive an assignment notebook. It is the student s responsibility, and if lost, the student will have to replace the notebook. Each night, your child will bring home their assignment notebook with current assignments logged-in. Please check these nightly, as we will periodically write notes to you in this book. Final grades will be determined using a combination of grades from tests, quizzes, inclass work, homework and participation. If a student receives a grade of a D or U on any quiz or test, a parent signature to verify awareness of the grade is required. Retakes may be offered depending on circumstances. An online grade book is available; please see office for login and password. 12. CLASSROOM RULES & POLICIES: Students are expected to abide by these rules along with the rules of the school and school district. Incentive Programs/ Good Behavior Rewards: There are benefits to good behavior and effort in class, including both personal rewards and group/class rewards. Class Dojo You will be able to keep track of your child s progress by the class dojo application being used in all 3 classrooms (online messenger.) Consequences/Punishments: -Losses of privileges like recess or other such free time -Having desk moved, short-term removal from class -Notes/calls/conferences with parents and/or principal & the guidance counselor.
Non-Academic Information 1. MEALS Please be aware of the new menu and prices. 2. TREATS AND SNACKS Snack time is held daily in the mid-morning. Please send in healthy snacks, preferably no candy. For birthdays or special occasions, please contact us to set-up a time and go over any special dietary needs of the students. 3. HOLIDAY PARTIES (2:15 3pm) 5 th grade parties are held all together in the gym and multi-purpose room. The time will always be from 2:15 3:00 pm. Room parents handle food and activities for these parties. The dates for these parties are as follows: Halloween Party October (Parade at 1:30 p.m.) Winter Holiday Party Run by School Valentine s Party February Graduation - June 4. ROOM PARENTS Please pay $5.00 to the head Room Parent to defray party costs. 5. CONFERENCES There will be a conference sign up sheet in the library. Please sign up for a time that is convenient for you. These conferences are student-led and you will be given their report card at this time. 6. SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB: Please help support our classroom library. The more books you order the more extra books the club will let our class have.
2015/2016 Parent Survey Child s Name Age DOB Parent s Name(s) Home Phone # Dad s Cell # Dad s Occupation Mom s Cell # Mom s Occupation E-mail address (please write clearly) of at least one parent: Describe your child s academic strengths and weaknesses. Describe your child s personal and social strengths and weaknesses. List any concerns you may have for this school year. List 3 goals that you hope your child will accomplish by the end of the 5 th grade. 1. 2. 3. *Please use the back of this sheet to provide any additional information that you think could help me teach your child more effectively.