Welcome to Fifth GradeWelcome to Fifth Grade2014-20152014-2015

Comments and QuestionsComments and Questions

Feel free to ask anything along the way. Feel free to ask anything along the way. I’d love to meet you after the PP. That I’d love to meet you after the PP. That

would be a good time to share with me would be a good time to share with me anything you think will help make your anything you think will help make your child’s year the best it can be. child’s year the best it can be. Communication needs to be open and Communication needs to be open and honest in the best interest of your child.honest in the best interest of your child.

CommunicationCommunication The best way to contact me is through email. I check it before The best way to contact me is through email. I check it before

school, during lunch, and after school. school, during lunch, and after school. Erin.Reynolds@lz95.org

Website: Website: http://www.lz95.org/classes/room223_ereynolds/ To call me: 847-540-3464To call me: 847-540-3464 My Voicemail: 847-540-5281My Voicemail: 847-540-5281 If you need immediate attention, please call the school office. 847-If you need immediate attention, please call the school office. 847-

438-2351438-2351 If there are concerns that I, or any other staff member have If there are concerns that I, or any other staff member have

concerning your child, you will be contacted right away.concerning your child, you will be contacted right away. I will be making frequent contact to update you specifically on your I will be making frequent contact to update you specifically on your

child’s success and progress.child’s success and progress. I will be sending home The Reynolds Reporter and updating the I will be sending home The Reynolds Reporter and updating the

class website two times a month.class website two times a month.

Classroom InformationClassroom Information Students may bring a Students may bring a healthyhealthy snack and a water snack and a water

bottle to school each day.bottle to school each day. Birthdays will be recognized over the loud Birthdays will be recognized over the loud

speaker and in the classroom. speaker and in the classroom. All cell phones must be turned off during school All cell phones must be turned off during school

hours and must remain in backpacks during hours and must remain in backpacks during school hours.school hours.

Classroom ManagementClassroom Management

Our overall goal is for the children to be Our overall goal is for the children to be responsible, respectful and safe.responsible, respectful and safe.

Students have created their own class rules to Students have created their own class rules to follow this year.follow this year.

The entire grade will be doing the Fix-It plan.The entire grade will be doing the Fix-It plan. Students will be given two verbal warningsStudents will be given two verbal warnings Students will then be given a Fix-it planStudents will then be given a Fix-it plan If the students do not fix the behavior, a parent signature If the students do not fix the behavior, a parent signature

on the fix it plan will be required.on the fix it plan will be required. Two Fix-It sheets in one week will result in a phone call Two Fix-It sheets in one week will result in a phone call

or email home.or email home.

HomeworkHomework

All homework will be recorded in the assignment All homework will be recorded in the assignment book. Materials needed will be placed in the book. Materials needed will be placed in the expandable folder. This will go home and return expandable folder. This will go home and return the following day.the following day.

A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each day when the student brings in assignments, day when the student brings in assignments, assignment notebook, and expandable folder.assignment notebook, and expandable folder.

Homework will be a part of their participation Homework will be a part of their participation grade and is still a requirement.grade and is still a requirement.

Homework ExpectationsHomework Expectations

Reading –read at least 30 minutes every Reading –read at least 30 minutes every night.night.

Math – nightly assignments & study math Math – nightly assignments & study math facts as neededfacts as needed

Occasional word work, science, social Occasional word work, science, social studies, and writing assignmentsstudies, and writing assignments

Expandable FolderExpandable Folder The students will bring their Expandable Folder home The students will bring their Expandable Folder home

each night. This folder will contain any notes from the each night. This folder will contain any notes from the office or me, and your child’s homework and classwork. office or me, and your child’s homework and classwork.

Please do not remove anything from this folder unless Please do not remove anything from this folder unless the child confirms. We will periodically clean the folder the child confirms. We will periodically clean the folder out to keep it organized. out to keep it organized.

Use this time as an opportunity to have a conversation Use this time as an opportunity to have a conversation with your child about their work.with your child about their work.

Friday FolderFriday Folder

Every Friday, your child will bring home Every Friday, your child will bring home their Friday Folder, seperate from their their Friday Folder, seperate from their Expandable folder. Expandable folder.

This This

Literacy

During this morning block, we will follow the workshop model for literacy instruction. Components of a workshop model include read alouds, direct instruction mini-lessons, small group instruction, time for independent practice, writing about reading, conferring with the teacher and time for collaborative conversations. Students will read and work with a wide variety of authentic literature and trade books. Reading Fundamentals is the series K-5 classrooms will use to guide reading instruction. Each Unit of Study includes mentor texts, a variety of leveled books for guided reading and independent reading, and a selection of digital shared teaching resources that systematically integrate reading skill/strategy instruction with the study of genre. For more information visit www.schoolwide.com. 

ReadingReading Reader’s Workshop ModelReader’s Workshop Model - Components include - Components include

guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, shared reading, and independent reading. Schoolwide is shared reading, and independent reading. Schoolwide is the district-wide curriculum we will be utilizing during our the district-wide curriculum we will be utilizing during our Reading/Literacy BlockReading/Literacy Block

55thth Grade Genre Units – Grade Genre Units – Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry.Poetry.

MathMathThe implementation of the Illinois Common Core State Standards brought shifts to math instruction. Greater focus on fewer topicsCoherence: Linking topics and thinking across gradesRigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application with equal intensity

For more information about the shifts to the Common Core, please visit:

http://www.corestandards.org/other-resources/key-shifts-in-mathematics/

 

Math ContinuedMath Continued

We will be using Stepping Stones by Origo to guide our math instruction. Stepping Stones is an online teaching resource that is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students have print journals, but there will not be a printed mathematics textbook. The focus of the Stepping Stones series is an emphasis on conceptual development of mathematics. You can expect your student to have many hands-on experiences with manipulatives and visual representations in addition to traditional computation. Number sense and fact fluency will continue to be emphasized.

For more information visit www.origoeducation.com/steppingstones

WritingWriting

The writing curriculum emphasizes the three writing genres mentioned in the standards, informative/explanatory, narrative, and opinion, as well as poetry and creative writing. Write Source is the textbook series used to support the writing curriculum in our elementary schools.

Resources for parents and guardians:For more information about the Common Core State Standards visit: http://www.corestandards.org/To see resources compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education visit: http://isbe.net/common_coreTo view resource guides created by the Illinois PTA for parents visit: http://isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources

 

 

Word Study/Phonics/ SpellingWord Study/Phonics/ Spelling

We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is developmentally appropriate for our students and in the developmentally appropriate for our students and in the context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. We will be learning and implementing the program, We will be learning and implementing the program, Words Their Way to support a developmental approach Words Their Way to support a developmental approach to word study. Full implementation of Words Their Way to word study. Full implementation of Words Their Way

will begin during the 2015-2016 school will begin during the 2015-2016 school year. year. For more information visit For more information visit

http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WThttp://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WTW_WordStudy.pdf W_WordStudy.pdf

ScienceScience

In Fifth grade we will study units on earth, life, and physical science topics over the course of the school year. The current text resource for science instruction is National Geographic Science. The series offers a broad range of print and digital resources as students engage in science study and inquiry.

 

Social StudiesSocial Studies

Fifth grade students learn about the building of our nation. A variety of textbook resources are used.

It will be integrated with reading and writing.It will be integrated with reading and writing. Students will practice research skills and note taking.Students will practice research skills and note taking.

ASSESSMENTSASSESSMENTS• Fountas and Pinell: Fountas and Pinell:

• Fall October 13Fall October 13thth- November 13- November 13thth • Spring: April 2016Spring: April 2016

• PARCC – Partnership of Assessment of Readiness PARCC – Partnership of Assessment of Readiness for College and Careersfor College and Careers

• http://www.parcconline.org/• Computer based test in Mathematics and Computer based test in Mathematics and

Language Arts/ReadingLanguage Arts/Reading• April 4April 4thth – May 3 – May 3rdrd

• Map testing datesMap testing dates• Fall: September 8Fall: September 8thth-23-23rdrd • Spring: May 15Spring: May 15thth – 27 – 27thth

TaftTaft

Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado Taft Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU Taft Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU owned campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning owned campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning fun-filled extravaganza that is one of the fun-filled extravaganza that is one of the highlights of your child’s 5highlights of your child’s 5 thth grade year. grade year.

Dates this year are February 22-24 (MTW)Dates this year are February 22-24 (MTW) There will be in informative parent meeting in the There will be in informative parent meeting in the

upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00. upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00. We will be fundraising to offset that cost if We will be fundraising to offset that cost if interested.interested.

Human Growth and ReproductionHuman Growth and Reproduction

In the spring of 5In the spring of 5thth grade, the science grade, the science curriculum includes a two week study on curriculum includes a two week study on human growth and reproduction. human growth and reproduction.

More on that as the time approaches.More on that as the time approaches. You may want to consider having “the talk” You may want to consider having “the talk”

sometime before May, 2016.sometime before May, 2016.

Hallway DutiesHallway Duties

If you did not sign up for a fall conference If you did not sign up for a fall conference in the hall, please do so before you leave, in the hall, please do so before you leave, and take a reminder slip.and take a reminder slip.

Room Parent volunteer sign up is in the Room Parent volunteer sign up is in the hall as well. Please consider helping out.hall as well. Please consider helping out.

Please take a minute to fill out the Tshirt Please take a minute to fill out the Tshirt order form for your child, it is due order form for your child, it is due September 9September 9thth . .

Growth MindsetGrowth Mindset

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRY

Thank you, and get ready for a Thank you, and get ready for a crazycrazy fun year! fun year!