Welcome to Back to School Night ! 2014-2015

1. Welcome to Back to School Night!2014-2015 Mrs. Jen SanAntonio (908) 753-5300 x6238

2. Your “To-DO” List • Party sign-up • Parent/teacher conference sign-up • Write your child a letter

3. Goals • Teach tolerance and acceptance • Increase confidence, independence, and build self esteem • Instill a love of learning • Provide positive fifth grade experience • Prepare students for Middle School

4. Expectations • Be prepared for class with all necessary materials • Keep organized binders in each subject area • Take care of Chromebook and keep it charged • Record and complete homework regularly • Move quietly in the hallway when moving from class to class • Be respectful of others • Act responsibly and take ownership for behavior

5. Daily Schedule • 8:40 - 9:00 - Sign-In/Unpack/Pledge/Announcements • 9:00 - 9:50 - Specials • 9:55 - 10:45 - Math/Science/or Social Studies • 10:50 - 11:45 - Math/Science/or Social Studies • 11:50 - 12:35 - Recess/Lunch • 12:40 - 1:30 - Math/ Science/or Social Studies • 1:35 - 2:00 - Specials/Language Arts • 2:05 - 3:05 - Language Arts • 3:10 - 3:20 -Dismissal

6. Report Cards • November Nov. 24th • February 10th • April 22nd • June 22nd • Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Nov. 3rd- 5th. • Each 5th grade teacher will meet with his/her homeroom students’ parents. • Please sign up tonight for a convenient time to meet.

7. Language arts • Our Balanced Literacy approach uses authentic reading and writing experiences that are consistently student-centered. • This approach offers students access to a great variety of literary experiences.

8. Reading Making Meaning and Comprehension Toolkit These programs teach specific strategies for students to become effective readers. • Questioning • Making connections • Making inferences • Visualizing • Summarizing • Reflecting • Synthesizing

9. Guided reading • Students will read materials, mostly non-fiction, in small groups while focusing on specific strategies to enhance comprehension. Teacher conferencing will also take place. • Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is the heart of this approach.

10. Independent reading • This helps develop good reading habits. Our goal is to foster an environment where students find reading enjoyable and easy to do. • Students are required to read a minimum of 20 minutes per day. Reading logs are due every Monday and require a parent signature.

11. Writing 1. Being a Writer- Students will develop their writing based on their own topics and interests. They will be exposed to many different genres of writing and will be encouraged and hopefully inspired to model different styles of writing. The emphasis is on working through the stages of the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading and editing, publishing. 2. Styles of Writing- narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive, report writing, response to literature

12. Writing 3. Vocabulary – Word of the Day and Word of the Week • spelling, definition, part of speech, appropriate use in a sentence 4. Grammar - Develop oral language and proofreading skills.

13. Social studies Daily Routines • Write down homework • Fill in new notebook page • Begin classwork

14. Goals for the year • Develop the skill of building vocabulary • Develop the skill of note taking • Develop higher order thinking skills: - Comparing and contrasting - Evaluating how the past affects the present • Develop knowledge of American history • Develop technology skills • Develop knowledge of geography and map skills • Develop knowledge of current events

15. Areas of study • Peopling the Western Hemisphere • The Age of Exploration/Contact & Exploration • The Settlement of North America (Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth Colony) • Colonization & Conflict /Life in the Colonies • European Rivalries in North America (French & Indian War) • The Fight for Independence (American Revolution) • The Holocaust

16. JA Biztown • Pilot program for the district • Combines in class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town. • Fully interactive, true-to-life simulation where students will learn the fundamental relationship between academics and life beyond school. • Offers 5th grade students the opportunity to discover firsthand how the free enterprise system works. • Students learn entrepreneurial skills while they actually run businesses, make laws, become philanthropists, and pay taxes.

17. Flocabularywww.flocabulary.com • Engage and inspire students to learn about what’s going on in the world TODAY! • Educational hip-hop song and videos to showcase the top news stories of the week. • Interactive lyrics that provide more detailed information about the event. • Class discussion question gets students thinking.

18. Ways to accomplish goals • Whole group lecture and reading • Small group reading and activities • Individual work • Answer questions from textbook • Quizzes and Tests • Projects and Presentations • Dramatic Representations • Internet Use

19. Homework • Build background knowledge in preparation for upcoming lesson • Review of class lesson • Vocabulary • Answer reading checks • Review study guide and notes for test

20. Grading Weights/percentages Tests (40%) Quizzes (20%) Homework (20%) Class Work/Class Participation (20%)