Welcome to Room 8! Ms. Reisler’s Class

1. Welcome to Room 8!Ms. Reisler’s Class Back to School Night August 23, 2012

2. Who is Ms. Reisler? • I was born and raised in Charlottesville, VA. • I attended the University of Virginia • Where I received a B.A. in History and a M.A. in Teaching from UVa.

3. I’m excited to be at Lowes Island Elementaryin my 5th year of teaching 5th grade! • This is such a great community to be a part of. I thank you in advance for all of your support at home!

4. What’s different about 5th grade? • Working toward more independence and personal responsibility • Development of good work and study skills • Emphasis on content areas

5. Contents of Back to School Packet • Welcome to Fifth Grade Letter • Lines of Communication • Student Planner Use • Homework Policy • Current Events Information • What is Word Study? • Schedule • Class List

6. Communication is the Key! You and I are partners in your student’s education! Communication is one important factor in a child’s academic and social success. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your student. I can be reached before or after school at 571-434-4450. You may also make an appointment to come visit me in person. My school email is sara.reisler@lcps.org. This is usually the easiest way to contact me.

7. Behavior Expectations Throughout the year we will spend a lot of time and effort learning and practicing how to be mature, responsible fifth graders. When problems arise in the classroom, I will make a concerted effort to resolve the matter individually with the student. If we are unable to resolve the problem, I will often ask parents for support and assistance. Together we can usually resolve problems early and get students pointed in the right direction.

8. Class Rules and Student Responsibilities Classroom Rules • Cooperate with your teacher and classmates. • Respect the rights and property of others. • Carry out your basic student responsibilities Basic Student Responsibilities • Keep track of your own books and assignments. • Start and finish your work on time. • Ask for help when you need it. • Do your own work. • Accept responsibility for grades.

9. Behavior Tools To promote good behavior… • “Caught Being Good” tickets • Friday Free Time If there are behavior problems… • Orange Think Sheet • Communication home

10. Reading and Writing • Focus on comprehension • Reading groups use a variety of reading materials, Including novels, non-fiction texts, and poetry • Reading and writing across curriculum becomes more Important • Focus on essay structure and grammar • Reinforcement of the writing process

11. Math • Continues to Build on Fourth Grade Skills • Flexible Grouping by Ability and Learning Styles – with on going assessment • Use of Math Textbook with Math Investigations Program • Weekly quizzes (Friday) – corrections permitted for a grade of a 1 or a 2 with parent signature

12. Science Units of Study: • Scientific Method • Earth Science • Changes in the earth • Plate Tectonics • Rock Cycle • Oceans • Cells and Organization of Living Things • Matter • Changes in state • Periodic table • Atoms • Light • Sound

13. Geography • Map Skills • Regions of the United States • Northeast • Southeast • Middle West • South West • Rocky Mountain • West • States and Capitals • Current Events • Scholastic News

14. Homework • Please Sign your Child’s Planner every Night • HW is assigned Monday-Thursday, along with some long term projects • You can always count on word study and math homework • 20 minutes of Reading is required each night, reading log is due each Friday

15. Current Events and Word Study Current Events Word Study Students will receive a set of words and the correct sort on Monday Students responsible for homework each night in word study notebook Thursday is a practice test – With Sort Quiz each Friday None word study weeks will be noted in the Monday Memo • Students will complete one current event a month • Students will present a news article to the class • Paraphrased note cards and article are turned in for grade • See Monday Memo for Current Event weeks

16. Grading • Grading scale: 4 = Exceeds Standard 3 = Meets Standard 2 = Progressing Towards Standard 1 = Below Standard • Tests and assignments will receive a number grade (1-4) • Parent portal opening this year – at the end of September

17. Weekly Assessments Fridays are a big quiz day: • Word Study – based on words from the week • Math– based on topic of the week, Thursday night homework is a great review tool for the quiz on Friday • Grammar – based on morning work for the week Wednesday – Scholastic News

18. Testing • January-February and March-April • DRA – Developmental Reading Assessment • March • Writing SOL (Multiple choice and Prompt) • May • Reading, Math and Science SOLs

19. Lowes Island Procedures • Monday Memo • Monday folders • Breakfast program (7:30-7:50, but all students must be in the classroom by 7:50 or they are tardy) • Absentee call-in (571-434-4451) • Volunteer badges

20. FORMSto turn in • Child information form (Purple) • Scholastic Magazine order (Blue) • Classroom volunteer form (Green) • Parent contact information (Pink) • Lowes Island PTO membership and volunteer – turn into me or PTO box

21. Before you go home, please: • Complete the book contract • Sign up for a conference time in October • Leave your volunteer form • Add your child to the transportation list • Take the Scholastic News information home or write a check for the subscription tonight • Complete the Welcome Form on your child’s desk with any important information you would like to share • Visit the Art, Music, PE, Reading, Librarian, and Guidance Counselor • Stop by the cafeteria and add money to your child’s lunch account (optional) It was great meeting you tonight! I am excited for a great year!