5 th Grade Back to School Night

1. 5th Grade Back to School Night Brought to you by: Kaity Fortney, Ryan Hoffman, Jennifer Minnick, Mikaela Lennberg, and Leaza Silver

2. An Average Day in Fifth Grade Afternoon • Specials • 2nd Learning Block • Either Science and History for 1 hour each or Language Arts for 120 minutes. • Homeroom for Study Hall Morning • Homeroom for attendance and lunch count. • Math • 1st Learning Block -Students will rotate between Science or History for 1 hour each or Language Arts for 120 minutes. • Recess and Lunch

3. Your student’s schedule Blue Math Language Arts History Science Green Math Language Arts Science History Red Math History Science Language Arts Yellow Math Science History Language Arts

4. An Average Week in Fifth Grade • Monday – Friday: Study Hall • Monday – Friday: Students will have Math and Grammar homework, except on test days. Other homework will vary nightly. • Monday – Friday: Students will have one of the following specials: • Music • Art • Graphic Art • P.E. • Technology

5. Saxon Math • 80%: Assessments • 20%: Homework • Homework will be given a full grade two nights a week and a participation grade three nights a week. • Timed daily tests are used to maintain math facts. • Vocabulary quizzes are given periodically. • The PDF versions of the student books are available online. Help your child refer to the 5th grade webpage for detailed instructions on downloading the textbook.

6. Reading & Spelling with Mrs. Lennberg or Ms. Minnick Spelling • Spalding Spelling utilizes spelling rules within the English Language to help students identify how to spell unfamiliar words and improve oral fluency in reading. We break down words into phonograms and syllables to help us understand why words are spelt how they are Grading: Writing and Grammar: 40% All categories assignments are weighted 1 and Reading and Vocabulary: 40% assessments are weighted 2. Spelling 20% Core Knowledge Novels: • Don Quixote • Sherlock Holmes • Little Women • Frederick Douglass • Secret Garden • Tom Sawyer Other Core Knowledge Literature: • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Various poems including “O Captain, My Captain and The Road Less Traveled

7. Writing & Grammar with Mrs. Lennberg or Ms. Minnick • Due to diagramming and other activities, cursive, printing, or typing is accepted in English classes. • Final drafts will be typed. • There will be several projects and/or essays throughout the year across writing genres including, but not limited to, persuasive, expository, narrative, informative (nonfiction), and creative. Please help your student stay on top of long term projects, essays, or reports. • Step Up to Writing, 6 Traits, and Hake writing programs will be used to strengthen and expand writing skills this year. • Hake Grammar instruction will occur daily. This is our new grammar curriculum. Students will access textbooks online for homework. • Weekly dictation test. • Journals are done in class. There will be daily writing time. Grading: • Writing/Grammar 40%

8. Science with Mr. Hoffman Our units this year!

9. What to expect:FOSS is a very hands-on curriculum. Almost everything we do in class involves hands-on lessons that are very hard to make-up. It is very important for students to attend everyday to ensure they do not fall behind!Homework will be sent home once or twice a week, depending on the Unit and Investigation. Most of the time it will be a reading assignment with one or two questions. Each question will be expected to be answered with three to five COMPLETE sentences.We will start with Living Systems, followed by Mixtures and Solutions, and will end the year with Weather on Earth. Grading: Assignments/Classwork: 20% Assessments: 40% Science Fair: 40%

10. STEM units and Science Fair: STEM units: Rocketry: 9/2-9/19 MAGLEV: 1/26-2/13 Science Fair: This year, students in grades 5-8 will be required to create a science fair project. Grades 7/8 will submit their entries to a science fair with surrounding area schools. Grades 5/6 will have our own fair at school on April 30th. The goal in 5th grade is to familiarize students with the process of the scientific method. Topics will be teacher-approved and we will devote some class time to the projects, however; most work (including experimenting) will be done outside of school.

11. History with Mrs. Silver • World Topics include: • Exploration, Trade, and Clash of Cultures • Renaissance and Reformation • The Golden Age of England • Feudal Japan • Russia • U.S. topics: • Mayan/Inca/Aztec civilizations • Spanish Conquerors • States/Capitals/Regions • Pre -Civil War Westward Expansion • The Civil War • Reconstruction • Westward Expansion • Civil War Trip— May 12-15, 2014 Grading: Assignments/Classwork: 40% Assessments: 60%

12. High Expectations in Fifth Grade Expectations Your student should be prepared with all materials for every class each day, including a charged computer. Your student is not allowed to retrieve forgotten materials from their homeroom, including homework. Please DO NOT bring forgotten items for students including lunches, instruments, laptops, homework, etc. Your student is responsible for completing and turning-in all homework according to the due date.

13. Student Responsibilities: Students will learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their learning. We expect students to: • Check Infinite Campus, under “assignments” for homework clarification. Homework will not be posted on the website. • Check Infinite Campus for clarification on grades. • Email teachers with questions • Ask teachers for assignments when absent We welcome communication with you, as well! However, we encourage you to allow your child to attempt contact with us first. This allows students to take responsibility for their learning and helps to build self-confidence and self-advocating skills. These skills are essential to becoming a successful student.

14. Discipline Policy Overview • At American Academy, we strive to be people of character. We use the American Academy manners and the teaching of the Core Virtues to accomplish this goal. Parents are strongly encouraged to reinforce these character-based rules at home. Our goal with discipline is to promote a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning and encourages mutual respect. • AA Manners Include: • 1. Make eye contact when communicating. 6. Use “ma’am” and “sir” when responding. • 2. Listen without interrupting. 7. Take a break when you are angry. • 3. Wait your turn. 8. Use bun burger bun to communicate. • 4. Greet people in a friendly manner. 9. Hold the door for others. • 5. Say “please” and “thank you.” 10. Take responsibility for your actions.

15. Discipline Plan: . As a fifth-grade team, we use Class Dojo for classroom management. Students can earn and lose points depending on their behavior. In one day: One point lost= Student received warning Two or more points lost=Student received two warnings: Miss recess the following day, complete reflection form to be signed by parents • Students will have the option to “purchase” classroom/school privileges with earned Dojo points. • Students and parents can monitor behavior at www.classdojo.com with the codes given.

16. Homework • Homework is recorded daily by the student in each class using their planner. • Homework can be viewed on Infinite Campus the day it is assigned, along with any notes left by the teacher. • One day late is 10% off. • Second day late is 50% off. • On the third day, no credit is given. (This does not apply to absences.) • No Name Papers are placed in a“No Name Tray” where students can retrieve them. However, no name papers are an automatic 10% off. How you can help your student: • Please encourage your student to e-mail us from their AA e-mail. We will not respond to a student’s personal e-mail address. • Help your student write their school schedule in their planners. • Help your student with long-term planning and prioritizing assignments. • Encourage your child to have a consistent work space. • Provide your child with an analog clock or other time keeper.

17. How can I help my 5thgrader? Check Parent Portal • Remember to check parent portal often for missing assignments and current grades. Require your child to communicate with teachers if there are any questions about assignments or grades. • Please clarify your email address is updated in Parent Portal to ensure you are receiving relevant emails. • Homework and assignments will be posted in IC under “Assignments”. • If you have questions about Parent Portal, please visit the AA homepage under “Resources”—Portal Information or email portal@americanacademyk8.org

18. Infinite Campus App: • Do you have a smartphone, iPad, or tablet? • If so, we have an app for you! • Infinite Campus is now more accessible than ever. • Download the Infinite Campus App from the App Store or Google Play • Enter QKKYJL in the district code line. • Then, enter your Infinite Campus username and password. • You now have instant access to your students planner, assignments,, attendance, grades, and schedule.

19. Absences and Grading: Absences: • No work will be given prior to vacations, or planned absences. Students must communicate with each teacher to request any missed workafter returning from an absence. Students will be extended the grace period of 2 days for each day absent for missing work to be due. Grading: • Per the Parent/Student Handbook, the following grading scale will be used: A+ = 100 – 99 B = 89 – 84 C- = 73 – 72 A = 98 – 94 B-= 83-82 D+ = 71 – 70 A- = 93 – 92 C+ = 81 –  80 D = 69 – 65 B+ = 91 –90 C= 79 – 74 F = Below 65

20. Outdoor Education Final payment of $60 is due September 19th! October 20-22 (Monday – Wednesday) This is the first 3 days after fall break!! Students take hands on, nature based classes with instructors at the YMCA of the Rockies. Students will go on multiple hikes, including a night hike. Other activities will include: team building, swimming, roller skating, fun! Staying in a lodge with girls on one floor and boys on another, approx. 4 kids to a room Students will be allowed to give input on their roommates, though teachers ultimately have the final say. All forms were completed online, EXCEPT the YMCA student liability form, that needs to be turned into me .

21. Civil War Trip to Washington D.C. • May 12-15, 2015 • We will travel to Washington, D.C, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. • Students will get to witness first-hand, concepts and topics we have studied in the classroom. • Last day to register your child is November 1, 2014, through the School Tours of America website. • Final payments due by March 1, 2015. • Please visit the 5th grade website for more Information.

22. Thank you for coming! We are looking forward to partnering with you to make this a great year! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any celebrations, concerns, or questions.