5 th Grade

1. 5th Grade Curriculum Night 2014-2015

2. Grading • Report cards are sent every nine weeks. • Progress reports are sent every four and a half weeks. • Children are graded in each subject area based on: Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading: 55% Formative (classwork, quizzes, labs, in-school projects, etc.) 40% Summative (unit tests, vocab tests, chapter tests, End of Quarter Assessments: “EQA’s” will count as 2 summative assessments) 5% Homework Language Arts: 50% Formative 35% Summative 10% Spelling Assessments 5% Homework

3. Absences & Make Up Work • Two make-up days for each day of an excused absence. • Students are responsible for getting make up work when they return to school. • Please coordinate a plan with your child’s homeroom teacher for any extended absence.

4. Late Assignments If a student fails to turn in an assignment on time; • 10 points for the first day late and 5 point per subsequent day will be deducted for any work that is late not due to an absence. • Students will be given the opportunity to complete missing assignments during recess.

5. Homework ~approx 50 min/day(check agenda daily) • Math -Homework may be assigned in– “GO MATH” books - Homework will be any unfinished classwork - Weekly “Big 20” (spiraling review of skills taught) • Language Arts -LARS (Language Arts Review Skills) Monday-Thursday -Spelling worksheet and 30 minutes of www.spellingcity.com • Reading -100 minute reading log • Social Studies & Science -study guides are completed and reviewed before each test -study notes ~10 minutes each day

6. Testing • CogAT – August 25 • ITBS • Reading-August 26 • LA- August 27 • Math- August 28 • GA Milestones • April 20-30

7. Parent Involvement • We need help in many different ways throughout the school year. • Room Parent/s • Fall Festival • Parties • Field trip (Tennessee Aquarium) • Legion Field @ end of year party • Media Center

8. We are excited to announce each 5th grade student will be assigned an IPAD for school use. We expect the IPADs and details on their usage to arrive in September!! iClassroom

9. Pod B Daily Schedule 8:30-9:00 Flex 9:00-10:15 Block 1 10:15-11:15 Block 2 11:40-12:10 Lunch 12:10-12:30 Recess 12:30-1:20 Block 3 1:20-2:10 Block 4 2:10-3:00 Specials

10. Pod B Rotation Schedule

11. Science • Earth Science • Landforms of Georgia • Effects of constructive forces • Effects of destructive forces • Role of technology in control • Physical Science • Introduction to conservation of matter • Physical Changes • Chemical Changes • Electricity and magnetism • Life Science • Classification of organisms • Inheritance of traits • Learned behaviors • Cells and microorganisms

12. Science Science Notebook (folder) Students will be responsible for keeping a notebook which will include a Table of Contents, labs, activities, and notes. Notebooks will be collected periodically and graded. Daily Question (DQ): Students will be responsible for answering a DQ almost every day of the week. DQ’s are posted on the website and students are allowed to print the questions ahead of time if they choose. There are 3 components required to receive credit for DQ’s: Question, Answer, and Evidence. Website: sciencewolves.shutterfly.com You can become a member for weekly email updates. The website is for you to use as your first resource for all science class information. Check weekly or nightly for study guides, video lessons, agenda information, daily questions, project requirements, and pictures of your child in class **Please be mindful that assignment and testing dates may change. We like to work at the pace of our students rather than adhering to a set schedule. Thus, we update our website regularly. Science Fair: Feb 5th Information will be given out in January, after Christmas Break. All forms will be posted on class website at that time.

13. Social Studies Units of Study in Social Studies. • Effective Citizenship • The Civil War and Reconstruction • Turn of the Century in America • World War I • The Great Depression • World War II • The Cold War & Civil Rights Movement • America Since 1975 • Personal Finance

14. Grammar / Writing • Writing focus at the beginning of the year=paragraph construction and sentence structure. • Instead of the 5th grade Writing Test that has been given in the past, we will be taking assessment grades on pieces of writing (mostly informational and persuasive) that are related to curriculum areas. • The 8 parts of speech and other LA skills will be reviewed through LARS. These Language Arts Review Skills will spiral throughout the year with the goal being for the students to incorporate them into their own writing.

15. Spelling • The words we are using this year are from the Rebecca Sitton (high-frequency) list. • The students are either in the Green spelling group, or the Gold – based upon results of our pretest. • Every Monday we will glue down spelling lists into our agendas. • Homework: At least 30 minutes each week needs to be spent onspellingcity.com. Additionally, an assignment will be due each Friday, just before we take the spelling test.

16. 5th grade Math • Expect homework nightly, students will usually have time to begin homework in class. All unfinished work becomes homework. • Big 20 (spiraling review/practice) will be given to the students every Monday and will be due on Friday at the beginning of class. • All workbook pages are available to print on the school website. (students have their log in and password written in their agenda). • Tests and due dates are posted on our newsletter, and students will be writing them in their agendas.

17. Learning in Math • The Content we will be learning in Math will come from CCGPS (Common Core Georgia Performance Standards) www.gadoe.org • Includes but not limited to: • Order of Operations and Whole Numbers -- Adding/Subtracting, Multiplying, Dividing, Comparing and Converting Decimals • Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions • Geometry and Coordinate Planes • 2D and 3D figures • Volume and Measurement

18. Reading • CCGPS (Common Core Georgia Performance Standards) www.gadoe.org • Students will be reading from the basal (reading book), class novels, and non-fiction Social Studies material. • AR is gone. A new program is on the way! More information to come! • Reading Log- Will go home on Mondays. Students will read for 20 minutes a night. Please sign and return by Friday. • Book Clubs – small groups for guided reading and skill practice assignments • Daily grades are taken from practice sheets and journals.

19. Dress Code • Shirts- Solid green, black, white, gray, yellow or pink with embroidered Buford insignia (collar or crew neck) • Pants, skirts, jumpers, shorts or skorts- (khaki, green, gray, black or denim) • Spirit wear is also acceptable • Homemade spirit wear is allowed on Friday only

20. Agenda • Agendas should be brought to school everyday. • Agendas are used to: • Communicate between parents & teachers • Record assignments and tests • Serve as a hall pass for restroom breaks, library and nurse visits • (Please look at the clinic log in the back of the agenda regarding clinic visits)

21. Weekly Folders • These will be sent home every Friday. • Return on Monday • Please review the papers in your child’s Friday Folder. You should keep the following items for review at home: • Graded tests and papers • Classroom Times • Spelling list • Weekly skills • Upcoming events • Needed items • Important notes

22. Class Dojo • Keeps track of both positive and negative comments. • Parents and students have a unique login. Positive Goals: -Teamwork -Persistence -Exceeds Expectations -Helpful -Good Participation -Good listener Behavior to Improve Upon: -Unprepared -Disruptive -Disrespect -Poor Out of the Classroom Behavior -Off Task -Talking -Listens and follows direction

23. Please have students complete homework on notebook paper and ONLY in pencil. Encourage your child to complete work neatly. Check agenda and websites regularly. Please send in healthy snacks We prefer for the students to drink water only. **DO NOT BRING: Cheetos, Takis, or any snacks that stain your hands, juice boxes and drink pouches. Miscellaneous

24. Fish Trip • Fifth grade will have one field trip this year- to the Tennessee Aquarium • The date is TBD but is usually a Thursday in May • The cost of the field trip is $65-$70 • We encourage parents to attend – the cost is the same for parents. All parents must have a current background check on file. (many expire during the 5th grade year- get it done early!)

25. www.5thpodb.weebly.com Access through the BA website (www.bufordcityschools.org) Will be updated weekly with homework, classroom times and upcoming events. Many helpful links for online resources, textbooks, etc. for each subject 5th Grade Pod B Website

26. Title I Funding Buford Academy is a Title 1 school and receives funds to enrich student learning. Mrs. Pulley would like your input and is open to suggestions for ways to use Title I funding to meet the needs of all of our students. Mrs. Pulley will be in the Media Center this evening if you have any suggestions you would like to share with her. You may also email her at kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org Current Use of Title I Funds • iPads • iRead • Paraprofessionals • Summer School • Marchmester • Professional Development for teachers

27. Thank you for coming tonight! Questions?? Please take a moment to visit your child’s desk in his/her homeroom. Read the note left for you and respond.