2011 – 2012 5 th Grade Orientation

1. 2011 – 2012 5th Grade Orientation Saturday, August 27th 2011

2. Communication • E-mail Addresses: • hsheetz@stphilipsacademy.org • jdubeck@stphilipsacademy.org • Blog Addresses: • spasheetz@wordpress.com • spadubeck@wordpress.com • Check daily for homework, handouts, announcements

3. Communication • Homework Planner • Check each night to help keep your child organized • We require students to write down ALL assignments • Parent/Teacher Conferences • Twice a year – check school calendar and plan to attend • To schedule an additional meeting: • Please make sure it is at least one day in advance • E-mail or a note with your child = best way to reach us

4. Daily Routines • Students must arrive at school by 8:15am • Any morning work that a student does not complete will be assigned for homework. • Students should be dressed in school uniforms every day • Gym Uniforms on the days they have gym • Bathroom – available anytime • if students abuse the privilege they will be asked to go before and after class • Lockers – students will be able to go to their lockers 3 times a day: morning, before lunch, end of the day • Dismissal is at 3:30pm or taken to After School at 4pm

5. Language Arts Curriculum • Reader’s Workshop • Will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction works • Genres may include: mystery, realistic fiction, historical fiction, adventure, short stories and many more • Every student will be responsible for maintaining a Reader’s Notebook • Will be checked and assessed at least two times each marking period • Students will think within the text, about the text, and beyond the text • Focusing on setting, complex plots, characters, themes, mood, making connections, predictions, inferring • Verbal and written response to texts through whole class discussions, book clubs, whole class read alouds, individual reading conferences, and their reader’s notebooks

6. Accelerated Reader Program • Support Independent Reading • At Home – students should be reading 30 Minutes each night! • 10% of Grade • Will be explained in detail, during Library time, to the students during the first few weeks of school

7. Writer’s Workshop Effectively utilize the writing process for writing a variety of genres including: • Personal Narrative • Mystery • Persuasive Essay • Research Paper • Response to Literature • And hopefully: Writing our own myths

8. Word Study • Grammar – Write Source • Parts of Speech • Writing Effective Sentences • Sentence Errors • Marking Punctuation and Editing for Mechanics • Vocabulary - Wordly Wise: • Definitions • Parts of speech • Reading Comprehension • Synonyms, Antonyms • Prefixes, Suffixes • Analogies

9. Math Curriculum Singapore Mathematics: • Place value of whole numbers • Estimation • Multiplication of 2 digit numbers • Division of 2 digit numbers • Fractions – addition, subtraction & multiplication • Area and perimeter of quadrilaterals • Addition & subtraction of decimals • Multiplication & division of decimals

10. History Curriculum Group Work/Collaboration will be a strong focus • Geography • Map and globe usage • Types of Maps • Continents and Oceans • Geographical landforms • Ancient Civilizations Covered • Early Mankind • Ancient Egypt • Ancient China • African Civilizations • Ancient Greece • Ancient Rome

11. History – Critical Skills Non-fiction Critical Reading and Academic Skills • Taking Notes • Writing Outlines • Reading Timelines • Making Generalizations • Summarizing • Drawing Conclusions • Compare and Contrast

12. Science Curriculum Human Bodies: • Circulatory System (heart, blood, vessels) • Respiratory System (nose, trachea, lungs) • Immune System (many types of protein, cells, organs, tissues) • Skeletal System (bones) • Excretory System (lungs, large intestine, kidneys) • Urinary System (bladder, kidneys) • Muscular System (muscles) • Endocrine System (glands) • Digestive System (mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines) • Nervous System (brain, spinal cord, nerves) • Reproductive System (male and female reproductive organs)

13. Grading Scale

14. Homework Policies • 1 – 2 hours of homework each night • Set up a homework routine • Same quiet place / same time each night • Difficulty with homework • Send in a note or e-mail Homework Grading Policy: “4” Submitted on time and has few errors or mistakes “3” Assignment has more than 3 errors OR is one day late “2” Assignment has several errors OR is two days late “1” Minimally completed assignment OR is three or more days late “0” Not submitted

15. Organization • Students will have an organizational period of 25 mins per day before lunch and 10 mins prior to dismissal • During the first week of school we went over: • Binder organization • Notebooks • Schedules • Lockers • Daily routines, procedures, and expectations • Parents can assist their children with organizational skills by: • Cleaning out binders, book bags, & folders weekly • Checking homework planners and blogs daily

16. Schedule • 6 day schedule • Check the school calendar for the day! • Science and History – more project based and group orientated • Taught by homeroom teacher • Reader’s Workshop – take place daily 1st period in their homeroom • Students will switch classes for English and Math daily • Mrs. Dubeck – Math • Ms. Sheetz – English (Writer’s Workshop, Vocabulary, Grammar)

17. Water Bottles • We encourage you to send in your child with a refillable or aluminum water bottle daily • This will help minimize disruption in class to the water fountain and keep your child well hydrated through out the day

18. Helping Out – Parent Volunteers Through out the year Ms. Pawluk and I will be asking parents to help out • Presenting a topic to the class • Helping out during labs and in the kitchen • Chaperoning a trip • Being a class parent • Stocking the classroom with supplies to be used during science class

19. Thank You!!! • Please take the time to fill out any paper work as it will be helpful in getting us on the right track for the year – please have all paper work turned in no later than Monday, September 19th • Please have all supplies in by Monday, September 19th • Kleenex • Paper towels • Handy wipes • Liquid soap • Index Cards